The USC Catalogue
Other University Publications
New Student Orientation
Academic Integrity at USC
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Policy on Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Registration

Course Work Taken Elsewhere

Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students

Examinations

Academic Standards

Requirements for Graduation

Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students

Exception Procedures

Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degree Programs
Graduate Degree Programs
Dual Degree Programs

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.

The USC Catalogue

The USC Catalogue is the document of authority for all students. The degree requirements listed in the USC Catalogue supersede any information which may be contained in any bulletin of any school or department. The university reserves the right to change its policies, rules, regulations and course offerings at any time.

Other University Publications

Bulletins

The bulletins published by the schools provide program descriptions and information about other topics of interest to the prospective student. Bulletins may be obtained by calling the individual schools.

General Education Addendum to the USC Catalogue

The General Education Addendum to the USC Catalogue describes the general education program at USC for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and most of the professional schools. Students may obtain a copy at the Topping Student Center or from an academic advisor. Transferring to USC describes the USC general education patterns and other information and is available in the Admission Office for prospective transfer students.

Schedule of Classes

The Schedule of Classes lists the courses offered during any given term and provides detailed information on registration procedures. The schedule is distributed during the registration period of each session. Students may obtain the schedule at the Topping Student Center or the Office of Academic Records and Registrar.

SCampus

This annual publication contains both general guidebook information for students and university policies concerning student conduct, administrative procedures, and student rights and responsibilities. Students are responsible for understanding and abiding by policies contained in SCampus. SCampus may be obtained at the Topping Student Center.

New Student Orientation

All entering students are expected to participate in new student orientation as part of their introduction to USC. The USC orientation program is highly rated by those who have participated and serves as an excellent introduction to the exciting array of opportunities for academic and extra-curricular involvement at USC. New undergraduates and those graduate students with no prior enrollment in an American college or university are assessed a mandatory orientation fee payable their first semester of enrollment along with tuition charges and other fees. All other new graduate students also pay a modest mandatory orientation fee in their first semester of enrollment.

The Office of Orientation Programs offers many new student orientation session dates and locations to meet the needs of incoming students. A program brochure and an application for requesting an orientation date are mailed to newly admitted students. Each orientation features a general introduction to USC, placement testing (freshman sessions only), academic advisement, registration for classes, a parent program (for parents of undergraduates) and a packet of informative materials.

On-campus programs for undergraduates are offered during January, June, July and December. Out-of-state programs are offered on the East Coast, in the Midwest and in Hawaii during May. Abbreviated orientation sessions are offered in late August for those unable to attend an earlier session. An additional charge to cover meals, refreshments and overnight housing will apply when the orientation program selected includes meals and/or an overnight stay. Partial fee waivers to defray these costs are available to students with demonstrated financial need.

International student orientation, sponsored by the Office of International Services, is offered two weeks prior to the fall semester and again prior to spring semester.

For graduate students, orientation programs are offered by the Office of Orientation Programs as well as the academic departments and professional schools. Orientation programs also are available for graduate assistants.

Academic Integrity at USC

The university as an instrument of learning is predicated on the existence of an environment of integrity. As members of the academic community, faculty, students and administrative officials share the responsibility for maintaining this environment. Faculty have the primary responsibility

for establishing and maintaining an atmosphere and attitude of academic integrity such that the enterprise may flourish in an open and honest way. Students share this responsibility for maintaining standards of academic performance and classroom behavior conducive to the learning process. Administrative officials are responsible

for the establishment and maintenance of procedures to support and enforce those academic standards. Thus, the entire university community bears the responsibility for maintaining an environment of integrity and for taking action to sanction appropriately individuals involved in any violation. Where there is an indication that such individuals are unwilling or unable to support these standards, they should not be allowed to remain in the university.

Specific guidelines governing academic integrity are described in SCampus.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The University of Southern California maintains the privacy of student education records and allows students the right to inspect their education records as stated in the University's Student Records Policy and Procedures, consistent with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The entire text of the university's policy is located in the Office of the General Counsel and in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. A summary also appears in the current edition of the student guidebook, SCampus.

Students wishing to review or seeking to amend their educational records should submit a written request to the university office in which the record is maintained.

At the discretion of university officials, USC may release certain information classified as directory information unless the student requests that such information not be released. The university has designated directory information to include a student's address (local and permanent), telephone number (local and permanent), USC attendance dates, USC degrees earned (with dates), academic honors, major and degree objective, previous school attended and whether or not the student is currently enrolled.

Students wishing to restrict release of directory information may do so by completing the appropriate form provided by the Registrar's Office (SAS Lobby). Such requests remain in effect for the academic year. Students wishing to have their information withheld from the on-line USC Student Directory should contact University Publications (Student Union 400).

Policy on Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The University of Southern California is committed to full compliance with the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As part of the implementation of this law, the university will continue to provide reasonable accommodation for academically qualified students with disabilities so that they can participate fully in the university's educational programs and activities. Although USC is not required by law to change the "fundamental nature or essential curricular components of its programs in order to accommodate the needs of disabled students," the university will provide reasonable academic accommodation. It is the specific responsibility of the university administration and all faculty serving in a teaching capacity to ensure the university's compliance with this policy. The university committee with responsibility for oversight and review of this policy is the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP).

The general definition of a student with a disability is any person who has "a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's activities," and any person who has "a history of, or is regarded as having, such an impairment." Reasonable academic and physical accommodations include but are not limited to: extended time on examinations; substitution of similar or related work for a nonfundamental program requirement; time extensions on papers or projects; special testing procedures; advance notice regarding booklists for visually impaired and some learning disabled students; use of academic aides in the classroom such as notetakers and sign language interpreters; early advisement and assistance with registration; accessibility for students who use wheelchairs and those with mobility impairments; and need for special classroom furniture or special equipment in the classroom.

Procedures for Obtaining Accommodations Physical Accommodations: Students with physical disabilities are encouraged to contact Disability Services and Programs (DSP) prior to or during the first week of class attendance or as early in the semester as possible. The office will work with Classroom Scheduling, the course instructor and their department, and the student to arrange for reasonable accommodations. It is a student's responsibility to provide documentation verifying disability.

Academic Accommodations: Students seeking academic accommodations due to a physical, psychological or learning disability should make the request to the course instructor prior to or during the first week of class attendance or as early in the semester as possible. Course instructors should require that a student present verification of documentation of a disability from Disability Services and Programs if academic accommodations are requested. The Law School has a unit specific policy for handling requests for academic accommodations, however all students with disabilities should register with DSP. Refer to the Law School Student Handbook.

For assistance in how to provide reasonable accommodations for a particular disability, course instructors are encouraged to consult with the staff at DSP. Students requesting academic accommodations must have verification of disability.

Grievance Procedures

Detailed information about processing a grievance is found in the Student Discrimination Grievance Procedure section of SCampus, a guidebook for USC students.

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