Majors & Minors

Overview

All USC Thornton undergraduate programs in classical performance and composition combine a rigorous foundation of the finest conservatory training with curricular flexibility for students to chart their own artistic pathways. All curricular components are designed to support students in creating a distinctive musical voice and preparing for a fulfilling musical career.

Entrance Requirements

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

USC's General Education program, revised in fall 2015, provides a coherent, integrated approach to the study of the liberal arts, with the goal of nurturing habits of thought that are essential for professional success, personal development, and meaningful lifelong learning. Eight courses are required in six Core Literacies, in addition to two courses in Global Perspectives, two courses in Writing, and one General Education Seminar taken during the first year at USC. With careful planning, certain courses (including courses required for the music major) can fulfill more than one of these general education requirements. Academic advisers in the Thornton School carefully guide Thornton students in making their course choices. This typically will result in Thornton students taking a total of eight courses (including two writing courses) in order to fulfill all of the USC general education requirements.

Capstone Projects

Young Artist Project

During the junior and senior years of the program, students develop and fully realize unique individualized, mentored projects related to their work as classical musicians. This could involve developing a hybrid performance, conducting original research, exploring new creative technologies, or applying creative expression to a pressing social issue.

Recitals

A junior and senior recital must be completed under approved faculty supervision and guidance. The faculty of the department of the student's major program determines the detailed requirements of the recitals, including content, length, format and other specifications. In cases in which a performance venue is required in order to present the recitals, reservations must be made according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office.

Overview

All USC Thornton undergraduate programs in classical performance and composition combine a rigorous foundation of the finest conservatory training with curricular flexibility for students to chart their own artistic pathways. All curricular components are designed to support students in creating a distinctive musical voice and preparing for a fulfilling musical career.

Entrance Requirements

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

USC's General Education program, revised in fall 2015, provides a coherent, integrated approach to the study of the liberal arts, with the goal of nurturing habits of thought that are essential for professional success, personal development, and meaningful lifelong learning. Eight courses are required in six Core Literacies, in addition to two courses in Global Perspectives, two courses in Writing, and one General Education Seminar taken during the first year at USC. With careful planning, certain courses (including courses required for the music major) can fulfill more than one of these general education requirements. Academic advisers in the Thornton School carefully guide Thornton students in making their course choices. This typically will result in Thornton students taking a total of eight courses (including two writing courses) in order to fulfill all of the USC general education requirements.

Capstone Projects

Young Artist Project

During the junior and senior years of the program, students develop and fully realize unique individualized, mentored projects related to their work as classical musicians. This could involve developing a hybrid performance, conducting original research, exploring new creative technologies, or applying creative expression to a pressing social issue.

Recitals

A junior and senior recital must be completed under approved faculty supervision and guidance. The faculty of the department of the student's major program determines the detailed requirements of the recitals, including content, length, format, and other specifications. In cases in which a performance venue is required in order to present the recitals, reservations must be made according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office.

The minor in performing arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinematic arts, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society. The minor in performing arts studies is a 20-unit program.

Performing social change brings the language and practice of Dramatic Arts into communities and events that seek to redress power imbalances, create healing and dialogue and develop new systems of interaction, communication, well-being and governance. This minor creates opportunities for exploration of social change through performance and theatrical practice. 

A minor in petroleum engineering consisting of 16 required units is available to undergraduate majors in various fields of engineering and applied science. Besides preparing for graduate study in petroleum engineering, the program will prepare students for careers in areas of national need such as the exploration, recovery and production of subterranean resources, and the underground disposal of hazardous wastes.

Application deadline: December 1

The Department of Economics and the Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (USC School of Pharmacy) jointly offer a program of study leading to the PhD degree and to the MA degree in the process of work toward the PhD degree.

Required courses include both core requirements and area requirements. Core requirements include courses in economic theory, econometrics, and research methods. Area requirements include courses in health economics, pharmaceutical economics, welfare theory and applied econometrics.

For a detailed description of this program, see the School of Pharmacy section of this catalogue.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development (PDD) provides a well-defined pathway for science and non-science majors to gain significant knowledge in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, toxicology and medical product development, regulation, marketing and use.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development is a cooperative degree program involving the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Students complete 128 units, including at least 70 units of course work in USC Dornsife and at least 36 units of course work in USC Mann. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development offers a unique interdisciplinary approach designed to provide in-depth training in the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and their role in health care industries. Courses focus on sub disciplines of pharmaceutical sciences including the study of the chemical and physical properties of drugs and their biological effects, and will link these systems to the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals for the advancement of human health. Courses will also focus on the business and marketing aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.  

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development will be a springboard to diverse careers in industrial, academic or other research environments within the areas of drug discovery, development, and commercialization. It will prepare students for professional or graduate studies in graduate education in pharmaceutical, medical and basic sciences and post-baccalaureate professional education in biomedical engineering, business, finance and law. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development requires the completion of a minimum of 128 units that include:

1. General education, foreign language and writing requirements
2. Foundational courses designed to prepare students for the major
3. An introductory 4-unit lower-division (200 level) course in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
4. A minimum number of 32 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS) and Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI)
5. A minimum of 8 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Biological Sciences (BISC) unique to the major

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development is conferred by USC Dornsife.

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development (PDD) provides a well-defined pathway for science and non-science majors to gain significant knowledge in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, toxicology and medical product development, marketing and use.  

Pharmacology is the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic uses and toxicology. Drug development is the discipline that deals with the process of turning a new chemical entity (NCE) into a safe and effective medication for the advancement of human health. Completion of the PDD major will significantly prepare USC undergraduates for advanced training in health related fields including pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy and other clinical specialties. The PDD major is also uniquely suited to provide coursework applicable for undergraduates interested in drug discovery/development training that will lead to careers in biotech, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries ranging from private companies to governmental careers.

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development requires the completion of a minimum of 128 units that include: 

1. General education and writing requirements
2. Foundational courses designed to prepare students for the major
3. An introductory 4-unit lower-division (200 level) course in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
4. A minimum number of 32 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
5. A minimum of 8 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Biological Sciences (BISC) unique to the major

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development provides a novel path for science and non-science undergraduates at USC to gain significant knowledge in the disciplines of pharmacology and drug development. Pharmacology is the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic uses and toxicology. Drug development is the discipline that deals with the process of turning a new chemical entity (NCE) into a safe and effective medication for the advancement of human health. Completion of the major will prepare students for advanced clinical training in health-related fields including pharmacy, medicine and dentistry. It will also provide foundational education that can lead to new opportunities for students considering careers in biotech, pharmaceutics and biomedical industries.

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development is conferred by the Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 

The major in philosophy is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental problems that are debated within western philosophical thought, and to introduce them to the concepts and techniques necessary for independent philosophical thinking. It is equally intended to provide a broadening perspective for the various areas of specialization in the natural and social sciences and in literature and the arts. 

The major in philosophy requires eight courses in philosophy; six of these must be at the upper-division level.

Total units for degree: 128

The minor in philosophy requires the completion of five philosophy courses, at least four of which must be upper-division courses. All minors must take a gateway course — PHIL 315, PHIL 320, PHIL 336, PHIL 337, PHIL 340, PHIL 360 or PHIL 385.