USC Semester Abroad Programs: A World of Opportunities

For students at the University of Southern California (USC), the world is truly their classroom. USC offers a diverse and extensive range of semester abroad programs designed to enrich the academic experience and broaden students' perspectives. Whether it's through traditional semester-long exchanges, short-term immersive courses, or international internships, USC provides pathways for students from all disciplines to engage with different cultures and gain a global understanding.

Semester and Year-Long Programs through USC Dornsife

The USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences administers many of USC's undergraduate international study programs through the Office of Overseas Studies. These programs give students the chance to study in a different educational and cultural setting for a semester or an entire academic year.

USC Dornsife offers more than 50 programs in nearly 30 countries all over the world. Some programs require students to have a background in the language of the host country, while others are conducted entirely in English. Units earned in these programs are considered USC units and impact residency in the same way as on-campus courses. However, it's important to note that overseas semester courses are not offered for general education credit. Students receive regular USC credit and may apply financial aid and scholarships to these semester and year programs.

Students can choose from a wide variety of destinations and academic focuses. For example, students can directly enroll at the Universidad de San Andrés in Argentina and take courses in Latin American studies taught in Spanish. Alternatively, they can study at the University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia, enrolling in courses across the humanities, social sciences, science, and engineering. Psychology majors with a high GPA may even participate in faculty-guided research for major credit at UQ.

Other options in Australia include the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, offering courses in arts and social sciences, Asian studies, economics and commerce, engineering and computer science, law, and science. Fine arts and design majors can pursue studio arts and design courses at the ANU School of Art. The Australian National Internship Program provides a 4-credit internship in Australian Parliament, the Australian Public Service, or a nongovernmental organization.

Read also: Abroad Experience Guide

The University of Melbourne, another leading Australian institution, allows USC students to enroll in regular university courses across various academic disciplines. Students can also study in Sydney at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), focusing on mass media and communication. For those interested in environmental studies, the School for Field Studies offers a semester at a field station in a rainforest in far northern Queensland.

In Africa, USC students can enroll in programs at the University of Botswana (UB) through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), studying arts and sciences or community public health. In Chile, students can study at the Universidad de Chile, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and/or the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago through CIEE, taking courses in Spanish and living with Chilean host families.

For students interested in China, the program at Peking University in Beijing, offered through CIEE, focuses on intensive language learning. Students can also study at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, taking courses in English or Chinese, or spend a semester or year in Nanjing or Shanghai through CIEE. In South Korea, students can participate in the Three-Campus Program in Comparative East Asian Studies, studying in Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.

In the United Kingdom, USC students can directly enroll in courses at the University of Sussex, the University of Bristol, Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London, or University College London (UCL). These universities offer a wide range of academic disciplines and opportunities for students to study alongside British students. Additionally, USC theatre acting majors and minors can spend a semester or year in London through a program with Sarah Lawrence College and the British American Drama Academy (BADA).

Short-Term Immersive Experiences: Maymesters and Julymesters

USC offers a variety of short-term study abroad programs that provide immersive experiences without the commitment of a full semester or year. Maymester courses, typically running from May 15 to June 15, are faculty-led courses that encourage students to participate in research-based learning. These courses are taken immediately following the traditional end of the spring semester and are part of the student's spring semester registered course load. Julymester courses last from July 15 to August 15 and contribute to the upcoming fall semester units.

Read also: Global Learning at U of T

Many schools within USC, from Dornsife to Thornton, offer unique Maymester and Julymester programs. These programs allow students to take a major class or GE requirement outside of the typical classroom setting. Dornsife Faculty-Led programs, in particular, offer a wide range of opportunities that cover electives, GE courses, introductory language classes, upper-division major courses, and research opportunities both within the US and across the globe.

For example, the "Bookpacking" course allows students to read books in the locations where they were written, such as New Orleans in May and London and Paris in July.

Problems Without Passports

Problems Without Passports is a unique short-term, interdisciplinary, and collaborative study abroad opportunity. Students study a global problem and travel to conduct research on the issue in another area of the world. This program exemplifies the idea that many of the problems plaguing our society are actually issues affecting others as well on a worldwide scale.

Dornsife Washington, D.C. Program

The Dornsife Washington, D.C. program provides students with a unique semester-long opportunity to study and work in the nation's capital. Students take courses drawn from areas with direct policy relevance, such as international relations, the political process, and economics. As part of the program, all students complete an internship with government agencies, NGOs, advocacy groups, think tanks, consulting firms, or congressional offices. The program also offers a dynamic series of co-curricular and cultural events.

Marshall School of Business: Global Opportunities

The USC Marshall School of Business offers a variety of international programs designed to provide students with a global perspective on business practices.

Global Leadership Program (GLP)

The Global Leadership Program (GLP) is an invitation-only program for academically talented first-year Marshall students.

Learning About International Commerce (LINC)

Learning About International Commerce (LINC) is an experiential learning opportunity that exposes all incoming first-year business majors to business practices.

Transfer International Experience (TIE)

The Transfer International Experience (TIE) program is open only to students who transferred to USC from another university/college. The program centers around a 2-unit course focused on a business theme, which concludes with an 8-day in-country immersive experience.

Experiential Corporate Learning Program (ExCEL)

The Experiential Corporate Learning Program (ExCEL) sends students abroad for 10-day trips to meet with businesses and government officials.

Marshall Case Team and International Case Competition

The Marshall Case Team is a team of undergraduate students who represent USC Marshall at various international case competitions. The Marshall International Case Competition is one of the oldest and most respected international business competitions, bringing together 20 of the best undergraduate programs from around the world.

Winslow-Maxwell Summer Internship Program

The Winslow-Maxwell Summer Internship Program offers 8-10 week internships overseas in cities such as London, Madrid, Singapore, Hong Kong, Berlin, Barcelona, and Sydney, with small to medium-sized companies. This program is open to all undergraduate majors interested in strengthening their leadership skills in a global setting.

Marshall International Summer Internship Program (MISIP)

The Marshall International Summer Internship Program (MISIP) gives students an in-depth, 2-month, international internship experience in Indonesia and Thailand.

Marshall Undergraduate International Programs

Marshall Undergraduate International Programs offer a full portfolio of in-country immersive offerings with a focus on global business studies and training. Through full-semester, study-abroad opportunities, business and accounting students may satisfy major requirements. Students collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to address a particular project identified by the client in the host country.

Other School-Specific Programs

In addition to USC Dornsife and the Marshall School of Business, other USC schools offer unique international programs tailored to their specific disciplines.

USC Annenberg International Programs

USC Annenberg International Programs offer dynamic study-abroad programs specifically designed to expand upon and enhance the school’s communication, public relations, and journalism curriculum. Undergraduate communication, journalism, and public relations students can spend a semester at a dedicated study center in London, where they enroll in upper-division Annenberg major coursework, tour publishing and broadcasting companies, and meet communication executives and government policy-makers.

USC School of Architecture

The USC School of Architecture offers multiple study-abroad opportunities created to complement specific architecture courses.

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

The USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers extensive and unique opportunities for students to study abroad during their graduate education, including fieldwork, doctoral residency, and short-term externship experiences.

Department of Preventive Medicine (Keck School of Medicine)

The Department of Preventive Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine of USC offers unique international study experiences in various countries around the world, led by USC faculty experts in global health.

USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Every summer, students from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and across the university travel across the world to explore aging.

USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Through its extensive network of partners, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Office of Global Initiatives offers practice-oriented international experiences designed to foster global learning for future health care professionals.

USC Price School of Public Policy

The USC Price School of Public Policy real estate programs include international study tour classes, such as the Comparative International Development Workshop, which includes a 10-day professional-level overseas visit.

USC Roski School of Art and Design

The USC Roski School of Art and Design study-abroad programs offer art and design students the opportunity to enrich their studio practice with a global perspective.

USC Thornton School of Music

USC Thornton offers a range of study abroad opportunities allowing students to learn, engage, and perform around the globe.

USC Viterbi School of Engineering

USC Viterbi School of Engineering offers an array of overseas experiences, from Maymester and Fall Lead programs to semester-long exchange programs and a summer research program.

Funding and Scholarships

Financing a study abroad experience can be a significant concern for many students. While Dornsife does not offer scholarships for their May/Julymesters directly, they do offer resources within and beyond USC to apply for funding. Some of these initiatives include the USC Academic Achievement Award and the SURF/SHURE Award for Dornsife students completing research. The Winslow-Maxwell Global Summer Internship Program also offers a need-based scholarship partially funded by the Winslow-Maxwell Foundation.

The Bridging the World Scholarship Fund supports undergraduate student travel to African countries for study, research, service-based learning, and internships.

Planning Your Study Abroad Experience

With so many options available, planning your study abroad experience can seem daunting. Here are some tips to help you navigate the process:

Meet with your academic advisor: Discuss your academic goals and interests to determine the best program fit for you.
Research programs thoroughly: Review program details, including GPA and language requirements, to find the best fit for your skills and interests.
Attend information sessions: Many departments and programs host information sessions to provide more details about specific opportunities.
Start planning early: Apply for your passport well in advance of your intended travel dates.
Explore funding options: Research and apply for scholarships and financial aid to help offset the cost of your program.
Stay informed: Keep an eye on bulletin boards and online resources for new and interesting May/Julymester options.

The Transformative Power of Studying Abroad

Studying abroad can be a transformative experience, offering students the opportunity to grow personally and academically. As one USC student, Anika (INCO), who returned from a semester at Queen Mary University of London, advises, "Remember to balance exploring abroad with exploring where you live." Another student shared, "As a first-generation, transfer student, I would have never imagined that I would have an opportunity to study abroad for 5 months. This experience not only changed me as a person but also helped me grow to a better version of myself."

Whether it's volunteering in a hospital in Sussex, interning with the Australian Parliament, focusing on environmental sustainability in Costa Rica, or taking field trips to museums in China, USC's study abroad programs offer invaluable opportunities for students to expand their horizons and become informed global citizens.

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