A

• ASE Application

  See Veteran Affairs (ASE Application)

• Academic Review and Retention

  The Academic Review and Retention Office monitors students’ academic status and authorizes registration for students with academic restrictions; processes, tracks, and records Correction of Grade (COG) forms; assists students with registration-related petitions; advises departments on procedures for initiating departmental petitions; and processes all requests for readmission after academic disqualification. The Academic Review and Retention Office is located in FIG 107 can be contacted by telephone at (213) 740-1196 or by email.

• Accreditation

  USC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. We accept transfer work and degrees from institutions accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies. For details, refer to "Academic Policies" in the USC Catalogue, under "Course Work Taken Elsewhere".

• Adding Courses

  A change to a student’s course enrollment. All Adds are processed via the Web Registration portal. In special circumstances, the registration will be performed manually through the Registrar One-Stop Center.

  Students can add courses any time from the start of their registration appointment time until the 20-percent mark of the course. The deadline for each course can be found on the Schedule of Classes website through a hyperlink embed under session code.

• Address

  The university maintains current and permanent addresses for students. Most departments can correct or change student addresses using SIS.U.ADDR. Students can change their current and permanent address in Experience USC. For more information regarding addresses see Change or Correction of Address.

• Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

  USC grants up to 32 units of elective credit for scores of 4 or 5 on AP exams, and certain AP exams fulfill GE requirements with scores of 4 or higher. No course equivalency is earned, though departments may use exams to fulfill GE requirements,  prerequisites or degree requirements.

• Application Audit

  The Articulation office coordinates USC’s transfer policies, as described in the "Academic Policies" section of the USC Catalogue, under "Course Work Taken Elsewhere." The office evaluates undergraduate transfer work from U.S. institutions, develops articulation agreements, maintains a database of transferable courses from U.S. institutions, reviews articulation petitions, and interprets the accreditation status of institutions. The customer service area is located in the Registration Building (REG) Lobby and can be contacted at (213) 740-4628 or by email.

  See Articulation, Articulation agreement, Articulation petition.

• Articulation

  The evaluation of transfer course work and its acceptance at USC: Does it transfer as an elective toward a degree? Does it fulfill any subject requirements such as GE? Is it equivalent to a USC course? The Articulation Office evaluates undergraduate courses and institutions within the U.S., while the Office of Admission makes decisions regarding graduate and international course work.

• Articulation Agreement

  A list of courses that transfer to USC from another institution, indicating if they transfer as electives or are equivalent to a USC course, as well as if they fulfill general education, diversity or writing requirements. A comprehensive Articulation Agreement lists ALL courses at another institution that transfer (i.e., courses not on the list do not transfer). USC currently has comprehensive agreements with most California community colleges. Copies are available in Degree Progress and can be viewed and printed from the Web.

  A partial articulation agreement, also called an articulation history, is a partial list of courses that have transferred to USC (along with their GE, equivalency, etc., as appropriate). Articulation histories with several Southern California universities are available from Degree Progress and on the Web. All other articulation histories may be viewed online by advisors.

• Articulation Office

  The Articulation office coordinates USC’s transfer policies, as described in the "Academic Policies" section of the USC Catalogue, under "Course Work Taken Elsewhere." The office evaluates undergraduate transfer work from U.S. institutions, develops articulation agreements, maintains a database of transferable courses from U.S. institutions, reviews articulation petitions, and interprets the accreditation status of institutions.

  The customer service area is located in the Registration Building (REG) Lobby and can be contacted at (213) 740-4628 or by email.
  See Articulation, Articulation agreement, Articulation petition.

• Articulation Petition

  A request to change the way a transfer course has been evaluated by the Articulation Office. USC students can access the petition on the Course Transfer tab in their OASIS account.

• Audit

  Students may switch to the “Audit” grade option any time before the deadline to add the course. Any audited course will be assessed at the current tuition rate. A course taken for audit will not receive unit credit and will not appear on the USC transcript or grade report. Students may change the grade option to Audit on Web Registration.

B

• Buckley Amendment

  See FERPA.

C

• CAPP

  Appointed by the provost, this committee is a representative group of faculty, students and administrators. The committee meets on a monthly basis and provides recommendations to the provost on matters related to academic policies and procedures. The committee also reviews or delegates the review of most general petitions.

• Calendar (Academic)

  University dates and deadlines for the academic year.  The main dates for the next five academic years are available at academics.usc.edu.  The Schedule of Classes lists registration dates for the university's main on-campus programs.

• Cancellation of Enrollment

  A withdrawal from all enrolled classes in a semester. Students can drop all enrolled classes through Web Registration or by submitting a request via the Registrar One-Stop Center. 

• Catalogue (University)

  The USC Catalogue is the document of authority for all students. The program requirements listed in the USC Catalogue supersede any information that may be contained in any bulletin of any school or department. The university reserves the right to change its policies, rules, regulations, requirements for graduation, course offerings and any other contents of this catalogue at any time.

• Catalogue (of Enrollment)

  The catalogue in effect for the term in which a student was first admitted to a degree program and enrolled at USC. Students are subject to the degree requirements detailed in the catalogue of enrollment. Students may switch to a later catalogue as long as they were enrolled in a term in which it was in effect. They must then follow all requirements in the new catalogue. They cannot mix requirements from different catalogues.

  Students wishing to enroll in a new minor must switch to a catalogue that includes that minor. While students continue to follow the requirements of the catalogue of enrollment, changes in regulations, policies and procedures are immediate and supersede those in any prior catalogue.

  The catalogue of enrollment may be changed by submitting a Change of Information Card to Degree Progress. Advisors can change a student's catalogue of enrollment through the STARS exception process. Refer to the “Academic Policies” section in the USC Catalogue [Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Requirements].

• Change Grade Option

  Before the deadline to add classes, students may change the grade option for their registered courses on Web Registration.  Students who wish to change from Pass/No Pass to Letter grade may do so before the 45 % deadline for the course.  Please visit the Schedule of Classes and click the calendar icon next to the course in question to determine the deadline to change the grade option.

• Change or Correction of Address

  A change or correction to a student’s current or permanent address. 

  Current USC students, please follow the instructions below to update your address:

  • 1. Log in to myUSC.
  • 2. Go to myServices and click on “Experience USC”.
  • 3. Click your profile icon in the upper right-hand corner and then select “My Profile”.
  • 4. Verify your current address and permanent address.
  • 5. If the address listed is incorrect, click “Edit” and then enter the correct address.
  • 6. Click “Save”.

• Class Level

  A calculation of a student’s standing, based on academic course work completed or in progress. There are five (main) categories of class level: Undergraduate, Graduate, Law, Dental and Other.

  The calculation of undergraduate class level is based on all USC units plus any transfer units available for degree credit. Undergraduate class levels include Freshman (0-31.5 units earned); Sophomore (32-63.5 units earned); Junior (64-95.5 units earned) and Senior (96 units earned or greater).

  A graduate class level is composed of any course work attempted while enrolled in a master’s and/or doctoral degree program.

  Law is composed of any course work attempted while enrolled in a juris doctor program.

  Dental is composed of any course work attempted while enrolled in a dental school program.

  Other is composed of any course work attempted while not admitted to a degree program, or course work not available for degree credit.

• Combined Programs

  A single-degree program that combines two majors, with an organized set of requirements from two academic units. Examples include: Linguistics/Psychology, Physics/Computer Science and Biomedical/Electrical Engineering. See Dual Degrees.

• Committee on Academic Policies & Procedures

  See CAPP.

• Concurrent Registration

  Two courses that must be taken at the same time (in the same semester). Such courses will be listed in the catalogue as requiring "concurrent enrollment." Do not confuse concurrent enrollment with corequisites. See Corequisite.

• Conduct

  Standards of behavior and academic rules and policies that all students are expected to meet or abide by while they are enrolled at USC. Regulations pertaining to the academic integrity review process are administered by the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards, a unit within the Division of Student Affairs. A complete description of the student conduct system can be found in the USC Student Handbook under the heading "University Governance."

• Core

  An integrated educational experience required of all undergraduates. It consists of courses in general education, writing and diversity. Visit USC Core.

• Corequisite

  Corequisites are courses that must be taken at the same time as, or passed prior to, the designated course. The department offering the course may waive the corequisite.

• Correction of Grade

  A change made to a student’s course grade, when the initial grade assigned by the instructor was given in error. A student who believes his or her grade is incorrect must contact the instructor of the course. The Correction of Grade process is monitored by the Grades Department. If the Correction of Grade request is approved, the Grades Department assigns the corrected grade to the student's academic record.

  See Grade Reports, Incomplete Grade (IN); Missing Grade (MG), Academic Review.

• Course Descriptions

  A basic summary or overview of an academic course. Students and alums can obtain course descriptions for USC courses from the USC Catalogue. USC keeps archive copies of the Catalogue dating back to 1995.

• Course Numbering

  USC's three-digit system for indicating the year level of a course:

  000: preparatory courses (non-credit)
  100 and 200: lower-division courses primarily for freshmen and sophomores
  300 and 400: upper-division courses primarily for juniors and seniors (graduate credit available for 400-level courses)
  500, 600, and 700: graduate.

  See the "Classification and Numbering of Courses" section in the USC Catalogue, under "Academic Policies" and "Registration."

• Credit/No Credit

  Certain courses authorized by the University Curriculum Committee to be automatically graded as Credit/No Credit. This differs from the student's option to take a class as Pass/No Pass. A student who enrolls in course designated as Credit/No Credit in the USC Catalogue will receive either the Credit or No Credit grade mark, not a letter grade.

• Cross-Listing

  A course offered by one department and cross-listed in another department as a way of drawing the attention of students in the second department to that course. Students from the second department must register in the course via the offering department. Cross-listed courses count as major courses in both departments.

• Cross-Registration

  As part of an academic resource sharing program, USC graduate students may take a portion of their program at UCLA. This cross-registration opportunity is available only for courses or seminars not offered at USC, and only to selected students. For further information about requirements, contact the Resource Sharing Coordinator in the USC Graduate School. Refer to the "Academic Policies" section in the USC Catalogue [Registration].

• Curriculum

  The courses and degrees offered by the university, as published in the USC Catalogue. The curriculum is reviewed by two USC committees: the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) and the Graduate and Professional Studies Committee (GPSC). The provost gives final approval of courses and degrees reviewed by the curriculum committees. The review process is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordination Office.

D

• D Clearance

  Departmental clearance, or permission, for a student to register for a class. Class numbers with a "D" designation are restricted by the department offering the course and require students to obtain the department’s permission ("D" clearance) before attempting to register. Contact information for each department is listed in the Schedule of Classes.

• Dean’s List

  Any undergraduate student who earns a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on 12 units or more of graded course work in any one semester is placed on the Dean's List for that semester. Grades of IN (Incomplete) must be removed before eligibility is determined for that semester. Academic transcripts do not carry the Dean's List notation. See Honors.

• Degree Check

  Units that may be applied toward those required for a USC degree. See Subject Credit.

• Degree Credit

  Units that may be applied toward those required for a USC degree. See Subject Credit.

• Degree Progress

  Degree Progress monitors students' progress toward degree completion, posts degrees to students' academic records, issues diplomas, processes official transcripts from other institutions, processes pre-approval forms for transfer courses, and responds to questions concerning academic policy. Questions related to STARS reports, Degree Progress Summary Reports or Transfer Credit Reports should be directed to the Degree Progress department. The Degree Progress reception area is in the Registrar One-Stop Center, located in the JHH lobby). The department's telephone number is (213) 740-7070.

  See STARS.

• Diplomas

  The document awarded to a student upon successful completion of a degree program. University diplomas are issued by the Degree Progress department in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar and are automatically ordered for students at the time their degrees are posted to their academic records. The university does NOT issue multiple copies. For more information about the mailing or reissuing of diplomas or other frequently asked questions, review the online diploma information website or contact Degree Progress in the Registrar One-Stop Center located in the JHH lobby.  The department's telephone number is (213) 740-7096.

• Disabilities

  USC's Office of Student Accessibility Services offers services for students with physical and learning disabilities, and assistance to departments working with these students. Refer to the "Policy on Accommodations for Students with Disabilities" in the "University Policies" section of the USC Catalogue.

• Disputing a Grade

  See Grades (Disputed)

• Disqualification (Academic)

  A student’s ineligibility to enroll in studies at the university, based on academic performance. Undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible for enrollment in university courses. Students on academic probation who do not raise their overall GPA to 2.0 after two semesters of enrollment, exempting summer enrollment, will be academically disqualified. However, if a student earns a minimum semester GPA of 2.3 in the second probation semester but has not yet reached the overall 2.0 GPA, the student will not be disqualified and will be continued on probation for an additional semester. The student must earn a minimum 2.3 GPA each semester until his or her overall GPA is above 2.0. This process is monitored by the Academic Review and Retention Office. See Academic Review and Retention.

• Dropping Courses

  Changes to a student’s course enrollment after the initial registration period. All Drops must be processed via Web Registration. In special circumstances, the drop will be performed manually through the Registrar One-Stop Center. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for the deadline to drop a course by clicking the calendar icon next to each course.

  A student may drop a course without receiving a mark of W and without being charged up until the 20-percent mark of the course. After the 20-percent mark of the course, a student may still drop the course without the mark of W on their official transcript up until the 45-percent mark; however, a student dropping during this time period will be charged for the course. After the 45-percent mark of the course has passed, a student will still be able to drop the course up until the 80-percent mark,  but they will receive a mark of W. A student cannot drop courses after they have been enrolled for 80 percent or more of the semester. 

  Failure to go through the process of officially dropping a class will result in a mark of UW, which is computed in the GPA as zero (0) grade points. It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from any course they decide not to continue in. All registration dates for each course are available to students on the Schedule of Classes.

• Dual Degrees

  A degree in which course work from two schools, or two different degree programs within the same school, has been organized into a single program. The student receives two diplomas. Refer to the "Academic Policies" [Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs] section of the USC Catalogue.

E

• Examinations (Equivalency)

  Given at the discretion of an academic unit, equivalency examinations determine if transferred upper-division course work may be applied as subject credit to the major requirements for the degree. Passing the exam does not provide additional unit credit. Contact the appropriate academic unit for specific details.

• Examinations (Final)

  Exams or equivalent experience given as the culminating activity in a course. If a scheduled exam conflicts with a student's observance of a holy day, faculty members must accommodate a request for an alternate exam date at a time that does not violate the student's religious creed. Students and faculty may contact Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni (vasoni@usc.edu) to request guidance regarding religious observance conflicts. A student must discuss a final exam conflict with the professor no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled exam date to arrange an acceptable alternate exam date, if possible. The university’s Final Examination Policy is published on the USC Schedule of Classes each semester under Final Examination Schedule link.

• Examinations (Placement)

  Exams that diagnose a student's knowledge in a subject.  The result of a placement exam will let the student know in which course to register based on his or her exam performance.  Please visit the Testing and Assessment website for more information.

• Examinations (Subject Credit)

  Special examinations for subject credit establish subject credit in a subject area in which the student is sufficiently prepared but in which no previous credit has been accepted or attempted toward the USC degree. Please refer to “Subject Credit by Special Examination” in the USC Catalogue.

• Examinations (Writing)

  The University Writing Examination. Given to students who score below the specified level on the Verbal portion of the SAT, the University Writing Examination determines if preparatory coursework must be completed before enrolling in Writing 150. Refer the “Writing Program" section of the USC Catalogue.

• Exception (to Residence)

  See Request for Exception to Residence.

• Exceptional Course

  A course determined to grant full-time enrollment status, regardless of the number of registered units. Such courses include course numbers 594 and 794, courses GRSC 800 and GRSC 810, and other courses and programs as determined by the Office of the Registrar.

F

• Family Rights and Educational Act (FERPA)

  Also known as the “Buckley Amendment,” FERPA establishes standards and policies regarding the storage and transmission of student records with which all universities must comply. USC maintains the privacy of student education records and allows students the right to inspect their education records as stated in the university's Student Education Records policy, consistent with FERPA. The entire text of the university's policy is located in the Office of the General Counsel and in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Refer to the "Academic Policies" section of the USC Student Handbook or the USC Catalogue. More information can also be found on the Registrar's FERPA Homepage.

• First-Time Freshman

  Students who have never attended college or any post-secondary institution are considered first-time freshmen. Students who enroll at USC in the fall term immediately following high school graduation are also considered first-time freshmen, even though they may have attended college in the summer term prior to USC enrollment, or earned college credits before graduation from high school.

• First-Time Freshman Repeated Coursework

  Students who enter USC as first-time freshmen may repeat a maximum of three courses taken during the first two semesters of enrollment at USC in which grades of D+ or below (including UW and IX) were received. The subsequent grade, even if lower, will be calculated in the grade point average. Refer to the Repeated Course Work at USC section under "Academic Policies" [Academic Standards]  in the USC Catalogue for learn all applicable information.

• Full-Time Enrollment

  Enrollment status is assigned by the Registrar's office based on the number of registered units, enrollment in exceptional courses, graduate assistantships and degree objective (for instance, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degrees).

  To qualify for full-time enrollment status:

  • Undergraduate students must enroll for 12 units or more;
  • Master’s students must enroll in 8 units or more, or serve as a graduate assistant enrolled for the minimum units required for the assistantship (usually 6 units), or enroll in an exceptional course.

  Exceptional courses are those determined to fulfill full-time enrollment status, regardless of the number of registered units. Such courses include course numbers 594 and 794, courses GRSC 800 and GRSC 810, and other courses and programs as determined by the Office of the Registrar.

  Only students pursuing a university degree or certificate receive enrollment status. Auditors and visitors (limited status students) do not have an enrollment status assigned, regardless of the number of units or types of courses in which they register. Units taken for audit do not apply to enrollment status calculations.

G

• GPA Calculation

  The numerical average of all graded course work attempted within a particular level (such as undergraduate or graduate). The student's GPA appears on the academic transcript and on the official academic verification letter.

  To calculate GPA, calculate grade points for each course by multiplying the numeric equivalent of the grade received (A=4, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, etc.) by the number of graded units for that course. Divide total grade points (the sum of all grade points) by the total graded units (the sum of all graded units). Major GPA can be found on STARS reports or by consulting with your academic advisor.

• Grade Reports

  A list of enrolled courses and the grades earned for a semester. Students can obtain this information in OASIS, under “Grade Report”.

• Grades (Disputed)

  The instructor's evaluation of the performance of each individual student is the final basis for assigning grades. Through orderly appeal procedures, students have protection against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation. Refer to the USC Student Handbook for details.

• Grades Department

  The Grades department responsible for the collection, maintenance and distribution of all grades submitted by the academic units. This includes the processing of all grade changes such as Assignment of Final Grade for Completion of Incomplete (IN), Clarification of Missing Grade (MG), Not Submitted Grade (NS), and Correction of Grade (COG). These grade changes can be initiated via DocuSign by a department's Change Champion. Once the Grades department receives the completed DocuSign paperwork, the student's record will be modified. The Grades department is located on the main campus in John Hubbard Hall (JHH), Room B010. The Grades department's business hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, and staff members can be reached via email at gtv@usc.edu.

  For more information, see our list of frequently asked questions.

• Graduation Date

  A student will be awarded the graduation date for the term in which degree requirements, including submission of supporting documents, have been met. Although course work may have been completed in a prior term, the degree will be awarded only for the term for which all academic and administrative requirements have been fulfilled. The anticipated degree date can be changed on OASIS by clicking Update Graduation Term or through the Registrar One-Stop Center, located in the JHH lobby, any time prior to the awarding of the degree.

H

• Holds/Restrictions

  Students who have unmet obligations often have holds or restrictions placed upon them by academic or administrative departments. These obligations may be financial, academic or behavioral. The severity and/or timeliness of the obligation determines which service will be affected (registration, transcripts, diplomas, etc.) and to what level the service will be affected (information only, temporary denial of service, total denial of service). Before a service will be provided, students with holds or restrictions must resolve their obligation with the departments that placed them. Students can check their status by visiting OASIS and click on Restrictions. Authorized users (university staff) maintain restrictions using the process SIS.U.ACTRES. Holds and Restrictions should not be confused with the Mandatory Advisement Requirement. See Mandatory Advisement.

• Honors (Departmental Programs)

  Some departments have received approval from the university Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for their majors to graduate with departmental honors. Each program, department or school will designate what it considers the appropriate course work and honors project. Departmental honors are noted on academic transcripts but are not noted on diplomas. Refer to the "Academic Policies" [Requirements for Graduation] section of the USC Catalogue.

• Honors (University)

  To be eligible for undergraduate honors at graduation, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude and 3.9 for summa cum laude is required. Students must meet these averages for residence work attempted, and combined transferred and residence work attempted. The grade point average calculation is truncated, not rounded. University honors are noted on academic transcripts and the diploma. Refer to the "Academic Policies" [Requirements for Graduation] section of the USC Catalogue.

I

• I.D. Number Correction/Change

  To change or correct your student I.D., you must submit a Request for Change/Correction of Student Number/Name Form. The request must be accompanied by a photo I.D. (passport, driver's license, USC I.D. card, etc.). A change of student I.D. will be processed for students who have an active academic record and are currently pursuing a degree program only. The student I.D. on the record at that time becomes the permanent student I.D. of record. The change/correction is typically completed within two (2) to three (3) business days.

• IB Exams

  An advanced international program in which secondary school students are prepared for the rigors of college course work. At USC, 20 units of credit are granted for IB diplomas earned with a score of 30 or higher, or 6 units of credit are granted for each score of 5, 6, or 7 on the higher level exams, up to a maximum of four exams, whichever is higher. GE credit is available for some exams. Coordinated by the Transfer Credit Services Office.

• Incomplete Grade

  Grades of incomplete (IN) are given when a student cannot complete the course requirements as a result of a documented illness or an emergency (see Recommended definition of emergency below) occurring after the withdrawal deadline for the course (refer to Definition of Grades and Marks). The grading coordinator in the department owning the course must initiate an Assignment of Final Grade for Completion of IN when the coursework has been completed. No more than one year is allowed for completion of an IN. Please visit the Grading Handbook for more information.

  Recommended definition of emergency: “A situation or event which could not be foreseen and which is beyond the student’s control, and which prevents the student from taking the final examination or completing other work due during the final examination period. Also note that as defined above, a student may not request an IN before the withdrawal deadline; the rationale is that the student still has the option to drop the course until the withdrawal date. The grade of IN exists so there is a remedy for illness or emergency which occurs after the withdrawal deadline.

• International Baccalaureate

  An advanced international program in which secondary school students are prepared for the rigors of college course work. At USC, 20 units of credit are granted for IB diplomas earned with a score of 30 or higher, or 6 units of credit are granted for each score of 5, 6, or 7 on the higher level exams, up to a maximum of four exams, whichever is higher. GE credit is available for some exams. Coordinated by the Articulation office.

L

• Late Fees

  Fees assessed and added to existing charges as penalties for registering for classes late. To avoid the assessment of late registration fees, students must register for classes by the Friday before the beginning of spring and fall classes. Students who fail to register by the deadline will be assessed late fees in accordance with the following schedule:

  • First Week of Classes: $100
  • Second Week of Classes: $200
  • Third Week of Classes: $300

  An additional $25 will be added to the $300 late fee for each week after the third week until all charges have been settled. Non-receipt of a bill does not relieve a student of his or her payment obligation.

  Students whose checks are returned by a bank as unpaid or whose credit card authorizations are declined by the bank will be subject to the late fees described above until their accounts are paid. If a change of program or a petition action results in additional charges, it must be paid or deferred in full by the end of the week in which the change took place. If any portion remains unpaid, late fees will be assessed according to the schedule above.

• Leave of Absence (Undergrad)

  A temporary withdrawal from the university, usually for up to one year, for personal reasons or as a result of being called to active military duty. The university has implemented a program to assist students who find it necessary to take a leave of absence from their studies at USC. This procedure has been designed to ease the transition for students as they leave the university and as they make their eventual return.  Students who need more information or who wish to request a leave of absence should visit the Leave of Absence website.

• Limited Status

  Limited status enrollment allows interested individuals who have not been admitted to the university to take a limited number of courses at USC without being admitted. The rules governing limited status enrollment are summarized in the USC Catalogue under "Academic Policies". Individuals wishing to enroll as limited status students must be enrolled manually after they submit their approved registration form to the Registrar One-Stop Center.  

  For more information, please visit the Limited Status Enrollment page.

• Lower Division

  Courses numbered 100-299 and intended primarily for freshman and sophomores.

M

• MOI

  See Memorandum of Interpretation.

• Majors (Changing/Adding/Dropping)

  Undergraduate students can switch majors, add or drop majors from their studies. To add a Major or Minor or Degree Objective, students should contact the school in which the program is offered to obtain the necessary information. If the student is approved to add the new Major, the advisor in the new Major will update the student’s record (add the PoSt or Minor code).

  To change Majors, the process is the same, but the advisor in the new Major will also remove the former Major (remove the old PoSt and add the new PoSt).

  To drop a Major, students must meet with their academic advisor.

  Graduate students who wish to add, change, or drop a major must meet with their academic advisor.

• Mandatory Advisement Requirement

  A number of schools and departments require students to meet with their academic advisor prior to registration for a term. Students pursuing majors that require mandatory advisement will be denied registration until they have met with their academic advisor and the advisor has released their advisement obligation, using the process APA.U.SAD. Do not confuse the Mandatory Advisement Requirement with Holds/Restrictions. Departments that wish to view the Mandatory Advisement requirements of a PoSt code may do so on page 3 of SIS.D.POST. Departments that wish to request a change to the intervals of the Mandatory Advisement requirement of a PoSt code should contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@usc.edu.

• Memorandum of Interpretation (MOI)

  Agreement between institutions or schools within USC to specific terms when new academic programs are approved.

• Minors (Changing/Adding/Dropping)

  In addition to majors and degrees, many schools and departments offer minor programs. Applications to add, or requests to drop a minor, must be made to the department or professional school. Completion of the minor program will be noted on the academic transcript. Refer to the "Academic Policies" [Undergraduate and Degree Programs] section of the USC Catalogue.

• Missing Grade

  An administrative mark assigned when a professor fails to correctly submit a final course grade for a student. An instructor should never assign a grade of MG except in cases involving plagiarism or cheating during the final examination period.

N

• Name (Correction/Change)

  A correction or change to your name as it appears on your academic records. To change or correct your student name, you must complete a Request for Change/Correction of Student Number/Name form. The request must be accompanied by a court order, valid driver's license, certificate of naturalization, certificate of marriage or some other form of positive identification. A photo I.D. must also be presented.

O

• OASIS

  OASIS (accessed through myUSC) is the website where currently enrolled students can find and review their personal academic and financial information. Enrolled students are automatically provided access to OASIS. Problems with OASIS should be directed to the OneStop office.

• OASIS for Advisors

  The web-based service that allows academic advisors to review their students' records using the OASIS system.  Advisors must create their login to OASIS for Advisors in SIS process SIS.U.WWWOAR. The Registrar’s Office will review advisor requests for access.

• Overseas Studies

  The USC Overseas Studies Office offers more than 40 study abroad programs in more than 20 countries to USC undergraduates. In addition, programs abroad are offered through the Annenberg School for Communication, the School of Architecture, and the Marshall School of Business. Certain departments offer summer programs abroad. Course work taken through these programs is considered to be taken in residency. See Overseas Studies Office and "International Study Options" in the "General Information" section of the USC Catalogue.

P

• Pass/No Pass Registration

  Enrollment option in a course for which a student will not receive a standard letter grade. To enroll in a course with the Pass/No Pass grade option, or to change a course to P/NP, students may use the Web Registration portal. In rare circumstances, the change may need to be made manually through the Registrar One-Stop Center. The deadlines relevant to any course are available on the Schedule of Classes by clicking the calendar icon next to the course in question.  

  Please refer to the “Pass/No Pass Graded Work” section under "Academic Policies" in the USC Catalogue for further information.

• Permit to Register

  The permit to register, also known as a registration appointment, gives students access to use the Web Registration portal to register for courses. Registration appointments are assigned based on the number of units a student has completed and priority status. If you are a newly admitted student, you will register during your orientation event. Students can view their registration appointment in myUSC, Web Registration and OASIS. For questions, please contact the Registrar One-Stop Center.

• Petitions (Articulation)

  See Articulation Petition.

• Petitions (Department-Initiated)

  Requests for exception to specific degree requirements are generated in schools and departments. Most requests will be forwarded by the advisor to CAPP, through the Petition Services Unit in the Registrar One-Stop Center located in the JHH lobby. Some exceptions are made by the dean of the school and are recorded in the student exception process by the academic department. See Academic Review.

• Petitions (Registration-Related)

  Requests for exceptions to published registration procedures and enrollment deadlines. Such requests are generated in the Petition Services Unit in the Registrar One-Stop Center (located in the JHH lobby) and reviewed by the university registrar. Requests denied by the registrar are referred to a faculty panel for review. Any request to change the official registration for a semester retroactively must be submitted within 24 months of the end of the semester in question. The 24-month period starts with the last day of final examinations for the semester in question.  If appropriate, the time limit can be waived by the dean of the academic unit in which the student is seeking a degree. There is a $150 processing fee for all registration-related petitions, regardless of the outcome.

• Placement Examinations

  See Examinations (Placement).

• Pre-Approval

  Written permission from the Degree Progress Department for eligible students to take course work outside of USC. Even if there is an Articulation Agreement with the other college, pre-approval is necessary to ensure the student’s eligibility. Courses may be taken only in the summer. The Pre-Approval form can be obtained from the student’s academic advisor or from the Web. For more information, review the Transferring Course Work information or contact Degree Progress in the lobby of Trojan Hall 101 or at (213) 740-7070.

• Prerequisites

  Courses and/or specific background required of students prior to advancing to the next course in a prescribed sequence of courses. Passage of appropriate examinations or consent of the academic unit offering the course will waive prerequisites. However, a prerequisite course within the same discipline taken after the higher level course has been passed will not be available for unit or grade point average.

• Privacy of Student Records

  See FERPA.

• Probation (Academic)

  An overall USC grade point average (GPA) of at least C (2.0) on course work taken at USC is required for completion of undergraduate degrees. A student whose overall USC GPA falls below 2.0 is placed on academic probation. Academic probation is monitored by the Academic Review and Retention Office and clearance from an academic review counselor is required for continued enrollment. See Academic Review and Retention.

R

• Refund of Tuition

  Tuition and fees are refundable only if courses are officially dropped before the refund deadline. A course’s refund deadline is session specific. Students may drop courses through Web Registration or through the Registrar One-Stop Center. It is the student's responsibility to officially withdraw from any class they are not attending, including but not limited to: (a) classes that have been discontinued at the university’s option; (b) situations in which a student never attended even the first class meeting.

  To find the refund deadlines for any course, please visit the Schedule of Classes.

• Registration

  The Registration department is responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all student enrollments, monitoring the Web Registration enrollment process, scheduling additional classes or class changes once the schedule has been finalized, processing all cancellation of enrollment requests, assigning session numbers and scheduling classes for all off-campus Special Programs offerings, and distributing important calendar dates and creating a permit to register (also known as registration appointment) for currently enrolled students. Contact the Registration Department via askUSC.

• Repeated/Repetitious Courses

  Courses that may be repeated for credit, as opposed to those that can be taken only once for degree credit. Courses that can be repeated for credit are listed in the catalogue with the maximum allowable units in parentheses after the course title. Courses in which unsatisfactory grades were earned can sometimes be repeated. The rules for repeating these courses differ for graduate and undergraduate students. There are also different rules for transferring repeated courses. Students should check the "Academic Policies" [Academic Standards] section of the USC Catalogue for the regulations that will affect them.

• Request for Exception to Residence

  Exceptions to the fall and spring enrollment policy and approval to take specific courses out of residence. In rare circumstances, such exceptions may be granted in advance by the student's major department and dean.

  Typically, all course work taken in the fall and spring semesters must be taken at USC. Only transfer course work that appears on the transfer institution's transcript for a summer term will be accepted. Students should discuss their individual circumstances with their departmental academic advisor. More information can be found under "Course Work Taken Elsewhere" in the "Academic Policies" section of the USC Catalogue. For questions about the residency policy and exceptions, contact the Degree Progress department in the Registrar One-Stop Center, located in the JHH lobby, or at (213) 740-7070.

• Residence

  The number of units or the segment of a degree program that must be completed at USC. There are requirements for undergraduate programs, graduate programs and specific requirements for a second bachelor's degree. Courses taken off-campus may be considered taken "in residence" if they are part of an overseas studies program offered through USC, or part of a consortium or other arrangement between institutions. Requirements should be checked in the appropriate "Academic Policies" [Requirements for Graduation] section of the USC Catalogue.

• Restrictions/Holds

  See Holds/Restrictions

S

• STARS

  The STudent Academic Record System. An automated degree audit that reflects students' academic progress toward degree completion for declared programs of study. Students may obtain a copy of their STARS Report on OASIS in Degree Progress, located in the Basement of JHH.

• Schedule of Classes

  A university publication containing lists of courses offered, important dates, registration procedures, and fees. The university produces a Schedule of Classes each fall, spring and summer term.

• Session

  Also known as Session Code. Session refers to the three-digit code used at USC to denote: 1 – dates; 2 – costs; and 3 - location of a course offered by the university. The university’s main session, 001, includes all courses that follow the university’s Academic Calendar and the normal fee structure, and are taught in university facilities. Courses that deviate from these three parameters have a different session code. Different sessions may have different class beginning and ending dates. Students, staff and instructors can view the dates for any given session code on the USC Schedule of Classes. To view the list of dates, please click on the semester in question, and click on the Session Codes link.

• Special Exams

  See Examinations (Subject Credit).

• Student Conduct

  See Conduct

• Student ID

  A ten-digit number assigned by the university and used to retrieve student records and provide various student services. Students can obtain a USC I.D. at USCard Services, located in Parking Structure X. Students must and should carry their USC I.D. with them at all times. See ID Number Correction / Change.

• Student Record

  For purposes of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a student record is defined as an education record comprised of those records directly related to a student and maintained by the university or an agent acting for the university. There are a number of records that are excluded from consideration in determining education records. These can be found in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended. See Transcripts (official).

• Subject Credit

  Credit toward a requirement, such as general education or a course requirement for a major or minor. This is distinct from unit or degree credit, which refers to units earned toward a degree. For example, students who are not eligible to transfer any more courses in for unit credit (because they have reached the transfer unit limit) may be able to take a transfer course for "subject credit only," meaning they could use it to fulfill a degree requirement but would not earn any units for it. See Degree Credit.

T

• Transcript (Official)

  An academic record that bears the university seal and signature of the Registrar. The official transcript should be the only document submitted to those outside the university. Current students may request a Transcript through OASIS. Transcripts may also be ordered online through Parchment. Please see the Transcripts page for additional information.

  Effective fall 1990 for the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program and summer 1991 for the International Student Program (ISP), newly admitted students’ records are maintained by the university’s central transcript system. Contact the Ostrow School of Dentistry directly for academic record information prior to fall 1990.

  The Keck School of Medicine issues transcripts for USC medical students. Contact them directly for academic record information.

  Academic record transcripts are maintained and released in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Transcripts Department

  University academic transcripts are maintained by the Transcripts department of the Office of Academic Records and Registrar. All coursework taken for university-approved credit (with the exception of the Keck School of Medicine) is maintained by the Transcripts department. Academic record transcripts are maintained and released in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Transcripts department's business hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, and staff members can be reached via email at gtv@usc.edu.

  For inquiries regarding records prior to 1980, please visit askUSC.

  Important note: Before ordering transcripts, students should verify on OASIS that grades for recently completed coursework appear on their transcripts.

• Transfer Credit Report

  A report designed to officially acknowledge all transferable course work applicable toward the USC degree. The evaluation is prepared prior to enrollment for every newly admitted undergraduate student with transfer work or relevant exams (such as AP). Once a student has matriculated at USC, the report is updated whenever an official transcript with new course work is received by the Degree Progress department, which can be contacted at (213) 740-7070.

• Transferring Coursework

  Students' eligibility to take courses outside of USC and apply them to their USC degree depends on the USC Catalogue requirements that the students are following. Students must follow catalogue requirements for a semester in which they were enrolled at USC. (See also Catalogue of Enrollment.) It is critical for students to consult their academic advisors and Degree Progress when they plan to take courses away from USC, so they can obtain the appropriate paperwork and receive approval in advance.  For more information, see "Course Work Taken Elsewhere" in the "Academic Policies" section of the USC Catalogue or the Transferring Course Work information.

• Tuition Refund Insurance

  Tuition Refund Insurance is an optional insurance that students may purchase for a small fee during the fall, spring and summer terms. It provides a refund of tuition and fees to a student who must withdraw from all classes due to an illness or accidental injury. A student is automatically opted in for Tuition Refund Insurance during the initial registration transaction. Students may choose to opt out of Tuition Refund Insurance on Web Registration by a semester’s respective deadline, which is listed on the Schedule of Classes. If a student would like to initiate a Tuition Refund Insurance claim, they may reach out to the Registrar One Stop Center via the askUSC contact form and request for the claim forms.

  For more information, visit our Tuition Refund Insurance page.

  The Tuition Refund Plan is offered through private insurance carrier Dewars, Inc., available by calling (617) 774-1555 or via email at trp@dewarinsurance.com.

U

• Undergraduate Readmission

  A petition for an undergraduate student’s readmission to the university after academic disqualification. The student must initiate the petition through the Academic Review and Retention Office. The student must resolve all grade issues (IN, MG, etc.) before submitting a readmission petition and complete a minimum of 12 or more approved units with a 3.0 GPA or higher before applying for readmission. The student must meet these units within one academic semester. Disqualified graduate students should contact their program of study directly. Additional requirements and conditions for readmission can be found in the "Academic Policies" [Academic Standards] of the USC Catalogue. See Academic Review.

• Unofficial Transcript

  A history of completed courses, including units and grades. Unofficial transcripts do not bear a college seal or the Registrar's signature. Current students may obtain this information in OASIS, under “Unofficial Transcript”.

V

• Verification (Degree and Enrollment for Institutions/Companies)

  Companies and institutions that need to verify degree and enrollment information, please visit our provider, the National Student Clearinghouse.

• Verification (for students)

  A document that provides a summary of a student’s dates of attendance at the university and related enrollment statuses such as class level, full- or part-time enrollment, degree awarded, etc. The verification of enrollment does not provide information on individual courses, grades or units earned. Current students may request a free verification of enrollment online through OASIS. 

• Verification of Academic Information

  A document that provides a summary of a student's dates of attendance at the university and related enrollment statuses such as class level, full- or part-time enrollment, degree awarded, GPA, etc. Current students may request a verification of academic information through OASIS. Verifications may also be ordered online through Parchment. Please see the Verifications page for additional information.

  ---

   [BJ1]Seems like this was just copy and pasted from the prior answer but doesn’t actually belong here, right?

• Veteran Affairs

  Veterans Certification Office - The Veterans Certification Office certifies enrollment for USC students who apply and are eligible for educational assistance administered by the Veterans Administration. Responsibilities include processing of all applications and enrollment certifications to regional offices of the Veterans Administration, assistance with problems related to the Veterans Administration educational (or covered) programs and maintenance of reference files on all VA students for up to five (5) years. Advance Payment: The University of Southern California does not participate in advance payment for VA students. Visit the Veteran Affairs Office for more information.

• Veteran Affairs (ASE Application)

  The Application for Semester Entitlement form, used to apply for GI benefits. Veterans or benefits-eligible dependents may begin the application process by visiting the Veterans Certification Office page.

• Visitor

  See Limited Status Enrollment

W

• Web Registration

  Web Registration is available through myUSC. It is the system students use to register for their courses.

X

• X Designated Courses

  A course suffix designating a credit restriction. This means that some kind of credit (degree, major, graduate) will not granted to some or all students who take the course. The catalogue description will explain the restriction (for instance, "not available for degree credit [to anyone]” or "not available for major credit to CTPR majors"). Students who will not receive credit may still register for the course. All students are charged tuition.