USC Viterbi Parent Handbook 2022-23

USC Viterbi Parent Handbook 2022-23

PARENT HANDBOOK

2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

Dear USC Parents, On behalf of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, I want to welcome you to the Trojan family. I say this as someone with a vested interest in USC Viterbi. Just like you, I am a Viterbi parent. My son Stevie and daughter Kate both earned degrees here. They graduated as confident, well-rounded young adults equipped for personal and professional success. I want nothing less for your children.

As parents, you have every reason to feel proud. Your sons and daughters comprise the strongest freshman class in USC Viterbi’s history. They are bright, ambitious and diverse, with women making up half the entering class last Fall — one of the highest percentages in the country. At USC Viterbi, they will study with some of the nation’s best faculty. Many of our professors are members of the National Academy of Engineering, the field’s highest honor. Our junior faculty routinely win awards for excellence. And our emphasis is not only on increasing knowledge and skills, but also on developing mindsets of growth for our students. Our emphasis on Engineering +, the convergence of engineering with practically every modern discipline, including the arts, will allow them to explore fields outside of engineering and intellectually flourish. We believe that as much education takes place outside of the classroom as inside. We encourage our students to take advantage of the many extracurricular activities that offer hands-on experience. They could join the USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, the world’s premier undergraduate research group for experimental rocket technologies. Or they could join the National Society of Black Engineers, which won the organization’s coveted 2018 National Chapter of the Year. The choices are limitless. More importantly, we believe that today's society expects trustworthy individuals in our times of unprecedented change. Engineers with competence and engineers with character. All built in a vibrant ecosystem of students and their classmates, of professors and, yes, even deans who will hopefully make the next four years most meaningful and most rewarding. Thank you for entrusting them to us. Welcome, and Fight On!

Dean Yannis C. Yortsos

Dear USC Viterbi Parents,

I am thrilled to welcome you to the USC Viterbi Community! You should be immensely proud of the accomplishments of your children. As a USC parent and with a daughter still in high school, I know how hard our students have worked to prepare for this next step in their academic journey. With a parent’s lens — I understand exactly your expectations when leaving your children with us. While pursuing their academic program, our new Viterbi students will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of educational and extracurricular programs. I encourage them to spend the time to learn what USC and the Viterbi School of Engineering have to offer and carve out the experiences that they find most enriching. Equally as important is for students to acknowledge and nurture the emotional, physical and social parts of their lives. My hope for all of our students is to just be themselves, find their passion and make their time here unique and purposeful. We will be here every step of the way to provide guidance and support. I hope your children will see my office, Viterbi Admission and Student Engagement (VASE), as their home away from home.

Kelly Goulis Senior Associate Dean | Admission and Student Engagement USC Viterbi School of Engineering

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USC VITERBI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Academic Resources The Office of Viterbi Admission and Student Engagement (VASE) supports the education and development of undergraduate students in the Viterbi School of Engineering by providing a broad array of academic support and co-curricular programs and services. VASE works closely with academic departments to support advisors and students. Viterbi advisors foster a dynamic partnership with students as they challenge and support students in creating and refining their academic goals and plans. ADVISOR’S ROLE Listen and Guide ●  Assist students in understanding the Viterbi undergraduate curriculum requirements and learning outcomes. ● Assist with course planning as well as help clarify students’ goals and interests. ● Monitor students’ degree progress and review of their STARS report. ● Inform students about campus resources, activities, and opportunities. ● Clarify school policies and procedures. ●  Answer general advising questions, and make referrals to resources, offices, and individuals as necessary. ● Be available for scheduled appointments, drop-in hours, and emails during business hours. ●  Adhere to confidentiality guidelines as outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). ●  Provide support and guidance as we challenge students to develop individually and as members of the USC and global communities. STUDENT’S ROLE Learn and Grow ●  Come prepared for appointments by reviewing your STARS report and having specific questions. ● Learn the curricular requirements for your degree by reviewing the USC catalogue. ● Read and respond to USC email. ● Be aware of important dates and deadlines. ● Be open to opportunities outside the classroom. ●  Accept responsibility for your academic performance and accept the challenges that college courses provide. ● Keep open lines of communication. Share your concerns, interests, updates, and questions. ● Understand that advisors have a variety of responsibilities that impact their availability. ● Seek support and guidance as you transition into the USC community.

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PARENT HANDBOOK 2022-2023

Choosing an Engineering Major

It’s not always easy for students to know right from the beginning which engineering discipline is the right fit for them. That’s why major exploration is so important. During their first year at Viterbi, students are encouraged to learn about different engineering fields through their courses, out-of-class activities, and the major exploration events and resources provided by Viterbi Admission and Student Engagement. If students discover that a different engineering major is the best path for them, changing their major is simple; a student admitted to one Viterbi major is admitted to all Viterbi majors.

Astronautical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering

Computer Science

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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USC VITERBI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Engineering Majors

An Engineering Major includes courses in the following areas:

MATH 12-20 UNITS

GENERAL EDUCATION + WRITING 36 UNITS

SCIENCE 4-28 UNITS

ENGINEERING 55-75 UNITS

A student’s first year will include courses in all of the categories above. Here is an example of a student’s first semester courses in the Mechanical Engineering major.

CHEM 105AL or MASC 110L* General Chemistry or Materials Science

MATH 125 (GE F)*

WRT 150

ENGR 102

AME 101L

Writing & Critical Reasoning

Intro to Mechanical Engineering & Graphics

Calculus I

Freshman Academy

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PARENT HANDBOOK 2022-2023

Academic Support Both USC and Viterbi-specific academic resources provide assistance to students who desire further clarification of course concepts or are experiencing academic difficulty in math, science, engineering, or writing courses. THE VITERBI LEARNING PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO STUDENTS THROUGH ●  tutor certification ●  one-on-one peer tutoring ●  subject drop-in hours ●  tutor matching services ● online tutoring via GoBoard We also encourage students to take advantage of instructor office hours and supplemental instruction. VITERBI STUDENTS CAN ALSO FIND SUPPORT AT USC CENTERS ●  Kortschak Center for Learning & Creativity ● Writing Center ● Math Center Women in Engineering Our Women in Engineering (WIE) program offers professional, academic, and social opportunities for all women in Viterbi. Programs such as the WIE Mentor Program, Faculty Student Luncheons, and WIE Meets Women in Industry, are just a few of the programs available for the female engineering community. In addition, there are female-oriented engineering student organizations, such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the engineering sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon (AOE), Athena Hacks, and Girls in Tech for students to get involved and meet fellow female engineers. Freshman Academy All first-year students in Viterbi are invited to become a part of Freshman Academy (ENGR 102) their first semester in Viterbi. Students starting in the spring semester can participate in Spring Academy. Freshman Academy provides a birds-eye view of the field of engineering by tackling the ethical, societal, and political impact of engineering and technology use, focusing on the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges. Each Academy section is also facilitated by upper-division, undergraduate, student coaches who, along with being student leaders in their respective majors, also serve as resources and mentors to first-year Viterbi students. 6 USC VITERBI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Viterbi Career Connections Viterbi Career Connections (VCC) offers career-focused support to prepare engineering students for internships, co-ops, and full-time employment. We host a variety of companies throughout the year with job openings to fill. Our philosophy is that the more frequently students engage in co-curricular activities combined with their academic programs, the more successfully they can compete in the job market. Students are encouraged to register with Viterbi Career Connections during their first year at USC via the Viterbi Gateway portal. By doing so, they will be kept informed of all career-related events such as company information sessions, job postings, career preparedness workshops, industry luncheons, networking events, and career expos. In addition, students are able to participate in the school’s extensive on-campus recruitment activities.

VITERBI CAREER CONNECTIONS >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

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