USC
University of Southern California
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Academic Policies

Students are expected to be familiar with university policies and to monitor their own academic progress. They should keep all records of official grades earned, degree requirements met, transfer credits accepted and actions taken on requests for substitutions or exceptions to university policies and regulations.

Academic Calendar

Summer Session 2008

May 19-20Registration
May 21Classes Begin
May 26Memorial Day, University Holiday
July 1Thesis/Dissertation Submission
July 4Independence Day, University Holiday
August 12Classes End

Fall Semester 2008

August 18-22Open Registration
August 25Classes Begin
September 1Labor Day, University Holiday
November 3Thesis/Dissertation Submission
November 27-29Thanksgiving, University Holiday
December 5Classes End
December 6-9Study Days
December 10-17Exams
December 18-January 12Winter Recess

Spring Semester 2009

January 8-9Open Registration
January 12Classes Begin
January 19Martin Luther King Day, University Holiday
February 16Presidents' Day, University Holiday
March 16-21Spring Recess
April 1Thesis/Dissertation Submission
May 1Classes End
May 2-5Study Days
May 6-13Exams
May 15Commencement

Summer Session 2009

May 18-19Registration
May 20Classes Begin
May 25Memorial Day, University Holiday
July 1Thesis/Dissertation Submission
July 3-4Independence Day, University Holiday
August 11Classes End

Fall Semester 2009

August 17-21Open Registration
August 24Classes Begin
September 7Labor Day, University Holiday
November 2Thesis/Dissertation Submission
November 26-28Thanksgiving, University Holiday
December 4Classes End
December 5-8Study Days
December 9-16Exams
December 17-January 10Winter Recess

Spring Semester 2010

January 7-8Open Registration
January 11Classes Begin
January 18Martin Luther King Day, University Holiday
February 15Presidents' Day, University Holiday
March 15-20Spring Recess
April 1Thesis/Dissertation Submission
April 30Classes End
May 1-4Study Days
May 5-12Exams
May 14Commencement

Summer Session 2010

May 17-18Registration
May 19Classes Begin
May 31Memorial Day, University Holiday
July 1Thesis/Dissertation Submission
July 5Independence Day, University Holiday
August 10Classes End

Academic Calendars of the Professional Schools

Certain professional schools schedule the academic year according to differing calendars. These differences affect the deadlines for certain student actions (e.g., dropping or adding courses, registering for courses, obtaining refunds of tuition). Detailed information on these academic calendars is available from the individual schools.

Medicine
Consult the Office for Curriculum, Keck School of Medicine, for the academic calendars of professional medical degree programs. The graduate programs in academic medicine; anesthesiology (nurse anesthesia); biochemistry; cell and neurobiology; clinical and biomedical investigations; genetic, molecular and cellular biology; microbiology; pathology; physiology and biophysics; preventive medicine; and systems biology and disease follow the university calendar.

Dentistry
The academic year of the School of Dentistry is divided into three 14-week trimesters. The graduate program in craniofacial biology follows the university calendar.

Independent Health Professions
Programs in occupational science and occupational therapy and biokinesiology and physical therapy follow the university calendar. However, certain programs require entrance to a post-summer session.