Most, if not all, of the societal problems or challenges we face are transnational or global in nature.  These problems like global climate change, pandemics or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are global challenges that do not belong to a single country.  These are "problems without passports."

USC students will have the opportunity in summer 2013 to participate in a number of Problems Without Passports (PWP) courses that combine problem-based or inquiry learning research exercises with study in a foreign country, Washington D.C., or Los Angeles. Learn more about problem-based learning.  Courses are currently being finalized, and a full list will be available soon.

Undergraduate students:  Students applying to a PWP program are eligible to apply for our Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF).

Summer 2013 Courses:

Please check back periodically as we will be updating this page on a rolling basis.

• ANTH-301, The Global Performance of Healing (Brazil)
• ANTH-409, Indigenous Languages in the Contemporary World (Northern Ireland)
• BISC-428, The Biology of Tropical Diseases (Oxford, England)
• BISC-499, India (pending)
• COLT-499, Culture and Travel in Hong Kong and Macau
• ENST-485, The Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Socities: The Ancient Mayan Civilization (Belize)
• GEOL-387b, Undergraduate Team Research (The Sierra Nevadas)
• IR-308, Globalization: Issues and Controversies (Cairo, Alexandria, and Istanbul-Pending)
• IR-318, Conflict Resolution and Peace Research (Rwanda)
• IR-404, International Relations Policy Task Force: Rethinking U.S.-Cuban Relations (Washington D.C., Miami, Cuba)
• SPAN-499, The Cuban World: Discourse and Identity (Cuba)

Summer 2012 Courses:

• ANTH-301, The Global Performance of Healing (Brazil) 
• ANTH-499, Indigenous Languages in the Contemporary World (Northern Ireland)
• BISC-428, The Biology of Tropical Diseases
• ENST-320a, In the Field (Catalina)
• ENST-485, The Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Socities: The Ancient Mayan Civilization (Belize)
• HIST-499, The Silk Road Today: Focus on Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)
• IR-404, International Relations Policy Task Force: Rethinking U.S.-Cuban Relations (Washington D.C., Miami, Cuba) 
• IR-422, Ecological Security and Global Politics (Sweden, Russia, Finland)
• IR-445, U.S. Defense and Foreign Policy: Nonproliferation and Weapons of Mass Destruction (Washington D.C.)
• LING-499, Atayal Language and Culture (Taiwan)
• REL-495, Field Methods in Archaeology: Discovering Ancient Empire (Turkey)

Articles about the program:

• Navigating through Kelp and Swimming with the Sharks
• Seeking the Truth of the Khmer Rouge
• A World of Learning

For information about summer financial aid, please refer to www.usc.edu/admission.