University of Southern California
- Academics

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University of Southern California - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.62

Academics

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 9:1
Full-Time Student Population 30,577
Part-Time Student Population 4,247
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 1,638
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 1,133
Total FT Faculty 3,088
Faculty with Terminal Degree 90%
Average Faculty Salary $107,292
Full-Time Retention Rate 96%
Part-Time Retention Rate 100%
Transfer-Out Rate 7%
Graduation Rate 88%
Programs/Majors Offered 220
Average Course Load 5–6 courses
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? No
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 Students: 64%
  • 20 to 49 Students: 21%
  • 50 or More Students: 15%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The most widely discussed issue that students have about academics at USC is that teaching assistants tend to not be entirely fluent in English, which is due to a fair number of international graduate students. Students who feel uncomfortable talking with TAs usually have to fight for their teachers’ attention during office hours. Although this problem tends to be blown out of proportion, the student-TA language barrier has had debilitating effects ome students' level of interest in a class over the course of a semester.

Another widely discussed issue is the grading curve at the Marshall School of Business. Although most undergraduate business schools in the country operate on a grading curve, students have a hard time dealing with the fact that a predetermined amount of As, Bs, Cs, Ds, and Fs are distributed at the end of a semester. All in all, students are happy with the academics at USC. Resourceful students are ecstatic about courses, and passive students have good and bad things to say.

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Southern California Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at University of Southern California

Meccamo

'13

Political Science and Government

2.7
C+

Academics

The academics are diverse, a lot being hit-or-miss.

Jan 11, 2012

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Academics at University of Southern California

sbc1234

'14

International Relations and National Security Studies

4.6
A

Lots of Internship and Job Opportunties

The International Relations program provides extremely helpful information about internships and job opportunities in the field. The program is a lot of work and the intro class is difficult, but it's worth it and all of the professors are very knowledgeable about the subjects that they teach.

Dec 13, 2011

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Academics at University of Southern California

WillowJay

'13

Liberal Arts and Humanities

5.0
A+

Couldn't Be Happier

I just transferred this fall and already I've been bitten by the trojan bug. I absolutely love this school, I have found all the professors to be very approachable and class sizes small; so it's very easy to get to know them and thus, secure letters of rec for graduate school. I turned down Berkeley and LA to come here, and I'm so glad I did because with the state budget cuts, attending those schools has turned into a nightmare. Ironically enough, while the UCs get butchered and devaluated, USC is rising at astronomical rates, they have a great surplus of money and don't hesitate to spend it on the students. This year I took an FYI course and my class consisted of myself and 4 other people, we got to know each other and the professor, of course, really well, and it was a great segway into the school. We even went to watch a movie and had many classes at the many cafes on campus (all on usc of course). University of Spoiled Children is right, but in a VERY good way since it refers to our academics. USC strives to provide their students with the most high caliber education they can afford, and I am all for being spoiled in that way (and the free socks they handed out as soon as fall begun lol god forbid we go without socks in these bitter LA winters) :)

Nov 18, 2011

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

Rate your school’s academic environment on the following topics

Facts

Instructional Programs Occupational: No
Academic: Yes
Continuing Professional: No
Recreational/Avocational: No
Adult Basic Remedial: No
Secondary (High School): No
Special Credit Opportunities Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: Yes
Dual Credit: No
Life Experience Credits: No
AP Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 3 or higher
IB Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 3 or higher
Undergraduate Schools/Divisions
  • College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
  • School for Communication
  • School of Accounting
  • School of Architecture
  • School of Business
  • School of Cinematic Arts
  • School of Dentistry
  • School of Education
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Fine Arts
  • School of Gerontology
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Music
  • School of Policy, Planning, and Development
  • School of Theatre
Degrees Awarded
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Doctorate - Professional practice
  • Doctorate - Research/scholarship
  • Master's degree
  • Other
  • Post-bachelor's certificate
  • Post-master's certificate
Most Popular Majors
  • Business Administration and Management: 7%
  • Computer Science: 2%
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 2%
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 2%
Special Study Options
  • Distance learning opportunities
  • Study abroad
Best Places to Study
  • Doheny Library
  • Leavey Library
  • Study lounges in residence halls
  • Taper Hall
Did You Know?

USC athletic teams were called the Methodists before they were named Trojans in 1912.

Actor John Wayne, also known as Marion Morrison, played tackle while at USC and graduated in 1929.

Battle-bound troops in the Aleutians Campaign during World War II were inspired by USC’s “Fight On” song.

USC graduates designed the Department of Water and Power Building, St. Basil’s Catholic Church, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Los Angeles’ City Hall.

Robert Zemeckis, Ron Howard, George Lucas, and Bryan Singer are all USC film school graduates.

Since 1912, USC is the only university in the world to have a gold medal-winning athlete in every summer Olympics.

Best Places to Study:
Doheny Library, Leavey Library, study lounges in residence halls, Taper Hall, and Topping Student Center.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at USC

Name: BJ Grip

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

Major: Theater

see all student author bios > Become a student author to help update the guide for this school