Undergraduate Programs 2

Humanities or Social Sciences Major (B.A. Degree)

A Humanities or Social Sciences major consists of not less than 32 upper division units within departments in the humanities or departments in the social sciences. Of the 32 required upper division units for the interdepartmental major, 20 are typically taken in one department, and the additional 12 units are taken from applicable courses in the area in which the department of concentration is housed. See the departmental listing for more specific requirements for the interdepartmental major, including lower division requirements.

Physical Sciences Major (B.S. Degree)

The departments of Chemistry, Earth Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy, cooperating with one another, offer a physical sciences major in the natural sciences and mathematics. The major requires specific lower division courses in chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, physics and astronomy and 32 upper division units of major courses in the four departments. Of the 32 required upper division units, at least four units must be taken in each of the four cooperating departments.

Program Major (B.A. or B.S. Degree)

A program major consists of designated courses and not less than 24 upper division units chosen from the list of courses which make up the program. The college has a number of special programs, many of which offer majors.

Because programs are often organized around the study of a region or a topic, and hence are not specific to any single discipline, or because two or more disciplines have joined to deal with a common problem, most program majors are interdisciplinary. An interdisciplinary major offers unusual range to students who have topical interests. Specific requirements for all program majors are listed under the program titles.

Double Major (B.A./B.A. or B.S./B.S.)

A double major consists of two majors which allow the student to earn the same degree, either a B.A. or B.S. degree, within the college. The student must complete the requirements for both majors and whatever other course work is needed to complete 128 units. Combinations of interdepartmental and department majors are also possible. See the Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs for rules governing the overlap of courses allowed for a double major, the General Education Program section for rules governing general education requirements.

Dual Degree

A dual degree is one that has course work from two schools or two different degree programs within the same school which has been organized into a single program. Listings of accelerated dual degrees and graduate dual degrees can be found on in the Dual Degree Programs section. The student receives two diplomas.

Second Bachelor's Degree

A second bachelor's degree requires a minimum of 32 additional units. In some degrees more than the 32 additional units may be needed because all requirements of both degrees must be met. Also, the residence requirement for a second bachelor's degree requires 32 units applicable to the degree beyond the number of units required for the first USC bachelor's degree to be completed in residence (see the policy on residence requirement for a second bachelor's degree). The student receives a separate diploma for each degree upon completion.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu