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.

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.

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. Undergraduates may elect to complete a major with an emphasis in Visual Anthropology or a major in Urban Applied Anthropology.

Please refer to the department Web site for more information

Please refer to the department Web site for more information

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 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.

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 the student who has an abiding interest in how the past informs the present and is looking for a broad interdisciplinary approach to understanding the world and its material history. The B.A. 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.

Art History combines the study of art with the study of culture. The undergraduate major not only receives sound training in the history of art but also a basis in other humanistic disciplines. The curriculum is designed to guarantee students a general knowledge of both western and eastern art, and to offer a variety of upper division courses in specialized areas. Majors 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. A special feature of the undergraduate program is the apprenticeship, which affords upper-division students the opportunity to work in the professional art world in return for academic credit. Students gain valuable job skills in local museums, galleries, auction houses, and art foundations. Apprenticeship placement is also available during the summer months throughout the United States.

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 on both historical and contemporary effects of 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.

Faculty in USC Dornsife’s Astronomy department observe the most elemental forms of nature and how they behave in both inner and outer space. From electrons to galaxies, USC Dornsife scientists explore the structure of matter and how it organizes itself. A leading area for solar and space science research, Los Angeles offers many opportunities for student and faculty research. USC is home to the Space Sciences Center. 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.

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.

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 plays a central role in the university’s goal to make USC a leader in life science research. The department has research faculty with specialties in three disciplines: marine environmental biology, molecular and computational biology, and neurobiology. Biology majors may study general Biology or choose an emphasis in any of these three disciplines. Undergraduates in Biological Sciences have the opportunity to become involved in laboratory or field research by taking research courses.The Biological Sciences department sponsors two semester-long programs at USC’s Wrigley Marine Sciences Center on Catalina Island in conjunction with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies. The fall program focuses on microbial ecology, while the spring program centers on population biology and animal physiology. Students live on Catalina Island for the entire semester.

The interdisciplinary Biophysics degree is ideal for students preparing for medical school. The degree program will provide the rigorous Physics and Biology background required for graduate school or employment in Biophysics. Students also fulfill all the requirements for entrance to medical school.

The Department of Chemistry offers degree programs which provide undergraduate students with core instruction and excellent research opportunities. Graduates with a B.S. 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 Ph.D., in chemistry or a related area. The B.S. degree in Chemistry at USC is accredited by the American Chemical Society. The B.A. 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 B.S. 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.

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.

The undergraduate 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. To supplement classroom instruction, students are encouraged to spend a semester studying in Athens or Rome. 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.

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the mind and cognition from a variety of perspectives and approaches. The core and electives sample from 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. This may be accomplished through individual advisement: language, reasoning and decision-making, and the computational mind.

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, and our undergraduate 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 in the undergraduate program encourages our 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. As a result, Comparative Literature makes an ideal double major with nonliterary fields such as Cinema, History and Philosophy—and even with fields outside the humanities like Journalism, International Relations, Business, and pre-medical or pre-law programs. Comparative Literature majors follow one of two tracks: the Literature/Media/Critical Thought track or the Foreign Language track. The requirements for both tracks of the major accommodate very well semesters of study abroad.

Undergraduate majors in English are required to take 10 courses (for a total of 40 units) for a B.A. in English or for a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. 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 seven upper-division courses will reflect which of the department’s two tracks are chosen. 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.

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 B.A. 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.

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 (EAAS) 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, EAAS 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.

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. Undergraduate 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 speaking 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 B.A. 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. The progressive degree program in East Asian Languages and Cultures permits exceptional undergraduate students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures within five years.

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 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. The progressive degree program in Economics permits exceptional undergraduate students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Economics within five years.

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.

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. USC College’s English department offers B.A. degree programs in English and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. 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.

The Environmental Studies Program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems. Students may pursue either a B.A. or B.S. 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 the both degree programs, including capstone and field learning opportunities, by clicking on the program link.

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. Students often study abroad. The department runs a summer program in Dijon, France; students also attend semester-long or year-long programs in Paris. Employment opportunities include internships with consular offices, companies with large local offices in Los Angeles, and work-abroad programs in French-speaking countries. Faculty and staff have many contacts and keep students informed of opportunities.

The Gender Studies Program explores, across disciplines and cultures, the changing roles, functions and images of women and men from feminist perspectives. The undergraduate major focuses on the evidence and argument about what the places of women and men are in culture and what they should be. Course offerings include a community internship and senior seminar. Professors bring insights from fields such as History, Religion, English, Cinema-Television, Law, Sociology, and Anthropology. The department offers a B.A. for majors, drawing on feminist scholarship from biology and psychology to religion, literature and the arts. One popular area of study is the development of feminism throughout history, from ancient civilization to the 20th century. In Gender Studies, students work with faculty to individualize their curriculum and can extend their research across film, art and literature. All majors have a faculty mentor from the department who meets with them throughout their undergraduate years. Opportunities for fieldwork abound in Los Angeles, where people represent a broad range of gender identities and complexities.

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 Arts and a Master of Arts in Geological Sciences within five years.

The Health and Humanity major 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. Experiential learning is an important component of the Health and Humanity major, and a health-related internship is required. In addition, students select an emphasis in one of seven areas: Bioethics; Health, Gender, and Ethnicity; Health and Aging; Health and the Mind; Biological Sciences; Biochemistry; or Biotechnology.

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, but are required to take at least three courses from a thematic, temporal, or geographic concentration. 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.

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 bachelors degree in History and Social Science Education).

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.

The Interdisciplinary Major Program presents a special opportunity for students to take advantage of the University's strengths in the professions and the liberal arts, by designing individual programs of study that cross the lines between traditional majors. This is a program intended for students with superior academic records and excellent writing skills who have focused ideas as to the curricula which might be most meaningful to them--students whose individual intellectual interests have led them out of the center of a major into an area which interacts with one or more other disciplines in exciting ways.

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. International Relations majors must declare two concentrations from among the following areas: Culture, Gender, and Global Society; Foreign Policy and Analysis; International Political Economy; International Politics and Security Studies; or Regional Studies (Europe; Russia; Eastern Europe and Eurasia; Latin America; the Middle East and Africa; or Pacific Rim). Students often complete an advanced level of foreign language instruction. Many 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.

The major in International Relations (Global Business) is a joint program consisting of courses offered by the School of International Relations and the Marshall School of Business. Majors in International Relations with an emphasis in Global Business will explore the analytical concepts of the relations between states and other international actors with in the context of the global economy through a combination of International Relations courses and foreign language study. Students will 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 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.

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. Students often study abroad. The department runs a summer program in Verona, Italy; students also attend semester-long or year-long programs in Florence or Milan. Employment opportunities include internships with consular offices, companies with large local offices in Los Angeles, and work-abroad programs in Italian-speaking countries. Faculty and staff have many contacts and keep students informed of opportunities.

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. Students of the program receive regular course credit and their degrees from USC. The emphasis 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 Kinesiology major is concerned with the scientific study of human movement. The curriculum is designed to provide a broad and comprehensive understanding of the human body at work. The coursework derives from a variety of disciplines, including physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, biomechanics, nutrition, and psychology. As such, an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology provides excellent training for students wishing to pursue further graduate or professional studies in health-related fields, such as physical therapy, medicine, dentistry, and occupational therapy. In addition to the post-graduate health fields, students interested in the general area of corporate fitness-wellness will find Kinesiology an ideal major.

Linguistics emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. Linguistics 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. 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. In addition to introductory linguistics and courses in linguistic analysis, students take courses in psycholinguistics (language acquisition, processing, and language disorders) and/or sociolinguistics (language and society). Interdisciplinary research in Linguistics and other areas such as Neuroscience or Computer Science is also available. 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. Graduate programs in Education respect a background in Linguistics, and the students wishing to pursue graduate study in English or a foreign language will find their application enhanced by a Linguistics major. Schools of business, law, and medicine looking for applicants with a broad intellectual background recognize the analytical skills and scientific rigor which a major in Linguistics represents. To graduate schools and respective employers in computer science, a Linguistics background will be especially attractive. The Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics can thus be the starting point not only for careers in Linguistics, but also in a number of diverse areas, such as education, law, government, business, and computer science.

Linguistics emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. Linguistics 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. 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. 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. Graduate programs in Education respect a background in Linguistics, and the students wishing to pursue graduate study in English or a foreign language will find their application enhanced by a Linguistics major. Schools of business, law, and medicine looking for applicants with a broad intellectual background recognize the analytical skills and scientific rigor which a major in Linguistics represents. To graduate schools and respective employers in computer science, a Linguistics background will be especially attractive. The Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics can thus be the starting point not only for careers in Linguistics, but also in a number of diverse areas, such as education, law, government, business, and computer science.

Linguistics emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. Linguistics 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. 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. 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. Graduate programs in Education respect a background in Linguistics, and the students wishing to pursue graduate study in English or a foreign language will find their application enhanced by a Linguistics major. Schools of business, law, and medicine looking for applicants with a broad intellectual background recognize the analytical skills and scientific rigor which a major in Linguistics represents. To graduate schools and respective employers in computer science, a Linguistics background will be especially attractive. The Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics can thus be the starting point not only for careers in Linguistics, but also in a number of diverse areas, such as education, law, government, business, and computer science.

Linguistics emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. Linguistics 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. 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. 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. Graduate programs in Education respect a background in Linguistics, and the students wishing to pursue graduate study in English or a foreign language will find their application enhanced by a Linguistics major. Schools of business, law, and medicine looking for applicants with a broad intellectual background recognize the analytical skills and scientific rigor which a major in Linguistics represents. To graduate schools and respective employers in computer science, a Linguistics background will be especially attractive. The Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics can thus be the starting point not only for careers in Linguistics, but also in a number of diverse areas, such as education, law, government, business, and computer science.

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 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. 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.

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. Two options are also available regarding language study. The first, which is strongly recommended for all students, but especially for those who seek to pursue a career using Middle East studies, stresses the importance of a regional language (at this point, Arabic or Hebrew), along with other disciplinary offerings. The second allows students to gain an in-depth understanding of the region, but without the requirement of a regional language.

Narrative Studies is a systematic inquiry into the determinants of an effective story. 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.

USC undergraduate 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. Undergraduate Neuroscience majors are encouraged to become involved in laboratory or field research by working on a faculty-supervised research project for some of their elective units. Students and faculty in the Neuroscience program study questions spanning the entire spectrum of modern neuroscience research. 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.

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 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 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. The beautiful Hoose Library of Philosophy maintains an impressive collection of traditional and electronic media to support research efforts. The undergraduate Philosophy Club enables students to meet, share knowledge and discuss topics outside the classroom. Weekly lecture events are hosted by the department in which leading philosophical scholars from around the nation present their research and theories.

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.

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.

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 College 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.

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 their normal four-year career. The program will prepare students for a career in a computer-related field and/or science research.

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 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.

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. The progressive degree program in Psychology permits exceptional undergraduate students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Psychology within five years. Psychology graduates may 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.

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. Opportunities for comparative religious study abound. USC and its surrounding neighborhood serve more than a dozen distinct faith communities. 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.

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 College’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. 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. Graduates in Russian are sought after in government, international business, journalism, law, academia and the arts.

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, and 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.

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, and 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.

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 leading to a B.A. in Sociology: 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.

The Spanish major emphasizes the language, literature, linguistics, and culture of Spain and Latin America. Our 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 College’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. 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 department encourages students to combine a Spanish major with a double major or minor in another discipline either within the College or other schools at USC. A major in Spanish offers several advantages, which extend beyond the classroom. It will provide you 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 and necessary 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.

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 Ancient Religion and Classical Languages minor is offered collaboratively by the Classics Department and the School of Religion. It is designed for students who want exposure to Greek or Latin and are interested in the broader ancient Mediterranean world. Students are encouraged to investigate ancient studies through archaeology, Greek and Roman culture, politics, religion, mythology, literature, and biblical studies in accord with their individual interests.

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.

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.

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 Gender Studies Program explores, across disciplines and cultures, the changing roles, functions, and images of women and men from feminist perspectives. The undergraduate minor focuses on the evidence and argument about what the places of women and men are in culture and what they should be. Professors bring insights from fields such as History, Religion, English, Cinema-Television, Law, Sociology, and Anthropology.

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 Geographic Information Science minor explores the core geographic information technologies and the ways in which they can be used to help advance knowledge in the environmental and social sciences.

Becoming a geographer is much more than memorizing state capitals and reading maps. Geography is concerned with the study of "place" and especially the processes that shape the natural and built environments around us. The geographical dimensions of neighborhoods and communities, urban and regional development, globalization, land, air and water resources, natural hazards, maps, and geographic information science are central topics covered in geography courses. Geographers are interested in understanding how humans and human societies utilize and transform their environments, and in turn, how conditions on the Earth's surface provide opportunities and pose challenges for humanity. Within the Geography minor, students are introduced to basic geographical foundations and methods. They also take courses emphasizing urban environments, natural environments, and geographical information science.

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.

Unlike other creatures, humans are innately driven to fill their time with interesting, meaningful activities, which scholars call "occupations." That is, humans need to be occupied. These occupations have a profound impact on physical and mental health, one's sense of well-being and the experience of quality of life. Occupational Science seeks to understand the precise nature and function of occupations and the critical effect of daily activity on human beings. Scientists working in the field examine questions such as: what is the relationship between childhood occupations and adult competency and achievement; what constitutes a healthy balance of work, rest and leisure; what factors contribute to a good fit between a particular individual and his or her occupations; as well as many other issues.

The Peace and Conflict Studies minor is an interdisciplinary approach to the related questions of what causes war and what produces peace. Utilizing theoretical and empirical methods, students will examine both conflict resolution and building sustainable peace. Courses in the minor span disciplines such as International Relations, Philosophy, History, Political Science, and Journalism. As part of the minor program, students must also complete a one-semester internship with a peace-related organization. The internship gives students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge through supervised fieldwork.

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.

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.