Grand Challenges Scholars Program!
Viterbi is GCSP!
Viterbi GCSP offers undergraduate students the opportunity to tailor their curricular and co-curricular experiences towards meaningful work, discovery, and academic pursuits that contribute to solving global society’s most pressing issues. Throughout their undergraduate education, GCSP students are required to engage with each of the five Mindsets needed to solve for Grand Challenges. Students who receive GCSP Designation in their senior year of undergrad demonstrate understanding and commitment to the five Mindsets, and thus are equipped to make impactful contributions as scholars and professionals. GCSP students are prepared to use an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, with engineering as the foundation for the multifaceted ways in which they view the world.
As an integral component of a school developed around the concept of Engineering+, GCSP acts as vehicle for engagement in the many activities available to undergraduates at Viterbi, including student organizations, coursework, honors programs, design teams, research, study abroad experiences, and much more. Our goal is to get Viterbi students involved with their campus and reflecting on how their experiences relate to solving for Grand Challenges.
This program is open to all Viterbi undergraduate students, and we would like to see as many students as possible pursuing Designation as Grand Challenges Scholars!
Why Viterbi GCSP?
Viterbi GCSP students are committed to shaping their educational experiences towards discovery, exploration, and potentially solving one of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)’s Grand Challenges.
Viterbi GCSP Students receive:
- Entry to an advisement cohort specific to crafting their curricular and co-curricular experiences towards pursuit of a Grand Challenge
- Access to support and events hosted by the GCSP student organization
- Additional guidance related to the many Viterbi and University programs and organizations
- Faculty support related to Grand Challenges and research opportunities
- Connection to the International GCSP Network
Get Involved! Join GCSP
Viterbi Majors can join GCSP at any point in their academic journey; however, it is encouraged to join early on in your time at Viterbi to make the most of your time and experiences engaging with the Five Mindsets and Grand Challenges. Students who are interested in joining GCSP can click this link to fill out the interest form on EngageSC.
At the start of both Fall and Spring Semesters of the academic year, prospective students can learn more about the program a GCSP Info Session, but students can always contact Dr. Kamau Jamal Abercrombia to learn more about GCSP and discuss being onboarded into the program out of cycle.
Upon joining the program, students will be added to the advisement cohort and be made a member of the GCSP student organization- Students Innovating for Global Challenges.
Students who are entering their last year at Viterbi and have not been explicitly involved with GCSP are welcome to join the program and should plan to meet with Dr. Abercrombia to discuss their activities and experiences prior to Senior year in order to identify any gaps in their GCP profile.
What is at the Finish line?
During therir senior year, Viterbi majors will be invited to apply for Designation as a Viterbi Grand Challenges Scholar. The process consists of submitting a narrative application discussing the students' activities and experiences to meet each of the Five Mindsets. In their narratives, students are expected to briefly discuss what they did to meet a particular Mindset, how their experience relates to Grand Challenges, and what they learned from the experience. A review committee will make determinations on Grand Challenges Scholar eligibility. Applications that best embody the mission and spirit of GCSP will be reviewed for further distinctions as Top Scholars, including award and recognition.
Students who earn the designation of Viterbi Grand Challenges Scholars receive the following:
- A transcript designation as a Viterbi Grand Challenges Scholar
- A medal to be worn at Commencement and all other end of year celebrations
- A recognition letter from the National Academy of Engineering's President
- Recognition from the international GCSP Network
- A Linkedin profile badge to display for resumes, employers, or graduate school opportunities
The Importance of Grand Challenges
Awards and recognition for hard work at Viterbi are important. Our curriculum is notably rigorous as a means of preparing the next generation of engineers prepared and willing to tackle the biggest issues our global community face. "Engineering a Better World" is not just a saying at Viterbi- it is a part of our mission. The Grand Challenges Scholars Program and its international network of engineering schools (the GCSP Network), was founded by three engineering Deans who all at one point were prominent members of the Viterbi Family. One of those founders, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos, has remained with us at Viterbi and leads the charge in the continual effort to develop Viterbi to be best positioned to train students to address Grand Challenges.
GCSP was created to address the 14 Grand Challenges that the National Academy of Engineering identified in 2008. Though our societal challenges have morphed and multiplied since 2008, the mission is still the same: develop well-rounded engineers who, using engineering, knowledge, and technical abilities, can work across discipline and cultures to leverage phenomenon for useful purposes. So while accolades are important for developing careers and getting to the next level of the academic journey should a student choose to pursue an advanced degree, we truly want students to engage in GCSP to find purpose and help move society forward by tackling the tough issues head on. We do not expect every student to solve the worlds problems in just four years at Viterbi- but you can make a meaningful start for yourself and others!
NAE Grand Challenges
Sustainability
- Making solar energy economical
- Providing energy from fusion
- Developing carbon sequestration methods
- Managing the nitrogen cycle
- Providing access to clean water
Security
- Securing cyberspace
- Preventing nuclear terror
- Restoring and improving urban infrastructure
Health
- Engineering better medicines
- Advancing health informatics
- Reverse engineering the brain
Joy of Living
- Enhancing virtual reality
- Advancing personalized learning
- Engineering the tools of scientific discovery
The Five Mindsets of GCSP
The Five Mindsets are domains of thinking necessary to tackle Grand Challenges and are the areas in which students must engage in at least one activity or experience to be considered a Viterbi Grand Challenges Scholar.
Understanding gained through multidisciplinary studies: participate in activities and courses outside the engineering curriculum that will complement the technical curriculum such as public policy, business, law, ethics, art, sociology, natural sciences, etc.
Understanding of viable business models gained through curricular or co-curricular experience. Students should be prepared to translate invention and innovation and to develop market ventures that can scale to global solutions to the Grand Challenges.
General Timeline for Viterbi GCSP
While the journey may vary based on when a student becomes a member of the Viterbi family and joins GCSP, the general framework for GCSP looks as follows:
Discover: Underclass years (1st and 2nd year):
Students explore their interests in and around Viterbi while finding subjects and topics in which they may find passion. Students receive advisement on how to be engaged on campus and which opportunities to pursue, while participating in any available GCSP activities.
Development: 3rd or Junior year:
Having become familiarized to USC and Viterbi, students have an understanding of their interests. Students have more target involvement in activities related to their career and educational objectives, as well as Grand Challenges. Students identify a particular Grand Challenge or theme they would like to address.
Implementation: Senior year
Students prepare for the end of their undergraduate time at Viterbi by applying experiences towards career aspirations and/or graduate school opportunities. Students have a strong understanding of their interests and further pursue targeted experiences on campus. Students may participate in capstone courses and research symposiums while applying for Viterbi GCSP Designation.
How to Meet Your Mindsets
There are many ways to meet the Five Mindsets, including several Viterbi sponsored/recognized courses, programs, research, and student orgs that many students are involved with throughout their time at USC. Outside experiences such as internships, work experience, clubs, organizations, and more can also be justified on the application for GCSP Designation application.
Book an Appointment
Students should utilize advisement throughout their GCSP journey, even if just to ask how an activity my qualify for Designation. Contact Dr. Abercrombia (kabercro@usc.edu) for GCSP questions or schedule an in-person or online meeting.
GCSP Activities
Click here to see a list of Viterbi programs, activities, and student organizations that can be used to meet GCSP Mindset requirements. Keep in mind that opportunities not listed may still be justified for GCSP Designation. Please check with Dr. Abercrombia.
How to Apply for Designation (Seniors)
The GCSP Committee will only accept applications from graduating seniors. Each application will be evaluated on the student’s focus on their chosen Grand Challenge and interpretation of their work and experiences across the Five Mindsets.
You will notice the Five Mindsets of a successful Grand Challenges Scholar have flexibility built in. While we list possible interpretations of the Mindsets, we encourage you to think of these areas broadly. While focusing on your selected Grand Challenge only one Mindset requires in-depth focus.
It is highly encouraged to take advantage of advisement and application review throughout the application season.
Grand Challenge Scholars Senior Presentation Slides
**Application for Spring and Fall 2025 Designation (including students finishing undergrad PDP requirements) now open. APPLY EARLY**
Application Deadline: 3/28/2025 at 11:59pm
