Orientation Programs
Student
Handbook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome
Letter From the President
2
Role and Mission of USC
3
Expectations
Principles of Community
5
Five Traits of a Trojan
5
Academic Integrity at USC
6
Orientation and Enrollment
Academic Advisement
8
Orientation Advisors
9
Registration
12
Phone Numbers
13
Academic Resources
Student Resources
14
Information Sources
16
FERPA
17
Campus Safety and Emergency Procedures
DPS
18
Shared Responsibility
19
Crime Prevention
19
Patrol & Response Boundaries
19
Safety Resources
20
Personal Safety Tips
21
Campus Emergency Preparation
21
Campus Living
Housing
22
Move-In Day & Welcome Week
25
Dining Options & Meal Plans
27
Transportation
29
Finances
31
Campus Community
Getting Involved
35
Welcome
Letter From the President
“USC welcomes students from all 50 states, and is home to more international
students than any university in the nation. This diversity enriches your educational
experience and prepares you to make your way in our globally interconnected world.”
– C. L. Max Nikias, President
Dear USC Student,
Welcome to New Student Orientation! We’re delighted to have you on our campuses, and I hope this orientation
gives you a strong sense of USC and its vibrant community. You will soon discover that although USC is a major
research university, it has the feel of a small college. You have tremendous opportunities to do research alongside
faculty — an invaluable experience if you pursue graduate studies.
We also encourage you to consider USC’s vast spectrum of minors, which now exceeds 150, and perhaps
pursue one far removed from your own major. We hope you will make Visions and Voices a regular part of your
time at USC, and embrace the exciting social life on our campuses and the spirit of our sporting events. USC
welcomes students from all 50 states, and is home to more international students than any university in the
nation. This diversity enriches your educational experience and prepares you to make your way in our globally
interconnected world.
During your time here, you should also venture beyond our campuses. The university stands in the heart of Los
Angeles, one of the most diverse and dynamic cities in the world, and the de facto capital of the Pacific Rim.
You will benefit tremendously from the city’s wealth of world-class museums, performance venues and cultural
offerings, as well as its innumerable opportunities for socializing, employment and volunteering.
As you know, USC ranks among the most select universities in the nation, and you should take great pride in
your acceptance. Our students form a very special community, bustling with talent, passion and curiosity.
The bonds you form on our campuses are lifelong, and you will be amazed to learn how powerful our alumni
network really is — even decades after you graduate. It all starts here!
Fight On!
C. L. Max Nikias
President
2
Welcome
Role and Mission of USC
The central mission of the University of Southern California is the
development of human beings and society as a whole through the
cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit. The principal
means by which our mission is accomplished are teaching, research,
artistic creation, professional practice and selected forms of public service.
Our first priority as faculty and
staff is the education of our
students, from freshmen to postdoctoral researchers, through
a broad array of academic,
professional, extracurricular and
athletic programs of the first
rank. The integration of liberal
and professional learning is one
of USC’s special strengths. We
strive constantly for excellence in
teaching knowledge and skills to
our students, while at the same
time helping them to acquire
wisdom and insight, love of truth
and beauty, moral discernment,
understanding of self and respect
and appreciation for others.
Research of the highest quality
by our faculty and students is
fundamental to our mission. USC
is one of a very small number of
premier academic institutions in
which research and teaching are
inextricably intertwined, and on
which the nation depends for a
steady stream of new knowledge,
art and technology. Our faculty are
not simply teachers of the works
3
of others, but active contributors
to what is taught, thought and
practiced throughout the world.
USC is pluralistic, welcoming
outstanding men and women of
every race, creed and background.
We are a global institution in a
global center, attracting more
international students over the
years than any other American
university. And we are private,
unfettered by political control,
strongly committed to academic
freedom and proud of our
entrepreneurial heritage.
An extraordinary closeness and
willingness to help one another
are evident among USC students,
alumni, faculty and staff; indeed,
for those within its compass,
the Trojan Family is a genuinely
supportive community. Alumni,
trustees, volunteers and friends
of USC are essential to this family
tradition, providing generous
financial support, participating
in university governance and
assisting students at every turn.
In our surrounding neighborhoods
and around the globe, USC
provides public leadership and
public service in such diverse
fields as health care, economic
development, social welfare,
scientific research, public policy
and the arts. We also serve the
public interest as the largest
private employer in the city of
Los Angeles, as well as the city’s
largest export industry in the
private sector.
expect to continue to play these
roles for many centuries to come.
Thus our planning, commitments
and fiscal policies are directed
toward building quality and
excellence in the long term.
USC has played a major role in
the development of Southern
California for more than a
century, and plays an increasingly
important role in the development
of the nation and the world. We
4
Expectations
Principles of Community
Successful students are aware of the expectations of them as members of the
university community. Become familiar with university standards by visiting
our student guidebook, SCampus, online at www.usc.edu/scampus and
reviewing the “University Governance” section.
USC is a multicultural community of
scholars from diverse racial, ethnic
and class backgrounds, national
origins, religious and political
beliefs, physical abilities and sexual
orientations. This diversity enriches
all of our activities and everyday
interactions, and we strive to learn
from each other in an atmosphere
of positive engagement and mutual
respect. As a scholarly community,
we aspire to create an environment
in which racism, sexism, ageism,
xenophobia and homophobia do
not go unchallenged.
All who work, live, study and teach
in the USC community are here
by choice. As part of that choice,
we share a commitment to these
principles as an integral part of
USC’s mission.
Five Traits of a Trojan
“I am a Trojan” is a university-wide
initiative dedicated to creating
a common language around our
shared values. The five traits of
an ideal Trojan are engraved on
the pedestal of the Trojan Shrine
(“Tommy Trojan”), built in 1930
to commemorate USC’s 50th
anniversary. These five traits are:
5
Faithful: Staying true to oneself
and loyal to USC and its ideals and
values.
Scholarly: Remaining dedicated
to the pursuit of knowledge inside
and outside the classroom, through
research, free inquiry and informed
risk-taking.
Skillful: Striving for excellence
in developing and refining one’s
talents and abilities.
Courageous: Daring to fight for
one’s values and beliefs, even in the
face of adversity.
Ambitious: Committing to
exercising the entrepreneurial
spirit in order to make meaningful
contributions to society.
As a member of the Trojan Family,
you are expected to strive to embody
these traits and represent USC in the
most positive light. Throughout your
time as a student, your participation
in various activities will allow you
to reflect on how you will exemplify
these traits—at USC and after
graduation. Visit www.usc.edu/
iamatrojan for more information.
Academic Integrity at USC
Like all academic communities, USC
stresses honesty and integrity in all
academic endeavors. All students
are expected to be aware of and
abide by the university’s academic
standards and behaviors. Those
who fail to uphold the academic
integrity standards not only suffer
severe consequences to their
grades and their student status
at the university, but also cheat
themselves and others out of
learning, degrade the value of USC
degrees and diminish the prestige
of a USC education.
material), cheating (such as
using crib notes during an exam,
permitting another to copy work
or submitting work not completed
by the student), unauthorized
collaboration (preparing academic
assignments with another person
without faculty authorization)
or falsifying academic records
(including falsified medical excuses
or misrepresentation of official
records). As outlined in SCampus,
the university recommends a grade
of “F” in a course for any found
act of academic dishonesty. More
information about the academic
integrity review process and
academic dishonesty sanction
guidelines can be found in the
“University Governance” section
of SCampus. Visit www.usc.
edu/student-affairs/SJACS for
additional information.
Academic dishonesty is any act
that gains or is intended to gain
an unfair academic advantage
for a student or that circumvents
an instructor’s course standards,
regardless of intent. This may
include, but is not limited to,
plagiarism (using someone else’s
work in any academic assignment
without properly citing the
source and indicating quoted
6
Orientation
and Enrollment
Academic Advisement
At the University of Southern California, we are strongly committed to the
belief that your education belongs to you. Academic advisors are here
to assist you in making the most of your educational opportunities, and
we encourage you to take advantage of their expertise as you plan your
academic and professional goals.
Each major and degree program
establishes its own academic
policies, rules and regulations,
and USC staff and faculty advisors
assist you in meeting your
academic goals and requirements.
At Orientation, you will meet with
your academic advisor to discuss
course selection and registration.
If you cannot attend an Orientation
session, contact the Orientation
Programs office at (213) 740-7767
before contacting an academic
advisor. You will need to review
the academic program policies
and information included in your
orientation packet. To schedule an
advising appointment, refer to the
list on page 13 and call the number
listed with your major.
Academic advisement is
mandatory for all incoming
students: You must receive
academic advisement
before you can register for
classes. Advisement for first-
year students serves as an
introduction to USC’s academic
opportunities, while advisement
for transfer students is critical to
making a smooth transition from
one institution to another.
If you are undeclared or undecided
about your major, the USC Dornsife
College Advising Office will be your
academic home. Their advisors
will help you select courses for
registration as well as help you
explore possible majors.
8
Orientation
and Enrollment
Orientation Coordinators
& Advisors
Orientation Coordinators
Orientation Advisors
Kevin Rutkowski
Majors: Political
Science & Theatre
Hometown:
Los Angeles, CA
Honors: Sigma Alpha
Lambda National
Leadership and Honors Organization;
Latino Alumni Association Scholar; USC
Renaissance Scholar; Dean’s List in the
School of Dramatic Arts and the Dornsife
College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Kam
Kuwata Scholar for Political Involvement;
Town & Gown Scholar for Academics
and Community Involvement; Dean Joan
Metcalf Schaefer Scholar for Leadership
and Service; Byron P. Weintz and Mary Jane
Weintz Scholar for Leadership.
Activities: Orientation Coordinator;
Orientation Advisor; Resident Advisor;
student worker, USC Parent Programs;
President, USC Trojan Men; Co-Founder
and Director, USC Theatre Forum; Campus
Outreach Director; USC Students for Barack
Obama; Mentor, USC LEAD; Mentor, USC
LGBT Resource Center.
Hobbies & Interests: Singing, performing,
writing, reading the news.
Adelara Adekoya
Major: Global Health
Minor: French
Hometown:
Woodway, WA
Activities: USC
Orientation Advisor,
Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority
Inc., Breakthrough Hip Hop, French Tutor,
USC ACTIVE, GlobeMed at USC.
Hobbies & Interests: Dancing (hip hop,
Latin, jazz), listening to music (mostly
hip hop, rap and R&B), baking brownies
& cookies (and eating the batter before
it reaches the oven!). In my spare time, I
like to clean and organize my apartment.
I also love traveling, learning new
languages and meeting new people.
Aleek Sherikian
Major: International
Relations
Minor: Urban Policy
and Planning
Hometown:
Glendale, CA
Activities: Orientation Advisor, Orientation
Coordinator, Vice President of the
multicultural sorority Alpha Gamma Alpha.
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, going to the
beach, and taking adventurous trips around
Los Angeles.
9
Hannah Brent
Major: Astronautical
Engineering
Minor: Physics
Hometown:
Tarzana, CA
Activities:
InterVarsity Trojan Christian fellowship,
Chaotic 3 repertory dance company,
Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, worker at
the Lyon Center.
Hobbies & Interests: I love to do all
kinds of dance. My favorite TV show
is Grey’s Anatomy. I am a complete
bookworm, and love doing anything artsy
and creative.
Bryce Boyd
Major: Undecided
Minor: Philosophy
Hometown:
Hagerstown, MD
Activities: Phi
Alpha Delta Pre-Law
Fraternity; set-up crew, Music Operations.
Hobbies & Interests: Swimming,
watching movies, beach bonfires, road
trips, snow, hiking, sleeping, Chipotle,
bowling, FIFA, traveling.
Steven Cassettari
Major: Economics
Hometown:
Chino Hills, CA
Honors: Dean’s List
Activities:
Debate Team
Hobbies & Interests: Favorite TV show:
Community. Favorite sport: basketball.
Favorite video game: League of Legends.
Favorite band: Taking Back Sunday.
Kevin Cheberenchick
Major: Economics/
Mathematics
Minor: Management
Consulting
Hometown:
Pittsburgh, PA
Honors: Dean’s List
Activities: Honduras trip; copy editor,
Daily Trojan; Orientation Advisor; student
worker at Marshall School of Business;
Trojan Vision’s underGRAD show.
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, writing,
traveling, rock climbing, kayaking, trying
new things, meeting new people, socializing,
going to see new movies, exercising.
Orientation
and Enrollment
Ehren Elder
Major: Philosophy,
Politics, & Law
Hometown:
Los Altos, CA
Honors: Presidential
Scholar, Dean’s List
Activities: Spirit Leader, Inter-Fraternity
Council Director of Greek Education,
URSC Funding Representative.
Hobbies & Interests: Watch baseball
(Go Giants!), go to the Lyon Center, play
sports, go to Santa Monica, explore the
fine fast-food cuisine around campus.
Vanessa Gomez
Major: Broadcast
and Digital Journalism
Minor:
Communications
and the
Entertainment
Industry
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Activities: Trojan Vision: Host; senior
producer for The Toast. Journalist for
ATVN. Staff reporter for Neon Tommy.
Hobbies & Interests: Running, singing,
watching sports (especially USC), going
to the beach, reading, and hanging out
with my family.
Katherine Grabar
Major: Political
Science
Minor: Law and
Psychology
Hometown:
Coto de Caza, CA
Honors: Diana Chudacoff Levin Award
Activities: Panhellenic Executive BoardInternal Recruitment Assistant, sorority
member, College Republicans, Campus
Crusade, Undergraduate Student
Government-Senator Aide.
Hobbies & Interests: Photography,
reading, going to Disneyland, watching
movies, listening to country music.
Genevieve Healy
Major: Music Industry
Hometown:
Chicago, IL
Activities:
Sorority member
Hobbies & Interests:
Watching and obsessing over football,
photography, going to concerts, hiking/
kayaking/anything outdoorsy, cooking.
Sasha Horn
Major: Global Health
Hometown:
Malibu, CA
Honors: Alpha
Lambda Delta Honors
Society
Activities: Peer Health Exchange Health
Educator.
Hobbies & Interests: Volunteering at
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, baking
cookies from scratch, urban hiking.
Irvin Jerez
Major: Undecided
Hometown:
Los Angeles, CA
Honors: USC Latino
Alumni Association,
USC Dean’s List.
Activities: Residential College Government,
USC Off the Grid, USC KSA Freshman Danceoff, USC Los Angeles Talented Thespian
Ensemble.
Hobbies & Interests: Dancing, Pokemon,
running, K-pop, acting, video games.
Angie Kim
Major: Cognitive
Science
Minor: Organizational
Leadership and
Management
Hometown:
Yorba Linda, CA
Honors: SCion Scholar, Trojan Auxiliary
Orange County; Town and Gown Scholar.
Activities: USC Sirens, Marshall Outreach and
Volunteer Entrepreneurs - Director of Marshall
Community Service Day; Global Brigades @
Marshall - Co-President; LEAD Mentor.
Hobbies & Interests: Exploring LA,
running along the beach, eating, singing.
Taiu Kunimoto
Major: Public
Relations
Minor: Sports Media
Studies
Hometown:
Shanghai, Japan
Honors: USC Dornsife College of Letters,
Arts and Sciences Dean’s List
Activities: USC Men’s Rugby, sung as tenor
in the University Chorus.
Hobbies & Interests: Watching films, cooking.
Isabelle Mason
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown:
San Francisco, CA
Honors: Dean’s List
Activities: Sorority
member, Director of
Membership Organizations in Academic Culture
Assembly, staff writer for the Daily Trojan.
Hobbies & Interests: Yoga, reading,
listening to music (Macklemore is one of
my favorites), dancing.
Andrew Minassi
Major: Industrial &
Systems Engineering
Hometown: Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA
Activities: Freshman
Representative &
Viterbi Liaison for the Associated Students
of Biomedical Engineering, Campus Affairs
Delegate for the Undergraduate Student
Government, Queer & Ally Student Assembly.
Hobbies & Interests: Reality TV shows,
hiking through the PV caves, eating out with
friends, going to Roscoe’s, cooking, dancing,
and going to theme parks.
Elizabeth Mitchell
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Musical
Theatre
Hometown:
Zionsville, IN
Honors: Resident
Honors Program, Deans Scholar, Alpha
Lambda Delta Honors Society.
Activities: Intern for the USC DC
Office of Research Advancement, USC
Interaxon, Trojan Dance Marathon.
Hobbies & Interests: Watching The
West Wing and Cupcake Wars, exploring
LA, doing yoga, eating sushi, and
reinforcing stereotypes of the Midwest.
10
Orientation
and Enrollment
Kelly Oechsel
Major: Kinesiology
Hometown:
Kentfield, CA
Honors:
Dornsife College of LAS
Dean’s List
Activities: Sorority member, Global
Medical Brigades.
Hobbies & Interests: Dancing, The
Bachelor/Bachelorette, Grey’s Anatomy,
power yoga, having campfires, bike riding at
the beach.
Matthew Ramirez
Major: Economics
Minor: Religion
Hometown:
El Paso, TX
Activities: USC
Troy Camp, Joint
Educational Project - Readers Plus.
Hobbies & Interests: Playing sports,
watching Big Brother and Community,
going to midnight premieres of my favorite
superhero movies, fantasy football, relaxing
beach-side, spending time with family.
Kristy Plaza
Majors: Broadcast
and Digital Journalism;
Political Science
Hometown:
Duarte, CA
Activities: Vice
President of Freshman Advocacy Board
(FAB), Opinion Columnist at Neon
Tommy, Student Coalition Against Labor
Exploitation, member of the Latino Floor,
Women Student Assembly, El Centro
Chicano, Latino Business Student Assembly,
Trojan Anime Culture.
Hobbies & Interests: Reading fan fiction,
writing narratives, listening to Japanese
pop-rock and Korean pop, watching
Taiwanese/Korean dramas, watching
Doctor Who, walking/biking on mountain
trails, explore other cultures.
Muhammad Seedat
Majors: International
Relations & Social
Sciences
Hometown:
Phoenix, AZ
Activities: Trojan
Knights, Student Coordinator at USC
Volunteer Center, Teaching International
Relations Program (TIRP), Resident Advisor
for Summer @ USC, Student Manager for
USC Football.
Hobbies & Interests: USC football, playing
basketball, working out, long boarding,
Armando’s Food Truck, Storage Wars.
Diamond Polk
Major: Theatre
Hometown:
Compton, CA
Honors:
Dean’s List
Activities: USC School
of Dramatic Arts Ambassador, student
worker.
Hobbies & Interests: Obsessed with reality
TV, hot yoga and Pop Physique (the craziest
toning workout you’ll ever do), theatre,
acting, dancing, trying to sing, baking and
sleeping.
11
Marc Sessa
Major: Neuroscience
Minor:
Communication and
the Entertainment
Industry
Hometown:
Gulf Breeze, FL
Honors: USC Dean’s List, Deans Scholar,
McCollum Scholar, Sigma Alpha Lambda
Honor Society
Activities: Trojan Marching Band (Uniform
Manager and Section Leader and Squad
Leader for the Tubas), Joint Educational
Project, Hispanic Scholarship Fund
(Community Outreach Chair), GlobeMed at
USC (Co-Community Building Chair), Trojan
Health Volunteers.
Hobbies & Interests: CrossFit, going to
music festivals, watching How I Met Your
Mother, skiing.
Alexa Smith
Major: Health
Promotion & Disease
Prevention
Hometown:
Moraga, CA
Honors: National
Society of Collegiate Scholars; Dean’s
List; Assistant Lab Technician, Biological
Sciences Department.
Activities: Sorority member, Joint
Educational Project Volunteer.
Hobbies & Interests: Contemporary, jazz,
ballet, & modern dance; musical theatre;
biking; exploring LA; Dodgers baseball;
Sharks hockey; USC football; traveling;
trying new foods; spending time with
friends and family.
Jieyun (Sharon) Tan
Majors: Accounting
& Finance
Hometown:
Jiangmen, Guangdong
China
Honors: Dean’s List
Activities: Student leader of Intervarsity
Christian Fellowship; Accounting Society;
Volunteer Center.
Hobbies & Interests: Watching movies,
eating, hiking.
Dionna Walker
Major: Business
Administration
Hometown: West
Columbia, SC
Honors: Presidential
Scholar
Activities: Bread and Baking Club, Fashion
Industry Association.
Hobbies & Interests: Baking, badminton,
watching The Walking Dead, singing.
Zhennan (Summer)
Zhang
Majors: Business
Administration &
Economics
Hometown:
Shenzhen, China
Honors: Academic Achievement Award
Activities: JEP Program
Hobbies & Interests: Watching movies
and Japanese and Korean dramas, hanging
out with friends.
Orientation
and Enrollment
Registration
Before you can register,
you must complete the
following steps.
“Registration Procedures”
section of the Schedule of
Classes (www.usc.edu/soc).
1. Obtain all registration
materials
Pick up registration materials
at Orientation Programs
(www.usc.edu/orientation),
in Student Union B-7.
5. Select courses from the
Schedule of Classes
• Refer to the online Schedule of
Classes for course descriptions.
• Remember to select backup
classes that can fit into your
schedule in case your firstchoice classes are already
closed.
2. Meet with your academic
advisor
3. Obtain a Permit to Register
• New students who attend
Orientation will receive a Permit
to Register document. Students
who do not attend Orientation
must pick up their permit at the
Registration Building. Please
bring your official letter of
admission and valid ID (driver’s
license or passport).
• Continuing students can access
their information on the Permit
to Register page of myUSC
(my.usc.edu) or OASIS
(www.usc.edu/OASIS).
4. Clear all holds or restrictions
• Your Permit to Register will
list any activity restrictions
on your account, and your
advisor can tell you how to clear
any holds that may prevent
your registration. A complete
list of holds appears in the
6. Obtain departmental
clearance (D-clearance)
• Some schools and departments
restrict registration to their
courses. If you see a “D” next
to the five-digit course number
(example: 23166D), you must
request permission from that
department (called D-clearance)
to register for the class.
• Look below the department
heading in the Schedule of
Classes for the person or office
to contact for D-clearance.
7. Register for classes using
Web Registration
To register for your classes
online:
1. Log in to the USC portal
at my.usc.edu with your
USC email username and
password.
2. Under the Single Sign-on
Quicklinks, select the Web
Registration link.
3. Select each course for which
you wish to register by clicking
on the Add to MyCourseBin
button in the middle of the
screen.
4. Click on the MyCourseBin link.
5. Click on the Add This Course
button.
6. Review the list of courses
for which you are about to
register.
7. Click on the Submit button.
Please read all system messages
carefully to ensure you are
properly registered for your
courses.
To drop a class from your
program
• In MyCourseBin, click on the
Unschedule link next to the
course you wish to drop.
• Click on the Drop This Class
button.
• Review the list of courses you
are about to drop and click on
Submit.
When you are finished, print
a copy of the registration
confirmation for your records.
12
Orientation
and Enrollment
Note: All phone numbers begin with the 213 prefix, unless otherwise indicated.
Dornsife College of Letters,
Arts and Sciences
- Dornsife College Advising Office
CAS 120 740-2534
- American Language Institute
JEF 206 740-0090
- American Studies
KAP 450B 740-3198
- Anthropology
GFS 220A 740-5806
- Archaeology
PSD 101
740-3800
- Art History
VKC 351D 740-4552
- Biological Sciences
PSD 101
740-3800
- Chemistry/Biochemistry
SGM 416 740-6716
- Classics
GFS 220A 740-5806
- Cognitive Science
PSD 101
740-3800
- Comparative Literature
CAS 120 740-2534
- Earth Sciences
ZHS 117
740-6109
- East Asian Area Studies
CLH 101 740-2992
- East Asian Languages
and Cultures
PSD 101
740-3800
- Economics
KAP 300 740-7525
740-5835 740-8335
- English
THH 404H 740-3725
- Environmental Studies
CAS 120 740-2534
- French
PSD 101
740-3800
- Gender Studies
THH 422 740-2792
- General Studies/
Interdisciplinary
CAS 200 740-2961
- Geography
KAP 462E 740-8298
13
- Health and Humanity
CAS 120 740-2534
- History
SOS 153
740-1659
- Human Biology
PED 109 740-2480
- International Relations
VKC 301 740-0772
- Italian
CAS 120 740-3800
- Judaic Studies
HUC
749-3424
- Kinesiology
PED 109 740-2480
- Linguistics
GFS 214A 740-3891
- Mathematics
CAS 120 821-2534
- Middle East Studies
KAP 450B 740-3800
- Narrative Studies
CAS 120 740-3276
- Neuroscience
PSD 101
740-3800
- Philosophy
PSD 101
740-3800
- Physical Science
SGM 416 740-6716
- Physics and Astronomy
SGM 416 740-6716
- Political Science
VKC 214 740-3621
- Psychology
SGM 501 740-2204
- Religion
GFS 220A 740-5806
- Slavic Languages and Literature
THH 255 740-2735
- Sociology
KAP 352 740-8851
- Spanish
PSD 101
740-3800
- Thematic Option
CAS 200 740-2961
- Undecided/Undeclared
CAS 120 740-2534
Professional Schools
- Accounting, Leventhal School of
ACC 101 740-4838
- Architecture, School of
WAH 204 740-2090, 821-0746
- Business, Marshall School of
BRI 104
740-0690
- Cinematic Arts, School of
SCB 105 740-8358
- Communication and Journalism,
Annenberg School for
ASC 140 740-0900
- Dramatic Arts, School of
DRC 104 740-1286
- Engineering, Viterbi School of
RTH 110 740-4530
- Fine Arts, Roski School of
WAH 116 821-1290
- Gerontology, Davis School of
GER 108 740-1729
- Independent Health Professions
Occupational Therapy
CHP 133 (323) 442-1865
- Medicine, Keck School of
Health Promotion and
Disease Prevention
UVI Suite E210 740-1060
- Music, Thornton School of
LPB 200 740-4721
- Public Policy, Price School of
RGL 102B 740-4723
Others
- Athletics
JMC C103 740-3801
- Pre-law
CAS 120 740-2534
- Pre-health
FIG 107
740-2010
- Resident Honors
CAS 200 740-2961
- Support Centered Program
STU 301 740-0776
- Writing Program
JEF 150
740-1980
Academic
Resources
Student Resources
We encourage you to take advantage of the university’s wide array of
student services and programs —everything from tutoring to career advice
to registration help.
Academic Integrity
See SCampus
Completed Course Summary
my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Adding Classes
Registration Appointments
See Schedule of Classes
Deadlines
See Schedule of Classes
Drop/Add Forms
Registration, REG Lobby
(213) 740-8500
Credit by Examination
See academic department
Advising
Major Requirements
See departments
Mandatory Restrictions
Dornsife College Advising Office,
CAS 120, (213) 740-2534
Undeclared Majors
Dornsife College Advising Office,
CAS 120, (213) 740-2534
Pre-professional Services
Dornsife College Advising Office,
CAS 120, (213) 740-2534
Careers/Jobs/Internships
Career Center
STU 110, (213) 740-9111
Catalogue, USC
www.usc.edu/catalogue
Change of Address/Name
- Transcript Verification Window,
REG Lobby
- my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Change of Major
Dornsife College Advising Office,
CAS 120, (213) 740-2534
Degree Progress
- See academic department
- Degree Progress, REG Lobby
(213) 740-7070
Disability Services
Disability Services and Programs
STU 301, (213) 740-0776
Dropping Classes
Deadlines
See Schedule of Classes
Drop/Add Forms
Registration, REG Lobby
(213) 740-8500
Enrollment Verification
- Transcript Verification Window,
REG Lobby
- my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Final Exam Schedule
See Schedule of Classes
Freshman Seminars
- Freshman Seminar Program
CAS 200, (213) 740-2961
- www.usc.edu/fsem
Grades
Change
Academic Review
TRO 101, (213) 740-7741
Grade Report
my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Removal of Incompletes
Academic Records and Registrar
JHH 106, (213) 740-5586
Honor Societies
- See SCampus
- See USC Catalogue
Learning Differences
USC Kortschak Center for Learning
and Creativity
STU 311, (213) 740-7884
Leaves of Absence
- See academic department
- See USC Catalogue
Major
Declaring
Department office
Requirements
- Department advisor
- See USC Catalogue
Minor
Declaring
Department office for the
corresponding major
Requirements
- See USC Catalogue
- Department advisor
Pass/No Pass Forms
- Registration, REG Lobby
(213) 740-8500
- my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Permit to Register
- Registration, REG Lobby
(213) 740-8500
- my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
14
Placement Exams
Testing Dates
Center for Testing and Assessment
STU 301, (213) 740-7166
Probation
Academic Review
TRO 101, (213) 740-7741
Registration Appointments
my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Registration Confirmation
- Registration, REG Lobby
(213) 740-8500
- my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Restrictions (Holds)
Descriptions and
Contact Information
- See Schedule of Classes
- my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
15
SCampus
www.usc.edu/scampus
Schedule of Classes
www.usc.edu/soc
STARS Report
my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Structured Curriculum
Program
Center for Academic Support
STU 301, (213) 740-0776
Textbooks
- USC Bookstores, Third Floor
(213) 740-8398
- www.uscbookstore.com
Transcripts
- Transcript Verification Window
REG Lobby, (213) 740-7445
- www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/
transcripts
Transfer Credit Statement
Degree Progress, REG Lobby
(213) 740-7070
Tuition Refund Insurance
www.usc.edu/webregistration
Tutors
Center for Academic Support
STU 301, (213) 740-0776
Web Registration
my.usc.edu, click on OASIS
Withdrawal from Classes
Deadlines
See Schedule of Classes
Withdrawal from USC
Registration, REG Lobby
(213) 740-8500
Academic
Resources
Information Sources
The following is a list of publications and useful websites to help you get
acquainted with what USC has to offer.
USC Catalogue
www.usc.edu/catalogue
The USC Catalogue is your
academic roadmap for USC.
Organized by school, the catalogue
lists detailed information and
requirements — including
course descriptions — for every
major, minor, and certificate
or specialized program USC
offers. You can refer to it for
everything from school admission
requirements to financial aid
information and university policies.
SCampus
www.usc.edu/scampus
While the USC Catalogue details
USC’s academic offerings, the
student guidebook provides
information about how to make
the most of your experience at
USC. You may want to bookmark or
print the maps and departmental
phone directory, as well as the
Planning Calendars, Student
Services, Student Activities,
University Governance and
Exploring Los Angeles sections.
myUSC
my.usc.edu
The myUSC portal provides
students, faculty and staff with
personalized access to various
campus resources from a single
website. Through myUSC, you can
customize your own home page
according to personal preferences
and interests. To access it, click
on Popular Links on the USC home
page or visit my.usc.edu to log in.
Schedule of Classes
www.usc.edu/soc
Perhaps the most widely used
campus publication is the Schedule
of Classes. Published every
semester, it details course offerings,
descriptions and sample syllabi;
the professors teaching each class
(often including faculty bios); class
times and locations; as well as
registration instructions. You can
also find the final examinations
schedule, online courses and lists
of required textbooks.
16
Academic
Resources
Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (The
Buckley Amendment)
www.usc.edu/ferpa
Sometimes referred to as the Buckley
Amendment, the Family Education
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a
federal law that protects the privacy of
education records for any student at
the university. To comply with this law,
USC must have written permission
from the student in order to release
any non-directory information from a
student’s education record.
Recognizing that many students
wish to share this information with
their family members, USC has
developed an online system that:
• Allows students to grant their
family members access to
education and medical records in
one step; and
• Allows family members to view
elements of education records
available in USC’s central Student
Information System.
Students can give their family
members permission to view
education and medical records by
logging in to OASIS, USC’s Web-based
student information system, and using
the Establish Guest Access feature.
Authorization for guest access
takes effect immediately and
remains in effect until you revoke
it (or until it expires six years
after authorization). You can use
OASIS to revoke access at any
time. Individuals whose OASIS for
Guests accounts are revoked will
be notified that they no longer
have access.
Important: OASIS allows you to
grant access to all elements of
your education records. If you
wish to grant access to selected
elements of your records (e.g.,
financial information but not
grades), you will be directed to
complete subject-specific forms
for the appropriate offices. Once
you grant online access, your
family members may log in to
OASIS for Guests to view such
information as grades, courses and
progress to degree.
Directions for obtaining access
to records not available online
are provided through OASIS for
Guests. If you have questions or
feedback regarding this process,
please contact the Office of
Academic Records and Registrar
at ferpahelp@usc.edu or
(213) 740-6963.
17
Granting or Revoking
Guest Access to OASIS
• Log in to myUSC (my.usc.edu)
with your USC username and
password.
• Under Single Sign-On Quicklinks,
click on the OASIS link.
• Click on the Establish Guest
Access link on the OASIS main
page.
• Read the information provided on
the Allowing Guest Access page.
• Click on the Proceed to Grant/
Remove Guest Access button.
• Click on the Create a New
Account button on the Current
Guest Access page.
• Complete the New Account form,
then click on the Submit button.
• Review the information provided
on the Authorization to Release
Records page.
• Select the appropriate buttons for
the records you wish to authorize.
• Click on the Submit This
Authorization button.
• Select the appropriate button
to confirm or cancel your
authorization.
• Provide the following to your
designated guest:
a) Your USC ID number.
b) The Guest Login ID you
defined.
c) The Guest PIN you defined.
d) The www.usc.edu/
oasisguest URL.
Note: Your guests must contact
you if they forget their login IDs or
PINs. Only students may create,
revoke and release Guest Login IDs
and Guest PINs.
Campus Safety
Campus Safety and
Emergency Procedures
Department of Public
Safety (DPS)
University Park
Parking Structure A (PSA)
Non-emergency: (213) 740-6000
Emergency: (213) 740-4321
capsnet.usc.edu/DPS
USC maintains one of the safest
campuses, and employs one of the
largest university law enforcement
agencies, in the nation.
Headquartered on the University
Park Campus with a substation on
the Health Sciences Campus, the
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
operates 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year. More than 280 full-time
members and up to 15 part-time
student workers provide law
enforcement, security and other
services. The full-time staff includes
nine civilians assigned to various
administrative positions.
Through a strong working
relationship between DPS and
the LAPD, the university benefits
from the attention of a specialized
law enforcement agency attuned
to the unique needs of a campus
environment, as well as the vast
resources of a large metropolitan
police department.
The department’s 108 armed
Public Safety Officers (PSOs) are
police academy graduates who
must pass an extensive screening
process and background check
before they are hired and complete
USC’s field training program. In
addition, 147 unarmed Community
Service Officers (CSOs) provide
security services to the universityowned residential complexes and
other facilities.
The 24-hour Communications
Center coordinates the activities
of field personnel. Sixteen
Communications Operators cover
the department’s Computer Aided
Dispatch system. CSOs monitor the
key-card access and CCTV systems,
as well as intrusion, and fire and
life, safety alarm systems.
Employed through the Trojan
Student Officer Program, the
department’s 15 part-time student
workers help promote bicycle
safety, enforce bicycle regulations
and deter bicycle theft. They also
supplement bookstore security,
perform administrative duties and
offer an added security presence
by patrolling parking lots and
university residential complexes.
Authority and Jurisdiction
The primary responsibility of DPS
is the protection of the university
community. The statutory
authority for the existence of the
Department of Public Safety, its
patrol and response boundaries,
authority to carry firearms and
powers of arrest are derived
through a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the
Los Angeles Police Department
(LAPD), the California Penal and
Educational Codes, and the Bureau
of Investigation and Security
Services section of the California
Business and Profession Code. The
MOU with LAPD allows Department
of Public Safety officers to exercise
arrest powers described in Penal
Code Section 830.7(b). All arrests
must be conducted in accordance
with the guidelines outlined by
the MOU, and all arrestees must
be delivered to an LAPD officer
without unnecessary delay.
18
Campus Safety
both campuses by 65 percent since
2005. Please visit capsnet.usc.edu/
department/department-publicsafety/student-safety-tips for
more information.
Patrol & Response
Boundaries
The Department of Public Safety
serves the 226-acre University
Park Campus and patrols the
surrounding North University Park
neighborhoods, covering an area of
2.2 miles.
Shared Responsibility
Crime Prevention
Crime prevention and campus safety
are a shared responsibility between
the Department of Public Safety;
city resources such as the LAPD;
and USC students, staff, faculty and
visitors. DPS depends on the campus
community to help promote best
practices, encourage responsible
behavior and report suspicious
activity or crimes in progress.
Students should report crimes in
progress, suspicious or threatening
behavior or other emergencies to
DPS at (213) 740-4321.
The USC Department of Public
Safety, Crime Prevention and
Community Education Unit offers
numerous—free—crime prevention
outreach services and programs to
USC students. Courses cover topics
such as a property theft and identity
fraud, and include personal safety
and self-defense programs.
Report non-emergencies to DPS at
(213) 740-6000. Students can also
make anonymous reports through
Trojans Care For Trojans (TC4T)
(see page 20).
19
The department also oversees
initiatives such as Operation G.I.F.T.
(the Group Initiative For Theftprevention), designed to decrease
theft of, and from, motor vehicles.
Over campus breaks, students
can park their cars for free in the
secured UPC Parking Center. This
initiative has helped reduce vehicle
theft and related property crimes on
The USC DPS Patrol Boundary
refers to the immediate area where
the Department of Public Safety’s
community service and patrol
officers provide 24/7 patrol services
for the campus community. Within
the Patrol Boundary, USC provides
additional services that include “blue
light” phones, Campus Cruisers and
USC trams.
Response Boundary
The Response Boundary refers
to the extended area around
off-campus properties where
community service and patrol
officers will respond to calls for
assistance 24/7 for the campus
community. USC does not provide
additional services within the
Response Zone. Services are limited
to city transportation (Metro bus
stops, DASH F stops) and private
transportation options.
Please visit capsnet.usc.edu/
department/department-publicsafety for more information.
Campus Safety
Safety Resources
Located in garages, lobbies and other places throughout the campus
area, “Blue light” phones provide a direct link to the Department of
Public Safety. In an emergency, push the button on the phone and a DPS
dispatcher will answer.
Residential Housing
Protection
In addition to public safety officers,
full-time, radio-dispatched
Residential Housing Protection/
student officers work as additional
“eyes and ears,” patrolling all
university housing facilities from
8 p.m. to dawn. During semester
and spring breaks, this service is
extended to 24 hours a day.
Student Support &
Advocacy
With a goal to provide a safe,
welcoming college environment,
Student Support and Advocacy
assists students and families
in resolving complex personal,
academic or financial issues
that adversely affect students’
academic success and/or
collegiate experience. The
office plays a key role in helping
students evaluate options and
communicate with other campus
resources and departments. They
can be found in the Office of the
Vice President for Student Affairs
or contacted at (213) 740-2421.
Trojans Care for Trojans
tc4t@usc.edu
sait.usc.edu/ca/tc4t
A Student Affairs initiative, Trojans
Care for Trojans offers connections
to institutional support and
resources for Trojans coping with
personal difficulties. It encourages
students to care for each other
and the entire campus community
and provides a private and
anonymous service for students
to express their concerns about
fellow members of the Trojan
Family. The interactive website
features educational videos, a
list of campus and community
resources and an anonymous
request form.
Campus Cruiser Program
Campus Cruiser provides a safe
ride home for all students, staff,
faculty and visitors to any nonretail location (not accessible by
campus bus) within one mile of
campus. To use the service, call
one of the numbers listed on this
page, and a dispatcher will ask for
your current location, destination
and number of passengers. A
Campus Cruiser will pick you up
in approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
You may request to be notified by
phone call or text message when
your cruiser has arrived.
University Park Campus (UPC):
(213) 740-4911
Health Sciences Campus (HSC):
(323) 442-2100
Campus Cruisers are available
seven days a week during the
following times:
Fall: 6 p.m. - 2:45 a.m.
Spring: 5 p.m. - 2:45 a.m.
Summer: 6 p.m. - 12:45 a.m.
Cruisers do not operate during
holiday breaks.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency
on or near campus, call the
USC Department of Public
Safety at (213) 740-4321. For all
other emergencies, call 911.
20
Personal Safety Tips
While the Department of Public
Safety and the LAPD strive to make
the campus and surrounding area
a safe and welcoming environment
for the entire university community,
students should observe the
following guidelines when walking on
or off campus.
1. Avoid walking alone whenever
possible. Walk with a friend or
in groups.
2. Walk with confidence, with your
head up, and pay attention to
your surroundings.
3. Avoid talking on cell phones or
listening to music players. They
can become distractions — or
targets for thieves.
4. Keep your keys separate from
your purse or backpack and have
them out by the time you reach
your car.
5. If you have to walk at night, keep
to well lighted areas as much as
possible. Otherwise, consider
using the university buses or
calling for a Campus Cruiser. Visit
capsnet.usc.edu/node/2201 for
more tips and advice.
21
Campus Emergency
Preparation
USC devotes considerable resources
to emergency planning and
preparedness and continually works
to refine, rehearse and improve its
emergency response measures.
The USC Office of Fire Safety and
Emergency Planning also offers
training workshops to help students
and staff deal with a variety of
natural and other disasters, including
earthquakes and fires. Please
visit emergencyprep.usc.edu/
emergency for more information.
Emergency Notification Systems
In the event of a natural disaster or
other campus emergency, USC will
post information about the emergency
— and any steps you should take —
through the university’s home page
at www.usc.edu and the Emergency
Information Line, available by calling
(213) 740-9233.
Students and staff should also
register with the USC TrojansAlert
system at trojansalert.usc.edu.
Registering with TrojansAlert will
allow you to receive real-time
updates via text message and
email. The service is free of charge.
Emergency Resources
Students are encouraged to
visit emergencyprep.usc.edu/
emergency/resources.html
to review the other emergency
resources available. The site includes
tips and advice for preparing for
earthquakes, including participating
in the annual Great California
Shakeout, as well as other steps
students can take in the event of a
large-scale emergency.
Campus Living
Housing
Why live in university housing? To start, you will be close to your
classes, athletic events and libraries. You will also find that your fellow
residents — a mix of students from Brooklyn, Bangkok or Boise — are
facing the same challenges as you are. You will make friendships that
will last a lifetime.
Furnishings Provided
All university housing facilities
are furnished. Every resident is
provided with a bed, desk, desk
chair, three dresser drawers and
closet space. All residence hall
rooms come with a microfridge (a
small refrigerator and microwave
combination).
If you will have a kitchen,
remember to bring silverware,
dishes, glasses, cooking
utensils, pots, pans and kitchen
appliances, or wait to coordinate
your kitchen needs with your
roommate(s). If you are assigned
to an apartment with a full
kitchen you may wish to bring a
small microwave.
Shipping of Personal
Belongings
If you ship anything via US mail or
a private express service, it must
be prepaid and timed to arrive
after you do. USC will not store
unclaimed packages. You must be
moved in to receive any shipments,
or they will be refused.
Apartments are also furnished
with appropriate living and dining
room furniture. Kitchen facilities
vary. Some apartments have “full
kitchens” with cabinet space, a sink,
a full-size refrigerator and stove.
Some also come with dishwashers.
Many bachelor apartments have
“kitchenettes” with a microwave and
a mini-refrigerator only.
Items to Bring to Campus
Don’t forget to bring such items
as towels; blankets; a bedspread
or comforter; twin-sized, extralong (36’’ x 80’’) sheets; pillow(s)
and pillowcases; an alarm clock;
toiletries; hangers; decorations
such as posters, pictures or
calendars; a fan; and a cell phone.
22
Campus Living
Access System
The Access Control System Network
is an electronic entry-and-monitoring
system that operates in almost all
USC Housing facilities and includes
a closed-circuit television system
and alarm. If you are a resident of
university-owned housing, your
USCard will function as an electronic
key to your building or apartment
complex and parking facilities, as well
as the many buildings on campus
that are now access-controlled after
5 p.m.
Housekeeping and
Maintenance Services
Storage Space
Although university housing
cannot provide additional storage
space, private storage rental
companies are available near
campus. You will probably find it
inconvenient, however, to bring
so many belongings and rent a
storage space off campus. Please
note that all university furniture
must remain in its assigned
apartment.
Mail and Package Delivery
The US Post Office is responsible
for mail delivery to most North
University Park housing buildings.
Most University Park Campus
buildings, however, have their mail
delivered by Customer Service
Centers (CSC). To ensure proper
mail delivery, please call the
appropriate CSC. You will receive
your room or apartment number
when you check in.
23
Packages that do not fit into
mailboxes are accepted by the
CSCs and held for residents to pick
up. You will receive a package slip,
which must be presented along
with your ID to claim your package.
Please remember, we cannot accept
packages before you check in.
USC Housing employs a custodial staff
to maintain the public areas in each
building, and a maintenance staff to
handle repairs. To request a repair, you
can place a work order by contacting
your Housing Customer Service Center
or calling the Housing Maintenance
Office at (213) 740-4646. This office is
open 24/7. You can also visit hsmtma.
usc.edu to place work orders online.
Customer Service Centers
University Park Campus
- Arts & Humanities Residential College (213) 740-8860
- International Residential College at Parkside (213) 740-1941
- New Residential College (213) 740-1492
- Fluor Tower (213) 740-2651
- Pardee Tower (213) 740-3626
North University Park
- Cardinal Gardens (213) 743-5200
- Century Apartments (213) 821-8400
- Sierra Apartments (213) 743-5277
- Troy Hall East Apartments (213) 743-5288
Laundry Facilities
Most USC housing buildings have at
least one on-site laundry room with
washers and dryers. These machines
are owned and operated by a private
company. Residents must provide
their own detergent. The university
recommends that students do not
leave laundry unattended.
Vacuum Cleaners
Each Customer Service Center
provides vacuum cleaners for
resident use. Residents may
check out the vacuum cleaner by
exchanging a valid ID (USC student
ID or driver’s license). The limit
for use is usually one hour, unless
otherwise stated.
Smoke-Free Policy
USC has established a smoke-free
policy for the health and safety
of residents who prefer to live
in a smoke-free environment.
All University Park Campus,
North University Park and Health
Sciences Campus housing facilities
are smoke-free environments.
Smoking is not allowed even if a
roommate gives consent or even if
a resident is the sole occupant of
the residence hall or apartment.
All common areas, including
apartment balconies, are also
designated as non-smoking areas.
Pets
For legal, safety and health
reasons, no pets other than fish
(in a 10-gallon or smaller tank) are
permitted. Violators are subject to
disciplinary action, a fumigation
fee and charges related to any
necessary cleaning of the room or
apartment.
Internet and Cable
Connections
All university housing facilities
are fully equipped with cable TV
service and Ethernet connections
(one per resident), and most
buildings have access to the USC
Wireless network. Basic cable TV
service, including over 30 channels
in HD, is free and requires a TV
with a digital tuner.
Wireless Access
The USC Wireless network is
private, accessible to USC account
holders and guests. You can
connect to it in one of two ways:
USC Wireless or USC Wireless Plus.
USC Wireless
USC Wireless is an open network
that allows you to connect without
entering your username and
password. Information Technology
Services (ITS) recommends that
you use the USC Virtual Private
Network (VPN) software to protect
your personal information when
connecting to this network.
See www.usc.edu/its/vpn for
instructions.
USC Wireless Plus
USC Wireless Plus is a faster,
encrypted network, available only
to USC account holders. When
connecting to USC Wireless Plus
for the first time, you may need to
configure your wireless device. Visit
www.usc.edu/its/wireless/plus
for instructions.
ITS recommends that you register
laptops and other mobile devices
at www.usc.edu/its/connect/
registration. For more information,
visit www.usc.edu/its/wireless or
contact the ITS Customer Support
Center at consult@usc.edu
or (213) 740-5555.
24
Campus Living
Move-In Day &
Welcome Week
While the university provides a number of resources and programs to
help you transition to university life, we also encourage you to talk to your
parents about expectations for grades, finances and other issues before
you arrive on campus.
Once you arrive, students, alumni, parents and staff will be on hand
to welcome you to the Trojan Family. Move-In Day and Welcome Week
can jump-start your involvement in campus activities and the USC
community.
Your Move-In Day
Checklist:
computer labs and printers on
campus.
❑ Meet Your Resident
Assistant
❑ Bring Valid Picture ID
❑ Sign Up for a Meal Plan
Such as your USC student ID, a
driver’s license or passport.
At the USCard Office for any
meal plan required by your
housing assignment.
And receive information about
mandatory floor meetings and
upcoming events, including
Welcome Week activities.
❑ Obtain Your USCard
(student ID card)
At the USCard Office in Parking
Structure X (PSX), if you haven’t
done so already.
You will need your USCard to
purchase meals and other
campus services, gain entry to
your residential building and the
Lyon Recreation Center, register
your library barcode and use the
25
❑ Check Into University
Housing (August 21)
Pick up your room, building
and mailbox keys from the
appropriate Customer Service
Center. You will receive further
instructions from USC Housing.
❑ Pick Up Linens
If you ordered them from the
URSC Linens Program.
❑ Make Any Necessary
Payments
At the USC Cashier’s Office, which
is open Monday through Friday
during regular business hours.
More information about MoveIn Day will be sent in early
August to everyone assigned to
USC Housing.
Campus Living
Move-In Day
Move-In Day is the first day
students can move into their USC
Housing assignments. For the
2013–2014 academic year, Move-In
Day is Wednesday, August 21.
Welcome Week
www.usc.edu/welcomeweek
Beginning on Move-In Day, our
annual Welcome Week helps ease
your transition to campus life
and offers opportunities for you
to become involved in campus
life. Activities feature the array
of academic, social and cultural
communities you can be a part
of at USC.
New Student Convocation
Students should plan to attend
the annual New Student
Convocation, hosted by president
C. L. Max Nikias in Alumni Park,
on August 22. Students will be
seated according to their majors.
A pancake breakfast precedes the
convocation.
Activities
Other Welcome Week activities
include:
• Academic school receptions
• Micro-seminars
• Spark!
• Friends and Neighbors Day
• The Welcome Back Carnival, Rally
and Concert
• Trojan Lights (class photo)
• The Student Involvement Fair
A calendar of events will be
available this summer, and you
can sign up for Welcome Week
activities beginning August 1.
26
Campus Living
Dining Options & Meal Plans
A variety of dining options are available throughout campus, serving
everything from grab-’n’-go items to sushi and vegetarian fare in our
residential dining facilities, restaurants and cafés.
Additionally, shops on the ground
level of the Icon Plaza apartments
include the Pizza Studio, featuring
customizable, thin-crust pizzas;
Which Wich, serving an array of sub
sandwiches; and Starbucks Coffee.
USC Hospitality
Residential Dining
• Café 84
• EVK Restaurant and Grill
• Parkside Restaurant
Ronald Tutor
Campus Center
• Food Court
• Lemonade
• Moreton Fig Restaurant
• Seeds Marketplace
Campus cafés and
coffee shops
• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the
School of Cinematic Arts
• The Law School Café
• Literatea in Doheny Library
27
• Popovich Café
• The Shop Café in the Architecture
building
• Starbucks at Trojan Grounds
• Tutor Café
Across from campus on Figueroa
near the Galen Center, students
can find dining and sports-viewing
options at the Lab, a gastropub
with a casual atmosphere featuring
a variety of sandwiches and
entrees; and Rosso Oro’s, a pizzeria
that offers New York-style thincrust pizza and pastas, as well as
music and shuffleboard. Located
next to the Radisson, McKay’s
serves breakfast, lunch and dinner
in a fine dining atmosphere.
All first-year students assigned to
residence halls and apartments
are required to have meal plans,
which allow you to use your
USCard to purchase food and
beverages in USC Hospitality
venues. When you confirm your
housing contract, you will be
enrolled in the default plan for
that building. If you want to
change your meal plan to another
available option, you must do
so during the first two weeks of
the meal plan period. Meal plan
options are outlined on page 28.
Visit www.usc.edu/uscard or
call the USCard Office at
(213) 740-8709.
Please call (213) 740-6285 or visit
hospitality.usc.edu for general
information or more details about
meal plans.
Campus Living
2013-2014 Meal Plan
Information: Residence
Halls and Apartments
Cardinal Plan
Provides: Unlimited meals in USC
Hospitality residential dining venues.*
Residence Locations: The minimum
meal plan requirement for residents
living in New and North Residential
Colleges; University Residential
College at Birnkrant; Marks Hall;
Marks Tower; Pardee Tower; Trojan
Hall; Fluor Tower; Webb Tower; and
Arts & Humanities and Parkside
International Residential Colleges.
Gold Plan
Provides: Unlimited meals in
USC Hospitality residential dining
venues* and $500 Dining Dollars**
per semester.
Residence Locations: Available as
an optional upgrade to all residents
except those living in Honors House.
Trojan Plan
Provides: A declining balance
plan that resets at the end of each
semester. This plan may be used in
USC Hospitality residential and retail
dining venues on the University Park
Campus. There are no minimum or
maximum spending limits.
Residence Locations: Available as
an optional upgrade to all residents
except those living in Honors House.
Apartment Meal Plan
Provides: 40 meals in USC
Hospitality residential dining
venues* and $150 Dining Dollars**
per semester.
Residence Locations: All residents
living in Century, Cardinal Gardens
and Parkside Apartments.
and may be used throughout the
school year.
Community 50 Meal Plan
Provides: 50 meals in USC
Hospitality residential dining
venues* and $100 Dining Dollars**
per school year.
Availability: Available to any USC
student not enrolled in a required
meal plan or as a supplement to
any meal plan. This plan may be
purchased or renewed at any time
and may be used throughout the
school year.
*USC Hospitality residential dining venues
include Café 84, EVK and Parkside
Optional Meal Plans
Community 25 Meal Plan
Provides: 25 meals in USC
Hospitality residential dining
venues* and $50 Dining Dollars**
per school year.
Availability: Available to any USC
student not enrolled in a required
mean plan or as a supplement to
any meal plan. This plan may be
purchased or renewed at any time
Restaurant.
**Dining Dollars may be used in any
USC Hospitality residential and retail
dining venue on the USC University Park
Campus.
Note: Meal plan information and
prices are accurate at the time of
publication and may be subject
to change.
28
Campus Living
Transportation
While students are welcome to bring a car to campus, they will find a
number of other options for getting to and from campus and around the
city — from car-sharing and ride-matching programs to university-owned
buses and city-operated light rail.
Parking Permits
If you bring a car to campus and want
to park in a USC parking facility, you
must purchase a parking permit.
Parking permits for the fall, spring
and summer terms are available for
purchase online at www.usc.edu/
parking or at the USC Transportation
office, located in Parking Structure X
(PSX). Parking permits available for
purchase include:
• On-campus residential
• On-campus commuter
• Off-campus residential
• Carpool
• Parking Center
Although parking in a specific
location cannot be guaranteed,
purchasing a permit does guarantee
you a space in the system.
Entering the Lottery
To register for the parking lottery:
• Visit the USC Transportation
website at www.usc.edu/
transportation.
• Create and log in to your Parking
Account.
• Select up to five parking structures
or lots by clicking on Add or Edit
Parking Waitlists.
29
Purchases can be made by check,
cash or through your USC student
fee bill account. Please check the
website for the most current prices.
Permits can be mailed to you or
picked up at the USC Transportation
office in PSX. For more information or
to purchase a permit, visit www.usc.
edu/transportation or contact USC
Transportation at (213) 740-3575.
Lottery Dates
Fall housing residents/commuters:
May 1- June 30
Spring housing residents/commuter:
November 1 - December 7
Online permits and
over-the-counter
sales start:
Fall term:
Spring term:
Summer term:
July 22 at noon
December 17
April 1
Student permits are valid for the
entire academic year (fall and
spring semesters). You will be
billed once in the fall and again
in the spring. If you don’t need
your spring permit, return it to the
USC Transportation office in PSX
before December 31 to avoid being
charged for the spring semester.
Campus Living
USC Bus Service
transnet.usc.edu/transit/
transit.aspx
USC buses provide free, yearlong
transportation to and from the Health
Sciences Campus, the USC Parking
Center and Union Station, as well as
to and from off-campus housing in
the North University Park area.
Bicycle Policy
Bicycle registration is required
by California law and university
regulation. Register online at capsnet.
usc.edu/dps/bikeregistration.cfm.
You will receive a confirmation receipt
via email. Print and take a copy of the
receipt to pick up your decal at the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) in
Parking Structure A.
Bicycles may be parked only in
bicycle racks. Lock your bike to
deter theft. Do not park your bike in
doorways, on stairs or blocking any
handicapped access. Bikes found
in violation of these policies will be
impounded. For more information,
contact DPS at (213) 740-5519.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
transnet.usc.edu/guest_
services/enterprise.aspx
Located in the USC Transportation
office in PSX, Enterprise Rent-ACar offers rentals for students
between the ages of 18 and 20, and
discounted rates for faculty, staff
and students 21 or older.
Ridesharing Program
www.usc.edu/parking
Ridesharing offers time- and
money-saving alternatives to
driving to USC.
Vanpool: If your schedule coincides
with traditional working hours, you
may join a vanpool at one of more
than 18 pickup locations.
Carpool: You may carpool with one
or more USC students, faculty or staff
members and qualify for reducedcost parking permits. For more
information, visit www.usc.edu/
parking or the USC Transportation
office in PSX.
Yellow Cab
(800) USC-TAXI
www.usc.edu/uscard/yellowcab
Students can use their USCards to
pay for Yellow Cab service within
the Los Angeles city limits, 24
hours a day. Fares include tips, and
groups travel for one price. Pickup
locations are Gate 3, Gate 5 and
the Radisson Hotel.
Zimride
www.zimride.com/usc
Exclusive to USC students, faculty
and staff, and fully integrated
with Facebook, Zimride is a
social networking tool designed
to facilitate carpooling and
vanpooling. Simply join online for
free, create a profile with your ride
preferences and share the ride.
Zipcar
www.zipcar.com/usc
This car-sharing service offers
pay-as-you-go access to lowemission vehicles for USC
students, faculty and staff older
than 18. You can rent a Zipcar
for a few hours or for a day or
more. Insurance, gas and car
maintenance are included in the
rental price. Zipcars are located
on the University Park Campus
and in the North University Park
area. Register at www.zipcar.
com/usc. If you do not have a
California driver’s license or are
licensed outside the U.S., you
must provide a five-year driving
record with your application.
30
Finances
Finances
Please read this section carefully for information about tuition and fees,
student financial services, financial aid, USC Credit Union services, check
cashing on campus, local banking and more.
2013-2014 Undergraduate Estimate of Costs
The following are the estimated two-semester costs for a full-time USC
undergraduate (taking 12-18 units each semester) living in university housing:
Tuition ............................................................................ $45,602
Mandatory Fees .............................................................. $761
Room and Board* ............................................................ $12,902
Books and Supplies ......................................................... $1,500
Personal and Miscellaneous ............................................ $900
Transportation ................................................................ $580
Total .....................................................................$62,245
(add $350 USC Orientation Fee for your first semester)
*Includes average rent and the standard meal plan for students living in oncampus freshman housing.
Guest Access to USCe.pay
You can set up and control access to
guest user accounts for your parents
or others who may be helping you
with your education (see page 17 for
instructions). If you wish, you can
establish guest access to USCe.pay
only, which will allow your guest to
view your student account, online
payments and payment plan.
Students can also have monthly
e-bill (billing) notifications sent to
the guest’s email account.
Paying Your Bill
Your Student Account and
USCe.pay
Accessible through your OASIS
account or myUSC, your student
account on USCe.pay will reflect
your tuition charges, mandatory
fees, optional fees and, if
applicable, financial aid credits.
It will list your current financial
obligation to the university
(“Account Balance”), which will
include the current semester’s
tuition and fees, any prior balances
and any other miscellaneous
charges, less any financial aid,
payment plan credits and other
credits and/or payments.
31
Also listed will be your current
balance due (“Billing Balance”) and
the date by which this balance must
be paid (“Payment Due Date”). If
you have set up payments through
the USC Payment Plan, details will
be shown here.
Depending on when you registered
and made any changes to your
enrollment, your enrollment-related
transactions may appear on two
or more different monthly billing
statements. You should check your
USCe.pay account any time you
update your enrollment.
All students who have outstanding
balances or account activity during
the month will receive monthly billing
notices via their official USC email
addresses (username@usc.edu).
USC does not mail billing statements
for enrolled students.
Tuition and Fee Settlement
Deadline: For fall and spring
terms the settlement deadline
is 5 p.m. (PT) on the Friday
before the first day of classes in
the regular session (001).
You may pay your bill online
through USCe.pay, by mail or in
person at the Cashier’s Office.
By USCe.pay
• ACH (automated clearinghouse)
bank transfers from checking or
savings accounts.
• Credit card payments (American
Express, VISA, MasterCard or
Discover Card).
• Wire transfer requests.
• USC Payment Plan payments.
By Postal Mail
Follow the instructions on your
Registration Confirmation or
monthly billing statement. Mail
your payment early enough for
the university to receive it by the
settlement deadline, or late fees
and finance charges will accrue.
By International Wire Transfer
Allow three to four weeks’
processing time. If your account
is not settled by the deadline,
late fees and finance charges
will accrue. For account balance
information or account questions,
call the Cashier’s Office at (213)
740-7471. From outside the
Southern California area, call
(800) 225-1222.
In Person at the Cashier’s Office
Visit the USC Credit Union branch
of the Cashier’s Office in Student
Union 106 (facing the Tutor Campus
Center International Plaza), Monday
through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You will be required to sign separate
promissory notes for Health
Professions Student Loans, Loans
for Disadvantaged Students and
institutional student loans.
USC Payment Plan
Student Financial Services
The Office of Student Financial
Services disburses and collects
Perkins and campus-based loans
and administers the USC Payment
Plan. Before you receive your
Federal Perkins Loan, Health
Professions Student Loan, Loan
for Disadvantaged Students
or institutional loan, you must
authorize USC to credit the
funds to your student account
by signing a Master Promissory
Note online. The university has
partnered with loan servicer
ECSI to help with this process.
Instructions on how to accept
and sign for loans online will be
emailed to your official USC email
address (username@usc.edu).
Note: You will need your FAFSA PIN
to sign the Master Promissory Note
for any federal student loan.
The USC Payment Plan allows you
to pay each semester’s tuition
and fees (less any aid applied to
your account) over five months (or
four months for trimester plans).
A separate online application
is required each term, and you
must be registered for classes at
the time of application. For more
information, visit www.usc.edu/sfs
and click on Payment Plan.
For more information about needbased financial aid or other financing
programs, visit www.usc.edu/
financialaid or the Financial Aid
Office in the Lobby of John Hubbard
Hall (JHH).
Financial Aid
USC administers one of the largest
financial aid programs in the United
States. Several financing options
exist to help you pay your USC
32
Finances
better interest rates, and low or no
fees on services.
You and your family are invited to
join and take advantage of:
• Free checking accounts and free
bill pay.
• High yield savings accounts.
• Money market accounts.
• CDs.
• MasterCard credit cards.
• MasterMoney debit cards.
expenses, and we encourage you
to take advantage of the financial
resources USC has to offer.
If you have not yet applied for
need-based financial aid and wish
to do so, you must act quickly. U.S.
citizens and eligible non-citizens
may qualify for university and
federal financial aid, including the
Federal Direct Stafford Loan and the
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan.
Financial aid counselors are
available by phone, email or in
person. Visit www.usc.edu/
contactfao for more information.
USC Credit Union
The USC Credit Union is the only
financial institution headquartered
on campus, dedicated to serving
the Trojan Family. Though it offers
every service banks do, it is a
not-for-profit financial cooperative
— owned by its members — so
33
profits do not go to stockholders.
Instead, members benefit through
Once you’re a member, you’re a
member for life with access to
products and services to help you
achieve your goals at USC and long
after graduation.
Banking Around Campus
USC Credit Union is the only fullservice financial institution with
offices located on the University
Park and Health Sciences campuses.
The Student Union branch offers
convenient access at the Campus
Center. The Flower Street branch
houses all Credit Union offices.
USC Credit Union Locations
www.usccreditunion.org
Campus Center
Student Union, Suite 106
3601 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0921
(213) 821-7100
Flower Street Branch
Credit Union Building (CUB)
First Floor
3720 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2280
(877) 670-5860
Health Sciences Campus
1969 Zonal Avenue
Seaver Residence Hall, Suite 101B
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 442-1897
Wells Fargo Bank
141 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 745-7208
Check Cashing
On the University Park Campus,
you can find credit union ATMs on
the exterior wall of the Student
Union across from Moreton Fig. Visit
www.usccreditunion.org for the
locations of off-campus ATMs.
Several other banking institutions
are located around campus.
Bank of America
985 West Jefferson Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 763-8907
USC’s check cashing policy allows
up to $25 to be cashed per day in
the Cashier’s Office. There is a $0.25
service charge. To qualify:
• You must have a current USCard
along with a valid form of ID (such
as a driver’s license or military ID).
• You must be currently enrolled at
USC.
• Your financial account must be in
good standing.
Chase
3335 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 745-7928
34
Campus
Community
Getting Involved
Involvement is the key to a great undergraduate experience at USC, and you
will discover numerous benefits to participating in extracurricular activities —
from developing your leadership or other professional skills to meeting new
friends. We encourage you to plan your involvement and not just let it happen
to you. You can choose to focus on academic organizations tied to your major,
or to get involved in various cultural or athletic clubs. Whatever you decide,
you will find your niche at USC.
A Multitude of Choices
Students can choose from more
than 700 clubs and organizations:
academic interest, honor
societies, recreational and club
sports, religious, political, social,
service, cultural, special interest
and/or residential. The Student
Involvement Fair is held the first
Wednesday of every fall and
spring semester, and provides an
35
excellent opportunity for you to
find out what USC has to offer.
If you miss the Student Involvement
Fair, don’t worry. A list of all student
organizations is also available online
at www.usc.edu/stuorgs, which
includes links to club websites. If
you’re still undecided, talk with your
friends, orientation advisor, faculty
or Student Affairs staff, or stop by
the Peer Leadership Consultant
office, located in Tutor Campus
Center 330.
To join an organization, email or
write them, call the president or
attend a meeting. If you’re looking
to start your own organization,
the Peer Leadership Consultants
can help. Call (213) 740-5341 for
more information.
Tickets to Athletic Events
With the exception of USC Football,
students are admitted free to
all regular-season home games.
Student seating is limited and
available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Students must show
their USCard to gain admission.
USC Football Tickets
Enrolled students will receive an
email inviting them to purchase a
USC Football season ticket online
within a specific timeframe. The
season ticket is good for all regularseason home games and allows
students to participate in some
away-game lotteries (such as UCLA,
Cal and Stanford). Season tickets
will be added electronically to the
student’s USCard, which must be
scanned at the Student Gate, Gate
28, at the Coliseum.
Undergraduate students are given
priority in buying season tickets.
Graduate student orders are filled
according to availability. Spring admits
will receive an email once the Ticket
Office receives their information from
the Registrar’s Office.
Visit www.uscticketoffice.com
or contact the USC Ticket Office
at (213) 740-GOSC for more
information.
36
Notes
Orientation Programs
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California 90089-0892
www.usc.edu/orientation