USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

African American Studies is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of African Americans, with particular emphasis on the development and culture of the African American communities in California and the West as well as on both historical and contemporary effects of global issues on African American communities. The program is particularly appropriate for students preparing to work and interact with diverse communities and cultures in the United States and abroad in such fields as education, human services, law, business, journalism, and public administration.

Opportunities for Students

Junior and Senior seminars: All students are required to take these seminar courses, in which they work closely with internationally recognized faculty to complete substantial projects in the field. These seminars prepare students for graduate work in the field and related research and writing projects in professional schools, such as Law, Business, and Communication.

California African American Museum: Located across the street from campus, this museum allows students the chance to research and observe the history, art, and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on California and the western United States.

Center for Diversity & Democracy: The CDD works with faculty, students, and community partners to enhance, explore, and develop strong connections between efforts of university-community civic engagement and the diversity of university faculty and students. It is committed to making stronger a diverse set of voices at the university, while enabling a wide variety of community members and organizations to engage the university as equal partners towards equity and social justice.

Notable Courses

• AMST 101: Race and Class in Los Angeles-- Analysis of race and the economic, political, gender, and social dimensions of contemporary Los Angeles including topics such as residential segregation, economic inequality, and city politics.
  
  
• AMST 200: Introduction to American Studies and Ethnicity-- Introduction to American studies and ethnic studies. Provides an overview of major theories, concepts, and issues.
  
  
• AMST 285: African American Popular Culture-- Examines history of popular cultural forms such as literature, music, dance, theatre, and visual arts produced by and about African Americans.
  
  
• POSC 427: Black Politics in the American Political System-- The effects of the organization of the American political system and its operations on blacks and other minorities.
  
  

American Studies and Ethnicity integrates the study of history with literature, the arts, and the social sciences in an effort to understand the diverse peoples and cultures that have composed the United States. This interdisciplinary major covers critical perspectives on regional, ethnic, class, and gender diversity. An education in American Studies and Ethnicity will be particularly appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in law, journalism, government, foreign service, social work, international business, public administration, and education.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AMST 101: Race and Class in Los Angeles-- Analysis of race and the economic, political, gender, and social dimensions of contemporary Los Angeles including topics such as residential segregation, economic inequality, and city politics.
  
  
• AMST 200: Introduction to American Studies and Ethnicity-- Introduction to American studies and ethnic studies. Provides an overview of major theories, concepts, and issues.
  
  
• AMST 202: Interethnic Diversity in the West-- Introduction to community, culture, and ethnicity within the Western United States with emphasis on African American, Asian American, and Chicano/Latino cultures and social patterns.
  
  
• AMST 320: Social Construction of Race and Citizenship-- Comparative perspective on the social construction of race and citizenship. Social, economic, and political experiences of selected groups in the U.S. are examined.
  
  

In USC Dornsife's Anthropology department, anthropologists study humankind through a cross-cultural, social science perspective, exploring the importance of culture in shaping human behavior and cultural relativity. Special emphasis is placed on the analysis and understanding of cultural differences, whether in human communities or among other primates. The Department of Anthropology encourages students to become involved in ethnographic research and fieldwork while gaining a firm theoretical foundation in anthropology. Special areas of emphasis in the department are provided by programs in visual anthropology and primate ethology. Undergraduates may take a number of courses in visual anthropology that focus on the analysis and understanding of human behavior and are encouraged to include visual media in their senior field methods practicum.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 200: The Origins of Humanity-- Foundations of the human species. Examination of scientific evidence from Darwinian theory, primate behavior, fossils, and the behavior of modern people.
  
  
• ANTH 263: Exploring Culture Through Film-- Concepts of social anthropology using filmic representations of societies throughout the world in contrast to written ethnography.
  
  
• ANTH 305: Childhood, Birth, and Reproduction-- Cross-cultural analysis and comparison of the experience and cultural conception of birth, maternity, parenthood, and childhood in western and non-western societies.
  
  
• ANTH 306: Primate Social Behavior-- Social behavior of living nonhuman primates, with an emphasis on field studies of apes and monkeys. Topics include aggression, communication, reproduction, cognition, and ecology.
  
  

USC Dornsife’s Mathematics department incorporates many mathematical theoreticians as well as specialists in applications of engineering, computer science, finance, economics, physics, and computational genomics. This combination of theoretical and practical education gives the department a unique energy. This particular program of study allows students to use electives to prepare themselves for a specific field, whether in industry, teaching, or advanced graduate research. The faculty is engaged in a wide variety of research activities and offers courses in many areas. Having access to many different kinds of mathematicians at USC Dornsife can aid students in developing their own specialized study and research. New research ventures beyond core mathematics and statistics enhance the focus and curriculum for mathematics at USC Dornsife.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• MATH 407: Probability Theory-- Probability spaces, discrete and continuous distributions, moments, characteristic functions, sequences of random variables, laws of large numbers, central limit theorem, special probability laws.
  
  
• MATH 408: Mathematical Statistics-- Principles for testing hypotheses and estimation, small sample distributions, correlation and regression, nonparametric methods, elements of statistical decision theory.
  
  
• MATH 432: Applied Combinatorics-- Mathematical induction, counting principles, arrangements, selections, binomial coefficients, generating functions, recurrence relations, inclusion-exclusion, symmetric groups, graphs, Euler and Hamiltonian circuits, trees, graph algorithms, applications.
  
  
• MATH 458: Numerical Methods-- Rounding errors in digital computations; solution of linear algebraic systems; Newton’s method for nonlinear systems; matrix eigen-values; polynomial approximation; numerical integration; numerical solution of ordinary differential equations.
  
  

Archaeological survey and excavation provide critical information to fields as diverse as Classics, Art History, and Biblical Studies. As a scholarly discipline, however, archaeology is more than a way of recovering physical evidence. It is a way of understanding the rich record of past human societies through the study of their material cultures. The Archaeology major at USC combines courses in Anthropology, Classics, Art History, Linguistics, and Religion. This exciting major is ideal for students who have an interest in how the past informs the present and desire a broad interdisciplinary approach to understanding the world and its material history. The BA in Archaeology provides both academic breadth and field focus. Archaeology majors will acquire an overview of the history of the discipline, exposure to the various and evolving theoretical perspectives that inform archaeology, and hands-on experience with basic and contemporary field technologies. Students majoring in Archaeology are strongly encouraged to gain direct experience through participation in fieldwork and research projects. Our faculty can help place students in programs here in Los Angeles or in diverse parts of the world.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AHIS 201: Digging into the Past — Material Culture and the Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean-- A broad survey, covering some 8,000 years and focusing on the material culture of the ancient world in a historical and social context.
  
  
• ANTH 310: Archaeology of the Americas-- Pre-Columbian culture from early hunters to the Spanish conquest in major geographical areas of Mexico, Central America, Peru, or the United States.
  
  
• CLAS 323: Aegean Archaeology-- A survey of the Bronze Age Aegean societies of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, with an emphasis on archaeological theory and method in a prehistoric context.
  
  
• REL 394: Archaeology of Egypt and the Near East-- Study of archaeology and excavated artifacts from Egypt and the Near East.
  
  

Art History blends the study of art with the study of culture. Students receive not only sound training in the history of art but also a basis in other humanistic disciplines. The curriculum is designed to guarantee a general knowledge of both western and eastern art and to offer a variety of upper division courses in specialized areas. Students are exposed to a diversity of theoretical approaches and encouraged to sharpen their critical and conceptual thinking. This foundation has enabled many Art History graduates to pursue advanced degrees in nationally-recognized programs, to enter diverse fields (including law or business), and to pursue careers in the arts.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AHIS 128: Arts of Latin America-- Survey of the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from the colonial period to the present, focusing on connections to culture and society.
  
  
• AHIS 255: Culture Wars — Art and Social Conflict in the Modern World-- Examination of social conflicts and political controversies in American culture through the lens of visual art and photography.
  
  
• AHIS 373: History of Photography-- Explores key moments in the history of photography from its invention to the present. Issues include modernity and mass culture; photography as a fine art; technologies of vision.
  
  
• AHIS 381: Visual Culture of Asia-- Exploration of one or more major traditions of visual culture in Asia through cross-cultural, interdisciplinary perspectives.
  
  

Asian American Studies is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of Asian Pacific Americans, with particular emphasis on the development and culture of the Asian American communities in California and the West as well as the effects of both historical and contemporary global issues on Asian American communities. The program is particularly appropriate for students preparing to work and interact with diverse communities and cultures in the United States and abroad in such fields as education, human services, law, business, journalism, and public administration.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AMST 200: American Studies & Ethnicity-- Introduction to American studies and ethnic studies. Provides an overview of major theories, concepts, and issues.
  
  
• AMST 220: The Making of Asian America-- Historical, social, and cultural analysis of (East, South, and Southeast) Asians in the United States. Themes examined: immigration, race and gender relations, ethnic culture, community and identity.
  
  
• AMST 377: Legacies of Viet Nam-- Examination of 20th century Viet Nam (the country) and "Vietnam" (the American war) through the literature, film, and visual culture that have been produced by Americans, Vietnamese, and overseas Vietnamese.
  
  
• AMST 378: Introduction to Asian American History-- Comparative examination of the social, economic, and political experiences of Asian immigrants and their descendants in the U.S., 1840s-present.
  
  

This major allows students to work with scientists who explore the structure of matter and how it organizes itself by observing the most elemental forms of nature and how they behave in both inner and outer space. USC Dornsife astronomers also work collaboratively with the Wilson Observatory (home of the one of the world’s largest interferometer telescopic arrays for stellar research), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the nearby California Institute of Technology, and the High Degree Helioseismology Network. The Bachelor of Science degree offers an in-depth and rigorous treatment of Astronomy for students intending to pursue careers in basic science. The Bachelor of Arts degree is ideal for students pursuing careers in other fields (e.g. law, finance, or business management). This degree provides a strong science background in Astronomy, while allowing the flexibility to pursue a minor or double major.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ASTR 400: The Solar System-- Earth’s motions; planets and their satellites; comets; meteorites; interplanetary matter; elementary celestial mechanics.
  
  
• ASTR 410: Stellar Astronomy-- The nature and dynamics of the sun, stars clusters, interstellar medium, and the structure of our Galaxy.
  
  
• ASTR 440: Astrophysics-- Introduction to the theory of stellar structure, stellar atmospheres, the evolution of the sun and stars.
  
  
• PHYS 304: Mechanics-- Dynamics of particles, kinematics of rotations, rigid body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism, theory of small vibrations.
  
  

A Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry is jointly offered through the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry. At most universities, such programs are offered through a single department, either Biology or Chemistry, with the curriculum reflecting the home department. At USC, this program is an academic partnership between the two departments, in line with the interdisciplinary character of biochemistry. This program may meet the needs of students with broad interests in the sciences and may be particularly appropriate for those preparing for a research career in a biomedical field or a clinical career in a health profession.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• BISC 307: Physiology-- Physiological functions of the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, and urogenital systems in animals.
  
  
• BISC 320: Molecular Biology-- Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins; molecular biology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes; principles of genetics and cell biology.
  
  
• BISC 330: Biochemistry-- Basic biochemical principles; classes of molecules — structure and function; cellular energetics.
  
  
• CHEM 300: Analytical Chemistry-- Theory and practice in chemical analysis, emphasizing instrumental techniques; error analysis, fractional distillation, extraction; chromatography; visible, ultraviolet, and infrared spectroscopy; introductions to electrochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  
  

The faculty and students in USC Dornsife’s Biological Sciences department study the natural world to better understand living systems—from the biochemical to genes, and from cells to global biodiversity. The department has research faculty with specialties in four disciplines: marine environmental biology, molecular and computational biology, human and evolutionary biology, and neurobiology. Biology majors may study general Biology or choose an emphasis in any of these four disciplines. Students in Biological Sciences have the opportunity to become involved in laboratory or field research by taking research courses.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• BISC 313: Evolution and Population Genetics-- History of evolutionary thought; molecular basis for evolution; dynamics of genes in population; patterns of evolution.
  
  
• BISC 325: Genetics-- Transmission genetics and genotype/phenotype; mapping methods; complex traits; genetics of human disease and population genetics.
  
  
• BISC 423: Epilepsy to Ecstasy — Biological Basis of Neurological Disorders-- An examination of various neurological disorders originating from developmental signaling and/or anatomical abnormalities.
  
  
• BISC 483: Geobiology and Astrobiology-- Relationships between microbiota and the earth environment including the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere, with consideration of the potential for life on other planets.
  
  

The interdisciplinary Biophysics major provides a solid foundation in both the biological sciences and the fundamental concepts of classical and quantum physics through a variety of tools that include abstract thought, experimentation and observation, data analysis, and mathematical modeling. This foundation prepares students for further study in graduate and professional schools and for careers as scientists or engineers who will participate in the creation of the science and technology of the future.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• BISC 421: Neurobiology-- Structure, function, and development of nervous systems; neural integration and mechanisms of behavior; organization and operation of brains.
  
  
• MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I-- First-order differential equations; second-order linear differential equations; determinants and matrices; systems of linear differential equations; Laplace transforms.
  
  
• PHYS 304: Mechanics-- Dynamics of particles, kinematics of rotations, rigid body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism, theory of small vibrations.
  
  
• PHYS 408: Electricity and Magnetism-- Electrostatics; thermal, chemical, magnetic effects of steady currents; DC circuits.
  
  

The Department of Chemistry offers degree programs which provide undergraduate students with core instruction and excellent research opportunities. Graduates with a BS degree in Chemistry are well prepared to take a job as a professional chemist, or to continue their studies for an advanced degree (usually the PhD) in chemistry or a related area. The BS degree in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society and offers concentrations in Research, Chemical Nanoscience, and Chemical Biology. The BA degree program is designed for students who are interested in chemistry but intend to pursue a career in another field such as medicine, dentistry, law, or business. Because this curriculum is not as restrictive as the requirements for the BS degree, students find it easier to broaden the scope of their studies by either a double major or a major/minor combination. Students in both programs are encouraged to participate in research projects with the Chemistry faculty, typically during the junior and senior years.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• CHEM 300: Analytical Chemistry-- Theory and practice in chemical analysis, emphasizing instrumental techniques; error analysis, fractional distillation, extraction; chromatography; visible, ultraviolet, and infrared spectroscopy; introductions to electrochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  
  
• CHEM 332: Physical Chemical Measurements-- Experimental study of topics such as adsorption, magnetic susceptibility; electron spin resonance, kinetics, equilibria, molecular spectra and structure, viscosity, dielectric properties.
  
  
• CHEM 453: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry-- Atomic structure, theory of bonding, molecular structure, metallic state, coordination compounds, transition and nontransition metals, magnetic and optical properties, crystal field theory, mechanism of reactions.
  
  
• CHEM 465: Chemical Instrumentation-- Principles of operation of instruments used in physical sciences. Basic electronics, interconnection of building blocks, data acquisition and data reduction, noise, instrument systems.
  
  

Chicano/Latino Studies is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of Chicanos and Latinos, with particular emphasis on the development and culture of the Chicano/Latino communities in California and the West as well as on both historical and contemporary effects of global issues on Chicano/Latino communities. The program is particularly appropriate for students preparing to work and interact with diverse communities and cultures in the United States and abroad in such fields as education, human services, law, business, journalism, and public administration.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AMST 101: Race and Class in Los Angeles-- Analysis of race and the economic, political, gender, and social dimensions of contemporary Los Angeles including topics such as residential segregation, economic inequality, and city politics.
  
  
• AMST 200: Introduction to American Studies and Ethnicity-- Introduction to American studies and ethnic studies. Provides an overview of major theories, concepts, and issues.
  
  
• AMST 357: Latino Social Movements-- Focuses on the political experience of Latinos in the U.S. Comparative analysis of their political experiences and perspectives, their histories of identity formation, and their political organizations.
  
  
• AMST 373: History of the Mexican American-- Racial and cultural background of Mexico; immigration and conquest; the Mexican in California and the southwest; the rise of contemporary Mexican-American consciousness.
  
  

The Classics major gives students an understanding of the cultures, languages, and literatures of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Mediterranean world. Classics is a broadly interdisciplinary field. Most courses focus on ancient Greece and Rome, but students in the department also study the impact of classical cultures on later societies and the interactions among various ancient cultures. USC is a member of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies and the College Year in Athens program. Undergraduate students specialize in one of four tracks: civilization and society; literature and mythology; Greek language, literature and culture; or Latin language, literature and culture. Students complete a language requirement in Latin or Greek, and study texts that have been central to Western scholarship for thousands of years. Classics majors are encouraged to explore courses in allied fields such as ancient Philosophy, History, Comparative Literature, Art History, and Archaeology. A major in Classics can also be very successfully paired with degrees in a range of other fields. Our students have been known to combine their study of Classics with a number of other pre-professional emphases, majors, and minors, including pre-med, Religion, Cinematic Arts, and Political Science.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• CLAS 300: Women in Antiquity-- Theoretical approaches to women's history; evidence for the daily life, legal status, and religion of ancient Greek and Roman women; the female in literature and art.
  
  
• CLAS 310: Pagans and Christians-- The Christian reception and transformation of pagan religious and philosophical thought.
  
  
• CLAS 333: Cult and City in Ancient Greece-- Explores the relationship between civic and religious institutions in ancient Greece: city planning, warfare, mystery cults, drama, sacrifice, and women's rituals.
  
  
• CLAS 375: Alexander the Great — Leadership, Personality, and World Conquest-- Ancient sources on Alexander's life, personality and conquests. Modern evaluations of his achievements as a prototype for autocracy and empire-building from antiquity to today.
  
  

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the mind and cognition from a variety of perspectives and approaches. The core and electives include courses from Anthropology, Computer Science, Linguistics, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Psychology. The major consists of four fixed core courses, plus two tiers of flexible core courses. The first tier generally consists of more introductory courses and the second tier of more advanced courses, although there are exceptions, and some courses satisfy either tier. Students must take two courses from the first tier and three courses from the second. The purpose of the flexible tiers is to structurally implement interdisciplinary breadth with some degree of flexibility. The flexible core is a subset of the electives from which students can choose in order to complete the required number of units. Students may elect to focus their curriculum from one of three tracks, which are suggested courses of study for focusing on a particular theme in cognitive science: language, reasoning and decision-making, and the computational mind.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 306: Primate Social Behavior-- Social behavior of living nonhuman primates, with an emphasis on field studies of apes and monkeys. Topics include aggression, communication, reproduction, cognition, and ecology.
  
  
• LING 407: Atypical Language-- Analysis of atypical language and language pathologies throughout the lifespan and their relevance to current linguistic and cognitive science theory.
  
  
• PHIL 262: Mind and Self — Modern Conceptions-- Philosophical problems about the nature of mind associated with the rise of modern science; topics include the mind/body relation, personal identity, rationality, and freedom.
  
  
• PSYC 425: Functional Imaging of the Human Brain-- Introduction to the physical and physiological bases of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and principles of functional MRI, safety, design, and analysis of experiments, and operation.
  
  

Literature captures snapshots of different people, culture, and history. In USC Dornsife’s Comparative Literature department, the full spectrum of the world’s literature is analyzed and compared—from mythology, drama, and biographies, to poetry, novels, and films. The programs developed in Comparative Literature have a unique cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach to study, and our program is more broadly conceived than at many other universities. While we offer traditional Comparative Literature courses that cross the boundaries of national literatures and study literary periods, movements, and genres, our courses also allow students to explore literature's social and political contexts and to discover its relation to other arts like film, painting, and music. And a strong non-Western component encourages students to learn more about Asian literary traditions and cultures. Students study Comparative Literature through individualized programs, where topics vary from modernist literature to hip-hop culture. The Comparative Literature major allows students to learn a language in depth, as well as study the literature, art, film, and music produced in associated cultures.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• COLT 250: Cultures of Latin America-- Comparative study of Latin American cultures, especially vis-a-vis those of Europe and the U.S. Materials drawn from literature, but also film, opera, history, cultural theory.
  
  
• COLT 374: Women Writers in Europe and America-- Introduction to works of major women writers from the Middle Ages to the 20th century in their literary, social, and cultural contexts.
  
  
• COLT 381: Psychoanalysis and the Arts-- Introduction to psychoanalytic literature on the arts, including classic texts by Freud, Jones, Lacan, Derrida, and others. Readings of theoretical and fictional works.
  
  
• COLT 382: Zen and Taoism in Asian Literature-- Studies of the presence and influence of Zen Buddhism and Taoism in Asian literature, with a focus on China and Japan.
  
  

Computational Neuroscience is designed for students with an interest in applying mathematical and computational methodologies towards understanding the structure and functioning of the nervous system. It provides progressive training in interdisciplinary and interfaculty aspects of Neuroscience and serves as a foundation for students interested in pursuing post-graduate education or career opportunities in technically advanced occupations.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• NEUR 408: Systems Neuroscience-- Sensory systems to illustrate basic concepts regarding the functional organization of the brain, from the microscopic arrangement of neural circuits to global processes such as perception.
  
  
• BISC 424: Brain Architecture-- How the parts of the brain are interconnected to form a complex biological computer, from historical, evolutionary, and developmental perspectives.
  
  
• PSYC 304: Sensation and Perception-- Receptor processes and stimulus organization; traditional topics in the perception of objects, space, time. Laboratory demonstrations and exercises.
  
  
• PSYC 425: Functional Imaging of the Human Brain-- Introduction to the physical and physiological bases of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and principles of functional MRI, safety, design and analysis of experiments, and operation.
  
  

Undergraduate majors in English (Creative Writing) are required to take 10 courses (for a total of 40 units) for a BA degree. All students take three lower-division courses that encourage discussion about the broad sweep of what has been and what will be. These courses can be as different as the professors who teach them. The Creative Writing track features workshops in writing poetry and fiction, courses in literature, and courses in contemporary writers. Majors must take one course before 1900, another after 1900, and at least three workshops in poetry and fiction, with two electives.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ENGL 290: Cultural Studies — Theories and Methods-- Introduction to the theories, methods, and history of cultural studies, with coverage of contemporary debates over censorship and the politics of authorship, seriality, and originality.
  
  
• ENGL 404: Writer in the Community-- Apprenticeship with experienced writer-teachers, providing students with a pedagogical framework and practical experience for teaching creative writing in schools and community settings.
  
  
• ENGL 412: Analysis of Written Persuasion-- Persuasive discourse, including structure, intention, and figurative language; analysis of texts in various humanistic, scientific, and socio-scientific disciplines.
  
  
• ENGL 452: Modern Poetry-- Study of poetry written in English from 1900 to 1945, with special emphasis on American modernists of the first two decades.
  
  

The Earth Sciences major includes a spectrum of disciplines focused on understanding the processes that influence the tectonics and environment of the planet, on using this understanding to read the record of earth history written in rocks and sediments, and on developing models that can be used to predict future changes due to natural phenomena and recent perturbations caused by humans. Issues of societal concern related to seismic risk, climate change, environmental contamination, and other geologic hazards play an important role. The department is affiliated with two research centers: the Southern California Earthquake Center and the Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies. The BA degree is recommended for students interested in the Earth Sciences but who intend to pursue careers in other fields, such as business, law, or education.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• GEOL 108: Crises of a Planet-- Impact of civilization on planet earth, and impact of earth’s natural evolution on society: earthquakes, volcanism, landslides, floods, global warming, acid rain, groundwater depletion and pollution; mineral and fossil fuel depletion, formation of the ozone hole.
  
  
• GEOL 320: Surficial Processes and Stratigraphic Systems-- Processes of erosion, sediment transport, and deposition that shape the land surface; landscape response to tectonism; recognition and interpretation of depositional environments in the stratigraphic record.
  
  
• GEOL 440: Geophysics and Geoengineering-- Plate tectonics, magnetic and gravity fields, earthquakes, seismic waves, reflection and refraction seismics, heat transport, mantle convection, deep Earth structure, data analysis.
  
  
• GEOL 450: Geosystems-- Geosystems, such as mantle convection, active faults, climate, and the carbon cycle, will be studied using numerical models and concepts such as chaos, universality, emergence, and intermittency.
  
  

USC Dornsife’s East Asian Area Studies program is interdisciplinary by design, drawing on faculty from various departments in USC Dornsife and throughout USC. With a strong curriculum and faculty, an East Asian Library, and USC’s urban location, the program is poised for a leadership position in East Asian scholarship and research. East Asian Area Studies is a major appropriate for students with a broad interest in East Asia, especially China, Japan and Korea. In addition to being an excellent first major, it is a very attractive double major for students in other programs and in professional schools (Business, Cinema, Engineering, etc.) who want to make East Asia part of their personal and professional futures.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AHIS 381: Visual Culture of Asia-- Exploration of one or more major traditions of visual culture in Asia through cross-cultural, interdisciplinary perspectives.
  
  
• EASC 150: East Asian Societies-- Main patterns of change in modern China, Japan, and Korea; historical framework and the insights of geography, economics, political science, and other disciplines.
  
  
• EALC 412: Business Culture-- Practice in the basic vocabulary and idioms of foreign trade and other commercial transactions in Mandarin.
  
  
• HP 450: Traditional Eastern Medicine and Modern Health-- Overview of traditional Eastern approaches toward health and disease; relevance to modern health issues, emphasizing a comparison between traditional Chinese and modern Western medicine.
  
  

USC Dornsife’s East Asian Languages and Cultures department provides students with a well-rounded education on East Asia by focusing on the study of the languages, linguistics, literature, thought, and civilizations of China, Japan, and Korea. Students typically concentrate on one East Asian language and culture while also taking broader survey courses on East Asia as a cultural unit. For this reason, one frequently hears students on campus talking about "majoring" in Japanese, Chinese, or Korean, though strictly speaking all these students are actually majoring in EALC. However, students are not restricted to focus their studies on one language or culture. The BA programs strongly emphasize language for effective communication in East Asia. Undergraduates may elect to complete up to one year of their coursework in East Asia through the study-abroad programs administered by USC’s Office of Overseas Studies.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• EALC 125: Introduction to Contemporary East Asian Film and Culture-- An introduction to and overview of the contemporary cinemas of East Asia: China, Japan, and Korea.
  
  
• EALC 344: Korean Literature and Culture-- The history of Korean literature and culture from the ancient to the modern era.
  
  
• EALC 375: Women and Gender in China — Past and Present-- An examination of changes in sex roles and in constructs of the female as influenced by traditional Chinese thought and later social developments.
  
  
• EALC 428: Nature and the Environment in Japanese Literature and Culture-- Examination of cultural perception about nature and how they affect attitudes towards the environment: includes comparisons to Euro-American as well as other East-Asian traditions.
  
  

From healthcare to the environment to law, economic theories help make sense of complex issues. In USC Dornsife’s Economics department, economic theory is intertwined with practical models to address concepts across many disciplinary boundaries. In this original approach to research, scholars develop analytical models to explain broad concepts, such as human behavior. Theories like the economics of happiness and the economics of uncertainty were honed within USC Dornsife walls. Emphasis is placed on practical economic research, such as how economics can be used to better understand business contracts and competition within industries.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ECON 340: Economics of Less Developed Countries-- Causes of economic underdevelopment: historical, institutional, structural, ideological, technological, cultural. Patterns and theories of development. Role of government, international trade, and education in economic growth.
  
  
• ECON 348: Current Problems of the American Economy-- A comprehensive investigation of problems stemming from changing composition of the work force, urban decline, new technologies, inequalities, ethnic relations, government deficits, and prospects for continued growth.
  
  
• ECON 357: Money, Credit, and Banking-- The money, bond, stock ,and other financial markets; portfolio choice; determinants of asset prices and interest rates; inflation; interactions between financial markets and government policies.
  
  
• ECON 452: International Finance-- Consequences of trade deficits; theories of capital and currency markets, exchange rate regimes, and international monetary coordination.
  
  

USC Dornsife’s Mathematics department incorporates many mathematical theoreticians as well as specialists in applications of finance and economics. This combination of theoretical and practical education gives the department a unique energy. The program of study allows students to use electives to prepare themselves for a specific field, whether in industry, teaching or advanced graduate research. In USC Dornsife’s Economics department, economic theory is intertwined with practical models to address concepts across many disciplinary boundaries. In this original approach to research, scholars are developing analytical models to explain broad concepts, such as human behavior. Theories like the economics of happiness and the economics of uncertainty were honed within USC Dornsife walls. Emphasis is placed on practical economic research, such as how economics can be used to better understand business contracts and competition within industries. This major particularly benefits students interested in pursuing Economics at a PhD level.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ECON 404: Games and Economics-- Analysis of strategic economic interactions. Topics include bargaining, insurance, patents, voting, environmental depletion, strategic trade, learning, reputation, strikes, corporate takeovers, and the provision of public goods.
  
  
• ECON 414: Introduction to Econometrics-- Application of statistical methods to economic data; estimating economic relationships using regression analysis, testing hypotheses involving economic behavior, forecasting economic variables.
  
  
• ECON 419: Forecasting-- Trends, time-series models, low-cost forecasting methods, regression models, evaluation and combination of forecasts. Applications in business and economics.
  
  
• MATH 407: Probability Theory-- Probability spaces, discrete and continuous distributions, moments, characteristic functions, sequences of random variables, laws of large numbers, central limit theorem, special probability laws.
  
  

The Department of English offers a broad range of courses in English, American, and Anglophone literature of all periods and genres, and in related areas such as creative and expository writing, literature and visual arts, ethnic literature and cultural studies, the history of the English language and of literary criticism, and literary and cultural theory. Instructors assign extensive reading and writing in order to help students become perceptive readers, critical thinkers, and strong writers – skills that are their own lasting rewards and that also help prepare students for several areas of graduate study and for a number of professional and creative pursuits. To develop as a scholar and writer, students can combine an English major with another area of literature, Journalism, or Cinema-Television Critical Studies. The department’s wide-ranging faculty include published poets, novelists, cultural critics, essayists, and literary historians. They are experts in medieval and Renaissance, and 18th- and 19th-century literature, critical theory, film and popular culture, gender and queer studies, minority discourse, postcolonialism, modernism, rhetoric and romanticism. English’s award-winning faculty has made a reputation for itself nationally for its embrace of diverse theoretical approaches and its encouragement of interdisciplinary studies. Studying English can increase one’s opportunities in any career. English graduates often pursue advanced academic work, but often venture into a variety of fields including business, medicine, law, education, and social work.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ENGL 409: History of the English Language-- Instruction in the major grammatical systems of the English language, with particular emphasis on their relevance to language activities in the elementary classroom.
  
  
• ENGL 422: English Literature of the 17th Century-- Selected studies of prose and poetry in the age of Bacon, Donne, Jonson, Herbert, Browne, Marvell, and Milton.
  
  
• ENGL 430: Shakespeare-- Major history plays, comedies, and tragedies.
  
  
• ENGL 481: Narrative Forms in Literature and Film-- Critical approaches to narrative form in literature and film; readings and films from several genres and periods, emphasis on gender, ethnic, and cultural studies.
  
  

The Environmental Science and Health major couples work targeted at the 2015 MCAT revision with an emphasis on resource sustainability and conservation. Students measure the health impacts of physical, chemical, and biological agents in the environment and determine how they can be controlled. They also examine sustainable approaches to problems related to energy, water, transportation, etc., and help develop strategies for protecting human and environmental health in the face of continued global development.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ENST 387: Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment-- An introduction to the economic tools and issues that affect natural resource use and environmental management.
  
  
• ENST 495: Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies-- Students form multidisciplinary teams and are asked to study and resolve a major environmental problem facing a particular region or target population.
  
  
• IR 323: Politics of Global Environment-- Examines the politics of managing the global environment. The nature of ecosystems, common problems, population and resource utilization problems along with biodiversity and global governance are emphasized.
  
  
• PHYS 151: Fundamentals of Physics I — Mechanics and Thermodynamics-- Statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, conservation principles, gravitation, simple harmonic oscillators, thermodynamics, heat engines, and entropy.
  
  

The Environmental Studies Program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems. Students may pursue either a BA or BS degree. Each degree has an interdisciplinary 48-unit core and offers concentrations in Sustainability, Energy, and Society; Oceans, Life, and People; and Climate, Earth, and Environment. Learn more about both degree programs, including capstone and field learning opportunities, by clicking on the program link.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ENST 100: Introduction to Environmental Studies-- Gateway to the majors and minors in Environmental Studies. Provides students with an overview of how government agencies and societal institutes address (or fail to address) the interrelated social and scientific aspects of environmental problems and policies.
  
  
• ENST 320: Water and Soil Sustainability-- Overview of issues related to water and soil sustainability including science, policy and business aspects.
  
  
• ENST 387: Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment-- An introduction to the economic tools and issues that affect natural resource use and environmental management.
  
  
• POSC 270: Introduction to Environmental Law and Politics-- Overview of environmental policy, law and politics at the international, domestic and local levels.
  
  

The study of French involves the mastery of the language and its literary and cultural expressions in fiction, non-fiction, dramatic, cinematic, and poetic texts, as well as the study of social and political institutions within the context of intellectual history. The department offers a variety of classes in French, as well as some courses with readings and discussion in English to satisfy diverse needs. Topics range broadly from the study of a single author to a literary genre; from current events to cinema; from gender studies to literary criticism. At USC, language study transcends textbooks and dictionaries. The USC Dornsife Language Center offers computer and media technology that help students learn more about the language and people through film, television, and small-group conversation. Courses are kept small to allow for maximum interaction between students and professors.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• FREN 320: French Cinema and French Society — 1900 to the Present-- Filmmaking in France from the earliest experiments to current trends. Emphasis on the political, social, historical context of French films.
  
  
• FREN 347: Race, Gender, and Power in Francophone Literature-- Study of post-colonialism as a ferment for literary creation in the literature of French expression from Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada.
  
  
• FREN 352: Modern French Cultures-- Study of the major intellectual, artistic, and sociopolitical trends that have shaped French culture from the revolution to the present.
  
  
• FREN 360: Business and Technical French-- Specific vocabulary and formulae used in international commerce. Attention given to developing vocabulary and standard forms appropriate to individual career objectives.
  
  

A dynamic interdisciplinary program, Gender Studies at USC offers its majors and minors a heady intellectual environment, a sense of community, and unparalleled personalized attention. Our curriculum analyzes how gender plays out in politics, intimate life, culture, the workplace, athletics, technology, health, science, and in the very production of knowledge itself. Our classes emphasize that gender is not a freestanding category, but rather one that takes shape through its intersection with other relations of power, including sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, nationality, and religion. Our faculty, drawn from across the university, includes undisputed leaders in their fields of specialization, which include popular music, masculinity, sports, queer studies, reproductive rights, poverty, social movements, and new medical technologies.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• SWMS 210: Social Issues in Gender-- Multidisciplinary survey of gender assumptions in relation to sexuality, mental health, social and political relations, and artistic expression.
  
  
• SWMS 301: Introduction to Feminist Theory and the Women's and Men's Movements-- Theories of feminism; historical, social, and cultural perspectives of the women’s movement in America, Europe, and in developing countries, men’s roles in the feminist movement.
  
  
• SWMS 385: Men and Masculinity-- nterdisciplinary examination of social, personal meanings of masculinity; variety of male experience by social class, race, sexuality, and age; emerging masculinities of the future.
  
  
• SWMS 410: Senior Seminar-- Study of a selected problem, period, or theme in the study of gender by integrating perspectives from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary studies.
  
  

The Bachelor of Science in GeoDesign is an interdisciplinary major offered by the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture, and the Sol Price School of Public Policy. This degree prepares students for professional careers and/or graduate study by engaging them in the acquisition, representation, analysis, modeling and visualization of spatial information set in the context of the built environment and policy. The underlying spatial principles, methods and tools can be used to support sustainable planning, facility and infrastructure management, the design of livable and healthy communities, and a series of regional planning applications to address pollution, water and energy needs, and the impact of population growth on the environment. The major electives provide students with opportunities to explore one or more facets of the built environment and a series of complementary analytical and visualization tools in more detail. Finally, the major is structured to provide students with sufficient elective credits to explore minors or other programs at USC so they can broaden their education to better prepare themselves for the next stage of their lives.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• SOCI 331: Cities-- Organization of urban society, including such topics as segregation, urban decay, local politics, residential change, and community conflict.
  
  
• SSCI 301: Maps and Spatial Reasoning-- Role of maps and spatial reasoning in the production and use of geographic information for representing and analyzing human and environmental activities and events.
  
  
• HIST 347: Urbanization in the American Experience-- The American city in interdisciplinary perspective; emphasis on growth and change in relation to architecture, urban planning, demography, and ethnic politics.
  
  
• POSC 363: Cities and Regions in World Politics-- Cities and the rise of states; globalization and localization; federalism and decentralization; comparative politics of urban regions in developed and developing countries.
  
  

The Geological Sciences major includes a spectrum of disciplines focused on understanding the processes that influence the tectonics and environment of the planet, on using this understanding to read the record of earth history written in rocks and sediments, and on developing models that can be used to predict future changes due to natural phenomena and recent perturbations caused by humans. Issues of societal concern related to seismic risk, climate change, environmental contamination, and other geologic hazards play an important role. The department is affiliated with two research centers: the Southern California Earthquake Center and the Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies. Many graduates now hold positions in industry as environmental consultants or petroleum geologists, in government as managers or researchers, and in academia as faculty and researchers. The progressive degree program in Geological Sciences permits exceptional undergraduate students to receive both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Geological Sciences within five years.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• GEOL 108: Crises of a Planet-- Impact of civilization on planet earth, and impact of earth’s natural evolution on society: earthquakes, volcanism, landslides, floods, global warming, acid rain, groundwater depletion, and formation of the ozone hole.
  
  
• GEOL 150: Climate Change-- Climate systems from the beginning of earth history to the present; tools and techniques used to reconstruct prehistoric climate records; effects of climate variations on development of life forms on earth.
  
  
• GEOL 240: Earthquakes-- Causes of earthquakes and nature of large faults; earthquake hazard and risk; world's great earthquakes; understanding the Richter scale.
  
  
• GEOL 433: Paleontology and Evolution in Deep Time-- Origin and evolution of life; Precambrian life; mass extinctions; deep time and evolutionary processes.
  
  

This interdisciplinary major allows students to select from a number of different regions and use research tools from many fields, including Anthropology, History, Political Science, and International Relations. Students choose at least one of many study abroad options to complete during their junior year. As a senior, students examine their abroad experience in a seminar class and culminate their studies with a capstone research project of their choice.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 336: Health, Gender, and Ethnicity-- An intensive study of local systems of belief and knowledge in selected societies in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America with emphasis on ideas of the spirit world.
  
  
• ANTH 373: Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing-- Analysis of the practices of witches and witch doctors, priests, diviners, and traditional healers in Western and non-Western societies, relating their practices to religion and medicine.
  
  
• POSC 365: World Political Leadership-- Comparative analysis of theories of power and leadership; application to leaders from western democracies, Third World, and socialist countries. Societal consequences of their policies.
  
  
• IR 323: Politics of Global Environment-- Examines the politics of managing the global environment. The nature of ecosystems, common problems, population, and resource utilization problems along with biodiversity and global governance are emphasized.
  
  

The Health and Humanity major is intended for students interested in fields that inform the health professions and in related questions about health and human experience. Courses in this interdisciplinary major meet many of the requirements for admission to the professional programs in medicine, nursing, and other fields.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• BISC 325: Genetics-- Transmission genetics and genotype/phenotype; mapping methods; complex traits; genetics of human disease and population genetics.
  
  
• REL 319: Religious and Ethical Issues in Death and Dying-- Analysis of religious and ethical approaches to death and dying, including refusal of treatment for competent and incompetent patients, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia, and resuscitation.
  
  
• SOCI 475: Medical Sociology-- Social and cultural factors in causation of disease, health care utilization, and health care delivery.
  
  
• SWMS 336: Health, Gender, and Ethnicity-- Cross-cultural notions of the body, health, and healing; historic and cultural variability of ideas of reproduction, birth, sexuality, mental illness, and disability.
  
  

The History Major exposes students to deep connections between the study of past times and places, and the roots of that study in human concerns about values, identities, issues, and policies. Historians are analysts of complex data, exotic documents, and mysterious images, and writers of persuasive prose. The Department of History offers courses in ancient, medieval and modern European history, including Russian history; in both North and Latin American history; in the history of East Asia; and in world history. Through the years, the department has cultivated great strengths in the history of California and the American West. Some of the department’s courses are chronological, some national or regional, and some are thematic, with special strengths in gender, race and ethnicity, popular culture, medicine, and urban history. Students are encouraged to sample courses that focus on different periods and places. In their courses, students encounter the peoples and cultures of the past and develop skills in critical thinking, research, and writing essential for understanding the present. Research assistantships and internships are often available for undergraduate History majors seeking engagement in History outside the classroom. Recent opportunities include work with a professor in the History department doing research for a volume in the Oxford History of the United States series entitled American Origins, or archival work with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, which houses nearly 52,000 videotaped testimonies from Holocaust survivors and other witnesses. Some History majors go on to graduate studies and careers in schools, universities, and archives. Others find that they are highly prepared for law school, journalism, politics, social services, or any number of other jobs that require analytical skills.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• HIST 255: The Evolution Debates-- Historical perspective for current debates on evolution, investigating the contexts for the emergence and development of evolutionary theory and its subsequent impact on society.
  
  
• HIST 305: From Goddesses to Witches — Women in Premodern Europe-- Social, cultural, and political contexts of women's spiritualities in Europe from the Paleolithic to the Reformation. Topics include goddess worship, Christian and Jewish contexts, and male attitudes.
  
  
• HIST 334: History of the Samurai-- Development of the Samurai from a warrior elite to political hegemons between the 8th and 12th centuries; use of primary sources, introduction to divergent historiographies.
  
  
• HIST 429: Street Life — Urban Culture in Modern Europe-- The 19th and 20th century European city as social artifact, cultural setting, and object of fascination for its contemporary inhabitants.
  
  

The American Historical Association, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and other academic organizations have recently drawn attention to the critical importance of attracting increased numbers of talented and ambitious undergraduates at major research institutions into high school and middle school teaching. It is an occupation particularly suited to those who want their future profession to be one that presents both an intellectual challenge and makes a difference in society. The History and Social Science Education major is designed for students who are interested in a career in secondary school teaching. The courses chosen reflect the content of subjects taught in high schools and middle schools in California and therefore should be useful for those contemplating the profession of teaching history and social studies. A capstone seminar will focus on the ways in which historical research is brought into middle and high school curricula. Seminar participants will examine textbooks and other materials designed for history instruction; engage in independent research; write curriculum and/or classroom units or lesson plans; and visit classrooms to assist with history instruction in the schools. The major can be combined with a progressive degree program that would enable qualified students to take all the requisite education courses they will need for certification and obtain a master’s of teaching degree at the end of their fifth year (in addition to the bachelor's degree in History and Social Science Education).

NOTE: You cannot apply to this major as an incoming freshman. You must declare it after beginning your studies at USC.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• HIST 300: Approaches to History-- Approaches to history; intellectual and personal dimensions of the historian’s work.
  
  
• HIST 441: Modern World History-- Comparative patterns of historical change around the world, from ca. 1800 to the present.
  
  
• HIST 488: Teaching History in the Secondary Schools-- Seminar in research methods, textbook and online research and teaching materials, and instructional approaches for teaching history in secondary schools.
  
  
• POSC 300: Principles, Institutions, and Great Issues of American Democracy-- Underlying principles of American democracy; major issues of contemporary public policy in national and state institutions.
  
  

Human Biology is designed for students seeking a focused course of study in human anatomy, physiology, metabolism, and/or evolution. The BS degree includes coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. It features four tracks of emphasis to choose from: Applied Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition and Metabolism, and Human Evolutionary Biology. The BA requires courses in anthropology, biology, kinesiology, and math, while offering three emphasis tracks: Human Biology, Human Evolutionary Biology, and Human Performance.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 300: Evolution, Ecology, and Culture-- The roles of biology, culture, and the environment in shaping human society, integrating evolutionary biology and cultural theory.
  
  
• BISC 424: Brain Architecture-- How the parts of the brain are interconnected to form a complex biological computer, from historical, evolutionary, and developmental perspectives.
  
  
• EXSC 200: Nutrition — Macronutrients and Energy Metabolism-- Gastrointestinal physiology and energy metabolism as it relates to macronutrient intake. Theories and principles of regulation of energy status and acute and chronic effects of exercise.
  
  
• EXSC 408: Biomechanics-- Kinematic and kinetic analysis of human motion; emphasis on performance enhancement and injury prevention.
  
  

The Bachelor of Arts in Human Performance was designed for students with an interest in applied kinesiology, who may wish to pursue careers in teaching, coaching, sports management, sports law, athletic training, sports communication, sports journalism and many other sport-related professions. Students should consider combining this degree with a minor, for example, in journalism, business, or law.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• EXSC 203: Individualized Exercise Prescription-- Principles and theories related to exercise prescription; programs of weight-training, circuit-training, aerobics, flexibility, high and low-intensity training guidelines; safeguards and effectiveness.
  
  
• EXSC 250: Drugs and Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Weight Control-- Evaluation of drugs, nutritional supplements, and ergogenic aids and their effect on human athletic performance, weight, and fat loss.
  
  
• EXSC 310: Sociopsychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity-- Examination of the individual in a social environment related to sport and physical activity; personality, motivation, attitude, and group behavior viewed in physical activity contexts.
  
  
• EXSC 439: Human Performance and Bioenergetics-- Application of physiology, biomechanics and perceptual-motor principles to the study of skill acquisition and human performance.
  
  

Future leaders in business, government, and law need to understand how global developments affect their lives and work. International Relations provides the conceptual tools you will need to thrive in the rapidly changing world of tomorrow. It is an ideal major for those interested in entering the business world or the public policy realm. It is an excellent stepping stone toward graduate programs in business, law, public administration, urban planning, public policy or political science. Many students spend a semester or summer studying abroad, obtain an internship in Washington, D.C., or work in global organizations like the Foreign Trade Association, CARE, the World Affairs Council, and the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. In the classroom, students examine how governments interact and the impact that other organizations, corporations, social and workers’ groups bring to bear on trade and policy. Rigorous analysis, stimulations, practice negotiations, and problem solving prepare students to thrive in the global marketplace of ideas, commerce, and foreign affairs. The School of International Relations encourages undergraduate double majors, especially with Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Journalism, foreign languages, Political Science, and Sociology. The progressive degree program in International Relations permits exceptional undergraduate students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in International Relations within five years.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• IR 210: International Relations — Introductory Analysis-- Comprehensive introduction to contending theoretical and analytical approaches; development of critical, evaluative, cognitive, and analytical competencies regarding historical and contemporary issues. 
  
  
• IR 310: Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies-- Interdisciplinary study of the pursuit of peace, including causes of wars, arms races, conflict resolution, peace movements, domestic violence, nonviolent resistance, and peace with justice.
  
  
• IR 323: Politics of Global Environment-- Examines the politics of managing the global environment. The nature of ecosystems, common problems, population and resource utilization problems along with biodiversity and global governance are emphasized.
  
  
• IR 386: International Terrorism and Liberal Democracy-- Examination of the nexus of terrorist threat and governmental response. Specifically, the class analyzes both terrorism’s effectiveness as a means to achieve political change and the challenges faced by the liberal democratic state in responding to international terrorist campaigns.
  
  

International Relations (Global Business) is a joint program consisting of courses offered by the School of International Relations and the Marshall School of Business. Students explore the analytical concepts of the relations between states and other international actors within the context of the global economy through a combination of International Relations courses and foreign language study. Students also choose a global business specialization in International Finance, International Financial Management, Global Marketing, or Global Management and complete a specific sequence of courses in the Marshall School of Business. In the classroom, students examine how governments interact and the impact that other organizations, corporations, social groups, and workers’ groups bring to bear on trade and policy. Rigorous analysis, stimulations, practice negotiations, and problem solving prepare students to thrive in the global marketplace of ideas, commerce, and foreign affairs. This is an ideal major for students interested in combining the skills acquired in business courses with the breadth offered by International Relations coursework. Students will be prepared to enter the public or private sector or graduate programs in business, law, political economy, public policy, and international relations among others.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• IR 315: Ethnicity and Nationalism in World Politics-- Ethnic identity and nation formation in the global society of states; nation-states; conflict or political accommodation within multinational states; and impact of dispersed nations on interstate relations.
  
  
• IR 324: Multinational Enterprises and World Politics-- Political implications of interactions between different types of multinational enterprises and all levels of U.S. government, other industrial nations, and less-developed countries.
  
  
• IR 363: Middle East Political Economy-- Examination of general economic development issues: population, agriculture, industrialization, trade, oil, etc. Several Mideast case study countries are then explored in depth.
  
  
• IR 376: U.S.-Japan Encounters — War, Trade, and Culture-- The significance of U.S.-Japan relations is addressed through historical and policy analysis of America, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region.
  
  

The study of Italian involves the mastery of the language and its literary and cultural expressions in fiction, non-fiction, dramatic, cinematic, and poetic texts, as well as the study of social and political institutions within the context of intellectual history. The department offers a variety of classes in Italian, as well as some courses with readings and discussion in English to satisfy diverse needs. Topics range broadly from the study of a single author to a literary genre; from current events to cinema; from gender studies to literary criticism. At USC, language study transcends textbooks and dictionaries. The USC Dornsife Language Center offers computer and media technology that help students learn more about the language and people through film, television and small-group conversation. Courses are kept small to allow for maximum interaction between students and professors. Employment opportunities include internships with consular offices, companies with large local offices in Los Angeles, and work-abroad programs in Italian-speaking countries.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ITAL 350: Italian Renaissance Literature in Translation-- Readings of major texts of Italian literature of the 15th and 16th centuries, including works by Petrarch, the Humanists, Lorenzo de Medici, Ariosto, Machiavelli, Castilgione, and Tasso.
  
  
• ITAL 380: Italian Women Writers-- Selected poetry, prose, and drama by outstanding Italian women authors and their role in Italian society from the Middle Ages to 20th century.
  
  
• ITAL 446: Italian Cinema and Society-- Survey of Italian cinema in its relation to social transformation, from the silent era to the present. Weekly screenings, lectures, and discussions.
  
  
• ITAL 461: Theatre, Spectacle, Drama, and Performance in Italy-- Italian dramatic literature from the earliest written documents to the present. Reading and close textual scrutiny of plays by major dramatists from the Renaissance to the present.
  
  

A Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an area of emphasis in Judaic Studies is offered cooperatively by the USC School of Religion and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, an independent college adjacent to the USC campus. It provides students the opportunity for in-depth study of Jewish thought, ethics, history, literature, tradition, spirituality, and women's studies using approaches developed through the academic study of religion. It is an interdisciplinary program that challenges and stimulates students to examine and learn about Judaism as a topic of scientific interest.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• JS 100: Jewish History-- Major ideas, personalities, and movements in Jewish history from antiquity to the present in light of the interaction of the Jews with the general culture.
  
  
• JS 321: Gender and Judaism-- An investigation into the ways in which gender has structured Jewish religious, social, political and intellectual life from the Biblical period through the present.
  
  
• JS 382: Judaism as an American Religion-- The development of American expressions of Judaism as part of the American religious context, from the perspective of the social scientific study of religion.
  
  
• REL 364: Religion and Ethics-- Traces the development of how religious ideas have informed ethics, or accounts of the good life, including notions of justice, righteousness, virtue, duty, charity and happiness.
  
  

This major is designed for students drawn to inter-disciplinary study of legal and cultural issues, as well as those who intend to pursue a law degree. It offers students an interdisciplinary education in legal institutions, languages and processes that are central to social, cultural, and political developments in the past and present, and that play a critical role in shaping our most basic concepts and categories of thought and identity. It combines approaches from history, literature, philosophy, political theory, religion and classical studies to explore the law's position at the nexus of society. The major will help students develop the critical skills of reading, writing, and analysis crucial to both a liberal education and the study of law. Students will gain theoretical and analytical perspectives on ethical, political, and social issues relevant to law as they explore specific legal issues from a humanistic perspective.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• AMST 342: Law and Identities-- Examines the complex and contested interaction between the law and racial, gender, religious, ethnic, and sexual identities using historical and contemporary cases.
  
  
• HIST 386: American Legal History-- An introduction to the study of law from a historical perspective; explores the interaction of law, culture, and politics from the Revolution through the New Deal.
  
  
• CLAS 333: Cult and City in Ancient Greece-- Explores the relationship between civic and religious institutions in ancient Greece: city planning, warfare, mystery cults, drama, sacrifice, and women’s rituals.
  
  
• PHIL 330: Theories of Law-- Examination of some of the major classical and contemporary theories of the nature and functions of law and of its relation to morality.
  
  

Linguistics emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. It focuses on how the human mind structures, processes, and acquires language as well as how similar communication goals are met by diverse means in the languages of the world. It is a broad field, embracing such diverse subjects as comparative grammar and the search for universals among the world's languages, language development of children, language learning and language processing in adults, the evolution of languages, and how language varies with socioeconomic class and with different social settings. Students develop the ability to analyze and work with formal systems, not unlike those found in mathematics and computer science, while at the same time addressing psychological and social issues, such as language teaching and acquisition, and language and culture. An undergraduate major in Linguistics provides a strong foundation in analytic skills and a highly respected preparation for professional schools, for careers that are either scientific or humanistic in orientation, and for graduate study in a wide range of fields.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• LING 210: Introduction to Linguistics-- Empirical study of the sounds and structures of human language; syntax and semantics; language change; linguistic universals.
  
  
• LING 380: Languages of the World-- Introduction to the world's linguistic diversity; number of languages spoken and where; grammatical structure and social function of selected languages.
  
  
• LING 405: Child Language Acquisition-- Universal characteristics of child language; stages of acquisition of phonology, syntax, semantics; processes and dimensions of development; psychological mechanisms; communicative styles.
  
  
• LING 412: Linguistic Interpretation of the Law-- Principles of semantics; analysis of speech acts including informing, promising, threatening, warning; linguistic analysis of consumer contracts and advertisements; readability studies.
  
  

This combination major pairs, Linguistics, which emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts, with East Asian Languages & Cultures, which focuses on the study of the languages, literature, thought, and civilizations of China, Japan, and Korea. Students study how the human mind structures, processes, and acquires language as well as how similar communication goals are met by diverse means in the languages of the world, with a focus on East Asian languages. They typically concentrate on one East Asian language and culture while also taking broader survey courses on East Asia as a cultural unit. The major provides a strong foundation in analytic skills and a highly respected preparation for professional schools, for careers that are either scientific or humanistic in orientation, and for graduate study in a wide range of fields.

NOTE: You cannot apply to this major as an incoming freshman. You must declare it after beginning your studies at USC.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• EALC 332: Modern Korean Literature in Translation-- Survey of Korean American literature from the mid-20th century until the most recent years. Focus on issues and topics central to Korean American experience.
  
  
• EALC 340: Japanese Civilization-- Survey of the main characteristics and development of art, literature, philosophy, religion, political and social institutions through different periods.
  
  
• LING 210: Introduction to Linguistics-- Empirical study of the sounds and structures of human language; syntax and semantics; language change; linguistic universals.
  
  
• EALC 380: Languages of the World-- Introduction to the world's linguistic diversity; number of languages spoken and where; grammatical structure and social function of selected languages.
  
  

This major combines Linguistics, which emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts, with Philosophy, which acquaints students with the fundamental problems of Western thought and introduces them to the concepts and techniques necessary for independent philosophical thinking. Students focus on how the human mind structures, processes, and acquires language as well as how similar communication goals are met by diverse means in the languages of the world. At the same time, it provides a broadening perspective for the various areas of specialization in the natural and social sciences and in literature and the arts. It is a broad field, embracing such diverse subjects as comparative grammar and the search for universals among the world's languages, language development of children, language learning and language processing in adults, the evolution of languages, and how language varies with socioeconomic class and with different social settings.

NOTE: You cannot apply to this major as an incoming freshman. You must declare it after beginning your studies at USC.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• LING 210: Introduction to Linguistics-- Empirical study of the sounds and structures of human language; syntax and semantics; language change; linguistic universals.
  
  
• LING 380: Languages of the World-- Introduction to the world's linguistic diversity; number of languages spoken and where; grammatical structure and social function of selected languages.
  
  
• PHIL 350: Symbolic Logic-- Introduction to basic techniques of propositional and quantificational logic, and elements of probability.
  
  
• PHIL 465: Philosophy of Language-- The nature of communication, meaning, reference, truth, necessity, speech acts, convention, and language.
  
  

The majors combines Linguistics, which emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts, with Psychology, which studies the processes of human behavior, how they develop with age and change over time, their neural and physiological underpinnings, and what effect environmental and social influences have on them. Students focus on how the human mind structures, processes, and acquires language as well as how similar communication goals are met by diverse means in the languages of the world. It is a broad field, embracing such diverse subjects as comparative grammar and the search for universals among the world's languages, language development of children, language learning and language processing in adults, the evolution of languages, and how language varies with socioeconomic class and with different social settings. The study of Linguistics develops the ability to analyze and work with formal systems, not unlike those found in mathematics and computer science, while at the same time addressing psychological and social issues, such as language teaching and acquisition, and language and culture.

NOTE: You cannot apply to this major as an incoming freshman. You must declare it after beginning your studies at USC.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• LING 210: Introduction to Linguistics-- Empirical study of the sounds and structures of human language; syntax and semantics; language change; linguistic universals.
  
  
• LING 406: Psycholinguistics-- Experimental and theoretical aspects of how spoken and written language is produced and understood, learned during childhood, and affected by brain damage.
  
  
• PSYC 336: Development Psychology-- Child and adolescent behavior and associated theories; exploration of the continuity between child and adult behavior.
  
  
• PSYC 433: Children's Learning and Cognitive Development-- Examination of contemporary psychological theory and research on the development of cognitive skills, including language, memory, reading, and mathematics.
  
  

USC Dornsife’s Mathematics department incorporates many mathematical theoreticians as well as specialists in applications of engineering, computer science, finance, economics, physics, and computational genomics. This combination of theoretical and practical education gives the department a unique energy. The program allows students to use electives to prepare themselves for a specific field, whether in industry, teaching, or advanced graduate research. The faculty is engaged in a wide variety of research activities and offers courses in many areas. Having access to many different kinds of mathematicians at USC Dornsife can aid students in developing their own specialized study and research. New research ventures beyond core mathematics and statistics enhance the focus and curriculum for Mathematics at USC Dornsife. The progressive degree program in Mathematics permits exceptional undergraduate students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Mathematics within five years.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• MATH 408: Mathematical Statistics-- Principles for testing hypotheses and estimation; small sample distributions; correlation and regression; nonparametric methods; elements of statistical decision theory.
  
  
• MATH 245a: Fundamental Concepts of Analysis-- The real number system; metric spaces; limits; continuity; derivatives and integrals; infinite series.
  
  
• MATH 430: Theory of Numbers-- Introduction to the theory of numbers, including prime factorization, congruences, primitive roots, N-th power residues, number theoretic functions, and certain diophantine equations.
  
  
• MATH 432: Applied Combinatorics-- Mathematical induction; counting principles; arrangements; selections; binomial coefficients; generating functions; recurrence relations; inclusion-exclusion; symmetric groups; graphs; Euler and Hamiltonian circuits; trees; graph algorithms; applications.
  
  

The Middle East Studies major is an interdisciplinary program which draws on courses from Anthropology, Classics, Economics, History, International Relations, Judaic Studies, Linguistics, Political Science, and Religion. It offers students interested in exploring the richness and complexity of the Middle East (broadly defined as extending from Morocco through Iran) a framework for developing both expertise and wide-ranging critical perspectives on the region’s past, present, and future.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 327: Anthropology of the Middle East and Islam-- Explores written and visual ethnography for study of Middle East community, sociopolitical forms and religious life. Examines scriptural and living Islam and dynamics of contemporary Islamic revival.
  
  
• CLAS 360: Classical Arabic Literature in Translation-- Introduction to Classical Arabic literature and culture of the period 500 to 1500 A.D. Focus on continuity of ancient traditions in Arabic.
  
  
• LING 295: The Ancient Near East — Culture, Archaeology, Texts-- An investigation of the peoples of the ancient Near East, focusing upon the writings which they produced, their languages and scripts, and their archaeological remains.
  
  
• REL 317: Ancient Near Eastern Myth and Literature-- A close consideration of ancient Near Eastern myths—especially those from Mesopotamia and Canaan—with special attention to their influence on the Bible.
  
  

Narrative Studies lets students study in many disciplines and specialize wherever they choose. Nineteen departments contribute a hundred courses to develop and evaluate storytelling in fiction, poetry, song, theatre, cinema, television, and other platforms. It prepares students for the development and evaluation of original content for novels, films, theatre, and other narrative platforms, but recognizes that the range of professional opportunities in literature and the performing arts is much wider than the roles of author, screenwriter, or playwright. To recognize a good story, to critique, help shape, realize, and transform it requires a background in the history of narrative, cross-cultural and contemporary models, and an understanding of the broader context of popular culture.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 372: Interpretation of Myth and Narrative-- Oral narrative from non-Western cultures; communications about deeply held beliefs, psychological tensions, social problems, and the structure of the mind.
  
  
• COLT 472: Los Angeles Crime Fiction-- The noir tradition in books and films set in Los Angeles. Emphasis on generic conventions, representations of the city, and discourses of class, gender, race.
  
  
• CTIN 309: Introduction to Interactive Entertainment-- Critical vocabulary and historical perspective to analyze and understand experiences with interactive entertainment; students imagine and articulate their own ideas.
  
  
• ENGL 305: Introduction to Creative Nonfiction-- Introduction to the techniques and practice of lyric essay, memoir, personal narrative, and scientific, medical, nature, culinary, and travel writing.
  
  

USC students have the opportunity to engage in studies that address the principal challenges of Neuroscience: that is, to learn about and analyze brain and behavior at multiple levels. There has never been a more exciting time to study Neuroscience, as the tremendous advances of the last 50 years are applied to fundamental questions of enormous complexity using new methodologies. Neuroscientists are developing ways to tackle questions such as: how does the brain engender sensation and perception, learning and memory, mind and consciousness, and emotions such as fear, joy, and anger? Addressing these questions requires both imagination and interdisciplinary efforts. The Neuroscience major is highly interdisciplinary, including faculty from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Gerontology, Medicine, and Pharmacy. Students interact closely with faculty in a variety of lecture courses and seminars and have the option to attend research talks from visiting scientists and to participate in various social activities and honors organizations. Students are encouraged to become involved in laboratory or field research by working on a faculty-supervised research project for some of their elective units. Departing from the traditional focus on individual disciplines, USC Neuroscience is characterized by collaborative interactions between faculty and students working at many different levels of analysis, including research on cell-molecular neurobiology, systems-level analysis of neural circuits, neural engineering, and cognitive and computational neuroscience.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 306: Primate Social Behavior-- Social behavior of living nonhuman primates, with an emphasis on field studies of apes and monkeys. Topics include aggression, communication, reproduction, cognition and ecology.
  
  
• BISC 325: Genetics-- Transmission genetics and genotype/phenotype, mapping methods, complex traits, and genetics of human disease and population genetics.
  
  
• NEUR 532: Systems and Behavioral Neurobiology-- Systems and behavioral neurobiology: hierarchical mechanisms controlling behavior, experimental techniques; perceptual (visual, auditory, somatosensory) systems; sensorimotor systems; motivated behavior; learning, memory and adaptation.
  
  
• PSYC 440: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience-- Introduction to the major components of cognition (perception, memory, intelligence) in terms of the neural coding characteristic of the relevant brain areas.
  
  

The School of Philosophy offers courses in most areas of philosophy, including philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics, logic, philosophy of science, political philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, the history of philosophy, phenomenology, and existentialism. The major is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental problems of Western thought and introduce them to the concepts and techniques necessary for independent philosophical thinking; it is equally intended to provide a broadening perspective for the various areas of specialization in the natural and social sciences and in literature and the arts. The School of Philosophy offers two major options: the major in Philosophy and the major in Philosophy with an emphasis on Ethics, Law, and Value Theory.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• PHIL 315: History of Western Philosophy — Ancient Period-- Major figures in the history of Western philosophical thought from the pre-Socratics to the Hellenistic period; emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.
  
  
• PHIL 351: Reasoning and Logic-- Study of reasoning as a strategy for arriving at knowledge in dependence upon logical theory. Logical theories are developed alongside historically influential strategies of reasoning.
  
  
• PHIL 422: British Empiricism-- Development of philosophy in Great Britain from the 17th to the 19th centuries; emphasis on Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.
  
  
• PHIL 430: Philosophy of Law-- The nature of law, legal realism, legal positivism; concepts used in law, such as punishment, responsibility, insanity, negligence, and strict liability; law and morality.
  
  

This interdisciplinary major combines in a systematic and structured way basic education in philosophy, political theory, and elements of law. It may be of particular interest to students contemplating post-graduate work in law, those interested in a career in public service or politics, and those attracted by the rigor of philosophy, and its attention to foundational issues, who are also interested in politics and law. Students are exposed to a wide range of conceptual and methodological approaches, while learning enough philosophy and political science to leave a choice of options for graduate schools.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• PHIL 428: Anglo-American Philosophy Since 1950-- The maturing of the analytic tradition from the later Wittgenstein through Ryle, Strawson, Hare, Austin, Grice, Quine, Davidson, Kripke, and beyond.
  
  
• PHIL 430: Philosophy of Law-- Philosophical theories about the nature of law, relations between law and morality, and analysis of normative concepts central to law, such as responsibility, punishment, and negligence.
  
  
• POSC 335: Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections-- Organization and function of political parties, nominations and elections, strategy and tactics of campaigning, professional candidate management finance, political machines, voting behavior.
  
  
• POSC 345: International Law-- Nature, origin, and development of international law; basic principles analyzed and illustrated with cases.
  
  

The Physical Sciences major is ideal for students interested in teaching science at the secondary school level. The program includes course-work in Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry and Earth Science. It is designed to allow students to enroll in courses required for the California Single Subject Teaching credential offered through the Rossier School of Education.

NOTE: You cannot apply to this major as an incoming freshman. You must declare it after beginning your studies at USC.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ASTR 400: The Solar System-- Earth’s motions; planets and their satellites; comets; meteorites; interplanetary matter; elementary celestial mechanics.
  
  
• CHEM 332: Physical Chemical Measurements-- Experimental study of topics such as adsorption, magnetic susceptibility; electron spin resonance, kinetics, equilibria, molecular spectra and structure, viscosity, dielectric properties.
  
  
• GEOL 315: Minerals and Earth Systems-- Minerals and their formation in Earth geosystems; includes discussions of mineral properties, crystal structures, uses and biogeochemical importance.
  
  
• PHYS 304: Mechanics-- Dynamics of particles, kinematics of rotations, rigid body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism, theory of small vibrations.
  
  

Faculty in USC Dornsife’s Physics and Astronomy department observe the most elemental forms of nature and how they behave in both inner and outer space. From electrons to galaxies, USC scientists explore the structure of matter and how it organizes itself. Departmental research interests in Physics include atomic physics, elementary particle theory, quantum optics, and laser physics. Prominent scholars study high-energy physics and how the string theory resolves the contradiction between theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. The Bachelor of Science degree offers an in-depth and rigorous treatment of Physics for students intending to pursue careers in basic science. The Bachelor of Arts degree is ideal for students pursuing careers in other fields (e.g. law, finance, or business management). This degree provides a strong science background in Physics, while allowing the flexibility to pursue a minor or double major.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• PHYS 304: Mechanics-- Dynamics of particles, kinematics of rotations, rigid body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism, theory of small vibrations.
  
  
• PHYS 438ab: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications-- A: Concepts and techniques of quantum mechanics; free and bound states, the hydrogen atom. B: Relativity, atomic spectra, quantum statistics, nuclear models, nuclear reactions, elementary particles.
  
  
• PHYS 440: Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics-- Crystal structures, x-ray diffraction, thermal properties of solids, diamagnetism and paramagnetism, free-electron model of metals, semiconductors, ferromagnetism, super-conductivity, imperfections in crystals.
  
  
• PHYS 493: Advanced Experimental Techniques-- Development of modern experimental techniques, including computer interface with data acquisition hardware and data analysis by software, applied specifically to experiments in modern physics. Emphasis on laboratory work with discussion of theoretical background.
  
  

This program is intended for students with dual interests in Physics and Computer Science who wish to complete the essential courses for both majors within four years. The program prepares students for a career in a computer-related field and/or science research.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• CSCI 303: Design and Analysis of Algorithms-- Upper and lower bounds on sorting and order median. Deterministic and random computation, data structures, NP-completeness, cryptography, Turing machines and undecidability.
  
  
• MATH 445: Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II-- Vector field theory, theorems of Gauss, Green, and Stokes, Fourier series and integrals, complex variables, linear partial differential equations, series solutions of ordinary differential equations.
  
  
• PHYS 304: Mechanics-- Dynamics of particles, kinematics of rotations, rigid body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism, theory of small vibrations.
  
  
• PHYS 438ab: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications-- A: Concepts and techniques of quantum mechanics; free and bound states, the hydrogen atom. B: Relativity, atomic spectra, quantum statistics, nuclear models, nuclear reactions, elementary particles.
  
  

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy explores the intersection of economics with politics in domestic and international contexts. It prepares students for engagement with global and regional questions that require analysis of economic and political causes and consequences and provides a useful background for a wide variety of entry positions in the public and private sectors.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ECON 330: The Political Economy of Institutions-- Social functions served by the rules, laws, regulations, and customs that constrain human activity. Processes whereby such institutions adapt, or fail to adapt, to changing circumstances.
  
  
• ECON 395: Economic Policy Issues-- Selected policy dilemmas, including welfare reform, urban renewal, government budget deficits, regulation and deregulation, environmental problems, immigration, and global development.
  
  
• IR 430: The Politics of International Trade-- Economic approaches and political processes are used to explain observed international trade policy choices. Topics covered include globalization, regionalism, labor standards, the environment and sanctions.
  
  
• POSC 363: Cities and Regions in World Politics-- Cities and the rise of states; globalization and localization; federalism and decentralization; comparative politics of urban regions in developed and developing countries.
  
  

American politics, political thought, comparative politics, law, and public policy – these are just a few of the fields that inspire lively discussions and hone critical-thinking skills in USC Dornsife’s Political Science department. As students study political processes and institutions alongside distinguished faculty, they make the transition from informed citizen to political scholar. Faculty and student interaction make the Political Science department a stimulating community. Professors provide undergraduate students with first-rate professional training in traditional and innovative areas of political science. The Political Science honors program gives students the opportunity to conduct and publish independent research. To prepare students for future success, the department offers extensive academic advisement, career counseling, and graduate-school advising. Providing students with a competitive edge, the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics serves as a clearinghouse for internships with government offices, campaigns, political media, and activist organizations. It bridges the academic study of political science and the real world of practical politics by sponsoring classes taught by practitioners and a variety of special campus-wide programs. Undergraduates in Political Science will find a program that trains them to think seriously and rigorously about politics. It not only ensures all of the benefits of a great liberal arts education but also provides an excellent background for graduate study and careers in politics, law, administration, and business.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• POSC 248: International Human Rights-- Overview of human rights controversies across the globe. Introduction to techniques of analysis for social issues, interdisciplinary research methods, and interpretation of complex political problems.
  
  
• POSC 340: Constitutional Law-- Development of constitutional law by the courts; leading cases bearing on major constitutional issues; the federal system; powers of government; civil liberties.
  
  
• POSC 366: Terrorism and Genocide-- Comparative analysis of the determinants of political violence, terrorism, and genocide and their social and moral consequences; application of theories to contemporary case studies.
  
  
• POSC 441: Cultural Diversity and the Law-- Jurisprudential approach to the study of cultural differences. Consideration of circumstances under which law should accommodate cultural diversity in the United States and abroad.
  
  

The Department of Psychology offers five topic areas: cognitive, developmental, clinical, biological, and social. By focusing on these five areas, students develop a variety of skills that apply to educational, work, and community environments. Students learn about human thought and behavior, including developing research about memory, social interaction, deviant behavior, mental illness, clinical practice, and animal behavior. Pursuing a degree in Psychology requires students to investigate how human beings learn, remember, communicate, and interact; how they develop over the life span; how they adjust to change; and how they solve problems. The Psychology department provides internships, research opportunities, and an honors program. Students are encouraged to work with faculty on laboratory and field research. Psychology graduates often pursue careers in management, human resources, marketing, advertising, education, or survey research. The discipline is also an excellent way to prepare for law, medicine, business, social work, education, and other graduate programs.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• PSYC 201: The Science of Happiness-- Evaluates scientific research on human happiness. Integrates research from psychology, economics, and neuroscience in the evaluation of personal and public policy choices.
  
  
• PSYC 336: Developmental Psychology-- Child and adolescent behavior and associated theories; exploration of the continuity between child and adult behavior. 
  
  
• PSYC 360: Abnormal Psychology-- The commonly diagnosed behavior pathologies; biological, social, cultural, and developmental antecedents of abnormal behavior; principles of learning, perception, and motivation, as they relate to psychopathology.
  
  
• PSYC 451: Formation and Change of Attitudes-- Effects of socialization, personal influence, propaganda and social structure on private attitudes and public opinion.
  
  

The School of Religion offers courses in the following areas of religious studies: Bible and ancient near eastern religions; religion in world societies; ethics and theology; and religion and American life. Courses are designed to facilitate the appreciation and critical evaluation of all religious traditions in the light of past and present scholarship. An opportunity is also provided to undergraduates to focus on the social and ethical contributions and implications of humankind's religious heritages through the study of business and medical ethics. Students also have the opportunity to take courses at Hebrew Union College and receive regular USC course credit. As a discipline involving multiple tools—literary analysis, language and cultural studies, sociological data, psychology, and ethics—Religion often leads students to many different kinds of graduate education.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• REL 316: Women and the Islamic Tradition-- Overview of social and legal status of women in Islamic society, past and present. Examination of social roles established both for and by Muslim women.
  
  
• REL 330: Introduction to the Religions of India-- History, teaching, and practice of Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religious traditions of India.
  
  
• REL 364: Religion and Ethics-- Traces the development of how religious ideas have informed ethics, or accounts of the good life, including notions of justice, righteousness, virtue, duty, charity and happiness.
  
  
• REL 394: Archaeology of Egypt and the Near East-- Study of archaeology and excavated artifacts from Egypt and the Near East.
  
  

From the days of czars to the Cold War to halting steps toward democracy, Russia and Eastern European countries have been consistently influential, enigmatic, and controversial. In USC Dornsife’s Slavic Languages and Literature department, faculty and students jointly develop insights into the history and character of this pivotal region, with a special focus on Russia. The Russian major combines thorough preparation in the Russian language with the study of Russian literature, art, and culture. Particular emphasis is placed on developments in contemporary Russia, and the major offers students the opportunity to witness the dramatic renaissance of one of the world's major cultures as it redefines itself and its place in the world. Graduates in Russian are sought after in government, international business, journalism, law, academia and the arts.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• SLL 310: Advanced Russian in Popular Culture-- Advanced conversation topics, readings and analysis of Russian press, films and other popular materials.
  
  
• SLL 330: Russian Thought and Civilization-- Russian cultural identity from its beginnings until today. The Eastern Orthodox tradition, its traumatic confrontation with Western culture, and their continuous interaction.
  
  
• SLL 345: Literature and Philosophy — Dostoevsky-- Dostoevsky’s novels as psychological and philosophical analyses of modern alienated man. Readings in Dostoevsky and selections from Gide, Kafka, Camus, and Sartre.
  
  
• SLL 378: Modern Russian Art-- Changing concepts of aesthetic value as expressed in the development of 19th and 20th century Russian art (painting and architecture).
  
  

For students who have thematic interests that span several traditional social science disciplines, the Economics department offers a Social Science major with an emphasis in Economics. Students majoring in Social Sciences take the majority of their upper-division coursework in their area of emphasis, and a number of other social science courses selected from among the disciplines of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, International Relations, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology.

NOTE: You cannot apply to this major as an incoming freshman. You must declare it after beginning your studies at USC.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ECON 340: Economics of Less Developed Countries-- Causes of economic underdevelopment: historical, institutional, structural, ideological, technological, cultural. Patterns and theories of development. Role of government, international trade, and education in economic growth.
  
  
• ECON 348: Current Problems of the American Economy-- A comprehensive investigation of problems stemming from changing composition of the work force, urban decline, new technologies, inequalities, ethnic relations, government deficits, and prospects for continued growth.
  
  
• IR 323: Politics of Global Environment-- Examines the politics of managing the global environment. The nature of ecosystems, common problems, population and resource utilization problems along with biodiversity and global governance are emphasized.
  
  
• POSC 340: Constitutional Law-- Development of constitutional law by the courts; leading cases bearing on major constitutional issues; the federal system; powers of government; civil liberties.
  
  

For students who have thematic interests that span several traditional social science disciplines, the Psychology department offers a Social Science major with an emphasis in Psychology. Students majoring in Social Sciences take the majority of their upper-division coursework in their area of emphasis, and a number of other social science courses selected from among the disciplines of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, International Relations, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• ANTH 306: Primate Social Behavior-- Social behavior of living nonhuman primates, with an emphasis on field studies of apes and monkeys. Topics include aggression, communication, reproduction, cognition, and ecology.
  
  
• IR 310: Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies-- Interdisciplinary study of the pursuit of peace, including causes of wars, arms races, conflict resolution, peace movements, domestic violence, nonviolent resistance, and peace with justice.
  
  
• PSYC 336: Development Psychology-- Child and adolescent behavior and associated theories; exploration of the continuity between child and adult behavior. 
  
  
• PSYC 360: Abnormal Psychology-- The commonly diagnosed behavior pathologies; biological, social, cultural, and developmental antecedents of abnormal behavior; principles of learning, perception, and motivation, as they relate to psychopathology.
  
  

USC Dornsife’s Sociology department has played an important role in the history of the discipline. USC was the first university west of the Mississippi to establish a Sociology department. Since then, the department has flourished. Continuing to enjoy national and international recognition, the department excels in the sociological study of families, immigration, and social inequality. The greater Los Angeles area provides a natural laboratory for studying such sociological themes as race relations, work and the workplace, the family in a changing society, population trends and crime. Students can base their course of study on two of four theme areas: deviance, social inequality, social organization, or population and family studies. Some of the undergraduate courses involve field research in the urban environment. Courses examine Sociology’s historical foundations as well as contemporary theory and research. Professors are actively engaged in timely demographic and policy research. At the Social Science Research Institute, faculty research social problems, such as crime and drug abuse, and broader social issues. Many of these projects have led to direct social policy interventions.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• SOCI 342: Race Relations-- Past and present relations between the White majority and the "conquered minorities" (Blacks, Chicanos, American Indians), as well as Asian immigrants; conflict vs. assimilation perspectives.
  
  
• SOCI 360: Social Inequality — Class, Status and Power-- Inequalities in wealth, prestige, and power in the United States; the American class structure and the extent of upward mobility in that structure.
  
  
• SOCI 420: Sociology of Violence-- Theoretical, conceptual and analytical skills in the study of collective violence, its legacies, and how society deals with it.
  
  
• SOCI 475: Medical Sociology-- Social and cultural factors in causation of disease, health care utilization, and health care delivery.
  
  

The Spanish major emphasizes the language, literature, linguistics, and culture of Spain and Latin America. USC's location in the largest Spanish-speaking community in the nation, in one of the gateways to Latin America, makes our program particularly attractive and relevant. Professors in USC Dornsife’s Spanish department use literature, folklore, cinema, art, music and architecture in small, discussion-driven classes to explore a number of critical contemporary issues. Students are challenged to examine matters such as the growing importance of popular culture in Iberia, Latin America, and the Latino United States; the role of race, class, and gender within Spanish and Latin American society; and the impact of diasporas and migrations on today’s cultural landscape. A major in Spanish offers several advantages, which extend beyond the classroom. It provides students with the opportunity to become better acquainted with Spanish and Latin American culture, language, and literature. Moreover, proficiency in a second language is a desirable skill for future employment or graduate work. Students with academic preparation in Spanish significantly enhance their career opportunities in such areas as teaching, communications, government service, health, law, public relations, the travel industry, social work, and many other areas.

Opportunities for Students

Notable Courses

• SPAN 316: Spanish for the Professions-- The language and culture of a particular area of study or profession, such as medicine and healthcare, political and social sciences, or business and law.
  
  
• SPAN 321: Iberian and Latin Cultures — Readings on the Arts-- Introduction to the study of Iberian and Latin American cultural forms through readings on the visual arts, cinema, architecture, and music.
  
  
• SPAN 413: Social and Geographic Varieties of Spanish-- Historical, social, and cultural elements represented in the dialectical diversity of the Spanish language; fieldwork in bilingual communities in the United States.
  
  
• SPAN 460: Don Quijote — Text and Film-- A close reading of Cervantes’ masterpiece and analysis of film adaptations of the novel.
  
  

The interdisciplinary minor in American Popular Culture helps students to assess from a variety of perspectives the icons and ideas they encounter every day, to think critically about the images and assertions of the mass media and commercial culture, and to see the experience of popular culture as it interacts with questions of gender and ethnicity in the American context. The minor includes courses in areas such as American Studies and Ethnicity, English, Communication, Cinema-Television, and Music.

American Studies and Ethnicity integrates the study of history with literature, the arts, and the social sciences in an effort to understand the diverse peoples and cultures that have composed the United States. This interdisciplinary minor covers critical perspectives on regional, ethnic, class, and gender diversity. An education in American Studies and Ethnicity will be particularly appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in law, journalism, government, foreign service, social work, international business, public administration, and education.

The interdisciplinary Arabic and Middle East Studies minor is designed for students who want to explore and develop a critical understanding of Middle East history, culture, religion and global issues as well as acquire excellent knowledge of the Arabic language. The minor includes courses in areas such as Linguistics, Anthropology, International Relations, Political Science, and Religion.

Art History combines the study of art with the study of culture. The Art History minor offers a concentrated course of study that includes a variety of objects from different historical periods and cultures in relation to their makers, patrons, viewers, and critics. Students in the minor are trained to analyze visual images and information through a process of intensive looking, reading, research, and writing.

The minor in Astronomy is an ideal complementary minor primarily for students in two general categories: students currently majoring in engineering or the sciences, and students who have taken the introductory math and physics courses required of engineering and science majors, but have since changed majors.

The departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry and the Marshall School of Business jointly offer the cross-departmental minor in Biotechnology. This minor brings essential knowledge in the basic sciences together with the corporate skills needed in a rapidly growing industry. The minor is especially well suited for the Business, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, or Engineering student seeking a career in business and/or the biomedical/biotechnical sciences.

A Chemistry minor is available to students pursuing other majors who wish to strengthen their background in chemistry. This program is a particularly good supplement to major programs of study in Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.

The interdisciplinary Children and Families in Urban America minor combines courses from USC’s School of Social Work with courses in Psychology, Sociology, and Policy, Planning, and Development. Through the minor, students study families and children, communities and culture, and professions and partnerships.

The undergraduate Classics minor gives students an understanding of the cultures, languages, and literatures of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Mediterranean world. Classics is a broadly interdisciplinary field. Most courses focus on ancient Greece and Rome, but students in the department also study the impact of classical cultures on later societies and the interactions among various ancient cultures. A minor in Classics can be very successfully paired with degrees in a range of other fields. Our students have been known to combine their study of classics with a number of other pre-professional emphases, majors, and minors, including pre-med, Religion, Cinematic Arts, and Political Science.

Literature captures snapshots of different people, culture and history. In USC Dornsife’s Comparative Literature department, the full spectrum of the world’s literature is being analyzed and compared—from mythology, drama and biographies, to poetry, novels and films. The programs developed in Comparative Literature have a unique cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach to study. A minor in Comparative Literature can be an ideal complement to a major in many fields – both nonliterary fields such as Cinema, History and Philosophy, and even fields outside the humanities like Journalism, International Relations, Business, and pre-medical or pre-law programs. Comparative Literature minors follow one of three tracks: the Literature/Media/Critical Thought track, the Foreign Language track, or the Global Cultures track.

The USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences departments of biological sciences and mathematics and the Viterbi School of Engineering departments of computer sciences and biomedical engineering jointly offer the cross-departmental minor in computational biology and bioinformatics. This minor provides essential training in using quantitative skills to solve fundamental biological problems as well as problems related to public health, neuroscience, and environment. The cross-departmental minor includes four different tracks according to the background of the students in biology, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

The interdisciplinary Consumer Behavior minor explores consumer thinking from the perspective of Psychology, Marketing, Economics, Anthropology, Sociology, and other departments interested in popular culture. Why do people form the attitudes and impressions they do? How do individual factors, culture, mass media, economics and social trends influence people's decisions?

The Critical Approaches to Leadership minor is offered by faculty from several disciplines whose perspectives are brought to bear on issues and questions that should inform the judgments of capable, ethical leaders. Students are introduced to theoretical and historical models of leadership, engage in case studies of modern leaders, select critical electives that explore ethical and social considerations of leadership, examine professional applications of leadership principles, and integrate what they have learned in a capstone course. The minor includes courses in areas such as Classics, Philosophy, Religion, Political Science, and Sociology, in addition to special multidisciplinary courses in leadership. The emphasis of the minor is on leadership as expertise in community-building and takes advantage of USC's programs in community service, including the Joint Educational Project, the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, and other internships available through the Division of Student Affairs.

In USC Dornsife's Anthropology department, anthropologists study humankind through a cross-cultural, social science perspective, exploring the importance of culture in shaping human behavior and cultural relativity. Special emphasis is placed on the analysis and understanding of cultural differences, whether in human communities or among other primates.

Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines a broad array of issues of culture, including popular culture, identity, subcultures, nationalism, global culture, and ethnography. This minor is designed for students majoring in the humanities or other areas who wish to complement their majors with courses that investigate the politics of culture and cultural negotiation. The minor includes courses in areas such as English, Communication, and Cinema-Television.

The interdisciplinary Cultures and Politics of the Pacific Rim minor introduces students to the cultural heritage and political contexts of the United States' most important trading partners on the Pacific Rim. Students study East Asia and Latin America, and the cultural, economic, and political dimensions of international trade. It is intended for students who are interested in or considering diplomatic or commercial careers that require knowledge about the people and cultures of the Pacific Rim. The minor includes courses in international trade, area studies (focusing on Latin America and East Asia), and country studies (focusing on China, Japan, and/or Korea). Courses are selected from disciplines such as East Asian Languages and Cultures, International Relations, History, Political Science, and Spanish.

This minor brings together the resources of the Departments of English, History, and Art History to study the literatures and cultures of Europe and the Americas from the late medieval period to 1800. It draws upon courses from the Departments of French and Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, Philosophy, American Studies and Ethnicities, the Thornton School of Music, and the School of Theatre. The minor focuses on the interplay of literary and historical methodologies while promoting an area study in a wide context. The minor includes a senior seminar based on the resources of the Early Modern Studies Institute (a consortium between USC and the Huntington Library), which enables students to learn about current issues in this cross-disciplinary field and about research techniques employed to deal with those emergent issues.

The minor in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) gives students the opportunity to supplement more narrowly defined departmental majors with a multidisciplinary focus on an area of increasingly great importance to our nation in general and our region in particular. It is especially appropriate for students with a broad interest in East Asia, especially China, Japan and Korea. There is no language requirement.

USC Dornsife’s East Asian Languages and Cultures department provides students with a well-rounded education on East Asia by focusing on the study of the languages, linguistics, literature, thought, and civilizations of China, Japan, and Korea. Minors typically concentrate on one East Asian language and culture, while also taking broader survey courses on East Asia as a cultural unit. 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. However, students are not restricted to focus their studies on one language or culture.

Students from all disciplines will benefit from an Economics minor. The Economics minor is offered in three tracks: Law and Political Economy, Finance and Money, and International Economics. Each track is designed to help students explore a coherent area of economic thought and methodology. Law and Political Economy 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. Finance and Money guides students through the economic thought and theory that underlie the importance of money, covering topics that shed light on the ways in which institutions, individual preferences, and financial markets affect the allocation and investment of money. International Economics concentrates on the foundations, complexities, and importance of the global economy as well as the role of economics and political economy in societies outside the United States.

The interdisciplinary Education in a Pluralistic Society minor emphasizes the relationship between school and society. Students will study educational problems and issues and learn how they can participate, as individuals and as members of organizations, in the improvement of educational programs in their communities. The minor will be of interest to students from a variety of backgrounds and interests: students majoring in social science areas such as Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, and Political Science; future parents who will be sending their children to our nation's schools and participating in school improvement programs; international students who want to study the American educational system; and students entering professions such as law, medicine, social work, public administration and business where their work both impacts and is affected by the quality of students' educational experiences. The minor includes courses which focus on societal issues affecting education and creating successful learning environments. Courses are selected from disciplines such as Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and Gender Studies.

The Department of English offers a broad range of courses in English, American and Anglophone literature of all periods and genres, and in related areas such as creative and expository writing, literature and visual arts, ethnic literature and cultural studies, the history of the English language and of literary criticism, and literary and cultural theory. Class sizes are limited to 25 to enable full discussion (16 in creative writing workshops). Instructors assign extensive reading and writing in order to help students become perceptive readers, critical thinkers, and strong writers – skills that are their own lasting rewards and that also help prepare students for several areas of graduate study and for a number of professional and creative pursuits. The department’s wide-ranging faculty include published poets, novelists, cultural critics, essayists and literary historians. English’s award-winning faculty has made a reputation for itself nationally for its embrace of diverse theoretical approaches and its encouragement of interdisciplinary studies. Studying English can increase one’s opportunities in any career. English minors often venture into a variety of fields including business, medicine, law, education, and social work.

This minor is designed for students majoring in business, engineering, law, communications and other professional fields to give them the knowledge of chemistry needed to understand, formulate and manage scientific issues related to natural environmental processes as well as technologies involving the environment.

A minor in Environmental Studies is a great way to augment your studies in other fields and disciplines. To find out more about how a minor in Environment Studies could complement your other academic and career goals, please contact Dr. Lisa Collins and visit http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/minor/

The aim of the Ethics and Moral Philosophy minor is to provide students headed for medicine, biology, psychology and other health care professions with a broad humanistic perspective not found in professional education and the critical tools to deal with the ethical issues that may arise in their professional lives.

The minor in Folklore and Popular Culture provides an academic foundation for students interested in the many genres in the field including folktales, myths, legends, proverbs, jokes, games, folk medicine, and folk and indigenous musical traditions from around the world. Through interdisciplinary course work, students will learn techniques of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the traditional expressive culture of diverse groups. Students will analyze the interrelationships of folklore and national, regional, and ethnic identities. After becoming acquainted with methods of interpreting different forms of folklore, students will see how value systems are reflected in the data, so that students understand the ideological underpinnings of group formation, group identity, conflict, and strategies for resolution. By focusing on the individual, informal culture, and the tension between the individual and myriad groups to which they belong, folklore provides yet another window into understanding how individuals function in complex societies. Since the field is historically grounded and culturally comparative, folklore provides important perspectives on the human condition. The minor includes courses in areas such as Anthropology, Classics, Comparative Literature, Geography, and History.

The interdisciplinary minor in Forensics and Criminality was designed for students interested in the study of law, deviant behavior, or careers in the criminal justice system. In this program, students study psychological and/or ethical issues related to criminal behavior, consider criminality in the context of social class analysis, and learn about the American system of criminal justice. The minor combines courses in areas such as Sociology, Psychology, Law, Philosophy, Religion, and Political Science.

The minor in French trains students to acquire proficiency in the French language and to familiarize themselves with various aspects of French culture. In addition to language skills, the minor offers students the opportunity to choose from a number of stimulating courses in the literature, art, cinema, and history of France or the Francophone world, particularly Francophone Africa and the Francophone Caribbean Islands. Students may choose to fulfill some of the requirements with an exciting period of study in Paris (semester or year), or with our summer program in the history-rich town of Dijon in Burgundy. Students majoring in International Relations, Theatre, Cinema-Television, Music, Communication, Comparative Literature, and Business, among other fields, will find the French minor very enriching. Whether it directly connects with their major or acquaints them with areas of the world unknown to them, a French minor will add an international dimension to their education, as well as provide them with the opportunity to develop themselves on a personal level.

The minor in Geobiology is designed to allow students majoring in Biology to incorporate interdisciplinary courses in Earth Sciences into their program or to allow students majoring in Geology to incorporate interdisciplinary courses in Biology into their program. This field represents the intersection of what have been traditional disciplines and is valuable for understanding evolution, environmental contaminant behavior, and ocean sciences.

The Geohazards minor allows students who are not Geology majors to pursue a course of study that will lead to greater understanding of geohazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, climate change, environmental contamination, and availability of natural resources. It is accessible to both non-science and science majors.

The German Studies minor offers a complete language program (including Business German) featuring a student-centered approach to language learning - and a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with an interdisciplinary orientation. German Studies minors can chose from 18 upper division courses in German Studies (on contemporary affairs, film, literature, pop culture, cultural history and folklore), History, International Relations and in Political Sciences. The German Studies faculty creates a stimulating and challenging learning environment with ample opportunity for students to discover the cultural history, current events and everyday life in German speaking countries in and outside the classroom. Students are encouraged to study abroad in Berlin or Dresden and to participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. The courses are small allowing for a lot of individual attention and expression. A wide variety of special collections and facilities on campus and in the L.A. area offer excellent opportunities for students to get involved in research on German Studies topics. German Studies minors significantly enhance their employment opportunities after graduation in areas such as business, government service, teaching, engineering, law, art history, music etc. In addition, German Studies minors pave their way for future graduate studies in an array of disciplines that require the knowledge of German, and increase their options for grants and scholarships.

The rise of global firms and international changes that followed the end of the cold war raise new opportunities and challenges. The Global Communication minor provides students from fields such as Business, Journalism, Engineering, and Political Science an understanding of the dynamic nature of global relations, communications and technology. The Global Communication minor consists of courses in both International Relations and Communication.

The Department of History offers courses in ancient, medieval and modern European history, including Russian history; in both North and Latin American history; in the history of East Asia; and in world history. Through the years, the department has cultivated great strengths in the history of California and the American West. Some of the department’s courses are chronological, some national or regional and some are thematic, with special strengths in gender, race and ethnicity, popular culture, medicine, and urban history. The History minor exposes students to deep connections between the study of past times and places, and the roots of that study in human concerns about values, identities, issues, and policies. Historians are analysts of complex data, exotic documents, and mysterious images, and writers of persuasive prose.

The protection of human rights has become a matter of international concern. Despite widespread media coverage of violations, flagrant abuses occur daily throughout the world. The Human Rights minor provides students with in-depth knowledge about various human rights issues. This interdisciplinary minor will cover the theoretical foundations of human rights, historical and current developments, case studies, and policies in both international and domestic human rights courses. Students will be required to take their learning outside the classroom through an internship or by teaching human rights in the community and will be encouraged to join relevant student organizations. The minor includes courses from areas such as Political Science, International Relations, History, and Sociology.

The minor in International Policy and Management brings together courses from the School of International Relations, dealing with the new global challenges, specific regions of the world and international organizations and policies, and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, dealing with core management skills and public policy processes. Students will gain an understanding of the changes and challenges transforming the world and a taste of the policy and management skills to deal with them. To increase their understanding of the context and application of these concepts, students must complete a semester-long internship either in Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles with an organization that has an international focus.

The International Relations minor compliments any major; introducing the conceptual tools you will need to thrive in the fast-changing world of tomorrow and providing an understanding of how global developments affect your lives and work.

The Minor in Italian offers students exciting possibilities for small classes and personalized instruction. After fulfilling basic units of language instruction, students will choose from a variety of interesting courses (in English and Italian) on the literature, culture, history, art, and cinema of Italy. Students may choose to fulfill some of the requirements with a semester or year of study abroad in Florence or Milan during the academic year or with our summer program in the lovely town of Verona. Students majoring in areas such as Music, International Relations, Communication, Comparative Literature, Art History, or others will find the flexibility of the Italian minor ideally suited to their various interests from Dante to contemporary cinema and society; from women writers of the Renaissance to Futurist performance art.

Jewish American Studies is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of Jewish Americans, with particular emphasis on the development and culture of the Jewish communities in California and the West as well as on both historical and contemporary effects of global issues on American Jewish communities. The program is particularly appropriate for students preparing to work and interact with diverse communities and cultures in the United States and abroad in such fields as education, human services, law, business, journalism, and public administration. The minor includes courses in both Judaic Studies and American Studies and Ethnicity.

The minor in Judaic Studies provides the opportunity for in-depth study of Jewish thought, ethics, history, literature, tradition, spirituality, and women's studies using approaches developed through the academic study of religion. It is an interdisciplinary program that challenges and stimulates students to examine and learn about Judaism as a topic of scientific interest. The minor includes courses both Judaic Studies and Religion.

For students who would like to obtain basic knowledge of Kinesiology but are majoring in another area, a minor in this field is offered. The Kinesiology minor includes courses on anatomy, physiology, and nutrition and exercise. The minor may be ideal for someone pursuing a career in the management area of health and corporate fitness. A minor in a health-related science may also be desirable for those in engineering or the physical sciences. Students pursuing a teaching or coaching career at the secondary school level may also benefit from knowledge in this area.

The Korean Studies minor is intended for students who are interested in the political, economic, social and cultural changes of the area, and draws upon courses from departments across the social sciences, humanities, and professional schools.

The Latin American Studies minor recognizes the lasting importance of U.S.-Latin American relations. The overriding goal is to encourage students to learn more about Latin America by combining conceptual, area, and language studies during their time at USC. The purpose of this minor is to deepen students' knowledge of Latin America by offering courses from multiple disciplines within a context of close faculty guidance. The minor includes courses in areas such as Spanish, History, International Relations, Political Science, Art History, and Anthropology.

The interdisciplinary Law and Society minor focuses on the effect of law on society as well as the ways in which social forces influence the legal system. The idea is that we will understand the law if we look beyond "law on the books" to "law in action." Thus, it is important to study key legal institutions such as the legal profession, the judiciary, juries, the police, legislatures, and administrative agencies. In addition, the minor introduces students to legal policies like plea bargaining, the death penalty, and the constitutional principles that underlie political debates about these policies, e.g., equal protection, due process, and privacy. The minor includes courses in areas such as Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology, and Law.

A minor in Linguistics is strongly recommended for all students interested in language, such as those majoring in English, foreign languages, Communication, or Journalism. A minor emphasizing linguistic analysis adds strength and breadth to majors in areas such as Mathematics and Computer Science, which require working with abstract formal structures. A minor emphasizing psycholinguistics is valuable for students in development and cognitive psychology, a minor emphasizing in sociolinguistics is useful for majors in Anthropology, Sociology, and International Relations, and a minor emphasizing second language acquisition would be appropriate for students interested in language teaching and Education. Linguistics is also a relevant and extremely useful minor for students in pre-law and Business programs.

This interdisciplinary minor is intended for students in all schools with an interest in human relations as a subject of study or professional goal. In addition to course work in organizational behavior, social psychology and management, this minor includes attention to questions of ethics and leadership. The minor includes courses in areas such as Economics, Business, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, and leadership.

This interdisciplinary minor was created for students in Business, Economics, and Mathematics, whose majors already require some of the introductory course work. Students in other programs are welcome but should expect the minor to require more units than it does for students in these programs.

USC Dornsife’s Mathematics department incorporates many mathematical theoreticians as well as specialists in applications of engineering, computer science, finance, economics, physics and computational genomics. This combination of theoretical and practical education gives the department a unique energy. The faculty is engaged in a wide variety of research activities and offers courses in many areas. Having access to many different kinds of mathematicians at USC Dornsife can aid students in developing their own specialized study and research. New research ventures beyond core mathematics and statistics enhance the focus and curriculum for mathematics at USC Dornsife.

Medical Anthropology examines the body, illness, and healing from a cultural perspective, including comparative studies of folk healing systems, curing rituals, and Western biomedical practices. The minor includes courses in areas such as Anthropology, Gender Studies, and Occupational Therapy.

The interdisciplinary Middle East Studies minor offers students interested in exploring the richness and complexity of the Middle East, broadly defined as extending from Morocco through Iran, a framework for developing a basic but solid understanding of the region. Students may select courses that provide a broad introduction across disciplines, or they may choose courses that address a particular historical period or theme. Although students may opt to take a course in Arabic to count toward the minor, there is no language requirement for the minor. The minor includes courses in areas such as International Relations, Religion, Anthropology, Economics, and Judaic Studies.

The minor in Natural Science will first provide students with a foundation in the basic sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology. Each student will then build on this by selecting a variety of electives to meet individual scientific interests and academic goals. This is a great minor for pre-medical students who are non-science majors, or for students just interested in developing a better understanding of the basic sciences. This minor is not available to majors in the natural sciences or Engineering.

The Neuroscience minor is designed to acquaint students with a broad range of the problems and opportunities available in the study of the brain and the mind. The minor requires a core course which will provide beginning knowledge of the biological aspects of brain function. Additional courses for the minor can be selected from Anthropology, Computer Science, Gerontology, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology. At least one course must include a research component. Research in appropriate laboratories is encouraged but not required for completion of the minor.

This minor enables students to learn about the nonprofit sector — its organizations, philanthropy and voluntary action. The minor provides: (1) an overview of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy and its role in the United States; (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. The minor includes courses in areas such as Policy, Planning, and Development, International Relations, and Journalism. 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.

The School of Philosophy offers courses in most areas of philosophy, including philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics, logic, philosophy of science, political philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, the history of philosophy, phenomenology and existentialism. The minor in philosophy is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental problems of Western thought and introduce them to the concepts and techniques necessary for independent philosophical thinking; it is equally intended to provide a broadening perspective for the various areas of specialization in the natural and social sciences and in literature and the arts.

The minor is intended to give students headed for business, law, or the professions a strong set of critical, analytical, and expository skills, while providing them with a broad humanistic perspective not found in professional education.

This interdisciplinary minor explores the potential of photography as an instrument of social change that allows individuals to document their circumstances, share their stories and change their lives. Students have the opportunity to examine the impact of images and the power of storytelling both in the classroom and in the field and study the issues raised by this kind of social exploration and commentary.

The Minor in Physics is an ideal complementary minor primarily for students in two general categories: students currently majoring in engineering or the sciences; and students who have taken the introductory Math and Physics courses required of engineering and science majors, but have since changed major.

The digital environment is changing the face of political organization, both in domestic American electoral politics and in the methods used by transnational social movements to call attention to problems around the globe. Howard Dean's use of the internet to fund his 2004 presidential campaign has made other candidates aware of the political power of the web in fundraising and grass-roots orchestration of local (and "global") events. The Political Organizing in the Digital Age minor should be of interest to students majoring in International Relations, Political Science or other programs who plan to use technology to affect contemporary national and international affairs. It is intended to help students engage in domestic and international political organizing by creating Web sites, podcasting and using other new technologies. It should help students secure internships and jobs with political and international organizations, and generally improve their abilities to change the world. The minor includes courses in areas such as Political Science, International Relations, Communication, and web development.

Students who minor in Political Science can either pursue course work in a traditional subfield (American politics, comparative politics, law and public policy, or political theory) or in a specific issue area of concentration (civil liberties and human rights, race, ethnicity, and gender, urban political problems, Asian politics, etc.).

The Department of Psychology offers five topic areas: cognitive, developmental, clinical, biological, and social. By focusing on these five areas, students develop a variety of skills that apply to educational, work, and community environments. Students learn about human thought and behavior, including developing research about memory, social interaction, deviant behavior, mental illness, clinical practice, and animal behavior. Pursuing a minor in Psychology requires students to investigate how human beings learn, remember, communicate, and interact; how they develop over the life span; how they adjust to change; and how they solve problems.

The interdisciplinary Psychology and Law minor brings together courses in Psychology that focus on the social, clinical, cognitive, and societal aspects of psychology and how it relates to law. This knowledge is augmented with courses from the Gould School of Law that identify the relationship between mental health, social psychology, and law.

One hundred years ago, African-American intellectual W.E.B. DuBois famously identified the problem of the 20th century as "the problem of the color line." Since then, America has witnessed great changes in terms of race relations, especially in the realm of politics. Further, the role of race in the political sphere has become more complicated with large-scale migration and globalization trends that foster multiple and overlapping racial identities, new policy challenges, potential conflicts, and new possibilities in terms of coalition building between different racial and ethnic groups. We may either condemn or applaud the political response to these issues, but there is little doubt that students need to be able to assess critically the role that race plays in American politics and the world today. The interdisciplinary minor in Race and Politics helps students to analyze and critically evaluate contemporary race relations and how race matters in politics today. The minor includes courses in areas such as Political Science, History, Sociology, and American Studies and Ethnicity.

Through the Religion minor, students can elect to explore religious studies broadly by selecting courses from three or four areas, or focus their studies in one or two areas. Possible focused concentrations include Christian studies, biblical studies, religion in America, ethics, and theology. The minor can be constructed by individual students to pursue their own interests in a variety of themes. Students who wish to focus their minor in Jewish studies should minor in Judaic Studies.

From the days of czars to the Cold War to halting steps toward democracy, Russia and Eastern European countries have been consistently influential, enigmatic, and controversial. In USC Dornsife’s Slavic Languages and Literature department, faculty and students jointly develop insights into the history and character of this pivotal region, with a special focus on Russia. The Russian minor combines courses in the Russian language with the study of Russian literature, art, and culture. Particular emphasis is placed on developments in contemporary Russia. To gain firsthand knowledge of the language and culture, students may study in Moscow, St. Petersburg or a lesser-known Slavic city for a summer, semester, or year.

From the days of czars to the Cold War to halting steps toward democracy, Russia and Eastern European countries have been consistently influential, enigmatic, and controversial. In USC Dornsife’s Slavic Languages and Literature department, faculty and students jointly develop insights into the history and character of this pivotal region, with a special focus on Russia. The interdisciplinary Russian Area Studies minor combines courses in the Russian language, literature, art, and culture with courses in Russian area history, international relations, or political science. To gain firsthand knowledge of the language and culture, students may study in Moscow, St. Petersburg or a lesser-known Slavic city for a summer, semester, or year.

The beginning of the 21st century has witnessed a number of public controversies at the intersection of science, technology and society. Such discussions are characterized by divergent views on the role of science and technology in contemporary life. From one vantage, science promises to deliver improvements in collective well-being. But from another perspective, developments in science and technology provoke widespread anxiety. While public officials sought scientific advice in settling policy debates, they often seem skeptical of its findings. In many cases, economic interests, scientific advice and ethical reflection pointed in seemingly incommensurable directions. Understanding these tensions requires an historical and a comparative perspective. Whether in the past, or in current debates, we find specific cultural and political factors at play in societal response to new scientific developments. The minor in STS enables students to develop a critical lens on such debates. The stakes for solving our most pressing social, political and environmental problems are high. Over the next decades many of the most crucial challenges we face will require the integration of societal values with scientific and technological developments – whether in managing end-of-life care, preserving the environment, or continuing to nurture scientific innovation. This minor introduces students to a number of approaches to these questions, taking advantage of the diverse offerings in this area at USC.

The Sociology department excels in the sociological study of families, immigration, and social inequality. The greater Los Angeles area provides a natural laboratory for studying such sociological themes as race relations, work and the workplace, the family in a changing society, population trends, and crime. Students in the Sociology minor may select from one of four emphases: general; health and social welfare; industrial relations and human resources; and deviant behavior and the law.

The Southeast Asia and its People minor allows students to supplement more narrowly defined departmental majors with a multidisciplinary focus on an area of great importance both to global developments and to cultural heritage issues in California and the United States. There is no language requirement and no required courses, but students take courses dealing with Southeast Asian cultures and people of Southeast Asian heritage in the United States. The focus of this minor is on transnational connections and the new area of global culture. The minor includes courses in areas such as Anthropology, Political Science, Geography, Religion, History, and International Relations.

The Spanish minor provides students with considerable preparation in Spanish language, literature and culture. A minor in Spanish enhances most majors since it supplies a strong liberal arts background as well as a practical skill that is very attractive to prospective employers after graduation. Students with academic preparation in Spanish significantly enhance their career opportunities in such areas as teaching, communications, government service, health, law, public relations, the travel industry, social work, and many other areas. Students of Spanish are encouraged to study for a semester or a year at various affiliated universities in Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil, and the department offers on a regular basis an intensive summer program in Madrid.

The spatial studies minor requires a minimum of 20 units, consisting of one lower division elective, three required courses and an upper division elective. The minor offers students an opportunity to examine some of the major challenges of the 21st century (climate change, human health and sustainability, urbanization and cultural homogenization, among others) through a spatial lens.

This interdisciplinary minor should appeal to students from any discipline who are interested in acquiring a basic understanding of the mathematics underlying modern statistical analysis and inference techniques, learning how to handle and analyze large data sets, and gaining insight into the applications of modern statistics. Students who complete this minor will be able to interpret statistically based conclusions, be viable candidates for entry level positions requiring some knowledge of modern statistics and data analysis, and be prepared to enter a graduate level program in applied statistics. The only prerequisite for this minor is one semester of elementary calculus.

The interdisciplinary minor in Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society allows students to examine a range of thematic and theoretical approaches to understanding culture and society from multiple standpoints in the humanities. The minor is rich in course and schedule options, enabling students with an interest in the humanities to continue their studies. It also includes co-curricular events and advisement from Thematic Option staff. Thematic approaches to humanities and society builds on the intellectual community developed in the Thematic Option honors program and is open to all interested students.

Theorizing about the arts takes place in the discipline of philosophy (aesthetics) as well as in all the individual disciplines concerned with the individual arts. Some of the issues involved (is perspective a matter of convention?; how does acting differ in cinema and in theatre?) are specific to a particular discipline or disciplines, but their discussion typically involves very general issues (in the cases mentioned, issues about the nature of convention or of artistic media) and many of the issues manifest themselves in all these disciplines (the relation of intention to interpretation; the epistemological and moral status of the arts; the nature of evaluative judgments). The understanding of these issues can be greatly enhanced by studying them as they arise in different arts and in different theoretical traditions. The Theories of Art minor should be of interest to students with an interest in Philosophy, or students in any of the arts who are interested in their theoretical dimensions. The minor includes courses in areas such as Philosophy, English, Comparative Literature, Architecture, and Theatre.

A critical approach to Art History is the departure point for the minor in Visual Culture, which is dedicated to the analysis of the visual arts, broadly defined to include fine art, film and television, photography and video, illustrated books, advertising, architecture, and design. Students in the Visual Culture minor elect from one of three concentrations: photography, film, and the reproduction of images; popular culture; or gender and sexuality. The minor includes courses in areas such as Art History, Communication, Cinema-Television, English, and Comparative Literature.