Enrollment/Registration
Audited Courses
Students may enroll for courses with the audit grade option on Web Registration. Students may elect to audit courses during the first three weeks of the semester or third week equivalent for any session that is scheduled for less than 15 weeks. A course taken for audit (V) will be assessed at the current tuition rate. A course taken for audit (V) will not receive credit and will not appear on the USC transcript or grade report. A course taken for audit is not included in enrollment for purposes of receiving financial aid. Under no circumstances will the university allow a petition to request to change the registration status of a course from a letter grade or credit to audit (V) or vice versa after the third week of a given semester or the third week equivalency for any session that is scheduled for less than 15 weeks.
Cancellation of Enrollment
Students have three options to cancel or drop all enrolled classes: complete a blue Request for Change of Program application in person at the Registration Building, 601 Exposition; send a letter requesting to withdraw from all classes to the Registration Department, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0912; or send a fax to the Registration Department, (213) 821-3724, requesting to withdraw from all classes. All withdrawals must be requested, received and processed by the end of the third week of class for sessions lasting 12 or more weeks to be eligible for 100 percent refund; for sessions lasting less than 12 weeks, contact the academic unit for refund information.* If you are requesting a cancellation and are still responsible for any housing charges, you must contact Housing Services and submit a separate application.
*Financial Aid recipients who withdraw from all classes, see Withdrawal Implications for Recipients of Financial Aid.
Enrollment Status
Enrollment status is assigned by the Registrar’s office based upon several criteria that include number of registered units, exceptional courses, graduate assistantships and the class level of the program that the student is pursuing, e.g., undergraduate, master’s or doctoral. “Exceptional courses” are those courses that have been determined to fulfill full-time enrollment status, regardless of the number of registered units. These courses include 594 Master’s Thesis, 794 Doctoral Dissertation, GRSC 800 Studies for the Qualifying Examination as well as other courses and programs as determined by the Dean of Academic Records and Registrar. Only students pursuing a degree or university certificate program will be assigned an enrollment status. Auditors and visitors (limited standing) will not have an enrollment status assigned to them, regardless of the number of units or types of courses for which they have registered. Units taken for audit do not apply to enrollment status. Undergraduate students are considered full-time when enrolled for 12 or more units and half-time when enrolled for six or more units. Master’s students are considered full-time when enrolled for eight or more units or registered in an exceptional course or enrolled in the minimum units required as a graduate assistant. Master’s students are considered half-time when enrolled for at least four units or enrolled in half the minimum units required as a graduate assistant. Doctoral students are considered full-time when enrolled in six or more units or registered in an exceptional course and half-time when enrolled in three or more units. Verification of student enrollment status is provided by the Office of Academic Records and Registrar. There is a $5 charge for each verification.
Limited Status Enrollment
Limited status enrollment allows persons who have not been admitted to the university to take a limited number of courses at USC.
Eligibility for Limited Status Enrollment
Students who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for limited status enrollment if they have been denied admission to USC or if they have been academically disqualified or suspended from any community college, college or university.
At the post-baccalaureate level, limited status enrollment is not available to students who have been denied admission to the department offering the course unless prior approval is granted by the department and appropriate dean.
International Students
Limited status enrollment does not fulfill requirements for issuing a student visa. International students (students studying or wishing to study in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa) must have the approval of the Office of International Admissions (Hubbard Hall 220) before registering for classes.
Restrictions on Limited Status Enrollment
A pre-baccalaureate limited status student may not register for more than 16 units; a post-baccalaureate limited status student may not register for more than 12 units.
Exceptions to this policy will be considered by the Office of Admission for USC employees and for post-baccalaureate students who submit a disclaimer of intent to pursue a USC degree.
Prior approval of the department offering the course is required for all limited status enrollment. If a limited status student is subsequently admitted to regular standing, no more than 16 undergraduate or the first 12 graduate units taken through limited status enrollment can be applied toward a degree. Individual exceptions must be approved by the dean of the degree conferring units.
Pre-baccalaureate limited status students must settle their tuition and fees on the same day they register for classes or their enrollment will be cancelled by the Registration Department. This policy does not apply to USC staff and faculty.
Extra Units
A normal academic load is 16 units per semester for undergraduate students, eight units (500-level) for graduate students. The university recommends that undergraduates register for no more than 18 units and graduates for no more than 16 units. Permission to enroll in more than 20 units requires written approval from the school or home department.
Final Transcripts
Official transcripts with the degree awarded and the diploma date included will be available for order within eight weeks after the end of the term. Advance orders for final transcripts may be placed with the National Student Clearinghouse. For more information, refer to the Transcript department Web site, www.usc.edu/transcripts. Transcripts are not released to students with collection or loan activity restrictions.
Guaranteeing a Space in a Class
Registration in a class does not by itself guarantee a space in that class. An instructor may replace any student who without prior consent does not attend these class sessions:
(a) the first two class
sessions, or |
(b) the first class session of the semester for once-a-week
classes. |
It is then the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from the course through the Registration Department. Any class added by Web Registration or in person after the first week of classes should always receive the instructor’s approval.
International Students
Non-immigrant students must check in with the Office of International Services (OIS) on arrival for passport verification. They must be registered as full-time students during the academic year. Full-time status normally requires a minimum of 12 units per term for an undergraduate, eight units per term for a master’s degree student, and six units for a doctoral student or a research or teaching assistant. See OIS for questions. Classes are to be arranged after consultation with an academic or departmental advisor. Such students are not eligible to be considered students without formal registration and are in violation of immigration laws when not properly registered. Persons with B-2 visa status (visitors) or F-2 status (student spouse) are prohibited from registering for classes.
Joint Educational Project (JEP)
The Joint Educational Project places university students in field assignments in over 40 community sites (including neighborhood schools, non-profit organizations and governmental institutions) primarily near the University Park campus. Students participate in projects that seek to discover or implement solutions to problems that have been identified by the community. In the process, students learn how to develop and apply knowledge, to work in diverse social settings, to become engaged in civic affairs, and to explore possible career paths and make professional contacts. “JEP” following a section number indicates it is possible the professor will offer JEP as a course option.
Pass/No Pass Option
Students may enroll for courses with the audit grade option on Web Registration. During the first three weeks of the semester, or the third week equivalent for any session that is scheduled for less than 15 weeks, students may elect to take a course numbered below 500 on a pass/no pass basis. Graduate students must receive departmental approval to enroll in a graduate course on a pass/no pass basis. Refer to the Pass/No Pass Graded Work section in the USC Catalogue for details on degree credit restrictions on courses taken on a pass/no pass basis. Students should consult an academic advisor before enrolling in any course on a pass/no pass basis.
Registration in Graduate-Level Courses by Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students will not be allowed to enroll in a graduate course unless they receive prior approval to (1) reserve the course for a possible graduate degree or (2) count the course for undergraduate credit or (3) audit the course. Students must present official proof of such approval to the Registration Department at the time of enrollment. See the USC Catalogue to find instructions on how to make the request.
Religious Holidays
Some registration-related deadlines may coincide with religious holidays. If observation of a religious holiday makes it difficult or impossible for you to meet a specific deadline, you will be given consideration for an extension if you contact the Registration Department, Registration Building, before the holiday occurs.
Note: This does not apply to payment deadlines.
Right to Withdraw a Course
The university reserves the right to withdraw or change the hours of any course listed in the Schedule of Classes. Classes may be rescheduled or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances or low enrollment.
Students enrolled in a cancelled class are responsible for withdrawing the course from their program by Web Registration or in person at the Registration Building lobby.
STARS Report
The STudent Academic Record System report (STARS) provides a comprehensive evaluation of students’ academic progress toward degree completion of their specified program of study. This report contains all applicable USC course work and accepted transfer work and included requirements such as time limit, continuous enrollment and summative experience. STARS reports are made available as students approach graduation. Students may access their STARS report on OASIS at myUSC or www.usc.edu/OASIS.