Academics»Master Of Public Diplomacy

Program Information

Application guidelines

Curriculum

The Master of Public Diplomacy is designed for students who already have a substantial undergraduate background in social sciences or relevant professional experience in subjects such as communications, film and media studies, journalism, political science, public relations and international relations. Students in the program may decide to emphasize public diplomacy training most appropriate for a career in public service, the corporate world or in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) working in the ever-expanding global civil society. USC is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA).

For admission requirements, refer to the Admission Requirements section in the School of Communication.

Requirements for the completion of this degree program are 32 units, including the required substantive paper or alternative project.

All master’s degree candidates in the USC Annenberg School of Communication are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations (MCDO) program during their enrollment at USC. MCDO is a non-credit, professional skills-building curriculum designed to prepare students to create, sustain and thrive within increasingly complex global work environments. The program is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term. USC Annenberg faculty developed this immersive, eight-week, active learning program to equip learners with the skills to collaborate with, manage and lead across teams with diverse perspectives and expertise, while supporting resilient, high-performance professional environments. Learn more about MCDO on the MCDO page.

The course requirements are as follows:

Public Diplomacy Requirements (16 Units)

Master of Public Diplomacy is a 32-unit degree program, typically requiring two to three courses per semester. 

  • PUBD 502 Historical and Comparative Approaches to Public Diplomacy (4 units)
  • PUBD 504 Global Issues and Public Diplomacy (4 units)
  • PUBD 526 Public Diplomacy Evaluation (4 units)
  • PUBD 596 Practicum in Public Diplomacy Research (4 units)

Electives (16 units)

Students must choose at least 8 elective units of PUBD or other Annenberg School graduate courses. A maximum of 8 units may be taken at USC outside the Annenberg School; these courses must be approved by the program director and may be selected from a variety of disciplines.

This page is based on the current 2024-2025 USC Catalogue. The 2025-2026 USC Catalogue will be published in summer 2025.