HONORS PROGRAMS

 

Thematic Option

There's a reason Thematic Option is widely regarded as one of the best undergraduate honors programs in the country. Weaving together literature, politics, history, biology, and other disciplines, it engages students in critical analysis, thought-provoking discussion, and lively debate. The program, a rigorous and stimulating alternative to the College's general education program, takes an interdisciplinary look at academic areas which are linked through overarching themes. It is organized around four core classes, as well as writing seminars, individual writing tutorials, and an annual research conference. Courses are taught by some of the university's best undergraduate teachers, and are kept small so students get more personal attention. Thematic Option is as remarkable as the students who pursue it.

To learn more about the Thematic Option program, click here.

 

Resident Honors Program

Pack your bags and head off to college... one year ahead of schedule! Each year, a handful of exceptional high school juniors have a chance to trade homeroom for a seminar room, life at home for life in a campus residence hall, and another year of high school classes for a full year of college courses. These are students whose intelligence, maturity, and spirit for adventure set them apart from their peers, and prepare them early for the opportunities - and challenges - of university life. Get a jump on your college career and meet your future at the College now.

To learn more about the Resident Honors Program, click here.

 

Freshman Science Honors

A community of aspiring scientists who share a drive to understand the natural world, USC's Freshman Science Honors (FSH) program provides 60 outstanding freshmen a strong grounding in the sciences and scientific research. Freshman Science Honors is more than just great classes and award-winning faculty; it's a dynamic learning environment that includes special events, small science labs, academic support, and a lively student community. The program offers honors sections in general chemistry and introductory biology, a transition to advanced laboratory research seminars, and faculty-guided tours of USC's renowned science facilities. FSH students are exposed to new developments in science and learn about graduate school and career options for natural science majors.

To learn more about the Freshman Science Honors Program, click here. 

 

RESEARCH

We know your talents are vast - and we welcome you as an integral part of our amazing scholarly community. As a USC College undergraduate, you'll find professors eager to support your research efforts in almost any field. Design projects using our facilities on campus or throughout Southern California.  Make critical connections by conducting surveys or working in a lab. Perform archival research in collaboration with award-winning faculty in the humanities or creative arts.  Students have led innovation and discovery in areas as diverse as cancer cell investigation, cultural barriers to free trade, and scroll transcription in medieval Ireland. When it comes to research, we're passionate about helping you find answers to the questions that move you.

 

SOAR

We strive to ensure that every College graduate has acquired the skills of analysis, interpretation and expression; addressed vital social issues of the day; mastered the principles of scientific inquiry; and engaged in the central activity that defines a research institution: the creation of new knowledge.  Student Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR) does just that, providing undergraduate students with $1,000 grants for non-course related research. Work with a faculty member in the Spanish department to examine bilingual language acquisition or collaborate with a faculty member in Biological Sciences to study the effects of carbon dioxide emission on climate change. Team up with a member of our world-class faculty or start a project of your own; either way, you benefit from individual mentoring and the academic and financial support you need to make a crucial impact in the world of serious scholarly inquiry.

To learn more about the SOAR program, click here.

 

SURF

Similar to SOAR, the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) gives you the resources to take your scholarly excellence to the next level. Students apply for stipends of up to $3,000 for summer research projects in collaboration with a USC College faculty member. SURF helps students offset the cost of travel, equipment, living expenses, or fees as they pursue original research in fascinating locations across the globe. Research the role of religion in healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness in post-genocide Rwanda, or travel to South Korea to examine the nation's policies toward North Korean refugees. It's just another way the College encourages your intellectual development - and makes a commitment to your growth.

To learn more about the SURF program, click here.

 

Problems Without Passports

A global society presents challenges that transcend borders and require transnational solutions. We define these challenges as "problems without passports," like global climate change, pandemics, or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. At the College, we feel strongly that you have a role to play in tackling these and other issues - and that a 21st century education demands the kind of exciting, rigorous training that will help you make a difference. Problems Without Passports introduces you to experiential learning: summer courses that combine problem-based inquiry with study away from the USC campus. Your instructor will help you develop the tools to understand and analyze the problem and design appropriate strategies to address it. Past programs have taken students to Belize to examine the effects of climate change on the fall of the ancient Mayan civilization or Washington, D.C. to speak with national leaders on the issue of nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. So get ready for an invaluable travel and study adventure - this is one opportunity you won't want to miss.

To learn more about the Problems Without Passports program, click here.

 

 

SUPPORT PROGRAMS

 

Supplemental Instruction

We know some subjects are uniquely challenging. That's why we have Supplemental Instruction (SI), an innovative academic program that targets difficult math and science courses such as General Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Calculus III and provides students with regularly scheduled weekly study sessions. Led by students who have previously excelled in the course, these small, collaborative groups create a supportive environment where you'll review lecture material, reading, and homework, and learn successful exam strategies.  SI is open to all students - and is totally free!

To learn more about Supplemental Instruction, click here.

 

Language Center

Language helps us make sense of the world, and the Language Center is dedicated to improving students' communication with - and understanding of - diverse people and cultures across the globe.  The center provides interactive multimedia resources, audio and video materials, and classrooms equipped with the latest technology. Need to type an essay using Japanese characters? What to practice your conversational skills with a native speaker of Russian? Come here to study Arabic and Chinese, French and Italian, Hebrew and Hindi - or any of our broad range of language offerings. At the Language Center, you literally have the world in your hands.

To learn more about the Language Center, click here.

 

Writing Center

At the College, we believe that writing is a process, not a product. Welcome to the Writing Center, a student-focused, non-grading facility whose sole purpose is to help you take your craft to a new level. We work with students of all abilities on the process of critical thinking, drafting, and revision that leads to clearly expressed ideas, coherent argument, and persuasive reasoning. At the Writing Center, we don't edit or proofread students' papers; instead, through group workshops and one-on-one consultations, we equip you with the skills you need to make writing easier - and you learn strategies for expressing yourself more effectively.

To learn more about the Writing Center, click here.

 

 

UNIQUE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

 

Learning Communities

We understand that it can seem intimidating to come to college without a declared major. Intended for undecided (or open) students, Learning Communities combine the intimacy of individualized instruction with the resources of a powerhouse university to give you an academic home as you search for your perfect major. Learning Communities are small groups of students (no more than 20), led by a faculty mentor and an academic advisor, which help you tap into the College's diverse program offerings and introduce you to our vast support network. As part of a Learning Community, you'll register for two fall semester courses with other community members, giving you an instant peer group that enriches your social and academic life. And you'll attend dinners with faculty members, hear from guest speakers, and take part in campus activities and field trips which help you explore Los Angeles.

To learn more about Learning Communities, click here.

 

Freshman Seminars

Freshman Seminars allow incoming freshmen the opportunity to work closely with distinguished faculty to explore new realms of intellectual inquiry. By participating in a weekly two-hour seminar on a topic of personal interest, you'll gain keen insights and fresh perspectives that motivate your passion for learning. You'll also be able to experience how easy it is to engage with our amazing faculty members.  Study law with a sitting Justice of the California Court of Appeals, or learn about bioterrorism from an international lecturer on infection control.  Past topics include political cartooning, psychoanalysis, the environment, science fiction, comic books, and international terrorism, just to name a few.

To learn more about the Freshman Seminar program, click here.

 

Overseas Studies

Traveling abroad can be a rewarding and eye-opening experience; living abroad can be life changing. Students at USC College are encouraged to explore new languages, people and cultures as part of our Overseas Study program. Choose from more than 50 semester-long, year-long, and summer study options from Madrid to Mexico, Athens to Australia, Santiago to Seoul. Rest assured that all USC financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, are applicable to USC-sponsored study abroad programs. And earn credit toward your major while you're away, staying on track to graduate on time.  Here at the College, we believe overseas study should enhance your education - not slow it down!

To learn more about Overseas Studies, click here.

 

Service Learning (Joint Educational Project)

How can you expand your knowledge, develop your professional skills, and give back to your community - all at the same time? Founded in 1972, USC College's Joint Educational Project (JEP) is one of the oldest and largest service-learning programs in the country, offering students a chance to combine academic coursework and meaningful community outreach. As part of JEP, you'll join your peers in volunteering at local schools, hospitals, and community-based agencies, improving the surrounding campus community and learning about contemporary issues facing urban areas. Receive academic credit as your broaden your horizons and improve quality of life for those around you by teaching and applying concepts you're learning in your USC classes to local elementary, middle, and high school students.  Be part of a groundbreaking movement that got its start at USC College.

To learn more about Joint Educational Project, click here.