Areas of Interest

Areas of Interest are groups of individual majors that fall under a larger academic umbrella. Each Area of Interest brings together degree programs that appeal to common interests, use (and teach) similar skill sets, and lead to related career paths. Exploring Areas of Interest can help you match your unique talents and interests with specific degree programs, discover USC’s  90+ majors, and make connections between your studies and career possibilities.

Social Sciences & Communications

The Social Sciences and Communications Area of Interest encompasses majors that study how humans interact, share ideas, create identities, organize societies, experience life, and shape our planet. Degree programs that develop knowledge and skill sets such as cross-cultural awareness, critical thinking, qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques, oral and written communication skills, and metacognition equip students for careers in business, government, law, education, research, media, humanitarian outreach, and advocacy.

Health & Wellness

The Health & Wellness Area of Interest includes degree programs that prepare students to work in a variety of healthcare professions including and beyond the medical field. Through the coursework and laboratory experiences in these majors, students gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to pursue career and/or graduate degrees in medicine, physical therapy, athletic training, global health research and education, hospital administration, medical research, and mental health treatment and advocacy.

Business

Majors in the Business Area of Interest prepare students for careers that involve business to business, business to customer, and intra-business interaction. In these degree programs, students learn the fundamentals of commerce, economics, and management and opt for courses of study that focus on specific industries, global markets, business forecasting and modeling, customer interaction, or entrepreneurial endeavors. Business Area of Interest curriculums enable students to pursue careers not only in the private sector, but also government, non-profits, and education.

Humanities & Creative Arts

In the Humanities & Creative Arts Area of Interest students will find curriculums that study the many facets of human cultures, including intellectual legacies, artistic traditions, mediums, and productions, languages, literatures, and historical forces. Humanities & Creative Arts degree programs prepare students for careers in business, education, the non-profit sector, government, and the performing arts through coursework that emphasizes critical thinking, analytical capabilities, oral and written communication skills, creativity, and ingenuity.

STEM

 Degree programs in the STEM (science/technology/engineering/mathematics) Area of Interest prepare students for careers in the health sciences, scientific research, education, environmental sciences, science and technology policy, government, cybersecurity, and business. Through STEM curriculums that include coursework in the classroom, laboratory, and field students gain knowledge and skills that will enable them to succeed in a variety of career fields.