Admissions

RESEARCH AT USC

Every discipline, every major, every program of study at USC offers opportunities for undergraduate research. With the guidance of faculty mentors, you can investigate the scholarly questions that arouse your curiosity. Dig deep into the topic of your choice as you integrate your classroom learning with your own innovative experiments.

Every Major Offers Research

At USC, we believe that every intellectual arena provides the environment for creatively exploring your interests. In addition to traditional research areas in science, technology and medicine, we encourage majors in the arts, humanities, music, theatre, education, business and others to thoroughly examine critical issues in their disciplines.

USC's Discovery Day

During our annual Discovery Day symposium, you and your peers can share your findings with the broader University community. In 2010, some of the research topics included:

• Stage Combat: A Microscope on Acting
• The Community Service Experience: Understanding the Academic and Professional Benefits
• Synthesis of Dendrimer-Stabilized Rh Nanoparticles in Solution
• African-American Male Stereotypes
• The Integration of Ground Damage Assessment into Tornado Classification Methods
• Gills Creek Watershed Research of Stream Contamination
• An Exploration of Dating and Sexual Violence on College Campuses
• Modeling People's Choice Behavior
• A Cookbook for Children Promoting Nutrition

Learn Basic Research Skills

In our "Discover" class, you'll start the research process by learning the basic skills and abilities that can make you a valuable research assistant, including how to:

• Create surveys.
• Write research and field notes.
• Network with faculty and peers.
• Develop effective poster presentations or oral, creative and visual arts displays to share your findings.

Present Your Research via Voyager

The "Voyager" component of USC's Magellan Scholar Program provides support for undergraduates to present their research at regional, national and international meetings. You could be one of them, so consider getting involved today!

Competitive Magellan Scholar grants for up to $3,000 support faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects; $1 million in awards has been disbursed since 2006.