University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (also known as USC, 'SC, Southern California, and Southern Cal), California's oldest private research university, is located in the urban center of Los Angeles, California.

Academics

The University of Southern California is well known for its outstanding professional schools in law, medicine, business, engineering, journalism, public policy, and architecture, as well as for its world-renowned School of Cinema-Television. Currently, USC ranks among the top 10 private universities receiving federal funds for research and development support and in the top 20 among all universities in the United States. The Center at the University of Florida ranks USC 12th in the Top American Research Universities. The incoming freshman class for the 2005 fall term had an average GPA of 4.05 out of 4 and an average SAT score of 1368 out of 1600. USC is a longtime member of the Association of American Universities and is the oldest private research university in the American West.

Related Topics:
Law - Medicine - Business - Engineering - Journalism - Public policy - Architecture - Cinema - Television - United States - University of Florida - GPA - SAT - Association of American Universities

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The School of Cinema-Television, the first in the country and perhaps USC's most famous wing, confers degrees in critical studies, screenwriting, and production. In 2001, the film school added an Interactive Media Division studying video games, virtual reality, and mobile media. The school is supported by its famous alumni, whose ranks include such well-known graduates as George Lucas, Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, John Milius, Ben Burtt, and David Wolper.

Related Topics:
2001 - Interactive Media Division - Mobile - Alumni - George Lucas - Ron Howard - Robert Zemeckis - John Milius - Ben Burtt - David Wolper

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A Department of Architecture was established at USC within the School of Fine Arts in 1919, the first in Southern California. This small department grew rapidly with the help of the Allied Architects of Los Angeles. A separate School of Architecture was organized in September 1925. The School of Architecture is world famous for its strong focus on the design aspect of the architectural field. The school has been home to teachers such as Richard Neutra, Ralph Knowles, A. Quincy Jones, William Pereira and Pierre Koening. The school of architecture is also home to notable alumni Frank Gehry, Thom Mayne, Gregory Ain, and Pierre Koening. The school has two Pritzker Prize winners, the highest award in architecture (often referred to as "the Nobel of architecture"), and is tied with Yale for the most American winners.

Related Topics:
1919 - 1925 - Richard Neutra - A. Quincy Jones - William Pereira - Frank Gehry - Thom Mayne - Pritzker Prize - Nobel - Yale

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The Annenberg School for Communication is among the best in the nation, being one of the two communication programs in the country endowed by Walter Annenberg (the other is at the University of Pennsylvania). The school of journalism features a core curriculum that requires students to devote themselves equally to print, broadcast and online media for the first year of study. This approach promises a breadth of knowledge across various journalistic media. USC's Annenberg School for Communication enjoys a massive endowment.

Related Topics:
Annenberg School for Communication - Walter Annenberg - University of Pennsylvania

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On March 02, 2004, the USC School of Engineering, headed by Dean Max Nikias, was renamed to the Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering. This was done to honor Qualcomm founder Andrew Viterbi and his wife Erna, who had recently donated $52 million to the school. The gift was the largest ever to rename an existing school of engineering.

Related Topics:
Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering - Qualcomm - Andrew Viterbi

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USC was ranked "most selective" http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_1328_brief.php and 30th http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc/tier1/t1natudoc_brief.php overall in the country by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges in 2006. The 2006 U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Graduate Schools ranked the Viterbi School of Engineering as 7th, the School of Policy, Planning, and Development as 7th, the Leventhal School of Accounting as 7th, the Marshall School of Business as 26th (Executive MBA 9th, Professionals and Managers (part-time) MBA Program 5th, Entrepreneurship 6th, and International 10th), and the Law School as 18th. The School of Cinema-Television and the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy are ranked number 1 in the nation.

Related Topics:
U.S. News & World Report - 2006 - MBA - Entrepreneurship

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Academic Subdivisions

USC's academic departments fall either under the general liberal arts and sciences of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences for undergraduates, or The Graduate School for graduates, or the university's 18 professional schools. A full listing of academic subdivisions follows alphabetically by subject:

Related Topics:
Liberal arts - Science

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• The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
• The Graduate School
• The Professional Schools
• School of Architecture
• Marshall School of Business
• Leventhal School of Accounting
• School of Cinema-Television
• Annenberg School for Communication
• School of Dentistry
• Rossier School of Education
• Viterbi School of Engineering
• School of Fine Arts
• Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
• Independent Health Professions
• USC Gould School of Law
• Keck School of Medicine
• Thornton School of Music
• School of Pharmacy
• School of Policy, Planning, and Development
• School of Social Work
• School of Theatre