<p>I'm an incoming freshman, and I'm majoring in Chemical Engineering (Biochemical). How many electives can I take at most in the fall 2010?</p>
<p>As many as you want to take. Were you planning on 5 or 6 years to graduate, or longer?</p>
<p>I want to graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>I’m a ChemE major as well =] I think we only have a few electives (writing, social issues, etc.). You can take more, but you won’t be able to graduate in four years.</p>
<p>Most students go to the USC catalogue [USC</a> Catalogue, 2009-2010](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2009/]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2009/) and investigate the general education requirements and their major requirements. Freshman year a typical schedule might be two GE classes and two lower-division major requirements or pre-requisites plus a freshman seminar or other two-unit “fun” class. If you prefer to take all electives and no GE or major requirements you are free to do so - but as dt123 suggests - it will take you a very long time to graduate.</p>
<p><a href=“http://viterbi.usc.edu/assets/092/65640.pdf[/url]”>http://viterbi.usc.edu/assets/092/65640.pdf</a></p>
<p>There is a four year plan for your major on page 6 of the pdf file. Looks like your first two semesters are pretty much jam packed with a full schedule of 18 units. Any more units than that you will have to pay extra. If you have AP credit for Calculus, you can either take the next Calculus class or have 4 units for electives. If you have AP credit for Chemistry you can skip 105a, and either take 105b first semester or take an elective as well. I wouldn’t necessarily call a writing or a social issues class an elective… those are kind of a pain (not to mention required)…</p>
<p>^Ring the bell. There are no fun “electives” in that four year plan at all. But it starts you with Calculus 1, beginning Chem, and Computer Science, things for which many students get AP credit. AP credits and summer course work will create little gaps where electives can go, like pinkie mentioned.</p>
<p>Note also that a lot of the semesters have less than 18 units. In a semester where you have 16 units, you can fit in a 2 unit Ballroom Dancing course, for example, without any additional cost. (It is an easy A and a way to meet some non-engineering people.)</p>
<p>wait…how about if I want to minor in astronomy? do I have even space to take courses for my minor? my engineering major already takes up so much space… because it will definitely exceed the limit (18 credits) if i want to take classes for my minor. do I have to pay extra $$$ for the courses I take for my minor?</p>
<p>Wait … I seem to recall something useful on this subject was said in <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/915429-help-double-majoring.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/915429-help-double-majoring.html?</a></p>
<p>As other people have said, if you want to go over 18 units, you have to pay extra. It is about $1200 per unit I believe. However, if you maintain a 3.750 GPA, you can take up to 20 units without paying extra starting your sophomore year ([USC</a> Academic Achievement Award | Undergraduate Education](<a href=“http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award.html]USC”>http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award.html)).</p>
<p>I am currently a BME major in Viterbi and doing a theater minor, and I have found it possible to complete this 24 unit minor. The way I did it was by freeing up 8 units with AP BC Calculus, and then taking classes over the summer to free up more space my sophomore year. I also did go over 18 units my freshman year and payed the extra units. It is possible to do a minor with an engineering major, you just have to be creative and figure out a way to do it.</p>
<p>^do I have to pay extra money if i take summer classes?</p>
<p>There is a sign at the Cashier’s office that says “Free Tuition Tomorrow.”</p>
<p>Yes, you have to pay for the summer semester. Summer classes are $1,360/unit (the price just went up), so a four-unit summer class would cost $5,440 (plus room and board). In Fall or Spring if you take more than 18 units, the extra units cost $1,360 each [Schedule</a> of Classes: Fall 2010: Tuition and Fees](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/academics/classes/term_20103/tuition_and_fees.html]Schedule”>http://www.usc.edu/academics/classes/term_20103/tuition_and_fees.html)</p>
<p>There is a new Academic Achievement award for students pursuing double majors or major/minor combinations. If you need more than the 18 units/semester to complete both programs of study AND have a USC GPA of 3.75 or more, you may be eligible to take up to 20 units in Fall or Spring semesters without incurring extra cost. [USC</a> Academic Achievement Award | Undergraduate Education](<a href=“http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award.html]USC”>http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award.html) Summer is not included in the program.</p>
<p>Take a look at the cost of community college classes where you live during the summer. You can take a low/no paying job in the summer if you want to, but the best use of your time in the summer, bar none, is to punch out a class or two off your degree plan. You might graduate a semester early this way, or facilitate that triple major with 2 minors that you fancy. </p>
<p>You have to be very careful that USC will accept the community college courses for credit, but there is a whole system in place just to do that.</p>
<p>At the community college where we live, the book for the course is usually more expensive than the tuition!</p>