What’s On Your Summer Playlist?

Think sunscreen, screen time … and getting ahead.

Take advantage of the relaxed campus experience in sun-soaked L.A. — or take an online class from anywhere. Whether you’re looking to graduate sooner, get back on track, or lighten your fall semester, you’ll make summer work for you … without making it all about work.

 

Register now for Summer 2026.

Explore Summer GE Courses
Red badge reading Just One GE. USC Summer. One Class. Less Stress. Summer Vibes.

Here’s the Pitch

Want more time to take on challenging classes? Or spend the summer discussing films, music and novels? Professors make the case for why you should take their summer GE class.

Explore the Classes
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AMST 206mg: Politics and Culture of the 1960s Chrisshonna Nieva, Assistant Professor (Teaching) of American Studies and Ethnicity
portrait of a female professor on a cardinal and teal background. Has the text
Spotlight on Sociology & Summer Flex (Asynchronous) Learning Juliana McGene, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Sociology
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BISC 220Lg: Cell Biology and Physiology Rita Barakat, Lecturer

AMST 206mg: Politics and Culture of the 1960s

Chrisshonna Nieva, Assistant Professor (Teaching) of American Studies and Ethnicity

Spotlight on Sociology & Summer Flex (Asynchronous) Learning

Juliana McGene, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Sociology

BISC 220Lg: Cell Biology and Physiology

Rita Barakat, Lecturer

Get Ahead, Stay Ahead

You’re not just earning credits. You’re creating options.

 

Student Athlete?
Train harder this fall with a lighter course load.

International Student?
Make progress while making the most of L.A.

Proactive Planner?
Locking in this summer means breathing room in the future.

Student looking at archives

GE Anywhere

This summer, it’s your campus. Fewer distractions, more attention from professors, and you probably won’t get run over by a bike! Or take a convenient online GE course that travels with you. With flexible options, it’s easy to fit a class into your plans.

Find Your Summer GE
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Summer Standouts

Need a foundational course toward your major?  Want to explore something new and different?  There are dozens of courses available this summer.  Check out a few of our favorites.

The History of Content Creation

An exploration of the evolution of content creation spanning from the ancient multicultural oral traditions to the digital age. Discover how storytellers and story-sellers have always been influencers in the realms of entertainment, activism and commerce.

GE-A, GE-G

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The Universe

Survey of the universe: planets, satellites, comets, stars, nebulae, galaxies. Practical component includes planetary observations and dark-sky field trip.

GE-E

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General Chemistry

Fundamental principles and laws of chemistry; laboratory work emphasizes quantitative procedures. Prerequisite to all more advanced courses in chemistry. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory and discussion, 4 hours. Quiz, 1 hour.

GE-E

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Group of four friends having fun by the seaside, one is on a bike and the others are running beside it

LAid-back Learning

Class in the morning, beach in the afternoon? Iconic.

From the Venice Boardwalk to the Hollywood Bowl, you can’t beat summer vibes in L.A. When you take a summer GE class on campus, you can enjoy everything the city has to offer while knocking out a requirement.

Life in L.A.