USC Dornsife Majors

This multidisciplinary major is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of African Americans, with a 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 interdisciplinary major 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.

American Studies and Ethnicity offers challenging and diverse opportunities to study the peoples, cultures, and institutions of the United States in interdisciplinary courses. Combining the study of history with literature, the arts, and the social sciences, American Studies and Ethnicity seeks to bring together these various disciplines and modes of inquiry in a common project: the effort to understand the diverse peoples and cultures that have composed the United States and to provide critical perspectives on the words, deeds, myths, and material practices that have shaped this country in its full regional, ethnic, class, and gender diversity. This major will be particularly appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in law, journalism, government, foreign service, social work, international business, public administration, and education.

Archaeology is a way of understanding the rich record of past human societies through the study of their material cultures. The Archaeology degree is ideal for students with an interest in how the past informs the present and who desire a deep time perspective on global trends. This interdisciplinary major allows students to choose courses in Anthropology, Art History, Classics, Religion, Spatial Sciences, Environmental Science, Human Biology, and Chemistry. Students will acquire an overview of the history of archaeology, exposure to the theoretical perspectives, and hands-on experience using basic and cutting-edge field technologies.

This major blends the study of art with the study of culture. The curriculum is designed to guarantee a general knowledge of both Western and Eastern art and to offer a variety of upper-division courses in specialized areas. Students are exposed to a diversity of theoretical approaches and encouraged to sharpen their critical and conceptual thinking.

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This multidisciplinary major is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of Asian Pacific Americans, with a particular emphasis on the development and culture of the Asian American communities in California and the West, as well as the effects of both historical and contemporary global issues on Asian American communities.

This major combines background in relevant languages, usually Russian, German or Polish, with coursework in international relations and the history, culture, and politics of the region. Those who master its history and politics, and its economic, cultural, and linguistic diversity, will be well positioned for fellowships, graduate work, and business or analytical careers centered on this fascinating region.

This multidisciplinary major is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political experience of Chicanos and Latinos with a 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.

This major gives students an understanding of cultures, languages, and literatures of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Mediterranean world. It is a broadly interdisciplinary field focused mainly on ancient Greece and Rome, but students also study the impact of classical cultures on later societies and the interactions among various cultures.

This major studies literary works across linguistic, national, and historical boundaries. It takes a comparative perspective on different literary traditions as well as other arts such as painting, photography, film, and music. Comparatists also study the nature of literature across and between different language cultures including French, Spanish, Italian, and many more.

This major bridges the fields of Latin American Studies (focusing on the history and cultures of Central and South America) and Latino Studies (focusing on the experience of Chicano/a and Latino/a communities in the United States). Students acquire interdisciplinary perspectives on the indigenous and transnational histories, cultures, and social issues of the Americas.

All writing is creative — fiction or fact, prose or poetry, with sight or sound — and words matter. Stories make us human, and studying English with an emphasis in Creative Writing is a way of knowing our stories. Students explore literatures, genres, and cultures through the ages and use that knowledge to enhance their writing.

This interdisciplinary major combines language study with history, social sciences, and the humanities. The program is ideal for students who seek an understanding of the key facets of East Asia’s place in our globalized world and the ability to analyze the influence of globalization in China, Japan, and Korea. This is an attractive major for students who want to make East Asia a part of their personal and professional futures. It also provides a strong foundation for students pursuing additional training in graduate or professional programs as well as those seeking careers in public service, journalism, international business and law, government, and the private sector.

This major provides students with a well-rounded education on East Asia by focusing on the study of the languages, literatures, cultures, and thought of China, Japan, and Korea. Students typically concentrate on one East Asian language and culture.

This major 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.

French is a global language, spoken by over 200 million people on five continents, and studying French opens doors to a world of literature, film, art, and thought of extraordinary richness. As a student of French at USC, you will have the opportunity to learn not just about the culture, literature, and society of France within the context of European history, but also to work closely with specialists in Francophone North Africa and the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia as you explore topics ranging from Renaissance culture to French hip-hop; from to critical theory to Islam in France.

The Gender and Sexuality Studies major focuses on the roles of gender and sexuality throughout historical eras and all domains of our contemporary lives. Our faculty teach across the humanities, social sciences, arts, and the professions, and they mentor students to analyze gender and sexuality as they intersect with other domains of power, including race/ethnicity, class, religion, age, ability, and national status. Majoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies prepares students for graduate school in the social sciences and the humanities as well as in law, business and education. In addition, students are prepared  for work in governmental and non-governmental organizations, communications and the media, arts and public service.

This major explores the richness of the Italian language and its culture, literature, cinema, history, and arts. Students work closely with faculty on individually designed projects which examine Italy’s dynamic agendas from the Renaissance to today’s global world.

This major is offered jointly by the USC School of Religion and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, an independent college adjacent to the USC campus. It provides 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. Whether you are interested in going into business or education, politics or social work, a Jewish Studies education will provide you with the analytical and conceptual skills you need to move yourself forward.

This interdisciplinary major underscores the global reach and import of the nations in the Americas, Europe, and Africa in which Spanish and Portuguese are spoken. Students in this major take courses taught in Spanish about literature, cinema, culture, and history. Students are also able to take courses from other disciplines such as political science, art history, and anthropology, to name a few. Students learn to think critically about the cultural, political, and historical questions involved in the study of Latin American and Iberian societies.

This innovative major lets students study in many disciplines and specialize where they choose. Nineteen departments contribute to develop and evaluate storytelling in fiction, poetry, song, theatre, cinema, television, and other platforms. Cultural and historical understanding of narrative, combined with practical techniques of construction, prepare students for a range of opportunities from literature and performing arts to any profession that depends upon narrative.

This major is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental problems of Western thought and introduce them to the concepts and techniques necessary for independent philosophical thinking. It provides a broadening perspective for various areas of specialization in the natural and social sciences and in literature and the arts.

The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major acquaints students with the historical, conceptual, moral, and political foundations of the chief institutions and practices of our shared political and economic lives. These include private business, free markets, the rule of law, constitutions, institutions of democratic government, administrative agencies, educational institutions, and more. Using the fundamentals of economic, political, and philosophical analysis, students address the political, economic, legal, and moral dimensions of social problems within a broad context of humanistic concerns. This major leaves students with a wide range of options for more specialized study or careers in law, business, economics. or public service.

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. It is designed to foster an understanding and appreciation of some of the major milestones in the history of Western thought, to introduce students to leading approaches to ethical, legal, and political problems, and to acquaint them with one or more broad area of philosophical thought that bears on these issues.

This major explores religion on a global, transhistorical scale, from the cultural world of ancient Christianity to the portrayal of Buddhism in contemporary American cinema. The department views religious studies not so much as a discipline, but rather as a field of complex encounters, bringing multiple perspectives — history, sociology, cultural studies, anthropology, and textual analysis — to bear on a wide range of religious traditions and practices.

This 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 it 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.

This major focuses not only on language, linguistics, and literature, but also related areas including cultural and literary theory, film studies, the culture of food, and the acquisition and uses of Spanish and English in Los Angeles. The program benefits from USC’s location in Los Angeles, a Spanish-speaking metropolis and an ideal site for thinking about the planet’s transcultural condition.

This major allows students with a broad interest in the Humanities to explore disciplines within this area before selecting one as a major.

This major is designed to give students an understanding of essential areas used in the application of mathematics. It allows students to use upper-division electives to prepare themselves for specific career options, including work with technological firms, the insurance industry, government services, or financial/investment institutions. Courses are offered in many areas and are taught by a faculty of research mathematicians.

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This major allows students to work with scientists who explore the structure of matter and how it organizes itself by observing the most elemental forms of nature and how they behave in both inner and outer space. USC Dornsife astronomers work with the Wilson Observatory (one of the world’s largest interferometer telescopic arrays for stellar research), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the High Degree Helioseismology Network.

This major allows students to call two departments home—the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry. This partnership results in an interdisciplinary major meeting the needs of students with broad interests in the sciences, or those preparing for a research career in a biomedical field or a clinical career in a health profession. It combines core foundational backgrounds from chemical, biological, and molecular sciences to offer an integrated program focusing on the chemistry and molecular mechanisms of biology.

This major gives students the chance to study the natural world to better understand living systems—from the biochemical to genetic and from cells to global biodiversity. The department has research faculty with specialties in three disciplines: marine environmental biology, molecular biology, or human and evolutionary biology. Students may also declare a Bachelor of Science degree focused on one of four areas: Biotechnology; Ecology, Evolution, and Environment; Marine Biology; or Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.

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

This major provides students with core instruction and excellent research opportunities, including the opportunity to collaborate with scientists in the Chemistry department. Students may select a Bachelor of Arts degree or one of four Bachelor of Science degrees, giving them the chance to focus in the areas of Research, Chemical Nanoscience, or Chemical Biology.

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

This 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.

The major combines courses from the Mathematics department and the Economics department to give students an intense grounding in economic theory, mathematical methods, probability, and statistics. Emphasis is placed on practical economic research, such as how economics can be used to better understand contracts and competition within industries. This major particularly benefits students interested in pursuing Economics at a PhD level.

This major couples work targeted at the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) with an emphasis on resource sustainability and conservation. Students measure the health impacts of physical, chemical, and biological agents in the environment and determine how they can be controlled. They also examine sustainable approaches to problems related to areas such as energy, water, and transportation, and help develop strategies for protecting overall health in the face of continued global development.

The Environmental Studies (ENVS) degrees are built on specialized natural and social science courses and a set of interdisciplinary courses focusing on sustainability. The social science core courses focus on environmental problems from political, legal, economic and international perspectives. Specially designed one-semester surveys of biology, earth science and chemistry provide the natural science competency for subsequent policy or science advanced course work in environmental studies. Two concentrations are available in the Environmental Studies BA degree: Science and Management; and Policy and Management. Four concentrations are available in the Environmental Studies BS degrees; Sustainability and Society; Oceans and People; Climate and Environment; and Environmental Policy.

This 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.

This major is designed for students seeking a focused course of study in human anatomy, physiology, metabolism, and/or evolution. Various emphases are available for the BS and BA degrees, including: Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Health and Disease, Human Evolutionary Biology, and Human Performance.

This major introduces students to many mathematical theories and their applications to engineering, computer science, finance, economics, physics, and computational genomics. This combination of theoretical and practical education gives the department a unique energy. Students use electives to prepare themselves for a specific field, whether in industry, teaching, or advanced graduate research.

Neuroscience majors develop an appreciation for the breadth of knowledge that spans the array of neuroscience disciplines, including molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, cognitive, and computational neuroscience. Students learn about how the brain and behavior can contribute to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues. This major is characterized by collaborative interactions between faculty and students working at many different levels of analysis. It includes faculty from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Gerontology, Medicine, and Pharmacy.

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

This major is intended for students with dual interests in physics and computer science who wish to complete the essential courses for both majors within four years. It prepares students for further study in graduate school and for careers as scientists or engineers in computer-related fields who will participate in the creation of the science and technology of the future.

This interdisciplinary major bridges the space between biology, chemistry, data science, and engineering. It allows students interested in studying the life sciences to achieve a fuller background in the quantitative sciences, including computer science and statistics courses that are essential for modern data-driven biological science. The Quantitative Biology major is designed to train students to be both high-level biologists and high-level data analysts. Students will take an introductory seminar, participate in undergraduate research, and write an honors thesis.

This major allows students with a broad interest in the Natural Sciences to explore disciplines within this area before selecting one as a major.

Anthropology is the comparative study of human culture and society, the study of how individuals and communities are shaped by their traditions, values, and institutions. It is the core academic discipline in which to learn about culture and behavior in a global context. This major encourages students to become involved in ethnographic research and fieldwork while gaining a firm theoretical foundation in anthropology. Undergraduates are able to take a number of courses that may focus on aspects of visual anthropology and are encouraged to include visual media in their senior field methods practicum.

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This major aims to train students in a comprehensive set of skills necessary to understand how economic actors make decisions in real-life settings, to understand how these decisions affect economic and social outcomes, and to design interventions to improve these outcomes. Students will study human cognition, decision-making, and how individual behavior affects outcomes in markets.

This interdisciplinary major focuses on the mind and cognition from a variety of perspectives and approaches. The core and electives courses draw from Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology. Since this degree includes a wide variety of subjects, students can mold this major to fit their particular interests within Cognitive Science.

This major combines economic theory with practical models to address concepts across many disciplines. Students explore the economics of happiness and the economics of uncertainty by examining analytical models of broad phenomena. Emphasis is placed on practical economic research in areas such as healthcare, law, and the environment.

An interdisciplinary major that brings together science, policy, and landscape architecture, Geodesign challenges students to use spatial information set in the context of the built environment and policy. Using design and location-based data, students develop skills that connect place, space, and time to foster collaboration, build consensus, reach decisions, and take actions that create resilient and healthy environments.

Global Geodesign is a pioneering major to prepare students with the integrative ability to analyze the role of place, space, and time in order to address issues of environmental sustainability and human well-being on neighborhood, regional, and global scales in multidisciplinary and multi-dimensional ways. Students engage with programs at the Amsterdam University College/Vrije University Amsterdam consortium in the Netherlands and Peking University in China to undertake coursework, research-based field work, intensive studios, and a rich extracurricular program.

This interdisciplinary major includes a study abroad experience and allows students to select from a number of different global regions, using research tools from fields including political science, international relations, history, foreign languages and religion. Global Studies challenges students to examine their place within a complex globalized world, and to explore how they can act to make a difference.

This major integrates science, social science, and humanities coursework along with the critical thinking concepts and field experience needed in order to educate a broadly-thinking and well-prepared medical student. Students in this major will understand how psychological, cultural, social, economic, ethical, and biological factors influence our lives and, most importantly, our health.

The History major offers students a means to encounter the peoples and cultures of the past and develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills essential for understanding the present. The program exposes students to underlying connections between the study of past times and places and the roots of that study in human concerns about values, identities, issues, and policies. In their lower-division courses, majors will have the opportunity to explore the histories of different cultures or ideas across time. Students at the upper-division level hone their knowledge of different cultures, societies, and ideologies, and will apply that knowledge to independent research through a capstone course.

This innovative major uses critical thinking, geospatial reasoning, and analytical techniques to provide decision makers with informed recommendations and strategies addressing human security challenges. It provides the scientific and technical foundation for evaluating security around the world, creating and gathering geospatial data, and designing solutions that maintain or promote human safety and well-being. Students will engage in a multi-disciplinary approach that combines international relations, public policy, and the spatial sciences.

Students in this major will combine scholarship in international relations with technical expertise in information technology which will prepare them for the rapidly emerging field of cyber intelligence. This interdisciplinary approach helps students develop policy-based and technical skills that can be applied to the intelligence community and is well-suited for those who plan to seek advanced degrees.

Prospective leaders in government, business, and law must comprehend the impact of global trends on their professional lives. The International Relations major equips you with essential conceptual tools for success in the dynamic future. Ideal for those aspiring to join the public policy or business sectors, it serves as a valuable foundation for advanced studies in foreign affairs, law, public administration, public policy, urban planning, political science, and business.

International Relations majors with a focus on Global Business will delve into the analytical aspects of state and international relations within the global economic landscape. This involves a blend of IR courses and foreign language study with a specialization in International Finance, Global Marketing, or Global Management by completing courses in the Marshall School of Business. This major is well-suited for those seeking a comprehensive blend of international relations and business skills. Graduates will be prepared for careers in the public or private sector, or for advanced studies in business, law, political economy, public policy, and international relations.

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and the Global Economy provides students with comprehensive interdisciplinary training, seamlessly integrating the realms of international relations and economics. This program is designed to equip students with a robust skill set, preparing them for diverse career paths spanning foreign policy, international development, international finance, and political risk analysis. It is also well suited for students who plan to seek advanced degrees in the social sciences.

Law, History, and Culture is designed for students drawn to the humanistic study of law and culture, as well as those who intend to pursue a law degree. It offers students an interdisciplinary education in legal institutions, languages, and processes that are central to social, cultural, and political developments in the past and present, and play a critical role in shaping our most basic concepts and categories of thought and identity. Students will gain theoretical and analytical perspectives on ethical, political, and social issues relevant to law as they explore specific legal issues from a humanistic perspective.

This major emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. It focuses on how the human mind structures, processes, and acquires language as well as how similar communication goals are met by diverse means in the languages of the world.

This interdisciplinary major, offered through the Department of Middle East Studies (MDES), highlights the department’s focus on economic sustainability and global cultural flows. It offers students interested in exploring the richness and complexity of the Middle East a framework for developing expertise and understanding wide-ranging critical perspectives.

This interdisciplinary major focuses on the roots of social conflict, theories and methods for understanding them, and the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-profits that address them. Through investigations of everyday interactions to explorations of larger economic, political, and social structures, students will gain problem solving skills aimed at protecting the environment and lessening the suffering of people around the world.

This major explores the intersection of economics with politics in domestic and international contexts. It prepares students for engagement with global and regional questions that require an analysis of economic and political phenomena and provides a useful background for a wide variety of entry positions in the public and private sectors.

The Political Science major encompasses fundamental theories and concepts in political science, equipping students with expertise in American Politics, Comparative Politics, Law and Public Policy, and Political Theory. Numerous students enhance their USC studies by participating in study abroad programs, internships, and engaging in programs focused on state and federal government in Sacramento, CA, and Washington, D.C. Additionally, the department features the acclaimed Trial Advocacy Program, a multi-semester initiative that prepares participants for law school and other post-graduate pursuits.

This major studies the processes of human behavior and how we develop and change over time. The neural and physiological underpinnings and effects of environmental and social influences are also examined. Students take courses in multiple areas of psychology (biological, clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social) as well as in research design, measurement, and statistical methods. This program provides opportunities for students to pursue a variety of academic and professional interests after graduation, such as psychology, medicine, law, and business.

This major allows students to see the myriad interconnections between politics, culture, economics, big power structures and everyday interactions, persistent social inequalities, and the practices of intimate life. 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, immigration, civic engagement, and the criminal justice system.

This major allows students with a broad interest in the Social Sciences to explore disciplines within this area before selecting one as a major.