https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4OMvdtEI1Y

Engineering +

Do More Than Just Engineering

Your Options Are Only Limited By Your Interests

Engineering+ at USC Viterbi is a philosophy encouraging engineering students to pursue interdisciplinary studies, combining their technical skills with diverse interests like business, arts, music, or film through minors, double majors, electives (like dance or yoga), or clubs, fostering holistic problem-solving for societal challenges. It's about broadening education beyond STEM to develop well-rounded engineers who can tackle complex global issues through creativity and diverse perspectives, as highlighted by the National Academy of Engineering's Grand Challenges.

Beyond Viterbi

…Dance?! You bet. Business? Sounds like a great combination. Music Recording? We want to enhance your engineering education by encouraging you to explore additional academic opportunities. It’s what we call “Engineering +.” It’s the first part of an equation where you fill in your variable to define your version of a holistic education. An interdisciplinary education gets you started on the right foot toward problem solving in a world that doesn’t define it’s problems by a singular discipline.

Double Major

Definitely more work, and likely to take longer than 4 years, but we can help you do it!

Fun Classes

Use elective spaces to take Guitar, Ballroom Dance, Film, Sailing classes, or all of the above!

Boost Skills

Our Information Technology Program offers specific technical skills to enhance your degree. Six Sigma, Programming, Cybersecurity... there is a lot more to learn.

150+ Minors

Minors are sets of courses (usually 4-6) around a certain topic or theme and are available across the university.

Consider the possibilities…

Introduction to Special Effects in Cinema

Learn the elements of visual and special effects using various film clips, discussion and hands on filming. We encourage all students to participate in as many of the crew positions as possible during our hands on portion of class.

Surfing!

Learn the basic skills of Southern California’s most iconic sport. By the end of the course, students will be able to paddle out, stand up on a board and glide along the coast.

Introduction to Seamanship and Navigation

Students will apply the concepts and skills learned in the classroom to the safe operation and navigation of a working sail training vessel during a 2-day overnight ocean voyage.

Theatrical Film Symposium

Brings you face-to-face with leading film directors, writers, producers, and actors working today. Throughout the semester, students will watch a wide selection of new film releases, followed by exclusive Q&As with the creative teams behind them.

Engineering Plus On The Podcast

Student Stories

Engineering Plus

My Musical Journey Wrapped – From Orchestral Viola to Ultrasound

“Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life… but poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are…

Dominic De La Torre

Studying Abroad in Edinburgh!!

If you had told me at the beginning of my Viterbi experience that I would get to study abroad, I…

Victoria Aguirre

Sailing into senior year?!

Did you know you can get a captain's license for sailing in 5 semesters at USC? There are so many…

Anna Hsu

4 In’s & Out’s for the New Academic Year, from a MechE Senior

This fall marks my final year as a senior mechanical engineering student at USC. Although I’m starting to feel sentimental,…

Naya Williams

Letter to My Freshman Year Self

Dear Freshman Taylor, College turned out to be everything you imagined and so much more. So many things you were…

Taylor Hill-Miles

My Favorite Things About USC Viterbi

To express my thoughts regarding the Viterbi School of Engineering, I decided to write a quick parody to the opening…

Zoe Zlatic

All Press is Good Press, I Guess: How I incorporate Journalism with CS

If you would have come up to high school Keilani and told her, “Oh by the way, you go to…

Keilani Kozen

Student Reflections on Engineering + at Viterbi

”Most people would never put Biomedical Engineering and coding together. But here is where Engineering+ comes in. Studying Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis in Electrical Engineering, I knew I had to at least know the basic of computer programming. Because of this, I decided to take full advantage of the Information Technology Program (ITP) offered by at USC Viterbi.
Gerson EstradaBiomedical Engineering, '26

”Whether it’s combining engineering with music, cinematography, journalism, or art, Viterbi encourages us to explore our passions in diverse ways. For me, it’s Engineering + life sciences.
Cecilia BetencourtElectrical Engineering, '26

”Did you know you can get a captain’s license for sailing in 5 semesters at USC? There are so many nautical science classes here and they even have a teaching assistant program to help you hit all of those hours. I figured, “It’s senior year! I should take something fun! I just went on my voyage last weekend, where we got to sail for 36 hours in the Pacific Ocean.
Anna HsuComputer Engineering and Computer Science, '26

”Engineering+ can describe whatever you want it to. It’s YOUR plus.

It’s also important to mention that you don’t have to stick to a single “plus”. I am interested in healthcare inequity, but I’ve also always wanted to try ballroom dancing. Last semester I joined a research team focused on health disparities and social justice in Los Angeles, AND I took a ballroom dancing class.
Maya NeuenschwanderIndustrial & Systems, '24

”For me, Engineering+ has meant expressing my love of music through the Trojan Marching Band (TMB). This is my third year as a alto sax player in the TMB, and my second year holding the leadership position of Squad Leader. To me, it’s more than just playing music; it’s about leadership, teamwork, and precision.
Alexa GarciaIndustrial & Systems, '26