Is there a way to see what courses are required to be taken for a specific major? I want to transfer to USC.?

Question

Im a community college freshman and wish to transfer to USC sophmore year.USC here in southern Cali. I currently attend Cerritos College and need to decide on a major to study. I was thinking Journalism, then whether Print or Broadcast. I was also thinking Political Science. Is there a way I can see all the required courses needed to fulfill a particular major?I'm sure I will be able to either double major or major + minor. With that being said... would I be able to major in Journalism(which is the USC school of writing) and major in something else like in FILM? Even though they are completly different fields and USC accepts me for journalism? I expect to have a 4.0gpa or 3.8gpa at the lowest if I take it easy. All my classes in community college are transferable with USC, so I hope im on the right track.Also, as a transfer student do they still look at other things such as clubs and such? I heard No since many college students dont have time dealing jobs and such. Tips for getting in?

Answer 1

According to the USC Website, I found the following:

Broadcast Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
Required courses, Lower division Units
JOUR 201 History of News in Modern America 4
JOUR 202 Newswriting: Print 3
JOUR 203 Newswriting: Broadcast 3


Required courses, Upper division Units
JOUR 302 Reporting: Print 3
JOUR 303 Reporting: Broadcast 3
JOUR 306 Production: Broadcast 3
JOUR 309 Introduction to Online Media 3
JOUR 310 Investigative Reporting 4
JOUR 462 Law of Mass Communication 4

Two courses from:
JOUR 402 Advanced Television Reporting 4
JOUR 403 Television News Production 4
JOUR 405 Non-Fiction Television 4
JOUR 409 Radio News Production 4

Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor 6



Print Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
Required courses, Lower division Units
JOUR 201 History of News in Modern America 4
JOUR 202 Newswriting: Print 3
JOUR 203 Newswriting: Broadcast 3


Required courses, Upper division Units
JOUR 302 Reporting: Print 3
JOUR 303 Reporting: Broadcast 3
JOUR 308 Newspaper Editing and Design 3
JOUR 309 Introduction to Online Media 3
JOUR 310 Investigative Reporting 4
JOUR 462 Law of Mass Communication 4

Two courses from:
JOUR 431 Feature Writing 4
JOUR 435 Writing Magazine Non-Fiction 4
JOUR 440 Environmental Journalism 4
JOUR 448 Government and Public Affairs Reporting 4

Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor

Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Department majors are required to take nine courses (36 units) in political science. At least two of the nine courses must be selected from the four 100-level core courses: POSC 100 Theory and Practice of American Democracy, POSC 110 Ideology and Political Conflict, POSC 120 Comparative Politics, POSC 130 Law, Politics and Public Policy.

In addition, at least six of the nine courses must be at the 300-level or above, including at least one course in each of the following four fields: American politics, political thought, comparative politics, and law and public policy. No more than one course (or four units) of POSC 395 or POSC 490x may be counted toward the 36 unit departmental requirements.

Students who have a double major in political science and in another department in the social sciences, may, with prior permission of the department undergraduate advisor, substitute one upper division course from the second major for one upper division political science course. In the development of an undergraduate program, students should consult periodically with the political science undergraduate advisor and/or with departmental faculty.

A lot of what you ask about depends upon the popularity of the major in question. I've heard that it is very hard to get into the film school altogether, and if it is like it is at my school, they may not take transfer students or minors at all for that reason. With other programs, what they look at depends upon how much competition there is. If they get a lot of people applying with terrific GPAs and SAT scores, they may have to look at things like activities, but in general, those things are less important for transfer students.

Answer 2

Usually you can find what you need to take in their course catalog. Now you might have to actually contact them to get it. If the classes are not in the course catalog they provide you with I would contact the director of the program that you want to major in and ask them if they could send you a list of classes that you need to take in order to graduate with a degree in that specific program. You can usually find the director of the program under their website and under the program's page.