USC Annenberg announces data science, public diplomacy programs

USC Annenberg on Tuesday promoted two graduate study options for prospective students: its Master of Science in Communication Data Science and its Master of Public Diplomacy. The school’s outreach pointed readers to program pages covering curriculum, admissions and deadlines, according to USC Annenberg webpages and a social-media post circulating Tuesday. The two programs sit in different parts of USC Annenberg’s graduate portfolio. Communication Data Science is a joint degree with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, while the Public Diplomacy program is housed at Annenberg and focuses on communication and global affairs. ### Which programs is USC Annenberg pointing applicants toward? The Master of Science in Communication Data Science is described by USC as a program that prepares students for careers spanning communication, content strategy and data analytics. (annenberg.usc.edu) USC says the degree blends courses on media, marketing and the social dimensions of communication with programming, machine learning, data visualization, human-computer interaction, data stewardship and AI ethics. The Master of Public Diplomacy is described by USC as training at the intersection of communication and global affairs. USC says students study public diplomacy scholarship alongside content creation and data-informed approaches to contemporary international challenges. ### What does the data science program actually cover? USC says the Communication Data Science curriculum is cross-disciplinary and requires admission by both Annenberg and Viterbi. (annenberg.usc.edu) The curriculum page says students are trained in theories of human communication, the technical foundations of communication platforms and the analysis of large digital datasets using machine learning and artificial intelligence. (annenberg.usc.edu) Program materials also describe the degree as STEM-designated. USC says that designation can provide international graduates the potential to seek a 24-month extension beyond a 12-month Optional Practical Training authorization, subject to application rules. ### How is the public diplomacy track structured? USC says the Master of Public Diplomacy is a 32-unit degree program. The curriculum page lists required courses including Historical and Comparative Approaches to Public Diplomacy, Global Issues and Public Diplomacy, Public Diplomacy Evaluation, and Practicum in Public Diplomacy Research. (annenberg.usc.edu) Los Angeles is part of the program’s pitch. USC says the city’s foreign-consulate presence and international population give students access to professional opportunities across government, non-state organizations, companies and civil society. (annenberg.usc.edu) ### What do applicants need to know about deadlines and materials? USC says the online graduate admission application for the Public Diplomacy program opens on October 1, 2026, and the application deadline is January 15, 2027. (annenberg.usc.edu) Required materials include a résumé, personal statement, writing sample, recommender information and official transcripts. The Communication Data Science program has a different admissions path. (annenberg.usc.edu) USC says new students are admitted in the fall term only and must apply through the USC Viterbi School of Engineering website for consideration. ### Who runs the programs? USC lists Emilio Ferrara as program director and Jessica Neff as co-director on the Communication Data Science curriculum page. USC’s application page for that degree also identifies Neff as program director for applicant questions. (annenberg.usc.edu) USC says Public Diplomacy draws on faculty expertise across communication, journalism, foreign affairs and public relations. (annenberg.usc.edu) The school also lists a separate mid-career professional track taught over a single calendar year. ### Where should prospective students look next? USC Annenberg’s graduate admissions pages list program-specific requirements across its master’s offerings, including Public Diplomacy and Communication Data Science. (annenberg.usc.edu) For Public Diplomacy, the next dated milestone is October 1, 2026, when the online application opens, followed by the January 15, 2027 deadline; Communication Data Science applicants are directed to USC Viterbi for deadlines and application processing. (annenberg.usc.edu 1) (annenberg.usc.edu 2)