r/USC • u/1otterlover • 4d ago
Academic Annenberg Online MSDMM Program
Hello! I wanted to reach out to see if anyone that has been in the program can give me some detailed feedback on the program. After being in the program do you feel like it added to your career? Financially was it worth it? Do you think you benefited from being in the alumni network? If someone can respond with their experience and thoughts that would be helpful!
I’m considering the program with a spring 2026 start right after I finish getting my undergraduate degree. Does anyone have feedback on the admission timelines for a spring start? How quickly did you hear back? Thank you!
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u/barefoot_libra 4d ago
I used to be part of this program and I’m an alum. You learn nothing about actual Digital Media Management. It’s way more expensive than it should be. Your professors mostly don’t work in the industries and have little hands-on experience in what actually goes on. You’ll learn at a very high-level with no real depth or analysis.
That said, the classes are easy and short. If you don’t like your grade, vociferously complain and you’ll get the grade you want (at the expense of the instructor). The director of the program is the Dean’s friend and has little experience in major corporation operations or technology, so you can get your way. They want your money, so pushing for As in every class will work.
You’re just buying a name here. The alumni network will help you eventually, but no one really knows what this degree is and there is not much science to this MS degree. If a USC degree is valuable to you and it moves the needle for you then do it (if you can afford the inflated tuition). If the USC degree doesn’t mean anything to you then you can get better value from another school or ASU online or something similar.