Astani CEE Masters Student Advisement 


This page contains advisement information and policy reminders for current Astani CEE Masters students. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your advisor on the AdviseUSC platform. For directions, please see Advisement

The Astani CEE Student Affair’s mission is to support the holistic development of students and foster academic success.

Enrollment and Policies
Enrollment and Policies
Registration, D-clearance, and Pre-Req Waivers
Registration, D-clearance, and Pre-Req Waivers
Account Holds
Account Holds
Advisement
Advisement
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Enrollment and Policies
Enrollment and Policies
Registration, D-clearance, and Pre-Req Waivers
Registration, D-clearance, and Pre-Req Waivers
Account Holds
Account Holds
Advisement
Advisement
Additional Resources
Additional Resources

Are you a new Astani CEE Masters student? Take a look at our New Masters Student page!

Enrollment and Policies

A master's student is considered to be enrolled full time when registered for eight (8) or more units. Students should not enroll in more than eight (8) units before discussing with their department advisor.

Full-time employed students should not take more than 4 units. Please discuss with a department advisor before enrolling in more than 4 units.

International students that would like to enroll in less than eight (8) units of classes must first speak with the Office of International Services (OIS) and VGASP advisors.

It is the responsibility of all students to review their degree requirements on their program website. Only courses explicitly listed apply toward their degree. If you would like to request the opportunity to take a course outside of the approved electives, please complete the Program Exception Request Form. Your request justification must include why you believe the course will benefit your career and how you believe it is relevant to your degree. It is recommended that students first reach out to their advisor on Advise USC with inquiries regarding coursework not listed. The department leadership reviews requests and all decisions are final.

2/3 Rule

All programs require a minimum two-thirds of coursework must be 500-level or higher. Learn more.

Note: This policy applies to programs that require or allow 400-level coursework.

Academic Performance

All students are required to maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing and to graduate. Students that are unable to maintain the 3.0 GPA will be placed on academic probation. View the complete policy on the Viterbi Website.

Note: Only grades C or higher will count toward your degree progress, but all grades will count toward your GPA.

Note: No Pass/No Pass courses are allowed.

Academic Integrity

If you have questions about academic integrity, contact your professor as policies may differ from class to class. Always error on the side of caution if you are unsure if something is considered cheating.

Penalties for violations at the Master’s level are extremely severe grade sanctions (e.g., “F” in the course) or dismissal. Other consequences include:

  • Denied CPT/Internship
  • Loss of access to Viterbi Career Connections (VCC) office events
  • Suspension or explusion
  • Impact on job opportunities

Degree must be completed in 5 years.

Registration, D-Clearance, and Pre-Req Waivers

Web Registration

Students register for their courses through an online tool called Web Registration. For more support on registration, please visit the Registrar's website.

Every semester, there is a deadline to register for classes and settle your bill without accruing a late fee. Please be enrolled full time before this deadline. Note that it is possible to change your schedule after this date.

For more information about deadlines, please visit the Schedule of Classes and reviewing the Registration Calendar.

D-Clearance

D-Clearance stands for Departmental Clearance. Some courses at USC require D-Clearance (or the department’s permission) to register for a class.

Do you need D-Clearance?
  • If a course section number ends in "R" (ex: 00000R)  → No. For all courses that end in “R” you may register directly without departmental approval.
  • If a course section number ends in “D” (ex: 00000D)  → Yes. All courses that end in D require need D-Clearance. See section below for D-Clearance Request Instructions.
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NOTE: All Den@Viterbi courses have department clearance. See section below for directions.

 
Pre-requisite Waivers

Some courses have pre-requisite requirements. These are courses/prior knowledge that is required to be successful in the course.

As masters students, you may have taken the pre-requisite at your undergraduate institution. In this instance, you will need to submit a pre-requisite waiver in order to register for the class.

Account Holds

Holds may be placed on your account by a variety of offices at the University. You can check if you have a hold on your record via myusc.usc.edu → OASIS → RESTRICTIONS.

The following table lists common holds that students may have on their student account and the removal procedure:

HOLD

DESCRIPTION

HOW TO REMOVE HOLD

STU50

Restricts registration and USCard application

(prevents registration)

Complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) with OIS upon arrival in the U.S.

ADM40

Degree Verification

(allows registration)

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

Deadline for all degree verifications is by the end of your first semester.

If you are unable to complete verification within your first semester, this hold will become ADM 41.

ADM 41

Degree Verification

(prevents registration)

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

This hold will prevent registration until verification is complete. Department advisors cannot lift holds.

ADM20

Conditional Admission
(note - allows registration)

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

ADM 21

Conditional Admission
(prevents registration)

See your Admission Letter for any specific conditions.

You should contact cee.advise@usc.edu once grades post to determine if you met the admission conditions.

ENGR 01

Advisement Hold

Every semester masters students are required to attend or watch the record of the group advisement session. The hold will be lifted once the video is viewed to its entirety. Please do not reach out to your department advisor regarding your ENGR 01 hold. They are processed periodically throughout the week.

Your academic advisor/student services cannot lift any collection/financial holds. Please contact USC Financial Services if you have a collection or financial hold.

Account Holds

Holds may be placed on your account by a variety of offices at the University. You can check if you have a hold on your record via myusc.usc.edu → OASIS → RESTRICTIONS.

The following table lists common holds that students may have on their student account and the removal procedure:

Common Holds

STU50

Description:

Restricts registration and USCard application

(prevents registration)

How to remove it?

Complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) with OIS upon arrival in the U.S.

ADM40

Description:

Degree Verification

(allows registration)

How to remove it?

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

Deadline for all degree verifications is by the end of your first semester.

If you are unable to complete verification within your first semester, this hold will become ADM 41.

ADM 41

Description:

Degree Verification

(prevents registration)

How to remove it?

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

This hold will prevent registration until verification is complete. Department advisors cannot lift holds.

ADM20

Description:

Conditional Admission
(note - allows registration)

How to remove it?

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

ADM 21

Description:

Conditional Admission
(prevents registration)

How to remove it?

See your Admission Letter for any specific conditions.

You should contact cee.advise@usc.edu once grades post to determine if you met the admission conditions.

.

ENGR 01

Description:

Advisement Hold

How to remove it?

Every semester masters students are required to attend or watch the record of the group advisement session. The hold will be lifted once the video is viewed to its entirety. Please do not reach out to your department advisor regarding your ENGR 01 hold. They are processed periodically throughout the week.

Your academic advisor/student services cannot lift any collection/financial holds. Please contact USC Financial Services if you have a collection or financial hold.

Account Holds

Holds may be placed on your account by a variety of offices at the University. You can check if you have a hold on your record via myusc.usc.edu → OASIS → RESTRICTIONS.

The following table lists common holds that students may have on their student account and the removal procedure:

HOLD

DESCRIPTION

HOW TO REMOVE HOLD

STU50

Description:

Restricts registration and USCard application

(prevents registration)

How to remove it?

Complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) with OIS upon arrival in the U.S.

Restricts registration and USCard application

(prevents registration)

Complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) with OIS upon arrival in the U.S.

ADM40

Description:

Degree Verification

(allows registration)

How to remove it?

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

Deadline for all degree verifications is by the end of your first semester.

If you are unable to complete verification within your first semester, this hold will become ADM 41.

Degree Verification

(allows registration)

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

Deadline for all degree verifications is by the end of your first semester.

If you are unable to complete verification within your first semester, this hold will become ADM 41.

ADM 41

Description:

Degree Verification

(prevents registration)

How to remove it?

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

This hold will prevent registration until verification is complete. Department advisors cannot lift holds.

Degree Verification

(prevents registration)

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

This hold will prevent registration until verification is complete. Department advisors cannot lift holds.

ADM20

Description:

Conditional Admission
(note - allows registration)

How to remove it?

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

Conditional Admission
(note - allows registration)

Verify previous degree(s) with USC Office of Degree Progress.

ADM 21

Description:

Conditional Admission
(prevents registration)

How to remove it?

See your Admission Letter for any specific conditions.

You should contact cee.advise@usc.edu once grades post to determine if you met the admission conditions.

Conditional Admission
(prevents registration)

See your Admission Letter for any specific conditions.

You should contact cee.advise@usc.edu once grades post to determine if you met the admission conditions.

ENGR 01

Description:

Advisement Hold

How to remove it?

Every semester masters students are required to attend or watch the record of the group advisement session. The hold will be lifted once the video is viewed to its entirety. Please do not reach out to your department advisor regarding your ENGR 01 hold. They are processed periodically throughout the week.

Advisement Hold

Every semester masters students are required to attend or watch the record of the group advisement session. The hold will be lifted once the video is viewed to its entirety. Please do not reach out to your department advisor regarding your ENGR 01 hold. They are processed periodically throughout the week.

Your academic advisor/student services cannot lift any collection/financial holds. Please contact USC Financial Services if you have a collection or financial hold.

ADVISEMENT

The Astani Student Affairs Team supports the holistic development of students and fosters academic success.

Meet your Astani Student Affairs Team!

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Geraldine Perry

Director, CEE Undergraduate Student Services

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Christine Hsieh

Associate Director, CEE Graduate Student Services

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Emily Millard

Assistant Director, CEE Student Services

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Maral Mardirossians

Assistant Director, CEE Student Services

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Geraldine Perry

Director, CEE Undergraduate Student Services

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Christine Hsieh

Associate Director, CEE Graduate Student Services

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Emily Millard

Assistant Director, CEE Student Services

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Maral Mardirossians

Assistant Director, CEE Student Services

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Geraldine Perry

Director, CEE Undergraduate Student Services

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Christine Hsieh

Associate Director, CEE Graduate Student Services

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Emily Millard

Assistant Director, CEE Student Services

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Maral Mardirossians

Assistant Director, CEE Student Services

Advisement is held every semester by major. Please regularly check your email for communication from cee.advise@usc.edu. Attending or reviewing the recording is required to remove your ENGR01 advisement hold. If you were unable to advisement, please view the appropriate recording using your USC zoom account.

Fall 2024 Advisement Recording Links:

MSCE - General

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations

MSCE - Structural Engineering

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations

MSCE - Water Waste Management

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations

MSCE - Construction Engineering

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations

MSCE - Advanced Design Construction Technology

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations

MS - Environmental Engineering

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations

Masters of Green Technologies

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations

MSCE - Transportation Engineering

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations

MS - Transportation  System Management

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations

Masters of Construction Management

Advisement Recording
Advisement Recording
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations
Fall DEN Course Recommendations

Connect with Your Advisor via Advise USC

If you need to speak with your advisor, please reach out to them via the Advise USC platform. In instances when the platform is facing technical difficulties, please reach out to CEE Student Affairs (cee.advise@usc.edu).

Below are resources to assist you with accessing Advise USC.

How to Connect with your Advisor

Advise USC Platform

Use your USC Shibboleth login at usc.edu/advise to access the Advise USC Platform.

Create a case

Purpose: Do you have a question for your advisor? Or something you initially wanted to send an email about? (Examples include: Change of Major, Class Registration, thesis inquiry, etc.) Create a case so that your inquiry can be prioritized!

After logging in, select “Advisor Connect” from the menu bar and under “My Cases” select “Create a New Case”

   

If you have an update to your situation and/or question, please find the case under “My Cases” and create an update on the right-hand side of the case page.