School Year Programs
Support the Viterbi K-12 STEM Center
to provide equitable, culturally responsive opportunities
for youth, families, and schools in STEM.
Programs for
CS @ SC Coding Camps
The CS@SC Coding Camps provide K-12 students with an opportunity to explore topics that are not typically covered in traditional curricula, specifically topics in computer science including stand-alone programming, web development, mobile app creation, and robotics. Students will learn how to program various languages designed for K-12 students and we offer both virtual and in-person courses.
- Dates: Courses are offered during the school year. Please see our website for the exact dates.
- Age group: Grades K - 5
- Virtual Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM PT (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each week)
- In-Person Schedule: Saturdays from 9 AM - 12 PM PT at USC (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each day)
- Cost: $200 for Virtual classes and $300 for In-Person classes
Engineering Transformer
Engineering Transformer is a STEM afterschool program at participating LAUSD schools. Students have the opportunity to learn and engage in different avenues of engineering such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, and more. This program aims to increase student motivation, enhance teacherās STEM confidence and understanding of STEM, and engage families in STEM experiences.
- Dates: 2023-2024 Fall Cohort: August- December, 2023-2024 Spring Cohort: January-April
- Schedule: Once a week
- Cost: Free
Mission Science
Mission Science is an after-school STEM program for 3rd-5th grade students. USC students majoring in STEM facilitate the hands-on, inquiry-based science and engineering activities to elementary students once a week, with the support and guidance of a teacher liaison
- Dates: Annually from September through May
- Manager for inquiries.
- Schedule: Once a week, typically after school
- Cost: Free
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CS @ SC Coding Camps
CS@SC Coding Camps provide K-12 students with an opportunity to explore topics that are not typically covered in traditional curricula. CS@SC covers computer science courses which include stand-alone programming, web and game design, mobile app creation, and robotics. We offer the courses all year both virtually and in-person.
- Dates: CS@SC is undergoing maintenance for the Fall. Courses will resume in Spring 2025.
- Age group: Grades K - 5
- Virtual Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM PT (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each week)
- In-Person Schedule: Saturdays from 9 AM - 12 PM PT at USC (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each day)
- Cost: $200 for Virtual classes and $300 for In-Person classes
Engineering Transformer
Engineering Transformer is a STEM afterschool program at participating LAUSD schools. Students have the opportunity to learn and engage in different avenues of engineering such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, and more. This program aims to increase student motivation, enhance teacherās STEM confidence and understanding of STEM, and engage families in STEM experiences.
- Dates: Fall Cohort: September - January, Spring Cohort: February -June
- Schedule: Once a week
- Cost: Free
Mission Science
Mission Science is an after-school STEM program for 3rd-5th grade students. USC students majoring in STEM facilitate the hands-on, inquiry-based science and engineering activities to elementary students once a week, with the support and guidance of a teacher liaison
- Dates: Fall Cohort: September - January, Spring Cohort: February -June
- Manager for inquiries.
- Schedule: Once a week, typically after school
- Cost: Free
MIDDLE SCHOOL
CS @ SC Coding Camps
CS@SC Coding Camps provide K-12 students with an opportunity to explore topics that are not typically covered in traditional curricula. CS@SC covers computer science courses which include stand-alone programming, web and game design, mobile app creation, and robotics. We offer the courses all year both virtually and in-person.
- Dates: CS@SC is undergoing maintenance for the Fall. Courses will resume in Spring 2025.
- Age group: Grades 6 - 8
- Virtual Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM PT (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each week)
- In-Person Schedule: Saturdays from 9 AM - 12 PM PT at USC (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each day)
- Cost: $200 for Virtual classes and $300 for In-Person classes
MESA
MESA College Prep at the University of Southern California is part of a statewide program that partners with local middle and high schools to propel student diversity and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The MESA Statewide program provides a pathway of academic services from middle school through university level to broaden the diversity of students who graduate with degrees in STEM.
College prep activities at USC include hands-on STEM activities, MESA Day projects and competitions, Catalina Island STEM Exploration, STEM field trips, Student Leadership Retreat, college and career preparation, MESA Day Project Academies, annual Awards Gala, robotics competitions, MESA advisor/teacher trainings, and parent/family empowerment and information sessions.
- Dates: MESA is offered during the school year. Please see our website for a list of partnered schools.
- Age Group: Grades 6 - 8
- Cost: Free
HIGH SCHOOL
CS @ SC Coding Camps
CS@SC Coding Camps provide K-12 students with an opportunity to explore topics that are not typically covered in traditional curricula. CS@SC covers computer science courses which include stand-alone programming, web and game design, mobile app creation, and robotics. We offer the courses all year both virtually and in-person.
- Dates: CS@SC is undergoing maintenance for the Fall. Courses will resume in Spring 2025.
- Age group: Grades 9 - 12
- Virtual Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM PT (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each week)
- In-Person Schedule: Saturdays from 9 AM - 12 PM PT at USC (5 week class with 2 sessions covered each day)
- Cost: $200 for Virtual classes and $300 for In-Person classes
MESA
MESA College Prep at the University of Southern California is part of a statewide program that partners with local middle and high schools to propel student diversity and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The MESA Statewide program provides a pathway of academic services from middle school through university level to broaden the diversity of students who graduate with degrees in STEM.
College prep activities at USC include hands-on STEM activities, MESA Day projects and competitions, Catalina Island STEM Exploration, STEM field trips, Student Leadership Retreat, college and career preparation, MESA Day Project Academies, annual Awards Gala, robotics competitions, MESA advisor/teacher trainings, and parent/family empowerment and information sessions.
- Dates: MESA is offered during the school year. Please see our website for a list of partnered schools.
- Age Group: Grades 6 - 8
- Cost: Free
TEACHERS
BOTS
Building Opportunities with Teachers in Schools (BOTS) fosters computer science and digital literacy and equity in Los Angeles elementary schools via a Community of Practice of K-6 teachers & USC Computer Science and Robotics students, co-creating high-quality, scalable, and sustainable in-school computer science education opportunities.
- Dates: October through April
- Applications Open: August each year; contact BOTS Program Manager
- Age group: K-6 Teachers