Majors & Minors

This four-course minor enables students to learn about the nonprofit sector — its organizations, philanthropy and voluntary action. The three-course core provides: (1) an overview of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy and its role in the United States, including its historical and theoretical foundations, its various components and its relation to public policy; (2) a focus on voluntary action and service as one means for social change and problem-solving; and (3) insights into the management of nonprofit organizations. Students select an elective that extends their understanding to the role of nongovernmental organizations in international affairs or to the role of public relations for nonprofits.

This minor is intended for students who plan (1) to work in a nonprofit or charitable organization, whether it is a large organization such as United Way, a small social service agency, an environmental advocacy group, a museum or a religious organization, (2) to participate with nonprofits as a volunteer throughout their lives or (3) pursue further graduate work in a service-related profession.

This minor is designed to appeal to students interested in nutrition, especially in preparation for graduate study in health-related fields (e.g., medicine, public health) or to enter health-related fields of employment. The focus of the minor is on assessing, planning and evaluating dietary intake of individuals or groups under various conditions of health and disease based upon principles of nutrition and behavioral science. Students in this minor will study factors associated with dietary habits and the development of effective individual and group interventions. It complements majors including psychology, gerontology, biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology and environmental studies.

The division offers a minor in the discipline of occupational science. It is one of a select few programs in the world that offers undergraduates the opportunity to explore importance of occupation, or meaningful activity, as well as the fields of occupational science and occupational therapy.

Occupational Scientists and Occupational Therapists seek to understand and appreciate the motivations that make us human. Humans are innately driven to fill their time with interesting, meaningful activities, which scholars call "occupations." Occupational Therapists and Occupational Scientists believe that humans need to be occupied because occupations have a profound impact on physical and mental health, one's sense of well-being and the experience of a satisfying quality of life. Occupational Science seeks to understand the precise nature and function of occupations and the critical effect of daily activity on human beings. Scientists working in the field may examine questions such as the relationship between childhood occupations and adult competency and achievement, what constitutes a healthy balance of work, rest and leisure and what factors contribute to a good fit between a particular individual and their occupations.

The minor in occupational science requires a total of 20 units: a required gateway course (OT 250) for 4 units plus 16 units selected from the elective courses. It is open to all majors at USC. An occupational therapy major cannot count any 300-level OT course toward the BS degree.

The undergraduate curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science with a major in Occupational Therapy. Only incoming freshmen may apply to the bachelor's to doctorate program in occupational therapy; students may not change their major to occupational therapy once admitted to USC. Students majoring in occupational therapy begin full-time graduate study during their senior year, substantially reducing their overall cost of education and preparing them sooner for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT) examination. Successful completion of an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree, including successful completion of a minimum of 24 full-time weeks of clinical fieldwork, qualifies students for eligibility to sit for the NBCOT examination. Certification from the board and state licensure are required to practice as an occupational therapist.

Admission Criteria and Application Procedures for Incoming Freshmen

See the Undergraduate Admission section of this catalogue for admission criteria and application procedures for the university.

Program Requirements

A total of 128 units is required for the Bachelor of Science degree. An occupational therapy major cannot count any 300-level OT course toward the BS degree.

General Education Requirements

The university's general education (GE) program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to become a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. The general education program requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. See General Education for more information.

The minor in operations and supply chain management is available to students in all schools and departments except business majors. This minor requires 20 units to complete. To enroll, students must have completed a minimum of 32 units of college-level course work and have a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.75.

The minor in organizational leadership and management is available to students in all schools and departments except business majors. Students in the minor learn about personal and organizational leadership, ethics of the workplace, leading in a global context and organizing and planning for effective personal and organizational performance.

To enroll, students must have completed a minimum of 32 units of college-level courses and have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75. Completion of this minor requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the following courses:

Within both western and non-western traditions, painting has a long history as a site for aesthetic experience and cultural questioning. This minor allows students to immerse themselves in painting, as well as developing a grasp of the critical issues surrounding it. Foundation courses provide the fundamentals of color, composition, medium and drawing. Advanced courses require more ambitious projects, personal direction, research and sustained focus. Students majoring in many areas of the humanities may pursue this minor to augment their understanding of one of the key media in the arts. The minor is available to all USC students who wish to develop their painting skills. A total of 20 units are required for this minor.

This interdisciplinary minor is designed for students who wish to engage in the experimental discipline of performance art, a mode of creative expression in which live or mediated bodies perform in theatrical or virtual settings for an audience. The minor offers two required courses, one in video and media installation and one in performance art, along with a broad range of electives from Roski* and partner schools in Kaufman School of Dance, the School of Dramatic Arts, Thornton School of Music, the School of Cinematic Arts and Dornsife College. It is open to any USC student regardless of prior experience, especially those interested in creating new stories, actions or personas or those who want to explore the kind of disciplinary boundary-breaking and individual expressivity that is characteristic of the field. Practitioners in performance art come from a variety of backgrounds and crossovers between performance art with studies in popular culture, social media, community activism, theatre and dance are common. Performance art also highlights intersections among postcolonial and decolonial, ethnic and sexuality/gender studies, making it an effective medium to explore and express identity and its politics. Total number of units required is 20**.

*Roski majors are required to include at least 16 units of electives that are unique to this minor (i.e., not included in their major and outside of Roski). Please consult with your academic adviser before adding this minor.

**It is highly recommended to take at least one Critical Studies elective course.

Overview

All USC Thornton undergraduate programs in classical performance and composition combine a rigorous foundation of the finest conservatory training with curricular flexibility for students to chart their own artistic pathways. All curricular components are designed to support students in creating a distinctive musical voice and preparing for a fulfilling musical career.

Entrance Requirements

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

USC's General Education program, revised in fall 2015, provides a coherent, integrated approach to the study of the liberal arts, with the goal of nurturing habits of thought that are essential for professional success, personal development, and meaningful lifelong learning. Eight courses are required in six Core Literacies, in addition to two courses in Global Perspectives, two courses in Writing, and one General Education Seminar taken during the first year at USC. With careful planning, certain courses (including courses required for the music major) can fulfill more than one of these general education requirements. Academic advisers in the Thornton School carefully guide Thornton students in making their course choices. This typically will result in Thornton students taking a total of eight courses (including two writing courses) in order to fulfill all of the USC general education requirements.

Capstone Projects

Young Artist Project

During the junior and senior years of the program, students develop and fully realize unique individualized, mentored projects related to their work as classical musicians. This could involve developing a hybrid performance, conducting original research, exploring new creative technologies, or applying creative expression to a pressing social issue.

Recitals

A junior and senior recital must be completed under approved faculty supervision and guidance. The faculty of the department of the student's major program determines the detailed requirements of the recitals, including content, length, format, and other specifications. In cases in which a performance venue is required in order to present the recitals, reservations must be made according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office.

Overview

All USC Thornton undergraduate programs in classical performance and composition combine a rigorous foundation of the finest conservatory training with curricular flexibility for students to chart their own artistic pathways. All curricular components are designed to support students in creating a distinctive musical voice and preparing for a fulfilling musical career.

Entrance Requirements

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

USC's General Education program, revised in fall 2015, provides a coherent, integrated approach to the study of the liberal arts, with the goal of nurturing habits of thought that are essential for professional success, personal development, and meaningful lifelong learning. Eight courses are required in six Core Literacies, in addition to two courses in Global Perspectives, two courses in Writing, and one General Education Seminar taken during the first year at USC. With careful planning, certain courses (including courses required for the music major) can fulfill more than one of these general education requirements. Academic advisers in the Thornton School carefully guide Thornton students in making their course choices. This typically will result in Thornton students taking a total of eight courses (including two writing courses) in order to fulfill all of the USC general education requirements.

Capstone Projects

Young Artist Project

During the junior and senior years of the program, students develop and fully realize unique individualized, mentored projects related to their work as classical musicians. This could involve developing a hybrid performance, conducting original research, exploring new creative technologies, or applying creative expression to a pressing social issue.

Recital

A senior recital must be completed under approved faculty supervision and guidance. The faculty of the department of the student's major program determines the detailed requirements of the recital, including content, length, format and other specifications. In cases in which a performance venue is required in order to present the recital, reservations must be made according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office.