Leventhal Masters Programs

 MBT - Working Professionals Admissions

Application Requirements
   Online Application 
   Official Transcripts
   GMAT
   Personal Statement
   Two Letters of Recommendation
   Resume
   Interview (by invitation only)
   Application Fee

The MBT-Working Professionals program accepts applications for the Fall and Spring semesters only.  Because admission is competitive, applicants are encouraged to apply early. 

Prerequisite Coursework
In addition to the requirements listed below, applicants to the MBT-Working Professionals program are required to have a minimum of one year, full-time work experience in a tax-related field.   Mandatory prerequisites courses are as follows:
  Introduction to Financial Accounting
  Micro or Macroeconomics        
  Intermediate Financial Accounting (I & II)
  U.S. Federal/Corporate Taxation
  Corporate Finance

Applicants who list non-USC accounting and business courses as potential program prerequisites should submit syllabi and course descriptions (from official university publications) for those courses. We reserve the right to review such courses in order to determine their equivalency to the prerequisites we offer at USC.

In addition, we do not accept community college or extension/online program accounting courses as fulfillment of our prerequisites courses. These must be taken at an accredited 4-year college or university. However, we will accept Introduction to Financial Accounting and Economics courses taken at a community college or extension/online program.  

Official Transcripts
A bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. undergraduate degree from an accredited institution (regardless of field or major) is required prior to enrolling in the graduate programs.  

For applicants who received degrees from institutions outside the U.S. please click here for a list of minimum education requirements by country. 

A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is preferred in order to be considered a competitive candidate.

Official transcripts are required for ALL previous college work (undergraduate and graduate). Transcripts from international universities must be submitted in the original language as well as in English.

Please mail one (1) official transcript (must be sealed) for each college or university you have attended to:
Office of Admission and Financial Aid
GRADUATE
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA  90089-0915

If you use a courier service, such as DHL or FedEx, send your official transcripts to this address:
University of Southern California
Office of Admission and Financial Aid
3601 Flower Street, Tyler 1
Los Angeles, CA  90089-0911

GMAT
All applicants to the MBT-Working Professionals program must submit official Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores, unless qualified to waive the test as described below.  Test scores are valid for five years from the test date; scores more than five years old are not accepted.  We strongly encourage you to take the GMAT no later than one month prior to the application deadline, and preferably much earlier.  If you take the GMAT multiple times, we will consider you highest score for admission purposes. 

Applicants to the MBT-Working Professionals program may waive the GMAT requirement ONLY under the following conditions:

• Qualified applicants who have passed all parts of the Uniform CPA exam.  Those applicants must upload to their online application either:   
  1)  a copy of their CPA Pocket Certificate OR
  2)  a copy of their Uniform CPA exam scores AND official letter from the state Board of Accountancy indicating a passing grade on all four parts of the exam. 

GMAT Website:  http://www.mba.com  The MBT Program code:  389-XR-07

Personal Statement
Part of your application requires you to prepare a statement on your short-term and long-term goals and how the program will help you to achieve them. Please limit your essay to no more than two double-spaced, single-sided pages.

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants are required to include two letters of recommendation as part of your application to the Masters programs. References should address your personal qualities, potential to succeed in the profession, and your ability to perform well in the classroom. Choose references who know you in an academic or professional context and who are familiar with your academic achievements, credentials, career aspirations and work history (if applicable). It is preferred (though not required) that one of these letters be from an academic source (e.g. professors) that can attest to your ability to successfully complete a rigorous graduate degree program. The other letter may be from a non-academic source (e.g. employer) that is familiar with your work history and/or career goals.

ALL letters of recommendation must be submitted using the online recomendation form found in the online application system. You will find instructions on setting up online recommendations when you start the application process.

Resume
Applicants are required to provide us with an updated resume that details: academic background, work experience including internships, public, community or military service, travel experience, extracurricular activities, hobbies or special aptitudes, and any honors or recognition received.

Interview
Interviews are by invitation only.  Our goal is to interview all applicants admitted into the program.  Interviews are conducted by the admissions office staff and applicants will be contacted once all materials have been received.  An invitation to interview indicates that your application has reached an advanced stage of consideration.  Depending on where you are located, you will be asked to complete either an on-campus or a telephone interview.

Application Fee
The application fee for the Masters programs is $85.  The application fee is waived for USC students and alumni.