D-Clearance
Most classes in TAC do not require departmental clearance (“d-clearance”) in order to register during the normal registration period.
If there is d-clearance on a TAC class, it may be for the fall under the following categories:
- The course is an ONLINE course -- Students must request clearance for online courses by using this form. This process helps confirm that students meet university eligibility and location requirements for online instruction.
- There is an active waitlist of students waiting to register for the course -- This is typically the case for courses that are high-demand, full, or nearly full. Waitlists open two weeks before the beginning of each semester. If you would like to sign up for the waitlist for a course or learn more about TAC course waitlists, you can do so here.
- The first week of classes has passed -- Instructors will sometimes request d-clearance be added to their section after the first week of classes, and require students to reach touch base with the instructor to learn what assignments have been missed before granting d-clearance to register.
- The course requires instructor approval before registering -- TAC-470 "Technology and Applied Computing Practicum" and TAC-480 "Technology and Applied Computing Internship" are special courses that require a proposal and faculty approval to register. More information can be found below.
In order to get d-clearance, please reach out to tac.advising@usc.edu. Please include your 1- Digit USC ID and the section number of the course you are interested in registering for.
Please keep in mind the following:
- We recommend adding classes by the end of the second week of the semester at the latest. It is the student's responsibility to make sure they study all material they have missed.
- Once received, d-clearance requests are processed within 2 business days, so plan ahead.
- If there is no longer space in the classroom (or not enough computers), we may not be able to add any new students.
Prerequisite waivers
Some students have already completed preparatory course work in CSCI, EE, or ISE or have worked on their own programming projects. In these cases, skipping a prerequisite and registering for a higher-level course may benefit the student.
- We advise students to complete all required prerequisites.
- After you complete a course, you cannot go backward and complete its prerequisite in a later semester for credit.
- This information applies to waiving prerequisites to register in higher-level classes only. If you are pursuing a minor or specialization program in TAC, then you may need additional units to replace the waived requirements. For information about how waiving prerequisites impacts your progress in your minor or specialization, please contact our academic advisors.
The following prerequisite waivers are approved for TAC classes:
- CSCI-102 (2 units) satisfies the TAC-109, TAC-115, or TAC-165 requirement. (Excluding the Applied Analytics minor/specialization. Students interested in completing the Applied Analytics minor/specialization must complete TAC-115)
- CSCI-103 (4 units) satisfies the TAC-265 requirement.
- CSCI-104 (4 units) satisfies the TAC-365 requirement.
- CSCI-360 (4 units) satisfies the TAC-259 requirement.
- EE-155 (4 units) satisfies the TAC-265 requirement.
- EE-355 (4 units) satisfies the TAC-365 requirement.
To obtain a prerequisite waiver:
- If the waiver is listed above, please email tac.advising@usc.edu to request the waiver.
Please be sure to include your USC ID number. - If the waiver is not listed above, you will need to obtain the written approval of the instructor of the higher-level course. If you obtain approval, please forward the instructor's approval email with your USC ID number to tac.advising@usc.edu
Waitlists
TAC is now keeping a waitlist for any class section that becomes full during Fall and Spring registration periods (d-clearance is applied to classes that have an active waitlist).
The Fall 2025 waitlist will be open on August 11, 2025 and will be open until the Fall registration deadline (Sep 12, 2025). Until the waitlist opens, we recommend monitoring enrollment in the interested section, and adding if a student drops.
- Submitting a waitlist request form does not guarantee that you will be able to register for the requested course.
- Waitlist priority is not solely based on when the student requested to be added, but other factors are considered including graduation date, minor/major requirements, and availability of alternative classes.
- If you are given d-clearance to register, you will be notified by TAC advising, and you will have until the end of that day before your d-clearance expires.
- If you are not able to register for a course you are on the waitlist on, please reach out to tac.advising@usc.edu to discuss possible substitute courses to maintain minor/specialization progress.
TAC-470
Technology and Applied Computing Practicum
Pursue individual practical or exploratory projects in information technology under the guidance of faculty.
Eligibility
- You must be a current USC undergraduate in good academic standing.
- You must have previous knowledge in your chosen technical field.
Most students will be juniors or seniors pursuing TAC minors. - Your project must start no later than the third week of the semester.
- You cannot enroll in TAC-470 while studying abroad.
- You may only complete this class once.
How to register
- To get d-clearance, you must propose a project you will complete during the semester.
- You will need a faculty supervisor to guide your project.
The faculty member listed on the Schedule of Classes will be the director of TAC, Professor Erik Johnson, but you should work with a faculty member that teaches classes in your minor. - Submit your project proposal on MyViterbi using the “Directed Research Request Form.”
All enrolled USC students have access to MyViterbi, regardless of major. - Your request form will go to your faculty supervisor for approval.
- After your faculty member approves your proposal, you will receive d-clearance to register.
You can only get d-clearance with an approved request form. - You can register after obtaining d-clearance.
Timeline
- You must register for TAC-470 before the add/drop deadline for that semester.
- Submit your request form online at least 1 week before the registration deadline.
- Your project must be completed before the last day of classes.
Guidelines
- Any full-time faculty member in TAC may supervise your project.
- You will determine your own meeting schedule with your faculty supervisor.
- Your project must be unique to this class. You cannot work on a project that you have completed or will complete for another class.
- Your project’s format could be a demo, prototype, or exploratory report. Other formats may also be acceptable.
- 1 unit equals about 3 hours/week of work for a 15-week term.
Grading
TAC-470 is completed for a letter grade.
Questions
If you have any questions about TAC-470, please contact our academic advisors.
TAC-480
Technology and Applied Computing Internship
Earn academic credit while completing an internship in information technology.
Eligibility
- You must be a current USC undergraduate in good academic standing.
- You must have an internship offer for the semester you will enroll.
- Your internship must start no later than the third week of the semester.
- You cannot enroll in TAC-480 while studying abroad.
- You may repeat this class to earn a maximum of 8 units total.
How to register
- To get d-clearance, you must propose a project you will complete concurrently with your internship.
- You will need a faculty supervisor to guide your project.
The faculty member listed on the Schedule of Classes will be the director of TAC, Professor Erik Johnson, but you should work with a faculty member that teaches classes in your minor. - Submit your project proposal on MyViterbi using the “Directed Research Request Form.”
All enrolled USC students have access to MyViterbi, regardless of major. - Your request form will go to your faculty supervisor for approval.
- After your faculty member approves your proposal, you will receive d-clearance to register.
You can only get d-clearance with an approved request form. - You can register after obtaining d-clearance.
Timeline
- You must register for TAC-480 before the add/drop deadline for that semester.
- Submit your request form online at least 1 week before the registration deadline.
- Your project must be completed before the last day of classes.
Guidelines
- Any full-time faculty member in TAC may supervise your project.
- Your project must be 1) related to your internship’s field and 2) separate from your regular work duties.
- Your project’s format could be a demo, prototype, or exploratory report. Other formats may also be acceptable.
- 1 unit equals about 3 hours/week of work for a 15-week term.
Grading
TAC-480 is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
Questions
If you have any questions about TAC-480, please contact our academic advisors.