Undergraduate FAQ
1. How is the 25 percent rule determined for upper-division major coursework?
The 25 percent rule is based upon the total number of upper-division major units required. For example, for an undergraduate program that requires a total of 28 upper-division units, a maximum of 7 units (25 percent of the total 28 units) are available to substitute or waive. All substitutions and waivers that exceed 7 units violate the 25 percent rule. Please remember that the substitution of courses with the same department prefix is exempt from the limit.
2. How is the 25 percent rule determined for minor coursework?
The 25 percent rule for minors consists of two parts:
- No more than 25 percent of all required units may be substituted; and
- No more than 4 units may be waived for minors that require 17 to 20 units, or no more than 8 units may be waived for minors that require more than 20 units.
If a minor requires a total of 18 units, then a maximum of 4.5 units (25 percent of 18) may be substituted, and a maximum of 4 units may be waived. Substitutions violate the 25 percent rule if they exceed 4.5 units. Waivers that exceed 4 or 8 units, depending upon the total number of units required for the minor, also violate the 25 percent rule. Please remember that the substitution of courses with the same department prefix is exempt from the limit.
3. How are upper-division transfer courses identified?
A transfer course is considered upper division only if it was considered upper division at the transfer institution. An upper-division transfer course will be listed under the “Summary of Upper Division Courses” on the Transfer Credit Report (TCR). Please remember that lower-division courses (USC or transfer) cannot be substituted for upper-division course requirements.
4. Can a student graduate with a missing grade (MG) or a grade of not submitted (NS)?
A student may be able to graduate with a missing grade depending on the term in which it was received and its effect on degree requirements.
Courses taken prior to fall 2005: The student may graduate with the missing grade only if the course is not needed to fulfill any degree requirements and if the GPA requirements are still met when the missing grade is calculated into the GPA with zero grade points. The missing grade will remain on the transcript and cannot be resolved once the degree has been awarded.
Courses taken fall 2005 or later: If the grade of MG or NS is not resolved after one calendar year, it will be changed to a UW. If the course is not needed to fulfill any degree requirements and if GPA requirements are still met when the missing grade is calculated into the GPA with zero grade points, Degree Progress will change the grade to a UW upon request and post the degree.
5. Can students take a GE course as Pass/No Pass if they have already received an NP in a GE course?
Yes, if a student received a grade of NP in a GE course, the student may take another GE course with the P/NP grading option without exceeding the 4-unit limit on P/NP coursework. Only grades of P affect the four-unit limit for GE courses graded P/NP.
6. Where do I submit an undergraduate Leave of Absence?
An undergraduate Leave of Absence can be submitted through the Leave of Absence website.
7. What is the difference between a terminated post and an expired post?
Terminated post: A post that has been discontinued by the university. Students have a maximum of five years from the term of discontinuance to complete the degree requirements for a terminated post. Once the five-year time limit has elapsed, the post may no longer be pursued.
Expired post: A post that is no longer active for a student.
8. What is the difference between a terminated post and an expired post?
Degree Progress can enter a two-for-one exception.
9. Why does my STARS report indicate that I have not met the basic college requirement, even though I am exempt because I am pursuing a double major with one major in a professional school?
Degree Progress can enter a two-for-one exception.
10. What are the administrative deadline dates for the spring, summer, and fall terms?
Spring: June 15
Summer: September 15
Fall: January 15
11. How is a student’s degree date determined?
To be eligible to graduate in a specific term, a student must complete ALL degree requirements by the administrative deadline for the expected term of graduation.
12. How is catalogue eligibility determined?
A student is eligible to follow a catalogue year only if they were enrolled in a term included in the catalogue year and if their program of study was available during the catalogue year. A student may not follow a catalogue year prior to the term of admission and matriculation.
13. Who is eligible for Freshman Forgiveness?
Only first-time freshmen are eligible for Freshman Forgiveness. These students may repeat a maximum of three courses taken during the first two semesters at USC in which they received grades of D+ or below. Only the subsequent letter grade, even if lower, will be calculated in the grade point average.
Students first admitted to spring semester who were first-time freshmen elsewhere in the previous fall may repeat a maximum of two courses taken during the first semester at USC in which they received grades of D+ or below. The same provisions stated above apply.
14. Who is eligible for Transfer Forgiveness?
Undergraduate students who transfer to USC in fall 2020 or later are eligible to repeat a maximum of one course taken during the first semester of enrollment at USC, in which they received a grade D+ or below. Only the subsequent letter grade, even if lower, will be calculated in the grade point average.
15. Can a course used for Freshman Forgiveness be taken Pass/No Pass?
No, a course used for Freshman Forgiveness must be taken for a letter grade. Both courses will remain on the transcript, but only the second course will be available for degree credit.
16. Can a course and its prerequisite be taken in the same term?
Yes. Both courses will be available for credit. However, the prerequisite course will not be available for credit if it is within the same discipline and taken after the higher level course has been passed.
17. Which Degree Progress Analyst should I contact?
The student population is divided among analysts alphabetically by last name. Please refer to the Staff Directory page to find your analyst.
18. Where should I send my official transcript if I would like credit from another institution evaluated?
Refer to the General Information section of the Undergraduate Transfer Credit page for more information.
19. I was a former USC student and would like to return to complete my degree. How do I determine what requirements I have left for graduation?
The Registrar’s office receives many such requests from former students wanting to find out what degree requirements remain outstanding. For students who have not attended in many years, Degree Progress staff members spend a considerable amount of time to locate records and determine remaining degree requirements. In consideration of the resources required to prepare these degree checks, a document preparation fee has been established.
Students who have not attended USC in more than 10 years will pay a nonrefundable $150 fee for this service. Students who have not attended USC since 1985 will pay a nonrefundable $300 fee.
To request a degree check please refer to the Staff Directory page and contact the analyst who handles the alphabetical split under which your last name falls. Students whose names may have been changed legally: Please use the last name you used when you were a student.
Graduate FAQ
1. How is the 25 percent rule determined for upper-division major coursework?
The 25 percent rule is based upon specified course requirements. For example, a graduate program may require 48 units total but specify only 8 of those units (excluding 594 Master’s Thesis and 794 Doctoral Dissertation). Students in this program would be able to waive or substitute a maximum of 2 units (25 percent of 8). All substitutions and waivers that exceed 2 units violate the 25 percent rule and require additional approval. Violations of 25 to 50 percent require the dean’s approval. Waivers or substitutions over 50 percent are very exceptional and must be approved by the vice provost for graduate programs.
2. Does a substitution with the same department prefix contribute to the 25 percent calculation?
No, substitution of courses with the same prefix are exempted from this limit, as are transfer courses in the same discipline and graduate degree programs with three or fewer required courses.
3. Why has an exception been put into history?
An exception will be put into “history”, i.e. invalidated, if it violates the 25 percent rule or if it uses a required course as a substitute for another required course.
4. What are the administrative deadline dates for the spring, summer, and fall terms?
Spring: June 15
Summer: September 15
Fall: January 15
5. How is a student’s degree date determined?
To be eligible to graduate in a specific term, a student must complete ALL degree requirements by the administrative deadline for the expected term of graduation.
6. What date should be entered for the completion option?
The date entered in the DATE field for all completion options such as COMPX, DEPTA, or PROJ must be the date that the examination, required work, or project was completed.
7. Why does the STARS report not reflect any page-three entries from GRAD.INFO?
The STARS report cannot display page-three entries until the application for degree check has been submitted.
8. Why does the STARS report not reflect a GRADTERM or READMIT entry?
READMIT is processed manually by Degree Progress on a weekly basis. All entries made in one week will be processed during the following week.
9. How can out-of-sequence 594/794 registrations be corrected?
Degree Progress can correct out-of-sequence registrations in 594 or 794 and should be notified before applying any out of sequence coursework on page 1 of GRAD.INFO.
10. What is the difference between a terminated post and an expired post?
Terminated post: A post that has been discontinued by the university. Students have a maximum of five years from the term of discontinuance to complete the degree requirements for a terminated post. Once the five-year time limit has elapsed, the post may no longer be pursued.
Expired post: A post that is no longer active for a student.
11. When should an application for a degree check be submitted for a student pursuing a master’s degree?
For a student pursuing a master’s degree, the application for a degree check should be submitted at least one semester prior to the student’s expected term of completion.
12. When should an application for a degree check be submitted for a student pursuing a doctoral program?
For a student pursuing a doctoral program (excluding DPT, OTD, and some DMAs), the application for a degree check should be submitted once the DOC has been recorded.
13. Who should I contact if I have passed the qualifying exam but the DOC does not appear on page 3 of GRAD.INFO?
The Graduate School should be contacted to record the DOC.
14. How do I substitute two courses for one course on the STARS report?
Degree Progress can enter a two-for-one exception.
15. How is catalogue eligibility determined?
A student is eligible to follow a catalogue year only if they were enrolled in a term included in the catalogue year and if their program of study was available during the catalogue year. A student may not follow a catalogue year prior to the term of admission.
16. How is transfer work made available in GRAD.INFO?
Students must email the Registrar One Stop Center to request that domestic transfer work be made available in GRAD.INFO. Once evaluated, the coursework will appear in GRAD.INFO, and students will receive a graduate transfer credit statement. For more information please visit Graduate Transfer Credit.
17. Do grades of W satisfy the continuous enrollment requirement?
Yes, a grade of W does satisfy the continuous enrollment requirement.
18. Which Degree Progress Analyst should I contact?
The student population is divided among analysts alphabetically by last name. Please refer to the Staff Directory page to find your analyst.
19. Can a course with a V in the APPLY field be applied in GRAD.INFO?
Yes, a maximum of 12 units of coursework with a V may be applied. Please contact the appropriate Degree Progress analyst once the courses have been applied so that they may be coded accordingly.
20. I was a former USC student and would like to return to complete my degree. How do I determine what requirements I have left for graduation?
The Registrar’s office receives many such requests from former students wanting to find out what degree requirements remain outstanding. For students who have not attended in many years, Degree Progress staff members spend a considerable amount of time to locate records and determine remaining degree requirements. In consideration of the resources required to prepare these degree checks, a document preparation fee has been established.
Students who have not attended USC in more than 10 years will pay a nonrefundable $150 fee for this service. Students who have not attended USC since 1985 will pay a nonrefundable $300 fee.
To request a degree check please refer to the Staff Directory page and contact the analyst who handles the alphabetical split under which your last name falls. Students whose names may have been changed legally: Please use the last name you used when you were a student.
Progressive Degree FAQ
1. How are the overlapping units determined for a progressive degree student?
Units for progressive degrees cannot actually “overlap” or apply to both degrees. A course must be taken at the undergraduate or the graduate level, but not both. The “overlap” refers to a reduction in the total number of units that may be required for the graduate degree.
2. Can a course plan be changed for a progressive degree student?
Yes. To revise the previously approved course plan, a progressive degree student must submit a new course plan with all the appropriate signatures. The STARS report cannot be updated to reflect program changes without the revised course plan.
3. Can a progressive degree student change majors?
Yes. A progressive degree student must submit a new course plan with all the appropriate signatures, along with a Change of Major form.
4. Does an application for graduation need to be submitted for a student pursuing a progressive degree?
Yes. Academic advisors must enter the entire course plan on APA.U.GRAD.INFO (page 3), and must also file an application for graduation on APA.U.GRAD.INFO (page 5) as part of the progressive degree admission process.
5. How many units can a progressive master’s degree be reduced by?
The progressive master’s degree can be reduced by one third.
For example: A 30-unit program can be reduced to 20 units. A 32-unit program can be reduced to 22 units (round up from 21.33). A 48-unit program can be reduced to 32 units.
6. Can the two-thirds requirement for applied 500-level course work be reduced as well?
No. This value is always based on the traditional unit value of a program.
For example: A 30-unit program can be reduced down to 20 total units, but then all 20 units must be taken at the 500 level or above.
7. Can a student complete more than one progressive master’s degree?
No. Only one progressive master’s degree is allowed.
8. Can a student drop the progressive master’s degree and switch to the traditional master’s degree?
If a student wishes to switch to the regular master’s program, they must go through the formal steps necessary for admission to that program. This means they may need to take the GRE and submit the graduate application, along with all the required supplementary information and documents.
9. What happens when a student exceeds the time limit for a progressive degree?
Progressive degree students must complete their undergraduate degree and master’s degree within six years (12 terms). The time limit begins with the term in which the student completed their first college-level course (transfer* or USC) after high school graduation. Petitions to extend the time limit should be sent to Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs Dr. David Glasgow. Degree Progress will enter approved time extensions on the STARS report.
*Transfer students whose transfer coursework extends beyond the 12-semester (six-year) rule for degree completion may have their transfer coursework evaluated for semester-equivalency (e.g., a transfer student completing 32 units over eight semesters equates to two semesters equivalency). No petition required. This assessment will be made by the admitting master’s program. The admitting program will determine a completion term as part of the application process and list this term on the proposed course plan.
10. What is the required GPA for a student to be admitted into a progressive degree program?
The established university minimum GPA for admission to a progressive degree program is a 3.00 or above. Schools and academic departments can raise this standard for their applicants. The Viterbi School of Engineering currently requires a 3.200 or above.
11. If the student doesn’t know which electives they are going to complete for their master’s program, can a generic "graduate elective" be entered on the course plan?
Yes. Course plans may include the placeholder “graduate degree electives” for the number of elective units allowed by the graduate program.
12. Does a progressive degree student only need to complete the courses on their course plan?
Students must complete the courses specified by their course plan AND the course requirements specified by the catalogue for the graduate program. Often these overlap. If appropriate, the department may waive or substitute course requirements specified in the catalogue. The limits on waivers and substitutions still apply to progressive degrees.
13. Can a course be used for both undergraduate and graduate credit?
No. The course plan must clearly indicate whether each course will count for undergraduate OR graduate credit. If a student uses a graduate-level course in the undergraduate program, but the catalogue specifies it as a requirement for the graduate program, a Subject Credit waiver must be granted to fulfill the course requirement in the graduate program.
14. Can a student reserve a course for graduate credit before being admitted to the progressive degree program?
If a student has not yet been admitted to the progressive degree program, they must follow the standard policy for taking graduate-level coursework for graduate credit:
- Have a 3.00 cumulative GPA or above;
- Be within 12 semester units of completing the bachelor’s degree; and
- Not exceed 16 registered units for the semester.
15. How are Progressive Degree Class Levels determined (class level affects financial aid and tuition billing)?
Progressive degree students are identified as undergraduate class level for the purposes of financial aid and tuition billing. A progressive degree student transitions from undergraduate to graduate class level as soon as any one of the following conditions is met:
- The bachelor’s degree is conferred; or
- The student is awarded a graduate research or teaching assistantship as contracted through the academic department and the Graduate School; or
- The student earns a total of 144 units (combined USC and Transfer). Students who are majoring in the Bachelor of Architecture major, requiring 160 units for degree completion, will transition to graduate class level when a total of 176 units has been completed (combined USC and Transfer).