Hello everybody,
I just want to know the differences between two kind of grad school programs.
So, I have been admitted to a special program at the Viterbi School at USC called Progressive Degree Program.
I can earn my master’s degree in one year after finishing my bachelor.
Do you guys think this would have impact me getting a job in the future? Let’s say they had to choose between me and someone who got his master’s in the regular program?
No one is going to sneer at a master’s from USC, no matter how you earned it.
In the case of this program, as in many accelerated masters programs, the timescale is compressed not just by reducing the credits required for the masters degree, but also by giving you access to graduate level courses sooner.
So in the end, you will have done 2/3 of the same graduate-level curriculum as a graduate from the standard program. Meanwhile, saving yourself a year’s worth of college costs is a very good thing.
As long as you’re sure you won’t want to transfer elsewhere for your masters, and don’t mind missing out on much of the opportunity to explore interests outside your undergraduate major, then go for it.
I don’t think it will make a difference to employers. If you already know that you want to stay at that school for a masters, then a 5 year BA/MA program can save money.