Undergraduate Study

Setting yourself up for success begins with considering all your options. At USC, a community is waiting to help you build your path to your future. Work across disciplines with leading experts and supportive faculty that will make you rethink what learning means. Cross the globe with our dynamic, global community or spend your days on campus. The Trojan Family will embrace you as you are.

More Than Just the Numbers

USC combines the personal attention of a private school with the scale of a public one. With 23 academic schools and divisions to choose from, there are countless combination of tracks to pursue. And with an in-class student-to-faculty ratio that rivals many small liberal arts colleges, students can get the attention they deserve in the midst of a thriving community of like-minded students.

150+

Majors and Minors

8:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

21k

Undergraduates

The Undergrad Experience

Explore, test, challenge. Defining who you are is a process of finding new ideas and experiencing opportunities. At USC, you will find different perspectives, experience new cultures and ultimately uncover a few things about yourself along the way.

Finding your passion

First-Year Experience

deepen your understanding

Interdisciplinary Freedom

worldly learning opportunities

Global Experiences

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

    USC graduates celebrate during a commencement ceremony at University Park Campus.

    Discovery Scholars

    This signature program honors students who engage in undergraduate research or artistic endeavor with faculty guidance. Be recognized for making a contribution to your field of study as an undergraduate.

    A USC student interacts with gaming technology through an interdisciplinary academic program.

    Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE)

    This program is a groundbreaking effort to increase the representation and success of women in the sciences and engineering at USC through research grants, events, lecture series and outreach.

    USC Pharmacy preceptors gather at an honors ceremony recognizing their in providing hands-on training to Doctor of Pharmacy students in diverse practice settings.

    Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Preceptorship Program

    This program is for pre-medical students interested in learning more about pediatric medicine. Students will shadow physicians at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles after commencement.

    A visiting instructor lectures to a group of students during a summer class at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

    USC Research Gateway Scholars Program

    A program that encourages low-income and first-generation college students as well as students from historically underrepresented ethnic groups to pursue graduate studies and consider an academic career.

    Students and faculty read a posterboard at the 2022 Inaugural Astani Research symposium.

    Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly & Creative Work

    The Undergraduate Symposium provides students with the unique opportunity to exhibit and share examples of their significant research and creativity with the university community.

    USC Viterbi student with robot

    Research Centers

    Explore USC’s diverse research centers and institutes spanning arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering, technology, and even an Institute for Innovation.

    An aerial view of the Mccarthy quad

    Library Resources

    The USC Libraries actively support and encourage academic endeavors with 23 libraries, information centers, the USC Digital Library, and numerous e-journals. Searching for understanding? Begin your search here.

    A USC professor with three students in a lab

    Working with Faculty

    To engage in research, students should connect with current experts in the field – members of the USC faculty. Explore faculty directories and profiles to discover research activities campus-wide.

    USC graduates celebrate during a commencement ceremony at University Park Campus.
    A USC undergraduate researcher works in a lab setting.
    A USC student interacts with gaming technology through an interdisciplinary academic program.
    USC Pharmacy preceptors gather at an honors ceremony recognizing their in providing hands-on training to Doctor of Pharmacy students in diverse practice settings.
    A visiting instructor lectures to a group of students during a summer class at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
    Students and faculty read a posterboard at the 2022 Inaugural Astani Research symposium.
    USC Viterbi students gather outside of a building during the school's undergraduate research symposium.
    USC Viterbi student with robot
    An aerial view of the Mccarthy quad
    A USC professor with three students in a lab

    Academic Honors and Fellowships

    USC is committed to supporting students in their pursuit of transformative academic experiences. The Academic Honors & Fellowships office offers personalized advisement, impactful programming, and valuable resources to facilitate the exploration and achievement of high-impact experiential learning opportunities.

    By collaborating with USC faculty, staff, and alumni, the office provides support to applicants as they navigate fellowship processes, offering evaluation, endorsement and constructive feedback.

    Technology & Society

    New technologies change the ways we express ourselves, communicate, conduct research, engage in politics and even how we learn. From the visual arts to literature to engineering, you’ll explore new technologies and emerging forms of literacy. Learn more about what we mean.

    Stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new technologies with this innovative four-year honors option. The curriculum lets you integrate multimedia into your major and/or minor studies and graduate with honors on your transcript.

    Literacy can take many forms in the 21st century. MAP is dedicated to exploring these new forms of media and understanding how to use them effectively. Learn more about how your proficiency in multimedia can influence your powers of communication and self-expression.

    The online world is now part of the fabric of our everyday work and personal lives. From social media to email to Google, our lives are all becoming more digital. This digital presence is the universal driving force of change in our lives. The knowledge of how the internet is leveraged is critical for every USC student.