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Undergraduate Advising

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Academic Advising

Academic advising is an on-going process of clarification and re-evaluation of academic goals and plans. You must be an active participant in devising your academic plan with the guidance of an academic advisor. The Office of Undergraduate Advising is your primary resource at USC for information and assistance. We are here to help you discover your individual interests and tailor your academic experience to fulfill your aspirations.

Academic advisement for Business Administration and joint majors, and Business Minor students is provided through our office in Bridge Hall (BRI) 104, (213) 740-0690. Accounting majors should see an advisor in the Leventhal School of Accounting Student Services Office in Accounting Building 101, (213) 740-4838.

Current USC Students who are pursuing other majors but are interested in applying to the Marshall School of Business may seek advisement from our office. In coordination with your academic advisor in your current major department, we will develop a schedule for completion of Marshall prerequisites and submission of an application.

Academic advising is mandatory for all students who have not yet completed 24 units at USC (pre-registration for the first three semesters). This restriction can be removed by meeting with an academic advisor prior to registration.

Academic advisors are available by appointment throughout most of the academic year and during the summer. Advisors are available on a walk-in basis during registration times, usually in the months of November and April. Normally, there are no scheduled appointments during the walk-in period. Business students are assigned a cohort advisor; however you are free to make appointments with another advisor, if you so choose. Students not placed into cohorts can choose to meet with any of the full-time professional advisors in the office for their academic advisement.

In order to make the best of your advising experience:

The Student's Role

  • Be familiar with the University's academic information, as explained in the Catalogue of your academic year in which you entered USC, Schedule of Classes, and SCampus
  • Read and respond when asked to all correspondence sent to you by the University and Marshall
  • Maintain a file and keep copies of all official correspondence from the University and Marshall, including your STARS reports, grade reports, copies of petitions, academic review letters, etc.
  • Develop academic and career goals and consider how these goals may be affected by academic planning (or lack of it)
  • Stay current on all academic policies and regulations at the University, including prerequisite and core requirement information<
  • Learn the degree requirements for your major
  • Review your STARS report for accuracy
  • Take responsibility for your decisions, your academic progress, and your success
  • Stay in contact with your advisor and meet regularly to discuss any questions about your program and degree progress

The Advisor's Role

  • Provide accurate and current information about the University's and Marshall's academic requirements
  • Assist students in developing courses of study, including the selection of general education, major, and elective requirements
  • Provide students with information about campus resources and offer referrals
  • Be available either in person, by phone, or by email to allow convenient access to advisement
  • Provide information on opportunities that help enhance the academic experience including internships, volunteer work, international opportunities, and directive research

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Information on Academic Policies

Academic Petitions -Students wishing to petition to exceed 20 units, extend time to finish incompletes, submit general education petitions, or other academic petitions should meet with an advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Advising.

Academic Probation -If a student's overall GPA falls below 2.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. In order to register for classes, a student on academic probation must first meet with an academic advisor in BRI 104 and their academic review counselor in SAS 113. Students on academic probation who do not raise their overall GPA to 2.0 after two semesters will be academically disqualified.

Transferring Coursework - A student may earn a maximum of 64 units of credit from other institutions toward a bachelor's degree. Students will receive only subject credit for work completed in excess of this limitation. Once a student has achieved junior status, or has completed 64 units of combined transfer and USC work, he/she may transfer up to 8 additional units, provided he/she has not already transferred the maximum allowable transferable units. There are additional subject credit limitations. Please see an academic advisor for clarification.

For more information on specific academic policies, please meet with an advisor in our office, or consult the USC Catalogue for the academic year in which you entered USC.

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Four-Year Course Sequences

For students who entered USC prior to Fall 2004

  • Please see in advisor in BRI 104

For students who entered USC Fall 2004 or later**

 

*Available to Freshman Honors Program students ONLY

** Students can opt to change their catalogue year to follow the requirements of a newer catalogue but are subject to ALL requirements set forth in the new catalogue year. Please consult with an academic advisor prior to making this change.

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