Progressive Degree Program

USC's Progressive Degree Program is an accelerated master's program for current USC undergraduate students. Completing an AME Department master's degree through PDP allows eligible students to earn the master's degree by completing a reduced number of units, as compared to the "traditional" master's degree requirements, as well as accelerate their progress through the master's degree by completing master's coursework simultaneously with bachelor's coursework.

For more information about completing an AME master's degree through PDP, AME undergraduate students can contact their AME academic advisor, and undergraduate students in non-AME majors can contact amegrad@usc.edu.
Learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process for the Progressive Degree Program in the Viterbi School of Engineering.
Viterbi PDP Eligibilty and Admission

AME Department Master's Degree Programs

All AME Department master's degrees are eligible for the Progressive Degree Program. Pursuing the following degrees through PDP requires the completion of 24 units with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.  A minimum of 18 units must be 500-level coursework (i.e. a maximum of 6 units may be 400-level coursework).

MS in Aerospace Engineering

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • 11 units of AME 500-level courses
  • 9 units of Viterbi Electives (400- or 500-level courses from any engineering department or the Math or Physics department)

MS in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • AI/ML Core (12 units). Choose three courses from:
    • AME 505 Machine Learning for Engineering Applications
    • AME 508 Machine Learning and Computational Physics
    • AME 547 Foundations for Manufacturing Automation
    • AME 556 Robot Dynamics and Control
  • Viterbi Elective (4 units). Choose one course from:
    • MASC 520 Mathematical Methods for Deep Learning
    • DSCI 552 Machine Learning for Data Science
  • AME Elective (4 units): 400- or 500-level course in AME

MS in Mechanical Engineering

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • 11 units of AME 500-level courses
  • 9 units of Viterbi Electives (400- or 500-level courses from any engineering department or the Math or Physics department)

MS in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics)

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • Core Courses (15 units):
    • AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids
    • AME 535a Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics
    • AME 509 Applied Elasticity OR AME/CE 507 Mechanics of Solids
    • AME 528/CE 529 Finite Element Analysis
  • Core Elective(s) in Fluid/Solid Dynamics and/or Numerical Methods (5 units; see Core Elective lists here)

MS in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics and Control)

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose one course from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • Core courses (20 units):
    • AME 521 Engineering Vibrations II (pre-req: AME 420)
    • AME 522 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos
    • AME 524 Advanced Engineering Dynamics
    • AME 541 Linear Control Systems II (pre-req: AME 451)
    • AME 552 Nonlinear Control Systems

MS in Manufacturing Engineering

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose one course from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • Manufacturing Core (16 units). Choose four courses from:
    • AME 504 Mechatronics Systems Engineering
    • AME 510 Advanced Computational Design and Manufacturing
    • AME 518 Emerging Manufacturing Technologies
    • AME 546 Design for Manufacturing Assembly
    • AME 547 Foundations for Manufacturing Automation
    • AME 554 Additive Manufacturing Technologies
  • Viterbi Elective (4 units): 400- or 500-level course in any engineering department

MS in Mechanical Engineering (Energy Conversion)

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose one course from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • Core courses (11 units):
    • AME 513a Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I
    • AME 577 Survey of Energy and Power for a Sustainable Future
    • AME 578 Modern Alternative Energy Conversion Devices (or additional Core Elective course)
  • Core Elective courses (9 units). Choose from:
    • AME 436 Automotive and Flight Propulsion
    • AME 513b Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I I
    • AME 515 Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena I
    • AME 516 Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena II
    • AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids
    • Other advisor-approved energy conversion elective

MS in Mechanical Enigneering (Quantitative Medical Engineering)

  • Engineering Analysis (4 units):
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
  • Quantitative Core (8 units). Choose two courses from:
    • AME 508 Machine Learning and Computational Physics
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • Medical Engineering Core (12 units). Choose three courses from:
    • AME 416 Mechanics and Transport in Medicine and Biology
    • AME 515  Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena I
    • AME 516 Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena II
    • AME 522 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos
    • AME 536 Biofluid Mechanics: Transport and Circulatory Systems
    • AME 538 Low Reynolds Number Hydrodynamics and Biotransport Phenomena
    • AME 514 Physiological Signals and Data Analytics

MS in Product Development Engineering - Technology Track

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose one course from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • Core courses (11 units):
    • AME 503 Advanced Mechanical Design
    • ISE 501 Innovative Conceptual Design for New Product Development
    • ISE 445 Principles and Practices of Global Innovation
  • Core Technical Electives (6-8 units). Choose two courses from this list.
  • Additional advisor-approved electives (1-3 units)

AME/ISE Department Joint Master's Degree Programs

The two AME/ISE Department joint master's degrees are eligible for the Progressive Degree Program. Pursuing the following degrees through PDP requires the completion of 42 units with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. A minimum of 31 units must be 500-level coursework (i.e. a maximum of 11 units may be 400-level coursework).

MS in Aerospace Engineering/Engineering Management or MS in Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Management

  • Applied Mathematics course (4 units). Choose from:
    • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science
    • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications
    • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science
  • AME Electives (14 units): 400- or 500-level courses in AME
  • Required Engineering Management courses (16 units):
    • ISE 500 Statistics for Engineering Managers
    • ISE 515 Engineering Project Management
    • ISE 544 Management of Engineering Teams
    • ISE 561 Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects
  • Engineering Management Technology course (4 units). Choose from:
    • ISE 445 Technology Development and Implementation
    • ISE 501 Innovative Conceptual Design for New Product Development
    • ISE 585 Strategic Management of Technology
    • CE 576 Invention and Technology Development
  • Advisor-approved elective courses (4 units)
Published on January 30th, 2025Last updated on February 3rd, 2025