PDF reflects print Please note: Due to late revisions, some text on this page differs from what appears in the printed version of the USC Catalogue. The changes appear below as highlighted text, with corresponding explanations appearing in the right margin. Click here for more information.
Undergraduate Education
International Study Options
International Study Programs
USC's undergraduate international study programs, many of which are administered by the USC College Office of Overseas Studies, enable students to learn in a different educational and cultural context. 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 for financial aid and scholarships to the semester and year programs described here. The semester and year programs detailed below are offered through the USC College Office of Overseas Studies unless they are identified as being offered by the Annenberg School. Please contact the Office of Overseas Studies located in the College House (CLH), Room 201, call (213) 740-3636, email overseas@usc.edu or visit www.usc.edu/overseas for more information.
Argentina
Semester in Buenos Aires
This semester program offers students the opportunity to study Latin American culture and study at the Universidad de San Andres, a small liberal arts college in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Students will live and learn in this vibrant metropolis while taking communication courses that count toward major credit at USC. Buenos Aires is one of the largest cities in Latin America and will give students the chance to explore the world view of Latin America and how it relates to communication, mass media and the world at large.The program will immerse students in South American culture, with classes being taught exclusively in Spanish. This program requires a high degree of proficiency in Spanish, both written and oral (2.5 years of college-level Spanish or the equivalent required), and no special arrangements will be made for students who cannot meet language requirements. An optional five-week preparatory program is offered by the Universidad de San Andres for students who need to strengthen their Spanish skills. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, call (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
Australia
Semester or Year in Brisbane
The University of Queensland is one of Australia's premier higher education institutions. Brisbane, with over one 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 or off campus.
Semester or Year in Canberra
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 studio arts courses at the Institute of the Arts. The Australian National Internship Program is available to students who wish to combine academics and practical experience in internships in Australian public bodies such as Australian Parliament and the Australian Public Service or non-governmental organizations. Students live in university-affiliated residence halls.
Semester at Macquarie University, Sydney
Students can spend the spring semester at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Macquarie is one of the leading Australian universities and offers students the chance to explore urban life in Sydney and indigenous culture and take a variety of challenging courses from an antipodean viewpoint. This program is open to all majors. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, call (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
Semester at the University of New South Wales, Sydney
This spring semester program offers students the chance to live and study in Australia's most exciting city. Students choose from a wide variety of courses offered at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), one of Australia's premiere universities. UNSW is located close to the hub of Sydney's central business district. The program will give students the chance to explore mass media and communication in a challenging environment with a distinct world view, very different from that of the United States, but is also open to all majors. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, call (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
Semester in Yungaburra
Through the School for Field Studies, students spend a semester at a field station in a rain forest in far northern Queensland, home to an amazing variety of exotic birds, plants and wildlife. Students enroll in four courses: Rainforest Ecology, Principles of Forest Management, Economic Policy and Socioeconomic Values, and Directed Research. The courses involve a great deal of hands-on field work, and the directed research projects provide invaluable experience for students interested in graduate studies or in work dealing with the environment. 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.
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 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 a Brazilian host family. Students who have completed four semesters of college-level Spanish or two semesters of Portuguese 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 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 or two semesters of Portuguese 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 the Universidad de Chile, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the Universidad de Santiago, all located in Santiago, the 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 with Chilean host families.
China
Semester or Year in Beijing
The program at Peking University in Beijing, offered in conjunction with the Council on International Educational Exchange, provides students with the 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. The focus of the program is intensive language learning, with instruction available at many levels of ability. Students may take one English-taught area studies course. 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 with other American students 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 of 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 Putonghua (Mandarin) or Cantonese. Students take five classes worth 3 units each, for a maximum of 15 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 140, call (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
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. The city has tree-lined avenues with centuries-old shophouses as well as a sleek subway system and modern shopping malls. Nanjing University is well-regarded for its liberal arts and social sciences education. Students take 12 units of Mandarin and a 3-unit Chinese studies course. In the one-week Sichuan module, students live and attend classes in Chengdu and visit important sites in Sichuan province. 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. The program also includes a 10-day field study in neighboring Nicaragua. Students live in cabins in walking distance to Atenas and get involved in projects with the local community.
Czech Republic
Semester or Year in Prague
USC provides the opportunity for study in conjunction with the Council on International Educational Exchange, which is housed 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 up to 6 units 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 and Central European history, art history, political science, sociology, international relations, Jewish studies and film. Students can opt to live in a dormitory, an apartment 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). About 5,200 students attend AUC, and about 87 percent of the student body is Egyptian. Visiting students may take courses in any of 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. USC students must take at least one Arabic language course at AUC. 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. In 2008, AUC will move from its Zamalek location in central Cairo to New Cairo, where students will have expanded housing options.England
Spring Semester or Year in Brighton
The University of Sussex is especially strong in American studies, computer science, English, international relations, neuroscience, biological sciences, psychology and sociology. USC students are directly enrolled in courses with British students. Situated near the seaside resort town of Brighton, the university is only an hour away by train from London and just a half hour from Gatwick Airport. Brighton has a very active arts scene and a lively nightlife, and 10 percent of the residents are university students. Students live in university housing either on or off campus.
Semester or Year in London
Students may study for a year or semester at Queen Mary, University of London. Students may take classes in any department at Queen Mary except in the fields of law and medicine. USC students must choose one or more courses for which they will receive credit toward their major. Queen Mary has excellent offerings in subjects such as biological sciences, economics, English, drama, engineering (including aerospace engineering), film studies, geography, history, international relations, mathematics, physics and political science, to name a few. Queen Mary does not offer art history, psychology, sociology or philosophy. Students live in on-campus housing.
Year in London
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has an outstanding international reputation in economics as well as the social sciences. LSE also offers course work in anthropology, international history, international relations, mathematics, statistics, philosophy and sociology. 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. Students need a grade point average of 3.3 or higher to be eligible for this program and should have a 3.5 to study in quantitative fields.
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. The department is unique in the United Kingdom and is one of the very few university departments in the world devoted exclusively to the study of war as a phenomenon. Students live in university housing. Students need a grade point average of 3.5 or higher to be eligible for this program.
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, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Hastings, and Paris. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
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 relatively 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, Room 140, (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.This option is available beginning spring 2008.
Semester in London (Psychology, Neuroscience, Earth Sciences, Art History)
USC psychology, neurology, earth sciences and art history majors (only) may spend the fall or spring semester studying at University College London, one of the top five universities in the United Kingdom. Students can choose university-owned or private accommodation. Students need a USC grade point average of at least 3.3 and junior standing to be eligible for this program.
Semester or Year in London (Theatre)
In conjunction with Sarah Lawrence College and the British American Drama Academy (BADA), USC theatre majors and minors 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 Britain'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. Students live in flats with other program participants. Students must audition for the program, and admission is competitive.
Semester or Year in Norwich (English)
Creative Writing majors (only) may spend a semester or year studying in the highly ranked School of American and English Studies at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, England. The University of East Anglia's program in creative writing is among the best in the United Kingdom. Visiting students can take courses in creative writing, American literature, American studies, English literature, English studies, drama, film studies and English language studies. The city of Norwich was recently voted one of Britain's top cities for quality of life. London is about two hours away by train and the Norwich Airport has flights to cities in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Students live on campus in university housing.
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 month-long 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 its own fall and spring semester programs in Paris. In addition to French language courses at the Sorbonne, the program offers USC upper-division French courses and English-taught USC courses in art history and international relations. Students at an advanced level of French may take one or two courses alongside French university students at the Institut Catholique. Courses are available in the following areas: history, civilization, sociology, political science 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. Students live with French host families.
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 the IES Center and 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/or courses offered at the IES Center. All courses are taught in German 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. Students must have completed four semesters of college-level German for the fall and year programs, and five semesters for the spring program.
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. Students live in apartments with German students. Students must have completed four semesters of college-level German for the fall and year programs, and five semesters for the spring program.
Ghana
Semester in Accra and Kumasi
Students may spend a semester in Ghana with the School for International Training. This program focuses on the arts culture of Ghana and culminates in a four-week independent study project in which each student pursues a topic of his or her choice. The semester in Ghana offers students a unique opportunity to learn about Ghanaian arts and culture in depth, and more broadly, West Africa. The program includes a homestay component, intensive language study, and thematic and field study seminars. Students travel extensively within Ghana, although most of the course work and the homestays are located in the cities of Accra and Kumasi.
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 with other American 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 take courses in a wide variety of fields including arts and letters, commerce, sciences and engineering. Students are directly enrolled in the university and typically take six courses per semester alongside Irish students.
Israel
Spring Semester or Year in Jerusalem
USC undergraduates may spend a year or spring semester at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) in Israel. The program begins with a month or more of intensive Hebrew language study. Students then start the regular HUJ semester and may take English-taught courses in archaeology, art history, environmental studies, history, international relations, Jewish and religious studies, Middle East and Islamic studies, literature, political science and psychology. Students are required to take one Hebrew language course during the semester. Other languages offered are Arabic and Yiddish. Students live in campus dormitories and may participate in a variety of social and cultural activities at the university. Students must have completed two semesters of college-level Hebrew or the equivalent to participate in this program.
Spring Semester or Year in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv University provides USC undergraduates an opportunity to spend a spring semester or the academic year at Israel's largest university. Courses are offered in Jewish studies, Middle Eastern studies, art history, life sciences and social sciences. Each semester is preceded by a month-long intensive Hebrew language course. Students live in dormitories located adjacent to campus and may participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Students must have completed two semesters of college-level Hebrew or the equivalent to participate in this program.
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 and several foundation courses in art 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 or Year 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 mostly in English at Syracuse's own study center in Florence. Students with advanced proficiency in Italian may take courses 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. Studio arts students may also choose to stay in an apartment with other program students.
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 of whom 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 or dormitories.
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 English-taught 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 or in dormitories throughout the Tokyo area.
Spring Semester or Year in Tokyo
Students may spend the spring semester or full year at Sophia University in Tokyo through the Council on International Educational Exchange. Students can experience life in Tokyo and take courses alongside Japanese students and other international students. Sophia University is a top-ranked Japanese university and is conveniently located in west-central Tokyo. Students are enrolled in Sophia's Faculty of Liberal Arts on the main Yotsuya campus, where they take Japanese language courses as well as English-taught courses in Asian Studies (anthropology, art history, comparative literature, history, international relations, religion, philosophy, political science and sociology) or Japanese linguistics. Students live with Japanese host families or in dormitories throughout the Tokyo area.
Semester or Year near Tokyo
Founded in 1965, Tokyo International University is located in the city of Kawagoe, 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 an 8-unit 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 in Mombasa
USC students may participate in the School of International Training's Kenya Coastal Studies program in Mombasa. As the heart of Kenya's commercial and cultural connections with other Indian Ocean ports, Mombasa is an ideal base from which to study Kenya's coastal cultures. The program's curriculum encompasses Kenyan history, politics and economics; the Swahili language; coastal cultures; rural development; and field study methods. 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.
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. Through conducting research and fieldwork and attending lectures, students explore human-wildlife conflicts from the perspective of local ranchers, communities and park managers. 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.
Mexico
Semester in Puerto San Carlos
In conjunction with the School for Field Studies (SFS), students spend a semester abroad in Puerto San Carlos, Mexico. The town is located on the Pacific coast of the state of Baja California Sur. Most residents of Puerto San Carlos and the other towns and villages that dot the shores of Magdalena Bay, an important habitat for endangered sea turtles and migrating gray whales, are dependent on the resources of the bay for their livelihood. The SFS Center for Coastal 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 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 live in single rooms in dormitories in central Amsterdam. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
New Zealand
Semester in Auckland
This spring semester program offers students the opportunity to travel to New Zealand and experience its liveliest city as well as its natural wonders. Students will study at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), located centrally in Auckland, one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in New Zealand. Students take a variety of courses while taking in the sights and sounds of indigenous Maori culture and modern New Zealand. This program is open to all majors. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
Semester in Christchurch
This spring semester program offers students the opportunity to travel deep into the Southern Hemisphere and live in the rugged and beautiful landscape of New Zealand. Students will study at the University of Canterbury, a world class institution which offers students the chance to take courses that count toward major credit at USC, while exploring the beautiful city of Christchurch and stunning surrounding countryside. This program offers communication students an exciting way to broaden their understanding of media and mass communication in a challenging environment with world views distinctly different from the United States, but is also open to all majors. For further information, contact the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 140, (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
Semester or Year in Dunedin
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 live in university-affiliated dormitories or apartments.
Nicaragua
Semester in Managua
USC students may participate in the Revolution, Transformation, and Civil Society program run by the School for International Training (SIT). Throughout the program, lectures and field visits illustrate how social and political movements, including women's movements, are responding to both domestic and external influences, including U.S. foreign policy. Students are based in Managua, where they study Spanish intensively and take an interdisciplinary course that includes Nicaragua's political history, social movements, civil society, economics and development. Students participate in extended educational excursions to a rural agricultural cooperative in northern Nicaragua, the Caribbean coast and El Salvador. They are introduced to field study methods and dedicate several weeks to completing an independent study project toward the end of the semester. All courses are conducted in Spanish. Students must have completed three semesters of college-level Spanish and be able to follow course work in Spanish in order to be eligible for the program.
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 State University. Students with two or more semesters of Russian can participate in the Russian Area Studies Program, which is ideal for students of history, international relations and political science. The Russian Language Program is for students with four or more semesters of Russian and focuses on language, literature and Russian culture. Students have their own room with a Russian family in a private apartment. The program includes many day trips to important sites and overnight excursions to locations such as Moscow, Novgorod, the Pskov region and Tallinn (Estonia).
Scotland
Semester or Year in Edinburgh
USC offers undergraduates the opportunity to study for either a year or 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, physics, psychology and religious studies. USC students live in university residence halls, student houses or 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 an MSP, under whose direction they complete a research project. Students earn a maximum of 13.5 USC units. Strong candidates should have at least two previous courses and on-the-ground experience relating to politics.
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, Room 140, (213) 821-1276, email erskine@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/CurrentStudents/IntlPrograms.aspx.
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 and two or three English-taught Asian studies courses available from the following areas: anthropology, art history, business, economics, history, international relations, literature, philosophy, politics, religion, and sociology. Students live in the international student dormitory on campus.
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 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 may take courses with degree-seeking Deusto students in Hispanic studies and other academic fields. Students may choose to live in dormitories or homestays.
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. Students live in homestays.
Semester or Year at the USC Madrid Center
Students may attend the USC Madrid Center for a semester or full academic year. The program offers USC courses in both English and Spanish. Students take two or more courses in Spanish language and literature and may take the rest of their courses from offerings in 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. Students live in homestays with Spanish hosts.
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 study Mandarin intensively and may take language electives such as business Chinese, Taiwanese language and classical Chinese. Students take one English-taught interdisciplinary core course about Taiwan. Students live in on-campus dormitories with Chengchi University students. The program offers one of the best opportunities to understand the contemporary economic, political and cultural issues facing this dynamic Pacific Rim island.
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 west coast of Wales and offers a spectacular environment in which to study world issues.
Other Programs
Units other than USC College that offer semester and year international study programs for undergraduates include the Annenberg School for Communication, the School of Architecture, the Marshall School of Business and the Viterbi School of Engineering.
International Summer Session
The International Summer Session features a number of overseas courses each year for undergraduates. Programs have included:This new program is available beginning summer 2008.
Beijing, China (East Asian Languages and Cultures)
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Spanish and Portuguese)Cambridge, England (USC College)
Dijon, France (French and Italian)
East Asia (East Asian Studies Center)
Erfurt, Germany (Annenberg)
Geneva, Switzerland (International Relations)
Heredia, Costa Rica (Spanish and Portuguese)
London, Paris, Prague and Geneva (Annenberg)
London, England (Engineering)
Madrid, Spain (Spanish and Portuguese)
Madrid, Spain (Engineering)
Moscow, Russia (Slavic Languages and Literature)
Paris, France (Engineering)
Rome, Italy (Cinema-Television)
Rome, Italy (Engineering)
Verona, Italy (French and Italian)
Information about these programs is available from the sponsoring school or department. For referral, contact the Office of Overseas Studies (213) 740-3636.
Non-USC Programs
Students who wish to participate in a non-USC approved semester or year overseas study program and receive credit transferable to USC must initiate a request for exception to residency in their academic department or school. Students who wish to earn credit in transfer from a non-USC overseas summer program must request pre-approval of transfer course work from the office of Degree Progress.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.