The Process for Adding a Minor or Second Major

Many students arrive at USC with a clear idea of what they want to study, but that often evolves once they start exploring all the different academic opportunities on campus. Since USC is made up of a range of 18+ schools with distinct areas of focus, it’s not unusual for students to discover new interests outside of the major they were admitted to. That exploration really can begin early on – as early as your first meeting with an academic advisor during orientation the summer before your first semester. In that first conversation, you’ll map out your initial schedule, learn about degree requirements, and get a sense of just how much flexibility you have moving forward.

While you do enter USC in the major and school you were admitted to, you’re definitely not “stuck” there or siloed into one area of study. Students switch majors, apply to different schools within USC and reshape their academic goals all the time. Sometimes that change comes after taking an elective class or GE course that sparks a new interest, and sometimes it’s influenced by conversations with professors or peers. Either way, USC is designed to support that kind of academic exploration as long as you’re planning ahead and staying connected to your advisors. Your path at USC doesn’t have to look exactly how you imagined it on day one, and lots of students take advantage of the interdisciplinary experiences USC encourages students to pursue.

If you’re interested in branching out without completely leaving your original major, adding a minor is a really popular option. USC offers 250+ minors across a wide range of disciplines, giving you the chance to dive into a secondary interest without the same level of commitment as a second major. To add a minor, you’ll typically start by meeting with your academic advisor to talk through your goals and make sure it fits within your four-year plan. From there, you’ll connect with the department offering the minor. Some minors require a simple declaration form, while others may have specific course prerequisites or an application. Once approved, the minor is officially added to your degree plan, and you’ll work the required courses into your course schedule over time.

For students who want to take things a step further, pursuing a second major is also an option — and it can even be in a different school than your first major. The process for adding a second major usually involves meeting with your current advisor as well as an advisor in the school of the second major to understand requirements and timelines. Depending on the program, you may need to complete certain prerequisite courses before applying. You’ll then submit an internal application or change/add-major request through USC’s academic systems and, once admitted, you’ll declare the second major and begin fulfilling requirements for both of your majors.

It may take a bit more planning, but with early coordination and advisor support, many students are able to successfully pursue multiple academic interests during their time at USC. In fact, about 50% do, either through a double major or major/minor combination.

Written by: Jaelin Robin, Assistant Director, USC Office of Admission