What is Thematic Option and Why You Should Sign Up
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
Maybe you heard about it at USC Explore or at orientation, or maybe you know people in it. But what exactly is this mysterious, niche alternative to taking GEs, and why should all newly admitted students sign up for it right away?
What is it
All students at USC have to take a series of general education (GE) classes in order to graduate. The alternative would be to sign up for Thematic Option (TO), an interdisciplinary honors program that emphasizes reading, writing and asking questions. Unlike the big lectures that are GE classes, TO classes are small, seminar-style classes under 20 students each where class discussion is common. Because the goal of TO is to facilitate a love of learning and nurture intellectual curiosity, helping students answer big questions such as “what is the nature of truth?”, the small class size really helps these conversations along.
In terms of the actual classes, students have to take two writing classes (CORE 111, CORE 112) in place of WRIT 150/WRIT 340, and four other CORE classes (CORE 101-104) that follow these themes: symbols and conceptual systems, culture and values, processes of change in science, and changes and the future. While these classes cover most GE requirements, TO students still need to take GE-A, GE-C, GE-E and GE-F (three of which may be waived by IB or AP scores).
But wait, there’s more! Outside the classroom, the TO office hosts a wide array of FREE activities for students in the program, including boba socials, trips to the Getty, lectures at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, camping at Joshua Tree, moderated discussion on human virtues, stand-up comedy at the Ahmanson Theatre and so on. All of these programs are designed to continue conversations and a free flow of ideas outside the classroom.
HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ONLY NEWLY ADMITTED FALL FRESHMEN MAY APPLY TO THE PROGRAM;sorry to all the spring admits, transfer and continuing students out there, but maybe you guys can still look into this minor in Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society.
An Insider’s Look
Of course, it’s one thing to read about it on the official website, but does the program deliver what it promises? Well, I’ve taken two CORE classes last semester and am taking two more right now, and I truly enjoy all of them. All my professors are really accommodating, and manage to explain abstract concepts in simple terms. Mandatory tutorials for each assignment in my writing classes are also super helpful despite only being 30 minutes long. I could come in with just a vague idea of what I want to write and emerge with a whole outline.
I also find fascinating how each professor has a distinct take on the same theme. For example, my CORE 102 last semester was essentially a philosophy boot camp that accounted for Western culture over the centuries (that proved to be super useful in my CORE 104 this semester on Religion, Illusion, and Critique), while friends in other CORE 102 classes had seminars on learning how to read, on race and so on.
One common thing said of TO is that there is a lot of reading and writing involved. While there is certainly more of that than the average GE, the workload (and even the class format) greatly varies from one professor to another. For example, last semester I may or may not have gotten by only reading one of the assigned readings, but this semester I had to read most everything I was assigned in order to get the most out of the class and understand what’s going on. So my main point is that everyone in TO is going to have really different experiences, so the main thing is to research your professor before choosing a class, and choose a topic you’re genuinely interested in exploring.
Why you should join
You get to explore how to think instead of just what to think as you learn about different philosophical, cultural, etc worldviews
Free high-quality events! Couldn’t get enough of Visions and Voices? Come join TO for more (see above examples)!
TO hosts its own annual research conference for undergrads looking for experience in academia
TO writing classes, in general, grade more leniently than WRIT150/340 as TO professors understand that it’s our first time writing at a college level
Small class size means more flexibility and intimacy – you get to know your classmates and professors well really quickly, and it’s easier to make friends
In some cases, you can even come up with your own list of required readings as a class!
Every semester brings a fresh rotation of interesting and sometimes wacky classes, such as Aural Culture, Third World Documents, and American Trash: A View into America’s Cultural Dustbin
TO professors and instructors are hand-picked and among the best undergraduate teachers at USC – this is not just my opinion but a fact
As their website sums it up, the program essentially allows students to get the benefits of a small liberal arts college in a big research university.
Who shouldn’t join: Those who still prefer GEs after reading this list.
How to apply + tips
Freshman fall admits, I’m speaking to you. You don’t need to be committed to USC to sign up, but if you’re considering SC you should still apply anyway! All you need to do is go here to the TO website and answer a few prompts such as why TO, what’s your favorite class, and so on. Another pro-tip is that at least for my year, they said specifically that they don’t look at the rest of our USC app, so I used some of my essays from other universities and even an essay from the USC app when I applied, and you could too (shh).
Each year, around 200 freshmen are admitted to the program, and they say they look at your SAT and whatnot, all of which may sound daunting but don’t sweat it – not many prospective students know about this gem of a program, and they’re really looking for students who are passionate about the program so if that’s you, go for it!
This year’s deadline is April 15, 2020 so apply now!
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