Majors & Minors

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.

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 advisors 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.

Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Popular Music is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the performance of popular music. This program consists of course work in the major performance area, core music classes, USC's general education and writing, as well as electives to take advantage of the offerings of the Thornton School and of the entire university.

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 Project

A capstone project 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 project, including content, length, format and other specifications. In cases in which a performance venue is required in order to present the project, reservations must be made according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office.

The minor in Performance Science teaches the science, best practices and applied processes to instill a high-performance mindset though a multi-disciplinary curriculum spanning business, psychology, biology, philosophy and athletics. This interdisciplinary minor will enable students to understand brain and body function, human behavior, psychology, emotion and leadership, all with the goals of optimizing individual mindsets, maximizing performance and creating a culture of high performance within their organizations.

To enroll in this Performance Science minor, students must have completed 32 units of college-level courses and attain a minimum overall GPA of 2.75.

Completion of the minor requires 20 units.

Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Studio Guitar consists of course work in the major, core music studies (theory, aural skills, music history, conducting, large ensemble) and USC's general education and writing program.

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

The university's General Education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) 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. It 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. In addition, all entering freshmen are expected to complete a General Education Seminar during their first year at USC. These seminars satisfy one of the Core Literacy requirements above.

Note that courses within the major will also satisfy certain Core Literacy requirements. Please work with your major adviser to determine those courses.

Capstone Projects

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.

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.

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.

The minor in performing arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinematic arts, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society. The minor in performing arts studies is a 20-unit program.

Performing social change brings the language and practice of Dramatic Arts into communities and events that seek to redress power imbalances, create healing and dialogue and develop new systems of interaction, communication, well-being and governance. This minor creates opportunities for exploration of social change through performance and theatrical practice. 

A minor in petroleum engineering consisting of 16 required units is available to undergraduate majors in various fields of engineering and applied science. Besides preparing for graduate study in petroleum engineering, the program will prepare students for careers in areas of national need such as the exploration, recovery and production of subterranean resources, and the underground disposal of hazardous wastes.