<p>The U.S. Dept. of State has honored SC by bestowing one of only four inaugural Benjamin Franklin Awards for Public Diplomacy. This is a new award given for "outstanding contribution to public diplomacy at home and abroad".</p>
<p>Dr. Rice commented, "We recognize USC's Center on Public Diplomacy for having evolved into the world's premier research facility in the field".</p>
<p>SC offers the world's first master's degree in public diplomacy.</p>