Majors & Minors

The core requirements for the EALC major (24 units plus language requirement) allow students flexibility in designing their own course of study. Majors typically select one language and cultural area (Chinese, Japanese or Korean) in which they do most of their course work. For this reason, one frequently hears students on campus speaking about "majoring" in Japanese, Chinese or Korean, though strictly speaking all these students are actually majoring in EALC. Majors are encouraged to explore beyond their individual language focus by enrolling in the full range of EALC courses available in literature, film, history, media and other aspects of East Asian cultures.

Core requirements for EALC majors consist of a cross-cultural survey course, a cultural studies course and a language requirement that may be waived by placement test. Students then also take four upper-division elective courses (16 units), two of which can be replaced by fourth-year language courses. Additional information can be found on the EALC website: dornsife.usc.edu/ealc.

The core requirements for the EALC minor allow students flexibility in designing their own course of study. Students typically select one language and cultural area (Chinese, Japanese or Korean) in which they do most of their course work. For this reason, one frequently hears students on campus speaking about "minoring" in Japanese, Chinese or Korean, though strictly speaking all these students are actually "minoring" in EALC. Minors are encouraged to explore beyond their individual language focus by enrolling in the full range of EALC courses available in literature, film, history, media and other aspects of East Asian cultures.

Core requirements for EALC minors consist of an upper-division cultural studies course and a language requirement that may be waived by diagnostic exam. Students then also take three upper-division elective courses (12 units) for an overall minimum of 16 units. Students minoring in EALC are strongly encouraged to take at least one lower division cross-cultural survey course.

This 60-unit major blends core economics instruction with course work in data science, computer science and mathematics to train students to apply advanced data science techniques to the analysis and formulation of economic problems.

Admission

Please visit the economics department website for the admissions guidelines.

Students are required to take ECON 203, ECON 205, ECON 303, ECON 305, ECON 317, ECON 318 and four economics elective courses. Of the four elective courses (300 level or above) a minimum of two must be economics courses at the 400 level or higher. The remaining two economics courses must be approved by the department's director of undergraduate studies. A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for each of the core courses ECON 303, ECON 305, ECON 317 and ECON 318. MATH 118gx or MATH 125 is required for the major; students are advised to meet the requirement by their sophomore year. Majors are also required to take at least one two-unit course on computing chosen from ITP 101 or CSCI 101L.

Students are required to take seven courses in economics, seven courses in mathematics and two courses in information technology. Pre-major requirement: MATH 125 or equivalent.

In Economics: ECON 203, ECON 205, ECON 303, ECON 305, ECON 318 and at least two other ECON courses at the 400 level or above.

In Mathematics: MATH 126 or MATH 127; MATH 225 or MATH 245; MATH 226 or MATH 227; and either sequence one: MATH 407, MATH 408 or sequence two: MATH 307, MATH 308; and at least two other MATH courses at the 400 level or above (for both sequences).

In Information Technology: Two courses required. At least one course from ITP 115, ITP 116 or ITP 165; and ITP 249.

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for each of the core courses ECON 303, ECON 305, ECON 318, MATH 307 and MATH 308 or MATH 407 and MATH 408. 

Electives must be approved by the program advisers.

Students from all disciplines will benefit from an economics minor. The economics minor is offered in three tracks. Each track is designed to help the student explore a coherent area of economic thought and methodology. Students minoring in economics must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (cumulative) in courses taken for the minor.

The minor includes the core courses ECON 203, ECON 205, ECON 303 or ECON 305, MATH 118gx or MATH 125 plus three courses chosen from one of the following tracks:

Law and Political Economy

This track introduces students to the economic theory that underlies the economic choices made by individuals and the ways in which law and policy combine to regulate such behavior. Economic models of individual choice, contracts, and law are analyzed in courses in this track. Choose three courses from: ECON 317, ECON 330, ECON 332, ECON 434.

Finance and Money

This track guides students through the economic thought and theory that underlie the importance of money. Courses cover topics that shed light on the ways in which institutions, individual preferences and financial markets affect the allocation and investment of money. Choose three courses from: ECON 317, ECON 350, ECON 357, ECON 360, ECON 450, ECON 452, ECON 457.

International Economics

This track concentrates on the foundations, complexities and importance of the global economy as well as the role of economics and political economy in societies outside of the United States. Choose three courses from: ECON 317, ECON 330, ECON 340, ECON 342, ECON 343, ECON 346, ECON 350.

The education and society minor seeks to examine education and its role in society. The minor is intended to help students develop broad perspectives on the purposes and forms of education and schooling, including the purpose and history of schooling; the provision of equitable opportunities for all; the factors impacting teaching, learning and achievement; and the development of engaged citizenship for more just societies through education. Students enrolled in this minor will gain multiple perspectives on education locally, nationally and internationally, including technology's role in educational outcomes. The minor provides resources for students who may want to pursue careers in education after graduation — teaching, educational advocacy through nonprofits or non-governmental organizations, university research, policymaking or educational entrepreneurship.

Education is one the largest expenditures of state and local governments, and educational costs continue to rise. Yet many are dissatisfied with the performance of the education system—both the low levels of achievement relative to our international peers and the considerable opportunity and achievement gaps that separate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups. As governments face increasingly tight budgets, they are turning to new and novel policies and interventions to address our educational challenges.

The 20-unit minor is designed to equip students with both substantive and methodological skills relating to the analysis of education policy. Students gain from the expertise of faculty in the Sol Price School of Public Policy and the USC Rossier School of Education. The program's content courses introduce students to the most pressing policy issues in education today.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Education/Master of Public Policy dual degree offers students interested in careers in Educational Policy rigorous training in education, policy research and analysis. Students emerging with this dual degree will apply in-depth knowledge of policy processes, content and analysis to critical questions of contemporary education policy.

The PhD/MPP requires five calendar years of full-time study. The first academic year is devoted to MPP classes, the second to PhD classes, completion of the MPP practicum in the third year, PhD qualifying exam in the fourth year and the PhD dissertation in the fifth year.

Students can enter this program one of two ways: (1) apply simultaneously to both programs and state their intent to be admitted to the dual degree program; or (2) apply to the PhD during the first semester as an MPP student. If admission is approved by each school, students will be admitted to the dual degree program.

Student must complete 84 units (48 from the PhD in Education Policy and 36 from the Master of Public Policy).

The requirement for the degree is 128 units. 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. See also the common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.