Majors & Minors

Coordinator: David McKemy, PhD

The computational neuroscience major is designed for those students with an interest in applying mathematical and computational methodologies toward understanding the structure and functioning of the nervous system. The major will provide progressive training in interdisciplinary and inter-faculty aspects of neuroscience, and serve as a foundation for students interested in pursuing post-graduate education in graduate or professional schools or career opportunities in technically advanced occupations. Research is integral to this major and students are encouraged to engage in research with neuroscience faculty as early as possible in their undergraduate years.

Grade Requirements:

A grade of C- or higher is required to count toward major requirements.

Program Requirements:

The major requires twelve core courses (45 units) and six or seven electives (minimum 22 units) for a minimum total of 67 units.

The degree requires a minimum of 128 units.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science provides students with the scientific and engineering skills and knowledge that enable them to design and implement computer systems that effectively and efficiently integrate developing hardware and software technologies. This degree is administered jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken.

The requirement for the degree is 128 units.

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for each of the core courses CSCI 102L, CSCI 103, CSCI 170, CSCI 104 and CSCI 201.

Courses with a grade of C- or below must be repeated; courses may only be retaken once.

Departmental approval is required in order to retake a course.

Students who do not satisfy the degree requirement after repeating a class will be disqualified from the program.

The minor in computer programming focuses on the practical programming skills necessary to solve problems in a variety of domains including on desktops, laptops, mobile devices, the Web, the cloud and for video games. Upon completion of the minor, students will have strong experience with the application of programming languages in several different contexts.

Students with a declared major in computer science, computer science and computer engineering, computer science (games), or computer science and business administration are not eligible for this minor. Students with a declared minor in computer science are likewise not eligible.

The undergraduate program in computer science is an interdisciplinary program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The program is designed to provide both an academic and professional orientation.

General admission requirements for the undergraduate program are the same as those of the university and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and include 3 to 5 units of mathematics and one unit of science (biology, chemistry or physics). The minimum requirement for the degree is 128 units.

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for each of the core courses , , ,  and . 

Courses with a grade of C- or below must be repeated; courses may only be retaken once.

Departmental approval is required in order to retake a course.

Students who do not satisfy the degree requirement after repeating a class will be disqualified from the program.

A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. Candidates must complete general education requirements; see the  Program.

The combined Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science/business administration offers qualified students the opportunity to gain an educational foundation in both areas. The degree cannot also be combined as an additional major in either computer science or business administration. The degree is administered by the Computer Science Department.

The minimum requirement for the degree is 128 units.

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for each of the core courses CSCI 102L, CSCI 103, CSCI 170, CSCI 104 and CSCI 201.

Courses with a grade of C- or below must be repeated; courses may only be retaken once.

Departmental approval is required in order to retake a course.

Students who do not satisfy the degree requirement after repeating a class will be disqualified from the program.

A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken.

The Master of Science in Computer Science Dual Degree with Tsinghua University School of Information Science and Technology – China (THU) leads to two Master of Science degrees in Computer Science, one from each institution. The dual degrees are subject to the following stipulations:

1. All required courses for each degree are required for the dual degree.
2. The program description for the Tsinghua University Master of Science in Computer Science and Technology is online at http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/csen/4906/index.html.
3. The general requirements for the MS in Computer Science at USC in this dual degree program are the same as those for the USC general MS in Computer Science without a thesis, except that at least 19 units (of the minimum total of 28) must be completed at USC, and 9 units of pre-approved course work transferred from THU may be counted toward the degree requirements at USC. This is due to:

• a special partnership in this area established by a Memorandum of Understanding at the University level to amplify cooperation between USC and THU and between the United States and China in an intellectual and economic arena of great importance to both, where many shared interests exist;
• the similarity of the USC and THU curricula, which allows expanded course substitution due to interchangeable content;
• the desirability of providing students with a wider array of relevant courses than they can get at either institution;
• the opportunity to provide students a unique transcultural experience that will position them to be global leaders in their field.

4. The two MS degrees must be earned at the same time, generally at the end of two and one-half to three years of study. The THU degree requirements must be completed for students to receive the USC MS in Computer Science as part of the dual degree program.
5. Students who elect to receive only the USC degree must change their degree objective from the USCTsinghua University dual degree to a different MS degree objective in Computer Science. In this case they will be allowed to transfer only the standard 4 adviser-approved units from Tsinghua University toward the USC degree.
6. The following required courses must generally be taken at USC: CSCI 570 and one course from each of the following two categories: I. CSCI 551, CSCI 555, CSCI 571, CSCI 577a, CSCI 585, EE 557; II. CSCI 545, CSCI 561, CSCI 564, CSCI 574, CSCI 580, CSCI 582. There must be justification for the omission of a required course in either degree, for example a certain course in one degree may provide comparable content to the omitted course in the other degree.
7. The USC Computer Science Department has identified a list of transferrable THU courses that can be considered USC equivalents but is also willing to entertain transfer, on a case by case basis, of unique THU CSCI courses for which no obvious mapping to a USC CSCI course exists.
8. Courses taken at Tsinghua University by students sent from USC will be taught in English.
9. Other requirements for the Master of Science in Computer Science are the same as set forth in the general requirements for Viterbi School of Engineering Master of Science degrees.

The goal of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Games program is to graduate students with a solid grounding in computer science and a cross-disciplinary background in game development. Topics covered in the cross-disciplinary game development portion of the degree program include game production, visual design for games and interactives, computer animation, video game programming, game hardware architectures, game engine programming, serious game development, introductory and intermediate game design and two semester-long final game projects. Students graduating from this program will be capable of engineering next-generation games and simulations and their technologies in the entertainment and serious game fields. Additionally, graduates from this program will be able to further their education in graduate programs in game development and computer science.

The requirement for the degree is 128 units.

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for each of the core courses CSCI 102L, CSCI 103, CSCI 170, CSCI 104 and CSCI 201.

Courses with a grade of C- or below must be repeated; courses may only be retaken once.

Departmental approval is required in order to retake a course.

Students who do not satisfy the degree requirement after repeating a class will be disqualified from the program.

A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken.

The computer science minor introduces the concepts, tools and techniques that are involved in the programming of computers. The minor prepares students to achieve mastery in several current programming languages. In addition, the student will learn about creating effective user interfaces and how to build applications that are available on the Internet.

Admission to the minor requires a B grade or higher in CSCI 102L, CSCI 103L and CSCI 170. Students who meet these criteria may contact the Computer Science department to request admission to the minor.  

The minor in Connected Devices and Making teaches undergraduate students how to design, develop and control electronic devices. With more and more connected devices gathering data both for industrial applications as well as to help inform consumer decisions, the opportunity for skills in this area has increased rapidly. The goal is to produce students that can interface with hardware, design and manufacture physical systems, as well as program the software for control and communication.

Devices are now becoming data collection tools that can act, inform, and interface with many different aspects of our world. Being at the forefront of this technology offers vast career opportunities from startups in wearables and home automation to corporations working on cutting-edge medical devices. Students will learn to work with electronics, sensors, microcontrollers, and communication technologies. Students will also produce custom printed circuit boards and implement design and manufacturing concepts to produce a physical prototype for testing and demonstration. Lastly, students will learn to integrate their design into existing infrastructures for connectivity and data acquisition.

Students should meet the regular USC admissions standards and have a declared USC major. Students will complete an application for the minor with the Viterbi School of Engineering. For specific information on admission and application procedures, contact the Information Technology Program at (213) 740-4542.

Students with a declared major in Electrical Engineering are not eligible for this minor.

The minor requires a minimum of 16 units.

This program covers the most current theories and practice of construction planning and management. The program provides a valuable adjunct credential to professional school students pursuing careers in business administration, public administration, architecture, environmental studies, and other areas; and a unique opportunity for professional focus to students in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Construction activities are complex. In contemporary society, effective planning and management of these activities requires specialized knowledge of the technical, economic and policy environment. This program couples the knowledge of how construction activities are organized with a broader understanding of the urban system in which construction projects are embedded. With the exception of statistics, all of the required courses are within the Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the USC Price School of Public Policy.

Any USC undergraduate who has completed the equivalent of two full-time semesters in good standing is eligible to pursue the minor program. This minor program is rigorous enough to serve as an introductory credential for students subsequently electing to pursue advanced studies in development, urban planning, construction management, architecture or allied fields.

Six courses consisting of at least 22 units are required for the minor.