USC offers a large variety and number of off-campus courses and programs (a set of courses taken usually during the summer, a semester or a full year), all of which must be approved and subsequently reviewed by the Off-Campus Studies Panel (OSP). The primary goal of OSP review is to determine that there is an academic purpose for taking students overseas and that health and safety considerations have been addressed. In addition, subsequent review of courses and programs with overseas components ensures that the offerings are well received, the courses and programs are academic in nature, and health and safety are continually addressed.
Courses and programs that take place for any length of time overseas, or a semester or more off-campus domestically, require review and approval by the relevant subject area subcommittee and OSP. Any program that includes courses from another institution is also reviewed by the Registrar’s Articulation Office, which ensures that the unit value of another institution’s coursework translates appropriately into USC units.
Courses
Courses with an overseas component typically take place during the spring or summer semesters, or during winter break. Health, safety and lodging information is required either in the attached syllabus or in an accompanying addendum that is linked in the Curriculog form.
Special Topics (temporary course offerings) are approved by OSP for their duration. Regular courses, with a specified location, are approved by OSP for five years (unless otherwise indicated). Student evaluations must be collected after the completion of each course offering.
- New courses with an overseas component are submitted via the “Course: New” approval process in CurriculogTM. These courses will be recorded in SIS CATALOG as well as the USC Catalogue.
- Revised courses, with revision to catalogue information, as well as the overseas component, should be submitted via the “Course: Revise” approval process in CurriculogTM. The changes are recorded in SIS CATALOG as well as the USC Catalogue.
- Existing courses adding a new location, but not changing any catalogue information, are submitted via the “Off-Campus Course: Add Location to Existing Course” approval process in CurriculogTM.
- Special Topics with off-campus components will be routed to the OSP as part of the approval process for Special Topics in CurriculogTM.
- All previously approved courses up for review are submitted via the “Off-Campus Course: Review Existing Course” approval process in CurriculogTM. An OSP Student Evaluation form must be attached along with other required review materials
Programs
Overseas and off-campus semester-length programs, consisting of USC courses or courses from other institutions, are typically one semester (spring, summer or fall) or a full year long. They are typically approved by OSP for five years. Student evaluations must be collected after the completion of each program offering.
- All new, revised and previously approved programs up for review are submitted via the “Off-Campus Program: New / Revise / Review” approval process in CurriculogTM. An OSP Student Evaluation form must be attached along with other required review materials for renewal.
- Any program that will no longer be offered should be submitted via the “Off-Campus Program: Terminate” approval process so the CCO knows not to assess further reviews.
Reminder: USC Legal Requirements
USC requires certain documents (e.g., Travel Release Form, Medical Treatment Authorization Form) for all students studying overseas. A roster of students must be provided well in advance of departure. Further details are available on the USC Global website.