USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences he College is the liberal arts center of the University of Southern California, teaching more than 10,000 undergraduates. It offers instruction in the humanities, the natural Tsciences and the social sciences, leading to bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. The programs of the college provide both a broad liberal arts education and a thorough grounding in an academic discipline. The breadth is in the general education program and in the electives; the specializations are in departmental majors, interdisciplinary majors, and special pro- grams and minors. The college offers many opportunities for post-baccalaureate study. Graduate programs within the college leading to the master of arts, master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees are administered through the USC Graduate School. The college combines two “worlds” — the world of the self-contained liberal arts school, with small classes and close working relationships between students and faculty, and the larger world of the research university, where new ventures and new ideas are being explored. Together they make the college a supportive and exciting place to learn. The college combines the attributes of a self- contained liberal arts school and a research university to offer students an opportunity to develop close working relationships with faculty and to explore new ventures and ideas. 164 USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Administration Morton O. Schapiro, Ph.D., Dean, College of Certain programs report to the college Departments in the Natural Sciences and Letters, Arts and Sciences administration: Mathematics Freshman Seminars Biological Sciences Joseph Aoun, Ph.D., Dean of Faculty General Education Chemistry Interdisciplinary Major Earth Sciences Roger D. Stewart, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Joint Educational Project Exercise Science Faculty Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute Mathematics Neuroscience Physics and Astronomy Sarah Pratt, Ph.D., Dean of Curriculum and Overseas Studies Office Instruction Program in Neural, Informational and Special Programs Behavioral Sciences Environmental Studies Jane M. Cody, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Resident Honors Program Ocean Sciences Curriculum and Instruction Social Science Research Institute Psychobiology Thematic Option Larry Swanson, Ph.D., Dean of Research Undergraduate Advisement and Other Departments and schools in the Social Student-Related Services Sciences Laura Lucas, Facilities Manager Anthropology Departments and schools in the Humanities Economics David Warren, B.A., Administrative Director, Art History Geography Research and Computing Classics History Comparative Literature International Relations Richard Tithecott, Ph.D., Assistant East Asian Languages and Cultures Political Science Administrative Director English Psychology French and Italian Sociology Robert E. McQuinn, M.B.A., Senior Associate German Dean for Development and Public Affairs Linguistics Special Programs Philosophy Gender Studies Carol Dougherty, B.S., Senior Asssociate Dean Religion Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics of Business and Finance Slavic Languages and Literatures Law and Society Spanish and Portuguese Peace and Conflict Studies Patricia Coleman, M.E., Associate Dean of Political Economy and Public Policy College Admission Special Programs American Language Institute Albert Herrera, Ph.D., Executive Director of the American Studies and Ethnicity College Advising Office Center for Feminist Studies East Asian Studies Center Richard Fliegel, Ph.D., Executive Co-Director, Judaic Studies General Studies Office The Writing Program Robin Romans, Ph.D., Executive Co-Director, General Studies Office Graduate Studies in Letters, Arts and Sciences Graduate studies leading to the Master’s and Ph.D. degrees are available within most departments of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Candidates for graduate degrees must complete both the departmen- tal requirements listed for each degree and the general requirements set by the Graduate School. Undergraduate Programs 165 Undergraduate Programs The College of Letters, Arts and Sciences To ensure that the department major has the requirements for both majors and whatever offers curricula leading to the Bachelor of units and consistency necessary for purpose- other course work is needed to complete 128 Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) ful study, departmental approval must be units. Combinations of interdepartmental and in a great number of disciplines. Each degree obtained for the courses that comprise the department majors are also possible. See requires a minimum of 128 units. major. The specific requirements for each page 62 for rules governing the overlap of department major will be found in the courses allowed for a double major, and page Majors departmental sections of this catalogue. 167 for rules governing general education Students in the college may major in a single requirements. basic discipline or combine several interests Interdepartmental Majors in an interdisciplinary program. Humanities or Social Sciences Major (B.A. Degree) Dual Degree A Humanities or Social Sciences major consists A dual degree is one that has course work Selecting a Major of not less than 32 upper division units within from two schools or two different degree pro- A major may be chosen because the student departments in the humanities or departments grams within the same school which has been is especially interested in a subject, because in the social sciences. Of the 32 required upper organized into a single program. Listings of of particular abilities in certain areas, or division units for the interdepartmental major, accelerated dual degrees and graduate dual because it is an especially fitting preparation 20 are typically taken in one department, and degrees can be found on page 67. The stu- for a profession. The choice of a major may the additional 12 units are taken from applica- dent receives two diplomas. thus become part of planning for a career. ble courses in the area in which the depart- But a choice in the college will not usually ment of concentration is housed. See the Second Bachelor’s Degree limit the student to a single career or line of departmental listing for more specific require- A second bachelor’s degree requires a mini- work. Liberal arts majors are unusually adapt- ments for the interdepartmental major, includ- mum of 32 additional units. In some degrees able; they are suitable preparations for many ing lower division requirements. more than the 32 additional units may be careers. needed because all requirements of both Physical Sciences Major (B.S. Degree) The degrees must be met. Also, the residence A student may declare a major at any time, departments of chemistry, earth sciences, and requirement for a second bachelor’s degree but is expected to record his or her major in physics and astronomy, cooperating with one requires 32 units applicable to the degree the Office of Academic Records and another, offer a physical sciences major in the beyond the number of units required for the Registrar at or before the beginning of the natural sciences and mathematics. The major first USC bachelor’s degree to be completed junior year or completion of 64 units. This requires specific lower division courses in in residence (see the policy on residence allows sufficient time, without undue pres- chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, requirement for a second bachelor’s degree). sure, to fulfill the course requirements of the physics and astronomy and 28 upper division The student receives a separate diploma for major in the student’s third and fourth years. units of major courses in the four depart- each degree upon completion. For some majors, however, and especially for ments. Of the 28 required upper division a major in one of the natural sciences aiming units, at least four units must be taken in Substitution for Major Requirements for the B.S. degree, it will be advantageous to each of the four cooperating departments. If a student wishes an adjustment to the declare the major sooner, so the program may major requirements in his or her department be paced over the full four years. Program Major (B.A. or B.S. Degree) A program or program, the department advisor can make major consists of designated courses and not a change through a Memorandum of Internal Changing a Major less than 24 upper division units chosen from Substitution; it is not necessary to petition If, after a major has been declared, the stu- the list of courses which make up the pro- the Committee on Academic Policies and dent wishes to change to a different field (or gram. The college has a number of special Procedures (CAPP) for such an alteration. add another field of study to the existing programs, many of which offer majors. Both USC course substitutions and the sub- one), a Change of Major form must be filed. stitution of accepted transfer work in the The form may be obtained in the College Because programs are often organized around major field of study for specific USC require- Academic Services Office or the Student the study of a region or a topic, and hence are ments can be accommodated within the Administrative Services Building. The form not specific to any single discipline, or department. must be completed and returned to the because two or more disciplines have joined Office of Academic Records and Registrar. to deal with a common problem, most pro- Unit Limitation When a major is changed, the current depart- gram majors are interdisciplinary. An interdis- There is an established limit of 40 upper ment advisor and the new department advi- ciplinary major offers unusual range to stu- division units in any major. A student wishing sor must both sign the form. dents who have topical interests. Specific to exceed the limit must obtain the approval requirements for all program majors are listed of the department in a memo of internal sub- Types of Majors and Major Requirements under the program titles. stitution with the final endorsement of the Departmental Major (B.A. or B.S. Degree) dean of curriculum and instruction.