The curriculum belongs to the faculty, with the office of Academic Programs serving to convene, support, and facilitate the curriculum process at USC. The following committees work in partnership to discuss, propose, and approve new curriculum, curricular revision, and academic policy, with a view to ensuring that USC constantly maintains a broad and dynamic catalogue that is innovative, relevant and intellectually-rigorous. We also participate in the University Committee on Academic Review convened by the Executive Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
Academic Planning Committee
Comprised of representatives from all 22 of USC’s academic units, the Academic Senate, and the VP for Enrollment Services, and others, the Committee for Academic Planning serves as a central forum for the discussion of all matters related to curriculum and academic policy at USC. The committee serves as a formal venue for information exchange, providing greater opportunities for shared understanding and collaboration around academic policy, program development, new initiatives and time-sensitive action items across the units, as well as a central forum for the consideration of educational innovations with a campus-wide impact, and for proposing, supporting, and structuring cross-school curricular partnerships, such as joint degree programs.
Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP)
The Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP) is responsible for advising the Provost on unit requirements, residency requirements, and broad-based policies and issues related to the academic appeals process.
University Student-Athlete Advisory Council (USAAC)
The University Student-Athlete Advisory Council (USAAC) provides a platform for the discussion and review of issues, concerns, and data pertaining to the student-athlete experience at USC. Comprised of faculty, administrators, and student athletes, the council serves as an advisory body for the Provost, Athletic Director, and university leadership at large, charged with producing an annual report and making timely recommendations as appropriate.
General Education Committee
The General Education Committee provides guidance and oversight to USC’s General Education program. Committee members represent faculty from across USC for the purposes of reviewing and approving new courses for GE credit, reviewing GE policy, and making recommendations regarding the GE curriculum to the university. The GE Committee also recognizes outstanding contributions to the undergraduate curriculum with yearly awards for faculty and graduate assistants teaching in the GE program
University Committee on Curriculum (UCOC)
The University Committee on Curriculum (UCOC) plays a crucial role in the decisions regarding the university’s curricular, major, minor, and certificate offerings, and the requirements to successfully complete those offerings. It takes over a thousand actions a year, with most proposals acted on in one of the subcommittees, while complicated proposals are acted on by the executive committee that includes chairs of subcommittees. The committee’s actions are published in the University Catalogue. UCOC advises the Provost on all matters pertaining to the adoption, elimination, and revision of courses and programs. It reviews and recommends university-wide policies on curriculum, and also works with units to ensure that appropriate processes are in place in each unit to provide for faculty oversight, development, and evaluation of curriculum. The committee reviews and approves forms and checklists developed by the staff of the Curriculum Office. Recommendations made by the committee are to be based entirely on academic considerations, with revenue concerns resolved by the dean and the Provost. All committee members are faculty. New members are selected in consultation with the Academic Senate Executive Board. Within the University Committee on Curriculum, there are:
- Arts and Humanities Subcommittee (AHS)
- Science and Engineering Subcommittee (SES)
- Social Sciences Subcommittee (SSS)
- Health Professions Subcommittee (HPS)
- Overseas Studies Panel (OSP)