Unique Routes to Success: The USC Annenberg Progressive Degree Program

Hello there! 

My name is Taylor Marie Contarino and I transferred to USC Annenberg for the Fall semester during my sophomore year of college in 2021. I have always dreamed of USC Annenberg, and am so blessed that I was able to transfer here into the Journalism Program – USC Annenberg has truly changed my life and the trajectory of my future, in the best way possible. The opportunities here are endless – which leads me to my next endeavor, my Master’s Degree!

For my entire life, I have always known that I have wanted to reach as high of an education level as possible. Upon finding out that I wanted to pursue graduate-level education, I decided to look for ‘advanced degree’ options. Here at USC, I found out around junior year about the Progressive Degree Program (PDP) at USC Annenberg, which is exactly what I was looking for. 

The Progressive Degree Program was the perfect option for me because I knew that I wanted to continue my education, and I also was fortunate enough that USC is the ideal school for me, my career trajectory, and my goals.

I began taking classes for my PDP in the Fall, and I’ve really enjoyed them. My favorites have included my Music Journalism class (exactly what I want to do!) and the current Sports & Society Class that I am taking! 

They have been challenging, exciting, thought-provoking, informative, and educational. I have also really enjoyed getting to learn from traditional graduate students – seeing and hearing about all of the vast experiences they have been bringing with them from their various institutions and previous endeavors.

I’ve really enjoyed the experiences that I have been afforded as a PDP student, and have been taking advantage of exciting opportunities like being a part of the Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Fellowship, where I’ve been able to assist Dr. Allissa Richardson in the lab’s events and endeavors, including our programming for Charlotta Bass Day and An Evening with Common! 

My fellowship has also allowed me to have grown my relationships so deeply with our professors, staff, and faculty, and even with the traditional graduate students in my classes that I look up to and have already learned so much from.

I am grateful that USC Annenberg offers this program because it has allowed me to maximize my educational opportunities and help me get farther ahead in my career trajectory, allowing me to achieve my graduate school dreams in a more accessible way.

I have loved my experience – My best advice for anyone seeking to participate in the Progressive Degree Program is to do your research, find out if the program is a good fit for you, familiarize yourself with your requirements, and take the steps necessary to optimize your PDP experience!