Undergraduate Programs

The College of Letters, Arts and Sciences offers curricula leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in a great number of disciplines. Each degree requires a minimum of 128 units.

Majors

Students in the college may major in a single basic discipline or combine several interests in an interdisciplinary program.

Selecting a Major

A major may be chosen because the student is especially interested in a subject, because of particular abilities in certain areas, or because it is an especially fitting preparation for a profession. The choice of a major may thus become part of planning for a career. But a choice in the college will not usually limit the student to a single career or line of work. Liberal arts majors are unusually adaptable; they are suitable preparations for many careers.

A student may declare a major at any time, but is expected to record his or her major in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar at or before the beginning of the junior year or completion of 64 units. This allows sufficient time, without undue pressure, to fulfill the course requirements of the major in the student's third and fourth years. For some majors, however, and especially for a major in one of the natural sciences aiming for the B.S. degree, it will be advantageous to declare the major sooner, so the program may be paced over the full four years.

Changing a Major

If, after a major has been declared, the student wishes to change to a different field (or add another field of study to the existing one), a Change of Major form must be filed. The form may be obtained in the College Academic Services Office or the Student Administrative Services Building. The form must be completed and returned to the Office of Academic Records and Registrar. When a major is changed, the current department advisor and the new department advisor must both sign the form.

Types of Majors and Major Requirements

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

A department major for the B.A. degree consists of specified lower division courses and, generally, not less than 24 or more than 32 upper division units in a single department or discipline. A greater concentration of units in a single discipline is usually required in majors for the B.S. degree than in majors for the B.A. degree.

To insure that the department major has the units and consistency necessary for purposeful study, departmental approval must be obtained for the courses that comprise the major. At least one-half of the upper-division courses used in the major must be taken at USC; the specific requirements for each department major will be found in the departmental sections of this catalogue.

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