Undergraduate Degree Programs

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USC is a major university providing diverse academic programs. As such it has evolved into a complex organization. The basic underlying principle in its organization is simple: groups of faculty with similar areas of knowledge and interest are grouped together to form departments or schools. These units work together in determining the courses to be offered, requirements for degrees, and the content and rationale underlying their curricula.

In practice, the organization becomes more complex. Certain areas of study are based on broad areas of knowledge, which need to draw faculty from several departments.

The basic undergraduate degrees are the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. Students may obtain these degrees in a variety of majors that have been formally approved. More specialized degrees, such as a Bachelor of Music, require more undergraduate study devoted to professional training.

Area of Emphasis

An Area of Emphasis is a specific focus within a major. Areas of Emphases are specified following the appropriate majors, typically in parentheses, and do not appear on diplomas but are indicated on transcripts.

Combined Program

A combined program is an organized set of requirements from two academic units in a single undergraduate degree program that combines two majors. Examples are: Linguistics/Philosophy and Physics/Computer Science.

Programs with Co-Owners

A program that has two owning schools represents a set of requirements from two academic units in a single undergraduate degree program. Examples include the Bachelor of Science, Business of Cinematic Arts. These programs will issue a single degree, with both owning schools listed on the USC diploma and transcript.

Double Major Within the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

A double major consists of two majors, which allow the student to earn the same degree, either a BA or BS degree, conferred by the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences offers two kinds of majors, “departmental” and “interdepartmental” (see USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences ). A double major may consist of two departmental majors, two interdepartmental majors, or one departmental and one interdepartmental major. All double majors require a minimum of 12 upper-division courses. Some upper-division courses may count for both majors. For double departmental majors two upper-division courses may count toward both majors. For departmental and interdepartmental majors, three upper-division courses may count toward both majors. The student receives a single diploma.

Other Double Majors

Double majors may be offered in other schools. The two majors must be offered by different departments but lead to the same degree, such as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music. Double majors consisting of two majors in the same department are not permitted. The student receives a single diploma.

Progressive Degree Programs

The progressive degree plan enables an undergraduate student to begin an integrated program of study joining bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programs in the same or different departments. This option is available to outstanding USC undergraduates who have completed 64 units of course work at USC, and often results in a more expeditious completion of the master’s degree than otherwise would be possible.

Students are admitted to the master’s degree at the completion of the sixth semester. Progressive degree students must fulfill all requirements for both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree except for the combined total number of units for the degrees. The bachelor’s degree can be awarded first. Further details about progressive degrees can be found in the Requirements for Graduation  section.

Class Level Determination for Progressive Degree Programs

While classified as an undergraduate, a Progressive Degree student’s enrollment status and financial aid eligibility are determined by undergraduate standards.

While classified as a graduate, a Progressive Degree student’s enrollment status and financial aid eligibility are determined by graduate standards.

A progressive degree student transitions from undergraduate to graduate class level as soon as any one of the following conditions is met:

1. The bachelor’s degree is conferred; or
2. The student is awarded a graduate research or teaching assistantship as contracted through the academic department and the Graduate School; or
3. The student earns a total of 144* units.

*Due to the higher number of unit requirements for the Bachelor of Architecture degree, students pursuing the five-year program will have a 176-unit limit. Except in the case of unapplied transfer units as described below, no other exceptions to the 144-unit limit will be made.

Bachelor’s Degree Conferred

The Office of Academic Records and Registrar determines when a student has completed their bachelor’s degree and manages the process of posting degrees to a student’s record. Students wishing to change the degree date from that indicated on their STARS Report should request an updated degree term at the Registrar One Stop Center, John Hubbard Hall (JHH 114) or onestop@usc.edu. Students may also update their expected graduation date at my.usc.edu.

Graduate Research/Teaching Assistantship

Research and teaching assistantships are allocated by the student’s academic department and the Graduate School and are exclusively available to graduate students. A progressive degree student who is awarded a research or teaching assistantship will be reclassified as a graduate student beginning the semester the student first receives the award. 

The 144-Unit Limit

Assuming one of the other two conditions have not already been met, a progressive degree student is classified as an undergraduate up to and including the semester the student earns a total of 144 units. 

All units earned at USC, from both undergraduate- and graduate-level course work, will be counted toward the 144-unit limit. Any and all units earned during summer semesters will be counted, as well as units earned during semesters that were not funded with financial aid.

All transfer units, including units accepted from Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, will also be counted toward the 144-unit limit. Requirements that were met by transfer courses cannot be substituted by subsequently taken USC courses, and USC will not delete or discount accepted transfer course work from the transcript.

Transfer course work determined not to be applicable toward subject-specific requirements, e.g., General Education and major requirements, nor applicable as “free” electives toward the bachelor’s degree program’s minimum unit requirement, may increase the unit limit above the standard 144. This determination is based on the student’s major(s) at the time of admission to the progressive degree program. Any subsequent change of major or addition of a major may change how transfer units are applied toward subject-specific requirements and free electives, and the unit limit may increase or decrease accordingly. However, the applicability of transfer units is determined from objective transcript data and is therefore not open to appeal. 

Class level is determined dynamically based on currently available data in the student transcript. Any changes, updates or corrections to a student’s transcript that alter the total number of units earned will affect progress toward the unit limit and class level transition.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A second bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of 32 units beyond the number required for the first. If the first bachelor’s degree was earned at USC, a minimum of 32 units for the second must be completed at USC. If the first bachelor’s degree was earned at another institution, a minimum of 64 units toward the second must be completed at USC. (See the policy on residence requirements for a second bachelor’s degree, under Course Work Taken Elsewhere .)

For some degrees, more than the 32 units beyond the first bachelor’s degree will be required because all requirements for both degrees must be met. The student receives a separate diploma for each degree upon completion.

The first and second bachelor’s degrees may be completed at the same time but there is no requirement that they be completed in the same semester or the same term of graduation.

Minor Programs

In addition to the degree programs listed throughout the Catalogue, many academic units offer minor programs. A list of minors appears after the list of undergraduate degrees. The requirements for each minor are listed in the appropriate school section. A separate minor certificate is issued for each minor a student completes. Minors are also recorded on the student’s transcript.