Majors & Minors

The requirement for this degree is 129 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required in all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. See the common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

The Arabic minor provides students with advanced competency in speaking, reading, writing and understanding the Arabic language. Advanced ability in Arabic can open many doors. Course work for this minor prepares students for various careers and graduate-level study.

Five courses (20 units) are required for the minor. All students must take ARAB 252, ARAB 322 and ARAB 352. For those students who do not already have ARAB 252 equivalent proficiency, ARAB 122, ARAB 152 and ARAB 222 or their equivalent (which do not count toward the minor) must be completed before enrolling in ARAB 252. For those with prior study of Arabic, a placement exam is offered by the USC Language Center to determine language level. If student proficiency surpasses the third-semester college level, the USC Language Center should be consulted about a higher-level proficiency exam. The remaining two courses (8 units) must be selected from the list of elective courses below.

Students are encouraged to study abroad. Prior approval by the department is required of all courses that are to be counted toward the minor. Equivalent courses from other universities will be assessed by the MDES Curriculum Committee.

Director: Lynn Swartz Dodd, PhD

Archaeology deepens our understanding of peoples and societies across space and time, in all parts of the world, while expanding our knowledge of issues relevant in contemporary society. Archaeologists interpret material culture and action from our shared human past using a range of tools and approaches whether the discovery occurs with trowel in hand, or through laboratory analysis, artifact study, remote sensing or by documenting heritage.

Archaeology majors strengthen their skills in critical thinking, assessing evidence, and formulating clear and persuasive arguments, both oral and written. Students from a wide range of disciplines will gain perspective on their own intellectual and professional interests through the study of the past.

In addition to the general education requirements, the following courses are required:

Students gain long-term perspectives by studying of the material traces of the past human activity and by joining in its discovery. The minor in Archaeology is available to students in all schools and departments. 

Students gain diverse, long-term perspectives on Los Angeles, California state, the west, and the USA by joining in the discovery and study of the material traces of past human activity during an archaeological excavation and/or survey on USC's campus and/or elsewhere in California. The minor in Archaeology of California is available to students in all schools and departments. Students complete this minor through the archaeology block semester program. 

Bachelor of Science, Architectural Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies program begins intensively with architectural studies in the first two years and provides a mix of architectural and general university studies throughout the program. The curriculum includes a core program in the first two years identical to the Bachelor of Architecture professional degree program. The last two years provide the opportunity to explore many aspects of architecture and related fields and to develop individual strengths and interests. Students take an introductory course in specialization in the second year, which provides an introduction to related fields and alternative degree options. Students can elect to move into the four-year non-professional BS in Architectural Studies program with a degree plan identifying electives fulfilling an area of concentration. The program is concluded with a seminar with all degree candidates, allowing for collaborative work on areas of common interest.

Admission as a First-year Student

All applicants to the School of Architecture must complete the Common Application and submit it to the USC Office of Admission along with Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or other test scores. All applicants, including international students, must submit a portfolio.

Admission with Advanced Placement

It is possible, in selected instances, that a transfer student from an accredited community college or other university may be eligible for advanced placement at the second-year level if previous work includes a minimum of 32 semester units of acceptable academic credit in a pre-architecture program. The academic credit must include at least 8 semester units in architectural design or environmental design. Students accepted for advanced placement must still comply with all requirements for the degree.

Advanced placement applicants are required to submit a design portfolio to the School of Architecture at the time of application.

Summer Transfer Courses

A summer design studio allows highly qualified students transferring from community college or other university programs to be evaluated for advanced placement in the fall semester. Applicants must submit a university application and portfolio by February 1 for consideration. During the summer studio, transfer students must demonstrate significant design and drawing skill to justify advanced placement. Transfer students who are admitted with fewer than 32 units of college level work and who have only limited drawing or design skills may be considered for placement in the first year of the four-year program. Previous academic work may in part be applied toward required and elective courses for the four-year BS in Architectural Studies program. For more information about this program, contact the school at (213) 740-2420.

Advisement

The School of Architecture maintains student advisers for the benefit of all students in the school. All incoming students will participate in new student orientation and receive information about course requirements and planning. An individual appointment with an adviser may be scheduled at any time during the academic year to review course work in progress or to plan for future semesters.

Design Studio Grade Point Average Requirement

Less than average work in design studio is not considered sufficient for a continuation in the design studio sequence. Students must receive a grade of C (2.0) or above in each semester of design in order to continue in the design sequence. Students in the first two years of the program are required to repeat the course until such a grade is achieved.

Pass/No Pass Courses

Architecture students are permitted to take a maximum of 24 units of non-architecture electives, exclusive of the writing requirements, MATH 108 and the PHYS 125 requirement, on a pass/no pass option. No more than 4 units of pass/no pass courses may be applied to general education requirements; no more than 4 units may be taken in one semester. Students who have taken non-architecture courses pass/no pass in the past (i.e., before admission to architecture) may count such pass/no pass courses toward, but not in addition to, the maximum of 24 units.

Time Limits

While there are no specific time limits for completing the BS in Architectural Studies degree (except in the case of discontinued programs) the School of Architecture may require additional course work of students who remain in the degree program beyond six years.

Technology and innovation are becoming increasingly important in the field of architecture and new technological developments have the potential to enable a built environment that is much more sustainable, socially responsible and resilient than it is today. Rather than training students to follow the traditional model of client-based professional services, students will learn to be leaders who develop innovative architectural products, an architecture-related field that is underrepresented but growing. This program will look at architecture and the architectural market through a lens of entrepreneurship as students develop critical thinking skills to address the wicked problems of the 21st century, such as climate change, social justice, health and wellness, and our increasingly virtual world. Students will be taught to think about the problems related to architecture and the built environment in more product-oriented or service-related (i.e. construction/assembly methods, manufacturing, delivery, life-cycle, digital apps) ways. 

Bachelor of Architecture

The bachelor's degree program begins intensively with architectural studies in the first year and provides for a mix of architectural and general university studies throughout the program. The curriculum includes two cycles of development. The first cycle of six semesters provides a foundation in understanding architecture, concluding with integrative studies after two years of introductory work. The second cycle, four semesters, provides the opportunity to explore many aspects of architecture and to develop individual strengths and interests. One of these semesters must include participation in our Off-Campus Program as a requirement towards graduation. During this period, a comprehensive design studio project is undertaken in the fall of the fifth year. The spring of the fifth (and final) year culminates in the development of that comprehensive building project in the context of a professional practice course, coupled with a research design studio taken along the lines of the students' own interests.

Admission as a First Year Student

All applicants to the School of Architecture must complete the Common Application and submit it to the USC Office of Admission along with Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or other test scores. All applicants, including international students, must submit a portfolio.

Admission with Advanced Placement

It is possible, in selected instances, that a transfer student from an accredited community college or other university may be eligible for advanced placement at the second-year level if previous work includes a minimum of 32 semester units of acceptable academic credit in a pre-architecture program. The academic credit must include at least 8 semester units in architectural design or environmental design. Students accepted for advanced placement must still comply with all requirements for the degree.

Advanced placement applicants are required to submit a design portfolio to the School of Architecture at the time of application.

Summer Transfer Courses

A summer design studio and drawing course allows highly qualified students transferring from community college or other university programs to be evaluated for advanced placement in the fall semester. Applicants must submit a university application and portfolio by February 1 for consideration. During the summer transfer courses, students must demonstrate significant design and drawing skills to justify advanced placement. Successfully completing these summer transfer courses allows students to reduce the required 10-semester design sequence by two semesters, reducing USC residency to four years. This either provides for advanced placement into the second year or gives credit for ARCH 102a, ARCH 102b and ARCH 105 if these courses are passed with grades of B or above. For more information, contact the school at (213) 740-2420.

Transfer students who are admitted with fewer than 32 units of college-level work and who have only limited drawing or design skills may be considered for placement in the first year of the five-year design sequence. Previous academic work may in part be applied toward required and elective courses for the five-year Bachelor of Architecture program.

Advisement

The School of Architecture maintains academic advisers for the benefit of all students in the school. All incoming students will participate in new student orientation and receive information about course requirements and planning. An individual appointment with an adviser may be scheduled at any time during the academic year to review course work in progress or to plan for future semesters. 

Degree Requirements

Accredited degree programs awarding the BArch degree must require a minimum of 150 semester credit hours or the quarter-hour equivalent, in academic course work in general studies, professional studies and electives. The curriculum leading to the architecture degree must include at least 45 credit hours, or the quarter-hour equivalent, outside of architectural studies either as general studies or as electives with content other than architectural.

Design Studio and Degree Seminar Grade Point Average Requirement

Less than average work in design and design research is not considered sufficient for a professional degree. Students must receive a grade of C (2.0) or above in each semester of design and design research (ARCH 102a, ARCH 102b, ARCH 202a, ARCH 202b, ARCH 302a, ARCH 302b, ARCH 402a, ARCH 402b, ARCH 500a, ARCH 501, ARCH 502a) in order to continue in the design sequence and to graduate. Students will be required to repeat the course until such a grade is achieved.

Transfer Limit for Design Studio Credit

School of Architecture majors enrolling for a semester of study off campus are limited to the transfer of only one design studio course within the ARCH 402a, ARCH 402b sequence. Approval of transfer credit will be dependent upon portfolio review by an appointed faculty review committee.

Pass/No Pass Courses

Architecture students are permitted to take a maximum of 24 units of non-architecture electives, exclusive of the writing requirements, MATH 108 and the PHYS 125L requirement, on a pass/no pass basis. No more than 4 units of pass/no pass courses may be applied to general education requirements; no more than 4 units may be taken in one semester. Students who have taken non-architecture courses pass/no pass in the past (i.e., before admission to architecture) may count such pass/no pass courses toward, but not in addition to, the maximum of 24 units.

Schedule Choices

Students in upper division (ARCH 402a, ARCH 402b) may substitute any fall or spring semester by completing degree requirements, including design studio, by enrolling during summer session. This substitution does not provide for acceleration of the degree but does allow for make up so that students may get back on schedule for the five-year degree.

Time Limits

While there are no specific time limits for completing the bachelor's degree (except in the case of discontinued programs) the School of Architecture may require additional course work of students who remain in the degree program beyond six years.