New opportunity for Moore School, College of Information and Communications students or alumni creates a direct pathway to master’s programs

The Darla Moore School of Business and the College of Information and Communications are collaborating to offer direct admissions into select Moore School master’s programs for CIC undergrads and CIC master’s programs for Moore School undergrads.  

Moore School Dean Rohit Verma and CIC Dean Tom Reichert recently celebrated the formal agreement for the direct admissions pathway at an event at the Moore School.

“Partnering with the College of Information and Communications so that our graduating students can be directly admitted into their master’s programs greatly benefits our school, especially our marketing students who often minor in communications or take communications courses in their undergraduate studies,” Verma said. “This partnership also provides a great opportunity for CIC grads to directly enroll in the Moore School’s master’s and One-Year MBA programs so they can learn the business side for future communications careers.”

According to the agreement between the Moore School and CIC, students in either program can apply at the start of their senior year to gain admission for the fall directly after they graduate. CIC students can enroll in the One-Year MBA, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of International Business or the Master of Arts in Economics. Moore School students can enroll to any of the CIC’s master’s programs. Alumni for both programs are also encouraged to apply and will be given priority.

“We’re very excited to partner with the Moore School to help our students gain a competitive edge in the communications market,” Reichert said. “Students with business acumen are hyper-competitive when their skillset also includes how to communicate and work with information. Business, communications and information education are closely aligned. The CIC looks forward to working with the Moore School so that students get this robust educational exposure in only five years.”

Students enrolling in either program must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, meet the general admissions standards for their master’s program and complete an application. Faculty recommendations can replace the formal interview for the Moore School applicants.

“I’m most excited about the opportunity this program provides our students and the skills they will gain,” said Lyda Fontes McCartin, director of the CIC’s School of Information Science. “This program will benefit our students in being very successful, and the Moore School’s master’s programs allow them to start thinking and planning their career path earlier — having all their hard work pay off sooner.”

This partnership aligns with USC’s mission to create graduate program cohorts that serve the state as a pipeline to South Carolina companies and organizations.

“I think this is an opportunity for two well-regarded programs to come together for students, so they get the best of both worlds. So, they’ll get the writing from communications and the creative strategy from the business school,” said Damion Waymer, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. “By wedding these two programs together, students prepare for the industry and the 21st-century workplace.”

This is the Moore School’s second internal USC partnership established this spring after a similar agreement was approved for the College of Engineering and Computing. That agreement offers combination degrees for students who want to pursue a One-Year MBA or Master of Science in Business Analytics degree after their undergraduate degree.

“Academic alliances like these are a priority for me and for the Moore School to fully take advantage of all of the resources at USC while offering great degree options for undergraduate Moore School students who want to continue their education and add to their overall portfolio,” Verma said.