<p>Does USC send a catalogue of classes before attending summer orientation or does your child meet with an advisor on campus to figure out the schedule? How does this work? Thanks.</p>
<p>Your student will get a catalogue of classes at orientation, and also meet with an advisor on campus to get help with schedules. If you want a head start in looking at classes, check out this link:
Fall</a> 2008 | Schedule of Classes</p>
<p>Thanks, Nikara. Do you know if TO kids get to meet with a TO advisor at orientation?</p>
<p>Nikara: Do freshmen need to choose courses only from these lists, since I guess they will only be doing GEs in the fall?
Do you know if in TO, those listed (one course in each category) are the only ones offered?
It seems there's a nice choice of interesting courses in GE Program.
I might be wrong about the choices in TO, but that site only gives one course for each section.</p>
<p>Thematic option courses:
Thematic</a> Option</p>
<p>General Education Program:
GE</a> Course Guide Index</p>
<p>Sequoia, I was told there are several courses to choose from for each TO Core requirement each semester, and there are variations available at other semesters. I don't know if they have the choices posted for Fall yet--but it would be great to see them. Also, I have been told (hope this is a fact) that freshmen may take other courses besides GEs (perhaps only taking one or two GEs first semester, plus a required writing course. That would leave one or two others open for their major or electives or language requirement, if they have that. Hope I understand this correctly!</p>
<p>I hope my D will see the TO courses before orientation, since it really will depend on them whether she goes through with that. There are lots of courses in general GE she's interested in also.
Aren't they supposed to have chosen (more or less) their courses by orientation, at least to have a good idea?</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me know about other TO courses as well as those besides GEs. It sounds reasonable. Course selection is going to be tricky, but I guess the advisors are there to help figure it out.</p>
<p>I can't acces the class schedule on my work computer but last time I checked the class schedule, there are 5+ different types of TO classes and each class has a few sessions.</p>
<p>Columbia: what I saw in types of TO classes was the 4 Core (Culture and Values, Science etc ) areas and one Core writing listed. It's my understanding you have to take all 5, and what I see is the description of one class in each core, and the professors teaching it. Maybe the class described is a sample, and that there are more in each core to choose from as madbean said.
Did you actually have descriptions of each class in each core? It would be nice to see that, I might be looking in the wrong place.</p>
<p>USC sent a little brochure describing what to take for typical student. Like Humanities to take the first semester:
1 GE, 1 major1, etc..(total 4 classes). So I think it can't be all in Freshman year. In fact, we talked to some TO students and they said it's not a good idea to take all TO classes freshman year.</p>
<p>but isn't it true that they have to finish their GE before they can start certain courses in their major?</p>
<p>s won't be going to orientation till Aug so we won't have much choices left in classes.</p>
<p>I'm quite confused with what courses they are to take.</p>
<p>Okay... here is a quick description. In general, freshmen will take four to five classes (the fifth would be one or two units, maybe a freshman seminar FSEM</a> | USC Schedule of Classes or a PE class PHED</a> | USC Schedule of Classes )</p>
<p>If the student is in Thematic Option, they will definitely take Core 102 and Core 111 first semester of their freshman year. They can also take more TO classes if they want to, but many will take classes towards their majors. Here are the TO courses:
CORE</a> | USC Schedule of Classes</p>
<p>If you really want to see some course descriptions, I have them for the courses NOT including 102 (because I couldn't take them anyway). PM me and I will email them to you. However, your student will also get those course descriptions and one on one advising from a TO person at orientation. </p>
<p>Spaces are held in certain classes that open up at every orientation session, so being at a late one won't kill your chances for a certain class, even if it appears to be full.</p>
<p>The rest of the courses taken first semester depend on major. For example, if your student is pre-med, they will probably take Bio 120 and Chem 105a. I don't know much of anything about other majors.</p>
<p>Here is what from USC brochure, I believe for Thematic Option, you substitute CORE with a TO CORE</p>
<p>Humanities:
FRESHMAN
Fall: Spring</p>
<p>CORE CORE
CORE Writing140
Major 1 Major1
Major 2 Major 2</p>
<p>SOPHOMORE
Fall: Spring</p>
<p>CORE CORE
Language1 Language2
Major 1 Major1
Major 2 Major 2</p>
<p>JUNIOR
Fall: Spring</p>
<p>Writing340 diversity
Language3 CORE
Major 1 Major1
Major 2 Major 2</p>
<p>SENIOR
Fall: Spring</p>
<p>Major1 Major1
Major1 Major 2
Major 2 Major2
Major/ElectiveMajor/Elective</p>
<p>That schedule is actually different for Thematic Option students, so don't use it. It does, however, work generally for other students. Each major may differ slightly.</p>
<p>Is there anyway to find out student opinions of these classes (what the reading list is like, course requirements, amount of time, etc.). For example, my son heard on one of the tours that there is a Cinema class which is waiting room to get in because it is so popular (I think films are watched and analyzed).</p>
<p>I assume for TO, the CORE class is substituted for a TO CORE class, is this right? If not , can you give some of us an idea of what a TO class schedule looks like.</p>
<p>First of all, USC's</a> Senate Course Guide will give you some decent opinions on classes. A new, updated version just opened, but there aren't many reviews there yet.</p>
<p>Second question: The main difference is that in TO you taking both writing classes your freshman year. Most people will take 2 TO classes for each semester freshman year, then spread the rest around. The rest of your courses depend on your major, if you wave any of the language requirements, and many other things.</p>
<p>The important thing, though, is that you really don't need to worry about all of this now. There are tons of people here at SC whose job it is to work you through this. I know that I didn't see a list of classes until I arrived for orientation, and I turned out fine. It will all work out.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and the cinema class you talked about is Cinema 466, which is already full for next semester. I get to take it next year for fun (I'll be a senior). Generally, you take that one later on in your USC education.</p>
<p>Thank you Nikara as this guide is right on target.</p>