Pre-Engineering (PEGR)
Required Pre-Engineering Courses
Students must complete at least one course in each category based on the engineering major into which they intend to transfer. Each Viterbi major differs in its required in‑residency pre‑engineering course requirements.
Transfer Credits: If you have transferred in or waived one of the required courses, then the next USC course in the sequence taken in residency will be required for review. For more information on how AP and IB credits may apply toward USC degree requirements, please visit the AP & IB Credits page: https://viterbiadmission.usc.edu/credit/
Prerequisites: Please note that some courses have prerequisites, so you should plan your enrollment accordingly to ensure that you can progress through the required sequence.
Placement Exam: If you have not taken the Math and Chemistry placement exams, you will need to complete them before enrolling in any math or chemistry courses for which you have not transferred equivalent coursework. You may register for the placement exams using the following link: https://dornsife.usc.edu/languages/non-language-testing
Engineering Course Limit: Before you are admitted to Viterbi, you are limited in the number of engineering courses that you may take: you may enroll in up to four engineering courses (some of which will be required for the pre-engineering process) prior to Viterbi admission.
Please be aware that it is ultimately your discretion to determine how best to balance pre‑engineering coursework with the requirements of your current major. Enrollment in Viterbi-related courses does not guarantee admission and may result in those courses applying only as elective credit if you are not admitted and they do not count toward your current major or a minor. Additionally, depending on when you begin the pre‑engineering and when an admission decision is made, delays in your anticipated degree completion timeline may occur.
Additional Resources For a sample course plan, please refer to the USC Viterbi Handbook available here.