Welcome Trojans Course Registration Academic Advising Tuition & Fees

How will I receive my invitation to participate in the Welcome Trojans orientation program? 

After submitting your enrollment commitment deposit, you will receive an invitation in your USC email inbox within five to seven business days. Please contact our office if you do not receive your invitation within seven business days of submitting your enrollment commitment deposit.

When is Welcome Trojans? How long is it? 

Students admitted to the fall semester will attend the summer Welcome Trojans orientation program starting in June for freshmen and July for transfer students. Spring-admitted students will attend the winter Welcome Trojans orientation program in December and January. Invitations are emailed to fall-admitted students after they submit their enrollment commitment deposit. Spring-admitted students will receive an email invitation in August.

I deferred my admission from a previous semester. Do I need to participate in Welcome Trojans? 

If you did not attend orientation prior to your deferral, you should participate in Welcome Trojans in order to receive first semester advising and to register for your courses.

If your deferral was for one semester and you attended an orientation prior to your deferral, you do not need to attend online Welcome Trojans events or complete the pre-registration checklist. Please work directly with your academic advisor to complete your first semester advising. Your advisor will work with orientation staff to arrange your registration date and time.

If your deferral was for two (or more) semesters, we strongly recommend you participate in Welcome Trojans, even if you attended an orientation event prior to your deferral.

What if I am not able to register for courses in time for an on-campus orientation event? 

All students must complete the pre-registration checklist and advising prior to coming on campus.  If an admission hold is preventing you from registering for courses, your advisor will create a registration plan for you. Please note that no advisors will be available during the on-campus events.

What is course registration?

Course registration is when students sign up for their first semester of courses. Once registration is completed, students have until the end of the third week of classes to make changes to their schedule.

When does course registration begin?

Students register for classes during their course registration appointment time, as indicated on their Welcome Trojans orientation reservation. All times are listed in Pacific Time.

If the date and time within the Web Registration system doesn’t match the time listed on your orientation confirmation email, don’t worry. Course registration permits will be updated prior to or the day of your registration date.

Is there a disadvantage to having my registration appointment later in the month as opposed to earlier in the month?

There will be seats open in courses during every course registration window, so don’t worry if your appointment falls later in the month.

After I register for courses, is it possible to change my schedule before classes begin?

Yes, after you have registered for courses, your registration permit remains open and you will be able to make changes to your classes through the first three weeks of the semester.

When can I meet one-on-one with an advisor for student-specific Q&A?

Students must complete their pre-registration checklist and academic department requirements on Blackboard prior to meeting with their academic advisor. Students should be sure to check their USC email for official communication from their academic department.

Academic advising appointments, whether individual or in a small group, are scheduled separately from the course registration session. Your academic advisor will reach out to you about scheduling these meetings, which are essential to ensuring a successful course registration.

Once the semester has begun, all students will schedule one-on-one appointments with their advisors for a longer appointment to plan out future semesters.

Where do I find the course requirements for my major(s)?

Reviewing academic requirements is an important component of completing the pre-registration checklist on Blackboard. Parents and guests are welcome to look at department websites to see information about major requirements, but all students must follow the Blackboard pre-registration checklist to ensure they have all the details that are relevant for orientation.

How do I register for certain classes before I’ve received my AP scores? Should I just guess?

Academic advisors will assist students with this process.

How many units do I enroll in per semester?

Your advisor can help you determine what is right for you—however, students typically enroll in four 4-unit courses, which adds up to16 units. Some majors have their own specific requirements.

Tuition is charged at a flat rate for 12 – 18 units, so another common option is for students to enroll in 16 units for their major and then add an additional 2-unit course in a subject just for their personal enjoyment.

How much time should I leave open between classes?

Classes generally end 10 minutes before the hour, leaving a 10-minute window for students to make it to their next class, which is usually sufficient. You can check the USC interactive map to find out where various buildings are on campus.

Will the majority of first-year classes be in-person, online, or both?

Courses are in person unless specified on the schedule of classes. The university will notify students if there is onboarding online, otherwise the expectation is that all classes will be in person.

If I want to defer enrollment for a semester, what is the guarantee of a seat?

All questions about deferral must be directed to the Office of Admission.

When should I apply for a student loan? 

See the USC Financial Aid website for information. 

How do I settle my tuition and fees? 

Per university policy, the deadline to settle fees is the Friday before the first day of courses. Refer to the Student Financial Services website for details on how to pay your fee bill.