PDF version of this chapterInternational Study Options
International Study Programs
USC's undergraduate international study programs, the majority of which are administered by the Office of Overseas Studies, enable students to learn in a different educational and cultural context. Programs are available for a semester or for an academic year. Some of the programs require a background in the language of the host country; others are conducted entirely in English. Units earned are considered USC units and affect residency in the same manner. However, overseas courses are not offered for general education credit. Students receive regular USC credit and may apply financial aid to any study abroad program described here. Please contact the Office of Overseas Studies located in the Office of College Advising, CAS, Room 120, (213) 740-3636, www.usc.edu/overseas, for complete information on USC's international programs.Australia
Semester or Year in Brisbane
Founded in 1910, the University of Queensland is one of Australia's premier higher education institutions. Brisbane, with over 1 million residents, is Australia's fastest growing city. USC undergraduates enroll in regular university courses in a wide variety of subjects. Courses are available in the humanities, social sciences, science, engineering and information technology. Students may choose to live on campus, off campus, or in homestays.Semester or Year in Canberra
Founded in 1946 and located in the capital city of Canberra, the Australian National University offers USC undergraduates the opportunity to study alongside Australian students for a semester or year. Courses are available in the schools of arts and letters, Asian studies, economics and commerce, engineering and information technology, law, and science. Fine arts majors may pursue course work at the Institute of the Arts. The Australian National Internship Programme is available to students who wish to combine academics and practical experience in internships in Australian public bodies such as Parliament and the Australian Public Service or non-governmental organizations. Students live in university-affiliated residence halls.Semester in Yungaburra
Through the School for Field Studies, students spend a semester based on a 153-acre site in a rain forest in the foothills of the Atherton Tableland in far northern Queensland, home to an amazing variety of exotic birds, plants and wildlife. Students work with local land care groups and research organizations to manage forest resources. Students enroll in four courses: Rain Forest Ecology, Principles of Forest Management, Economic Policy and Socioeconomic Values, and Directed Research. Students share four- to eight-person cabins.Austria
Semester or Year in Vienna
In conjunction with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), USC undergraduates have the opportunity to study in Vienna, Austria. Students receive intensive German language instruction during the first three weeks of the program, then enroll for the remainder of the semester or year in courses offered by IES, including a German language course and four other courses taught in English. Students with advanced proficiency in German may opt to take IES courses taught in German, and may be eligible for courses at the Universität Wien. IES courses are available in such disciplines as art history, anthropology, business, economics, education, history, literature, music, political science and psychology, and are taught by distinguished faculty from various Austrian institutions of higher learning and leading universities in Central and Eastern Europe.Brazil
Semester or Year in Salvador da Bahia
Students may spend a semester or year in Salvador da Bahia in northeastern Brazil through the Council on International Education Exchange. Salvador da Bahia, a city of 2.1 million, was once the capital of Brazil and is now considered the center of Afro-Brazilian culture. Students take courses directly at the Universidade Federal da Bahia and/or the Universidade Católica do Salvador. The semester and year programs begin with five weeks of intensive Portuguese language training before the start of regular university courses. Courses are available in such areas as anthropology, Afro-Brazilian studies, economics, history, literature, Portuguese language, religion, sociology and theatre. Students live with Brazilian families. Students who have completed four semesters of college-level Spanish are eligible to apply.Semester or Year in São Paulo
Students may spend a semester or year in São Paulo, Brazil, a city of approximately 16 million inhabitants, through the Council on International Educational Exchange. Students take courses directly at the University of São Paulo, one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Brazil. Students may also take courses at the Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo. The semester and year programs begin with five weeks of intensive Portuguese language training prior to the start of regular university courses. All courses are taught in Portuguese. Courses are available in such disciplines as history, geography, linguistics, literature, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, communications, and economics. Students live with a Brazilian family. Students who have completed four semesters of Spanish are eligible to apply.Chile
Semester or Year in Santiago
In conjunction with the Council on International Educational Exchange, USC provides the opportunity for study at both the Universidad de Chile and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Both universities are located in Santiago, the cultural, economic and political capital of Chile. All courses are taught in Spanish. Courses are available in such disciplines as art, anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, and theology. Students live in private Chilean homes.China
Semester or Year in Beijing
The program at Peking University in Beijing offers students an opportunity to study at China's most prestigious liberal arts institution and to improve their Mandarin Chinese in a city where the standard dialect is used. As a supplement to classroom language instruction, each program participant is paired with a Peking University student for weekly one-on-one Chinese language tutorials. Students live in dormitories on the Peking University campus.Fall or Spring Semester in Hong Kong
This semester program offers students the opportunity to study Chinese culture and interact with Chinese people in a multi-cultural context at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, a bilingual institution. Students gain the invaluable experience of witnessing China's "one country, two systems" experiment first hand. Courses in English are offered in fine arts, literature, history, Japanese studies, intercultural studies, music, philosophy, computer science, anthropology, economics, international relations, as well as journalism and communication. For students interested in Chinese language, courses are offered in Putongluua (Mandarin) or Cantonese. Students take between 4 and 6 classes worth 3 units each, for a maximum of 18 USC units. Extracurricular activities include the opportunity to teach English in rural China, monthly dinner talks with Asian studies specialists and excursions to local areas of interest. Students reside in dormitories with Chinese roommates. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, room G21, (213) 821-1276, email ascworld@usc.edu or visit our Web site at annenberg.usc.edu/international.Semester or Year in Nanjing
Students may spend a semester or year in Nanjing, China, a city of more than three million people set along the banks of the Yangtze River at the foothills of the Zijin (Purple and Gold) mountains. Nanjing University is primarily a liberal arts and social sciences institution, and the focus of the academic program is on communicative competence within selected subject areas of contemporary Chinese society and culture. It aims to provide students with a solid foundation in all four skills -- reading, writing, listening and speaking. Each student shares a triple room with a Chinese student and another American student. Students may also choose to live with a host family.Costa Rica
Semester in Atenas
In conjunction with the School for Field Studies (SFS), students spend a semester abroad in Atenas, Costa Rica. The SFS Center for Sustainable Development Studies focuses students on issues of tropical ecology and sustainable development through a case study approach and field work, as well as a directed research project. Students support the center's objective to develop sustainable management models for Costa Rica's abundant but threatened natural resources using small communities as the operational unit and honoring the social, cultural and economic development needs of local residents. Students live in cabins.Czech Republic
Semester or Year in Prague
In conjunction with the Council on International Educational Exchange, USC provides the opportunity for study at Charles University in Prague. Founded in 1348 by King Charles IV, Charles University is the premier institution of higher learning in the Czech Republic. Students with an interest in cinema studies may take courses at the Film & Television Academy of the Performing Arts (FAMU), the oldest film school in Central Europe. Students spend the first two weeks of the semester in an orientation session devoted to intensive language study. Although there is no language prerequisite, all students are required to enroll in conversational Czech. The remainder of the courses may be chosen from such fields as Czech history, civil society, economics, music, political science, art and architecture, film and theatre, and religion and culture. Students can opt to live in a dormitory in the center of Prague or with a Czech host family.Egypt
Semester or Year in Cairo
Students may study for a semester or year at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The AUC was founded in 1919 by Americans devoted to education and service in the Middle East. Today about 5,200 students attend AUC, and about 87 percent of the student body is Egyptian. Visiting students may take courses in any of the AUC's departments. Fields of particular interest to USC students include: Arabic language, Arabic studies, Middle Eastern studies (including international relations and politics) and Egyptology. Students must have completed two semesters of college-level Arabic or the equivalent in order to study at AUC. Visiting students are housed in an international dormitory not far from the main AUC campus.England
Semester or Year in Brighton
The University of Sussex, situated near the seaside resort town of Brighton, is only an hour away by train from London. USC students may enroll in courses in the sciences, social sciences and the humanities.Semester or Year in London
Students may study for a year or semester at Queen Mary, University of London. Students can take classes in any department at Queen Mary except in the fields of law and medicine. Queen Mary has excellent offerings in subjects such as biological sciences, English, engineering, film studies, Hispanic studies, history and politics, to name a few.Year in London
The London School of Economics (LSE) is one of the largest schools of the University of London, with an outstanding international reputation in economics as well as the social sciences. This program should be of particular interest to economics, political science and international relations majors, but all social science majors are encouraged to apply. Students spend an academic year at LSE on the general course, where they take four year-long courses. More than half of the 6,000 full-time students come from outside the United Kingdom (over 120 countries are represented in the student body), which gives the school a very cosmopolitan atmosphere.Semester in London (International Relations)
USC International Relations majors (only) may spend the fall or spring semester studying in the Department of War Studies at King's College, a constituent part of the University of London. Students live in university housing.Fall or Spring Semester in London (Communication)
Undergraduate communication students may spend a spring or fall semester at the USC London Center in the Bloomsbury area of London. Students enroll in 16 units of upper division communication course work taught by USC and British faculty. Students tour publishing and broadcasting companies, meet communication executives and government policy-makers and gain exposure to British media, culture and civilization. The program also includes group excursions to such places as Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Canterbury, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Hastings, and Paris. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, G21, (213) 821-1276, email ascworld@usc.edu, or visit our Web site, annenberg.usc.edu/international.Spring Semester in London (Journalism)
USC journalism students spend a spring semester at City University in London, where they have a privileged vantage of British culture and media. Through social science course work and an intensive and integrated journalism group project, they have the opportunity for personal and direct comparison between the structured and governmentally controlled media of the United Kingdom and the comparatively laissez-faire approach to media regulation in the United States. Students earn a total of 16 USC units; broadcast journalism majors earn 8 journalism elective units and print journalism majors earn 6 journalism elective units. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, G21, (213) 821-1276, email ascworld@usc.edu, or visit our Web site, annenberg.usc.edu/international.Semester or Year in London (Theatre)
In conjunction with Sarah Lawrence College and the British American Drama Academy, USC students have the opportunity to spend a semester or year in London. The London Theatre program is designed to expose undergraduates to the rigor of professional British training in acting by helping them improve their ability to perform plays from the classical repertoire and develop techniques and approaches to acting that will stand them in good stead in any role. The program is taught by a faculty that includes some of Britian's most distinguished actors and directors. Students will take courses which include scene study workshops in Shakespeare, high comedy, modern drama, acting in performance, voice, movement, stage fighting, theatre history and dramatic criticism. Students attending a one-year program will add classical acting for stage and screen to their academic program for the second semester. This program is administed by USC College but is limited to theatre students. Two to 15 students apply per semester; a limit of eight per semester may participate.France
Year in Paris
USC is a member of the Sweet Briar Junior Year in France Consortium, which enables USC undergraduates to spend an academic year in Paris, taking courses at the University of Paris and other institutions in the Parisian system of higher education. Courses are offered in most areas of the social sciences, the humanities and the arts. The year is preceded by a five-week intensive language orientation in the city of Tours. To apply, students must have completed four semesters of college French or the equivalent.Semester in Paris
USC also offers a spring semester program in Paris. The program offers courses in both English and French with language courses offered at the Sorbonne. Courses are available in the following areas: history, civilization, theatre, international relations and art history. Program costs include weekend and day excursions to sites of cultural importance, as well as visits connected with individual classes and social activities. Students must have completed two semesters of college-level French with preference given to those students currently enrolled in the language.Germany
Semester or Year in Berlin
In conjunction with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), USC offers a program of study at Humboldt University, perfectly situated for exploring the city. Students receive intensive German language instruction during the first three weeks of the program, then enroll for the remainder of the semester at Humboldt University and in supplemental courses offered by IES. All courses are taught in German by native German faculty and are available in such disciplines as German economics, history, politics, art history, business, classics, international relations, political science, psychology, religion and sociology. Students are housed in private German homes and apartments.Semester or Year in Freiburg
USC, in conjunction with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), provides an opportunity for undergraduates to study in Freiburg, Germany. The University of Freiburg, Germany's second oldest university, was founded in 1457. As a university town, Freiburg thrives on student life and the heritage of learning, yet retains the charm of a small city. Courses are offered in most areas of the social sciences. All courses at the IES Center and University of Freiburg are taught in German.Ghana
Semester in Accra
Students can spend a semester at the University of Ghana in Legon, about 10 miles from Accra, on a program administered by the Council on International Educational Exchange. The semester program in Ghana provides an opportunity for students from all academic disciplines to live and study in West Africa. Students take two seminars specifically designed for CIEE participants and choose their remaining classes from among the broad offerings at the University of Ghana, in subjects such as African studies, English, religion, geology, geography, archaeology, history, political science and more.In addition to their studies, students have the opportunity to pursue internships, independent studies and volunteer work in and around Accra. Students are housed in a new international student dormitory on the University of Ghana campus and take meals in campus cafeterias and nearby restaurants.
Greece
Semester or Year in Athens
Students may spend a semester or year in Athens, Greece, where the ancient world comes alive. A vibrant capital city, Athens is a center of international business and the hub of an efficient and extensive transportation system which makes the beauty of Greece readily accessible. All students are required to enroll in either modern or classical Greek as one of their five courses. The curriculum is organized into two tracks: Ancient Greek Civilization and Mediterranean Studies. Students live in simply furnished apartments which usually contain 2-3 double study-bedrooms, a small common area, kitchen and bath, and accommodate 4-6 students.Ireland
Semester or Year in Galway
Students may spend a semester or year studying at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Located in western Ireland, Galway is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland and plays a dynamic and pioneering role in theatre, arts and culture. Students may enroll in courses in a wide variety of fields including arts and letters, commerce, sciences and engineering. Students typically take five to seven courses per semester.Italy
Semester in Cortona (Fine Arts Majors Only)
USC Fine Arts majors (B.A. or B.F.A.) may participate in a semester-length intensive studio arts program in the Tuscan hill town of Cortona, Italy with the University of Georgia's Studies Abroad Program. Cortona is located on top of Mont S. Egidio and offers students a rich artistic and historical environment, which includes Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture. Students must have completed one semester of college-level Italian or the equivalent before attending this program. In Cortona, students study painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture. Mandatory weekend excursions to places of historical and artistic interest in the surrounding area complement the studio classes. Accommodation is provided in a renovated 15th century monastery in Cortona.Semester in Florence
Through Syracuse University, USC undergraduates have the opportunity to spend a semester in Florence studying Italian language and literature, art history, history, international relations, political science and studio arts. Classes are taught at Syracuse's own study center in Florence. Students with advanced proficiency in Italian may take courses at the Centro di Cultura per Stranieri at the University of Florence. Courses are complemented by field trips to cities such as Assisi, Rome and Venice. Students live in homestays with Italian hosts.Semester or Year in Milan
Through the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), USC undergraduates have the opportunity to spend a semester or year studying in Milan, the commercial and financial center of contemporary Italy. The IES Milan Center is located near the Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione. IES Milan offers two programs: beginning/intermediate Italian and advanced Italian. Students in the beginning/intermediate Italian program enroll in IES area studies taught in English in addition to Italian language courses. IES area studies courses are available in such disciplines as art history, cinema, theatre, history, literature, music and political science. Students in the advanced Italian program select from IES area studies courses taught in Italian and are encouraged to choose one or two courses from among a wide variety of offerings at several universities in Milan. Students are housed in apartments with Italian roommates, some who are enrolled in local universities and others who are young professionals.Semester in Rome (Classics Majors Only)
USC classics majors may study in Rome for a semester at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (ICCS), a program administered by Duke University. Students study ancient history and archaeology, intermediate and advanced Greek and Latin, basic Italian language, and Renaissance and Baroque art history. Field trips and extended study tours are essential components of the program. Students live and study at the ICCS Center, a three-story building located a few minutes by bus from the center of Rome.Japan
Semester or Year in Nagoya
A program of study is available at the Center for Japanese Studies at Nanzan University in Nagoya. The program for international students is well known for its strength in Japanese language training. Nagoya is two hours from Tokyo by bullet train and one hour from the ancient capital city of Kyoto. Courses are available in such disciplines as Japanese business, culture, economics, folklore, history, international relations, literature, and political science. Intensive language training is offered at all levels of proficiency. Students live in Japanese homes.Year in Tokyo
Students may study for an academic year at Waseda University, one of Japan's foremost private institutions of higher learning. The academic program combines Japanese language courses and lecture courses on the history, culture, literature, arts, politics and economics of Japan and East Asia. The intensive Japanese language courses, offered at 12 levels of proficiency, assist students in the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students live with Japanese families throughout the Tokyo area.Semester or Year near Tokyo
Founded in 1965, Tokyo International University is located about 25 miles from central Tokyo. The university offers a program for international students through the Japanese Studies Program in the International Center. Students enroll in a Japanese language course and select the remainder of their course work from anthropology, cinema, culture, economics, history and political science. Students live in Japanese homes.Kenya
Semester at Nairobi National Park Camp and Kilimanjaro Bush Camp
Through the School for Field Studies, USC offers undergraduates the opportunity to study at two sites in Kenya where they live in close proximity to wildlife and local Masai communities on an African savanna. At the Nairobi National Park Camp students focus on management strategies for Kenya's oldest and most profitable national park. At the Kilimanjaro Bush Camp, students conduct research and have a rare opportunity for cultural exchange with Kenyan youth. Students earn credit in techniques of wildlife management, wildlife ecology, environmental policy and socioeconomic values, and directed research.Semester in Mombasa
USC students may participate in the School for International Training's Kenya Coastal Studies program in Mombasa. SIT's programs are designed to lead students from a very structured learning environment to a more independent one by semester's end. This program offers a unique opportunity to study East African coastal history, culture, religion, art and ecology from the port city of Mombasa. It begins with an orientation program in Nairobi and then shifts to Mombasa, where students begin intensive Swahili language study. Students attend thematic and field study seminars throughout the semester. Toward the end of the semester each student completes an independent study project of his or her choice. Students travel along the Kenyan coast on field trips and excursions.Mexico
Semester in Oaxaca
USC students may participate in a fall semester program of study in Oaxaca, Mexico, in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania. Oaxaca lies some 250 miles southeast of Mexico City. A charming provincial capital of 214,000 people, it is friendly and informal without the congestion of many metropolitan environments. The mountain valleys around Oaxaca are characterized by linguistically and culturally isolated communities. The Oaxaca academic program is characterized by small classes, hands-on research opportunities and extensive contact with community resources. The program offers courses in Mexican anthropology, archaeology, environmental studies, history and politics and is for students with a minimum of four semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent. Courses are conducted in Spanish. Students live in Mexican homes.Semester in Puerto San Carlos
In conjunction with the School for Field Studies (SFS), students spend a semester abroad in Puerto San Carlos, Mexico. Most residents of Puerto San Carlos and the other towns and villages that dot the shores of Magdalena Bay are dependent on the resources of the bay for their livelihood. The SFS Center for Wetland Studies focuses students on issues of coastal ecology, principles of resource management, economic and ethical issues in sustainable development through a case study approach and field work, as well as a directed research project. Students live in small cabins.The Netherlands
Fall or Spring Semester in Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam (UvA), founded in 1632 as the Athenaeum Illustre, is the largest and one of the most prestigious universities in the Netherlands and has a strong commitment to international education. Through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), USC students enroll in one course offered by CIEE and three courses from the extensive English-language course offerings of the University of Amsterdam. Students earn upper division USC units in communication and other disciplines including art history, economics, natural sciences, philosophy, psychology, international relations, political science, gender studies, sociology and others. Dutch language courses are available, and students fluent in Dutch, French, German, Spanish or Italian may elect to take courses at the university offered in those languages. Courses are worth 4 academic units each, for a total of 16 units per semester. Students may live either in dormitories or furnished apartments in central Amsterdam. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, G21, (213) 821-1276, email ascworld@usc.edu, or visit our Web site, annenberg.usc.edu/international.New Zealand
Semester or Year in Dunedin, South Island
Founded in 1869, the University of Otago is the oldest established university in New Zealand. It has an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research. Study abroad students are able to take a broad range of subjects across the university's four academic divisions: commerce, health sciences, humanities and sciences. Students majoring in English, anthropology, psychology, and natural and environmental sciences will find strong programs offering a wide variety of courses. The university offers a true campus lifestyle and the city of Dunedin, in which the university is located, offers a rich cultural life as well as proximity to outdoor activities. Students can opt to live in university-affiliated dormitories or arrange to share apartments with local students.Russia
Semester or Year in St. Petersburg
As a member of the Council on International Education Exchange, USC offers undergraduates a semester or year-long opportunity to study at St. Petersburg University in Russia. The curriculum focuses on language, literature and Russian life. Students are housed in university dormitories and excursions are included.Scotland
Semester or Year in Edinburgh
USC offers undergraduates the opportunity to study for either a year or spring semester at the University of Edinburgh, which was founded in 1583 and offers excellence in teaching and research over a wide range of disciplines. Students enroll directly in University of Edinburgh courses. Admission to individual courses depends on each student's academic background. Courses are available in more than 50 disciplines including archaeology, architecture, biological sciences, classics, computer science, ecology, economics, engineering, international relations, linguistics, mathematics, nursing, physics, psychology and religious studies. USC students are guaranteed a place in university residence halls, student houses or in university flats.Semester in Edinburgh (Political Internship)
The University of Edinburgh offers qualified undergraduates the opportunity to serve as interns to members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in a semester-length program. In the first five weeks of the program, students enroll in three courses providing a background in British politics and Scottish politics and government. Following completion of the course work, students will be assigned to MSPs, under whose direction a research project is completed. Admission to the program is very competitive. Only 30 international students are accepted as interns each semester. Students earn a maximum of 13.5 USC units.Singapore
Spring Semester in Singapore
USC students may apply to study at Nanyang Technological University, a modern institution with a rapidly broadening disciplinary focus ranging from technical sciences to communication, humanities and social science. Students earn 16 units for the completion of four classes worth 4 units each. Academic instruction is conducted in English, and students share dormitory rooms. As Singapore becomes an important leader in a region of ever-increasing global significance in trade, information and technological interchange, USC students can experience this uniquely modern yet non-Western environment. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, G21, (213) 821-1276, email ascworld@usc.edu, or visit our Web site, annenberg.usc.edu/international.South Africa
Semester or Year in Cape Town
Students may spend a semester or year studying at the University of Cape Town (UCT) through the Council on International Educational Exchange. Situated on the southern tip of Africa, Cape Town is a vibrant multicultural city and is also a microcosm of the challenges facing the country: how to successfully operate within a global economy while at the same time grappling with the vast socioeconomic inequalities that are the legacy of the colonial and apartheid past. All program participants are required to take at least one course with specific African content. Courses may be taken in all UCT faculties except health sciences and law. Students live with South African or other international students in residence halls or apartments close to campus. Students must have at least junior standing at the start of the program.South Korea
Semester or Year in Seoul
Students who have completed two semesters of college-level Korean have the opportunity to spend a semester or year at Yonsei University in Seoul. Students enroll in a Korean language course, Korean studies and two or three elective courses available from the following areas: anthropology, art, business communication, economics, history, law, literature, philosophy, politics, psychology, religion, and sociology. Yonsei University has an international student dormitory with a mix of Korean and foreign students to provide an international atmosphere.Spain
Semester or Year in Bilbao
USC offers undergraduates the opportunity to study for either a semester or year at the University of Deusto, which was founded by Jesuits in 1886 and is among Spain's top universities. The university is situated on the banks of the Nervión River, across from the new Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao is considered the financial and cultural center of the Basque country in northern Spain. Students with two to four semesters of Spanish focus on intensive language study and take additional course work in Spanish, Basque and European studies. Students with five or more semesters of Spanish take courses with degree-seeking Deusto students in Hispanic studies and other academic fields. Students may choose to live in dormitories, homestays or shared apartments.Semester or Year in Madrid
In conjunction with Boston University (BU), USC provides the opportunity for students with varying levels of Spanish proficiency to spend a semester or year studying in Madrid. Through BU, students have the option of three programs. Level I, for students with two to four semesters of Spanish, focuses on intensive language study conducted at the International Institute in Spain. Level II, for students with five or more semesters of Spanish, offers a selection of course work in the arts, language, literature, history, politics, and international relations of Spain. Qualified Level II students may pursue some of their course work at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in the spring semester and/or participate in internships. Level III is an honors program for students with a particularly strong academic record and excellent Spanish. Level III students pursue all of their course work at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in the spring semester.Semester or Year at the USC Madrid Center
USC undergraduates may attend the USC Madrid Center for a semester or full academic year. The program offers courses in both English and Spanish. Students generally take two courses in Spanish language and literature and two courses, taught in English, from offerings in anthropology, art history, history and international relations. The program is especially well suited to students with a major or minor in the above-mentioned fields as well as students who wish to learn Spanish while immersed in the culture of Spain. Students must complete two semesters of college-level Spanish in order to participate in the program. Program costs include weekend and day excursions to sites of cultural importance, as well as visits connected with individual classes and social activities. Students live in homestays with Spanish families.Taiwan
Semester or Year in Taipei
USC students may spend a semester or year studying at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Through the Council on International Educational Exchange, students take part in a program which integrates Mandarin Chinese language courses with humanities and social science courses taught in English. A semester or academic year in Taiwan offers one of the best opportunities to understand the contemporary economic, political and cultural issues facing this dynamic Pacific Rim country.Turks and Caicos
Semester on South Caicos Island
In conjunction with the School for Field Studies (SFS), students spend a semester abroad in South Caicos Island, British West Indies. The SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies focuses students on issues of tropical marine ecology, principles of resource management, and environmental policy and socioeconomic values through a case study approach and field work, as well as a directed research project. Students live three or four to a room in a rustic former hotel.Wales
Spring Semester in Aberystwyth
USC International Relations majors and minors (only) have the opportunity to participate in an exchange program at the University of Wales' International Politics Department (InterPol) in Aberystwyth. InterPol houses one of the oldest international affairs programs in the world and has received top ranking among British programs in political science and international relations. Aberystwyth is located on the beautiful southern coast of Wales and offers a spectacular environment in which to study world issues.For Further Information
Brochures and application materials for the programs listed above are available in the Office of Overseas Studies, Office of College Advising, College Academic Services, Room 120.Other international programs at USC are operated by departments and schools. The Annenberg School for Communication (for Communication students and Journalism students), the School of Architecture, and the Marshall School of Business offer overseas study programs in locations throughout the world.
International Summer Session
The International Summer Session features a number of overseas courses each year for both undergraduates and graduates. Programs have included:Cambridge, England (Letters, Arts and Sciences)
Dijon, France (French and Italian)
East Asia (East Asian Studies Center)
Geneva, Switzerland (International Relations)
West-Central Europe (Annenberg)
Hong Kong, China (Journalism)
London, England (Engineering)
London, England (Journalism)
Madrid, Spain (Spanish)
Madrid, Spain (Engineering)
Malaysia (Architecture)
Mexico (Journalism)
Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia (Slavic Languages and Literatures)
Paris, France (Engineering)
Rome, Italy (Cinema-Television)
Russia (Slavic Languages and Literatures)
South Africa (Journalism)
Verona, Italy (French and Italian)
Information about these programs is available from the school or department. For referral, contact the Office of Overseas Studies (213) 740-3636.
Graduate Study Abroad
The Graduate School provides referral to information sources about nationally competitive fellowships, grants, awards, and opportunities for graduate study abroad.Any non-USC administered overseas study programs or any courses taken abroad by currently enrolled USC students must be reviewed and pre-approved by the Office of Admission and Degree Progress prior to enrollment.