Transfer students must complete a minimum of 64 units at USC, or one-half of the units normally required for graduation. A few exceptions are noted below. While at USC, you are also expected to:
- Complete all upper-division units in your major and minor.
- Complete WRIT 340, a minimum of two Core Literacy GE courses from a Dornsife College department, and any remaining General Education courses not taken prior to entering USC.
- Enroll in all your fall and spring courses for credit at USC. Courses may be taken at other institutions only during summer sessions, with restrictions.
Exceptions:
Progressive Degree Program (PDP): Students must complete a minimum of 48 units at USC. Two-thirds of transferable units must be completed at one of USC’s four-year partner institutions.
Bachelor of Architecture: Students must earn at least 80 units at USC. A maximum of 70 transferable units for this program may be earned elsewhere.
Transfer Credit Limits
USC limits the transfer of credit in certain categories. You may transfer a maximum of 64 units from other institutions unless otherwise noted.
- Four (4) units each for English as a Second Language, physical activity courses, and music ensemble courses.
- Eight (8) units of dance.
- Twelve (12) units of physical education theory courses.
- Sixteen (16) units of individual instruction in music.
- Other performance and studio art classes are also limited. Check with your admission counselor.
Courses/Credits That Will Transfer
Accredited Courses: Courses completed at, or degrees from, U.S. colleges and universities accredited by the six regional accrediting agencies are generally accepted. Courses completed at international higher education institutions approved as degree-granting institutions by the local Ministry of Education may also transfer.
Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and other standardized examinations: We accept a maximum of 32 units for standardized examinations.
Courses/Credits That May Transfer
Courses in these categories will be considered upon application, and credit awarded on a case-by-case basis. Be sure to retain copies of course syllabi, examinations, and papers, as we may require these when making our determination. Non-traditional formats/timeframes: Distance learning, online courses, concentrated “intensive” sessions, special weekend modules, and other non-traditional course formats and timeframes.
Note that only elective credit—not equivalent to USC courses or satisfying requirements—is granted for laboratory science and foreign language courses taught via distance learning, television, or in an online or correspondence course.
Courses/Credits That Will Not Transfer
Unaccredited Institutions: Coursework or degrees completed at U.S. institutions not accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
Non-Degree Credit: College extension and courses taken at international institutions that do not count toward a degree at that college or university.
Areas of Study Not Offered by USC: Including agriculture, business office procedures, hotel management, food services, industrial mechanics, interior design, fire science, forestry, police academy, and similar technical and vocational programs.
Duplicate Material: An AP exam and an IB exam or college course covering the same material.
Life and Work Experience: Including portfolio work, continuing education, equivalency examination units, and courses offered by business and government agencies (even if evaluated by the American Council on Education).
Placement Tests: Courses and/or unit credit awarded by another institution for placement tests or credit by examination.
Remedial/College Preparatory/Personal Development: Including mathematics courses below the level of college algebra. (Intermediate algebra, USC’s minimum mathematics requirement for admission, is not transferable.)
Non-Traditional Formats at Two-Year Colleges: Including independent study, directed study, correspondence courses, internships, and travel courses.
Graduate-Level Courses: Graduate-level coursework taken by undergraduate students. So the answer to the question “Can Graduate Students Register Undergrad Class Usc” is No. Graduate students cannot enroll in undergraduate classes for credit.
