University

Festivities underway as USC’s schools celebrate with the Class of 2021

A day before commencement ceremonies begin, famous faces join faculty and staff in honoring the accomplishments of USC’s newest graduates.

May 13, 2021 David Medzerian

USC’s 137th and 138th commencement ceremonies get underway Friday and continue through May 20, but the Class of 2021 took center stage Thursday as the university’s schools held individual celebrations for their newest graduates.

The online celebrations — similar to those held last year — feature guests ranging from Director Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to journalist Gayle King and musician Questlove, along with faculty, staff and alums.

But the real stars are this year’s graduates, a group whose USC experience has certainly been unique.

All events are livestreamed and available for later viewing as well. Visit the university commencement website to follow along.

Schedule of celebrations (all events are Thursday, May 13):

USC Leventhal School of Accounting: 2 p.m.

USC School of Architecture: 2 p.m.

USC Roski School of Art and Design: Noon.

USC Athletics: Student-athlete celebration at 2 p.m.

USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy: 1 p.m.

Bovard College: 10:30 a.m.

USC Marshall School of Business:

  • Undergraduate virtual celebration begins at 11 a.m.
  • Graduate programs’ virtual celebrations begin at 5 p.m.
  • The PhD hooding virtual celebration begins at 1 p.m.
  • The Master of Management in Library and Information Science program’s virtual celebration begins at 1 p.m.

USC School of Cinematic Arts: 5 p.m.

USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences: 10:30 a.m.

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism: 11 a.m.

USC Kaufman School of Dance: 10:30 a.m.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC: 11 a.m.

USC School of Dramatic Arts: 11 a.m.

USC Rossier School of Education: Noon.

USC Viterbi School of Engineering: Undergraduate virtual celebration begins at noon; the graduate student virtual celebration begins at 6 p.m. Other programs:

  • Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering: 1:30 p.m.
  • Department of Computer Science: 4:30 p.m.
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering: 2 p.m.
  • Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering: 3 p.m.
  • Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: 2:30 p.m.
  • Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science: 4 p.m.
  • Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: 3:30 p.m.
  • Department of Astronautical Engineering: 1 p.m.

USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology: Noon.

USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy: 10:30 a.m.

USC Gould School of Law: JD Program celebration begins at noon; Graduate and International Programs begin at 2 p.m.

Keck School of Medicine of USC:

  • Physician Assistant program: 1 p.m.
  • Master’s, PhD, DNAP programs: 11 a.m.
  • MD Program graduation celebration: 10:30 a.m.
  • Health Promotion and Global Health undergraduate programs: 10:30 a.m.

USC Thornton School of Music: 11 a.m.

USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy: 11 a.m.

USC School of Pharmacy: Noon.

USC Price School of Public Policy: 10 a.m.

USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: 11 a.m.