• Printed and Online Catalogue Differences
• About the Catalogue
• A Message from the President
• Senior University Administration
• About USC
• Academic Policies
• Tuition and Fees
• Undergraduate Education
  • Admission
    • Admission of International Students
  • Resident Honors Program
  • USC Learning Communities
  • Financial Aid for Undergraduate Students
    • Satisfactory Academic Progress
    • Financial Aid Policy Regarding Falsification of Financial Aid Information
    • Withdrawal Implications for Recipients of Financial Aid
  • Course Work Taken Elsewhere
    • Transfer Credit
  • Requirements for Graduation
  • The USC Core/General Education
    • General Education Course Lists
    • Diversity Course List
  • Undergraduate Degree Programs
    • Degree Programs
    • Minors
  • International Study Options
• Graduate and Professional Education
• The USC Graduate School
• Interdisciplinary Programs
• The Schools

Undergraduate Education

Course Work Taken Elsewhere

Admitted students receive a transfer credit report showing unit and subject credit granted for college courses and relevant exams, such as AP, IB and A-levels.

For course work taken at universities within the United States, the Degree Progress Department will prepare the transfer credit report; for course work taken outside the United States, the Office of Admission will prepare the report.

Students are required to provide transcripts of all course work attempted at any postsecondary institution, regardless of the type of course(s) or the quality of the work. A student's failure to provide transcripts for all course work attempted prior to enrollment at USC or while away from USC may result in denial of transferred course work and a charge of a violation of the university's academic integrity policies.

Accreditation

The University of Southern California affirms the practice of accreditation of American post-secondary academic institutions by the six regional accreditation agencies: the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Acceptance of course work and/or degrees completed by undergraduate and graduate students applying to the University of Southern California will be based on accreditation by these six agencies. Certain graduate schools, seminaries, conservatories and professional institutions of national renown that are not accredited by a regional agency may be considered for graduate transfer work by the Articulation Office in consultation with the USC department or professional school to which the student is applying.

Acceptance of course work and/or degrees from post-secondary institutions overseas will be based on the recognition and approval of the college or university as a degree-granting institution by the Ministry of Education within the respective country.

Non-transferable Course Work

USC's transfer policies have been established to enable students to achieve either an undergraduate or graduate degree that will reflect traditional academic study and research. For that reason, the following types of non-traditional course work will not transfer to USC for undergraduate credit:

• Life experience; portfolio work; continuing education; work experience; formally structured courses offered by civilian non-collegiate sponsors such as businesses, corporations, government agencies and labor unions, even if evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE).
• Extension courses not accepted toward a degree by the offering institution.
• Equivalency examinations.
• Remedial (e.g., mathematics below college algebra), college preparatory and personal development/life skills courses.
• Independent study, directed study, internships and correspondence courses from two-year schools.
• Areas of study offered by other accredited institutions toward the baccalaureate but not offered by USC, such as agriculture, business office procedures, hotel management, interior design, food services, industrial mechanics, fire science, police academy and similar technical or professional programs.
• Undergraduates will not receive credit for graduate level transfer courses.

In addition, no more than 4 units of English as a Second Language (toward the maximum of 12 ESL/ALI units which may apply to a degree) will transfer. Also, a maximum of 4 units of physical education activity courses and music ensemble will transfer. A maximum of 8 units of dance, 12 units of physical education theory courses and 16 units of individual instruction in music will transfer.

Course Work Requiring Review

USC will determine on a case-by-case basis whether to grant credit for certain types of courses taken at accredited institutions. Courses which require review by the Articulation Office include:

• Independent study, directed study and internships taken at four-year schools.
• Courses in which the traditionally expected number of contact hours may not have occurred, including distance learning, televised, online or correspondence courses, and courses taught in non-traditional time modes such as concentrated “intensive” sessions or special weekend modules.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements with California community colleges are issued by the Articula-tion Office and indicate courses available for transfer to USC. These agreements can be found at www.usc.edu/articulation. These agreements are revised periodically and are subject to change, depending on course content, availability and changes in USC's academic policies. Articulation agreements are not issued for four-year colleges and universities.

Credit for Military Education

The university evaluates courses completed through the armed services and may grant credit for such courses. Consult the Degree Progress Department regarding the possibility of receiving credit for these courses.

College Courses Taken During High School Enrollment

All undergraduate students entering USC may receive a combined maximum of 32 elective units for college courses and/or examinations (e.g., AP or IB) taken before graduation from high school. A maximum of 16 of these 32 units will be allowed for college courses taken before high school graduation. These courses must appear on the college transcript as part of the regular college curriculum and are expected to be taught on the college campus by college faculty. These courses (as well as AP and IB exams) will not receive course equivalence or credit toward writing, diversity, foreign language or general education requirements (except for general education categories I and III, where appropriate). However, departments may use them as a basis to waive prerequisites or specific course requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Students may not receive credit for both an AP exam (or IB or other international exam) and a college course taken before high school graduation covering the same subject matter, nor for an AP and IB exam covering the same subject matter.

Students who began full-time college bachelor's degree programs at four-year institutions before completing their high school diplomas can submit transcripts for course evaluation. More than 16 units may be granted. Programs which award a high school diploma concurrently with first- or second-year college level work are typically conducted on the post-secondary institution's campus and are taught by the regular faculty. These programs will be evaluated on an individual basis, along with the student's high school record, to determine both the student's admissibility and the transferability of courses. Students entering full-time college programs at two-year colleges before graduating from high school are subject to the 16 unit maximum stated above.

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