Advisement & Registration

ITP classes are open to all students, and our introductory classes do not require a background in technology or engineering. No matter what your major is, you can learn how to use the latest tools, programming languages, and applications. You’ll also gain critical insight into technology’s increasing impact on our world.

You can:

  • declare a minor,
  • declare a specialization, or
  • enroll in a wide range of electives.

ITP also coordinates with departments at the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences to offer majors in Data Science (BA) and Intelligence and Cyber Operations (BA).

Please see below for registration information and advisement resources.

 

Registration

Advisement

Minors & Specializations

Other Resources

Registration

Eligibility

Most of our classes are open to all students. You do not need a background in technology or engineering in order to enroll in our introductory classes.

Additionally, you do not need to declare a minor or specialization in order to take ITP classes. However, if you are considering adding a minor or specialization after taking an ITP class, be sure to complete the class on a letter-graded basis.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, an exception has been made to this rule for the Spring 2020 semester.

D-Clearance

Most ITP classes do not require departmental clearance (“d-clearance”) in order to register during the normal registration period, with the exception of ITP-470 and ITP-480.

After the first week of classes each semester, you will need the instructor’s permission to add any ITP class.

Instructions to get d-clearance >

Prerequisite waivers

Most ITP classes do not require departmental clearance (“d-clearance”) in order to register during the normal registration period.

We advise students to complete all required prerequisites. Some students have already completed preparatory course work in CSCI, EE, or ISE or have worked on their own programming projects. In these cases, skipping a prerequisite and registering for a higher-level course may benefit the student.

After you complete a course, you cannot go backward and complete its prerequisite in a later semester for credit.

See list of pre-approved waivers >

Waitlists

We do not keep a formal waitlist for ITP classes. However, we do track student interest in classes so that we can notify students if additional class sections are added. We can also provide guidance in finding another class that meets your minor requirements, if possible. Please email our academic advisers at itpadvising@usc.edu to let us know if a class you are interested in adding is full.

Substitutions

We advise students to complete all courses as required per the program’s curriculum. Substitutions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are only granted based on the course’s academic relation to the minor. Substitutions are reviewed by faculty and are subject to limitations.

ITP-470 Directed Project

In ITP-470, students pursue individual practical or exploratory projects in information technology under the guidance of faculty.

Registration guidelines and steps >

ITP-480 Internship

In ITP-480, students earn academic credit while completing an internship in technology.

Registration guidelines and steps >

 

Advisement

Walk-in advisement

ITP advisors will be available for virtual office hours on Zoom as follows:

  • Friday, January 15  |  9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.  |  Link
  • Friday, August 21 |  11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m.  |  Link
  • Friday, August 28  |  9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.  |  Link
  • Friday, September 4  |  11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m.  |  Link

You can attend a drop-in advising session by attending the Zoom meeting linked above. You do not need to make an appointment to attend one of the above advising sessions.

Individual appointments

Appointments are available for students currently pursuing or interested in minors in ITP.

Schedule an appointment >

Curriculum updates

ITP updated many of its minor programs and courses in Fall 2019. Students who started their minor course work prior to Fall 2019 may follow a transitional course plan. Information about the curriculum updates and transitional course plans is available online.

Curriculum updates >

Contact information

Students interested in ITP minors, specializations, or elective courses should contact our academic advisors:

Students interested in majoring in Data Science (Bachelor of Arts) or Intelligence and Cyber Operations (Bachelor of Arts) should contact the respective program's academic advisor:

 

Minors & Specializations

Eligibility

To declare a minor, you must:

  • be a currently enrolled undergraduate student at USC,
  • have a declared major, and
  • be in good academic standing.

To declare a specialization, you must:

  • be a currently enrolled student at USC,
  • have a declared major, and
  • be in good academic standing.
Admission

Admission to each minor and specialization is on a rolling basis. You should start taking the classes for your minor or specialization by your junior year. Most minors at ITP require 4 semesters to complete, although sometimes you may be able to complete a minor in 3 semesters.

You may choose to officially add the minor or specialization to your student record before you take any classes or after you have completed the introductory class. You must officially declare the minor or specialization before you graduate.

Apply online >

 
Requirements

The following rules apply to all programs:

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#1. Unique Units

All minors at USC require 16 units of course work that count only for the minor and not for any other major, minor, or GE requirement. For minors that require 18 units, a maximum of 2 units may be shared with another major, minor, or GE requirement.

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#2. Letter-graded classes

All classes completed for minor or specialization credit must be completed for a letter grade.

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#3. Minimum GPA

You must earn a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA in the minor or specialization course work.