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.
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.
ENGL 176g: Los Angeles: the City, the Novel, the Movie
Thomas Gustafson, Associate Professor of EnglishBISC 220Lg: Cell Biology and Physiology
Rita Barakat, LecturerGet 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.
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.
Financial Aid
Undergraduate students who enroll in 12 or more units are eligible to use their Financial Aid. Pell Grants, Cal Grants, loans, and work-study can often be used during summer sessions. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your options.
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
The Universe
Survey of the universe: planets, satellites, comets, stars, nebulae, galaxies. Practical component includes planetary observations and dark-sky field trip.
GE-E
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
Food in Culture and Society
An introduction to the field of food studies, as a historical and cross-disciplinary study of the place of food in culture and society.
GE-C
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.
Explore the Summer GE Courses
Ready to sign up? Check out the wide range of GE courses offered at USC this summer.
