Residential Colleges
USC's five residential colleges provide an opportunity offered by only a few universities in the U.S.
Based on British and Ivy League models, these programs strive to integrate a stimulating social setting,
cultural activities and academic excellence into a living experience that enriches and teaches.
In our residential colleges, students live alongside USC Faculty; each building has a faculty master and sometimes
several additional live-in faculty members. These individuals are an important part of the buildings academic and social life,
hosting dinners and lectures, leading excursions into Los Angeles rich cultural landscape and participating in student-oriented
activities.
Our residential colleges house residents of all class standings, but are primarily for freshmen, offering new students a unique
and interesting introduction to university living.
Arts & Humanities Residential College
In addition to its special interest floors dedicated to music, the visual arts and architecture, the entirety of the new Arts & Humanities Residential College will be dedicated to furthering the role of the arts and humanities. The new college will connect students with the cultural offerings of greater Los Angeles as well as the arts and humanities community at USC.
Faculty Master: Kyung Moon Hwang, Associate Professor of History
Residential Faculty: Priya Jaikumar, Associate Professor of Cinematic Arts
Oliver Mayer, Assistant Professor of Theatre
Birnkrant Residential College
Located across from the Leavey Library and the McCarthy Quad, Birnkrant brings students together to explore the cultural and entertainment options the Los Angeles area has to offer while pursuing academic achievement. Tuesday nights the residents gather for a Masters dinner, frequently with an accompanying speaker or musical performance. Through the building's government, residents plan activities such a beach trips, studio tours and a Halloween haunted house for neighborhood children.
Faculty Master: Thomas Gustafson, Associate Professor of English
International Residential College at Parkside
The international residential college consists of both IRC and Parkside Apartments and serves as a focal point for discussion and dialog in the increasingly interconnected world of the 21st century. Living at Parkside allows you to participate in intellectual and social exchanges with faculty and students from a wide variety or backgrounds and interests in one of the most attractive campus locations.
Faculty Master: Giulio Ongaro, Associate Professor of Musicology
Residential Faculty: Ellie Nazimi, Assistant Professor of Preventative Medicine
Ricardo Ramirez, Assistant Professor of Political Science and American Studies
Macarena Gomez Barris, Assistant Professor of Sociology
New Residential College
Students living in New College enjoy a mix of cultural, social and academic activities that they themselves have a hand in shaping. Theme dinners, often with musical performances, are a weekly highlight, and residents gather to watch a movie from the faculty masters extensive collection. Once a month, students travel off campus to one of the citys ethnic restaurants to sample a new cuisine or take in music at a local jazz or blues club.
Faculty Master: Stan Rosen, Professor of Political Science
North Residential College
Outgoing and open, North Residential College is a popular choice for students new to USC. It's a "hub of freshman life" with a great location, near libraries and dining outlets. The weekly Masters Night dinners are a tradition, a venue for residents to talk politics with the faculty master, meet with visiting guest lecturers or just catch up with friends.
Faculty Master: Edwin McCann, Professor of Philosophy