Dr. Xochitl Ruiz

Instructor

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Biography

Xochitl Ruiz is a lecturer at USC Dornsife with a focused research portfolio on Catholicism. Her interdisciplinary projects stem from years of fieldwork conducted in Bogotá, Colombia, where she investigates Catholic charitable food giving and how older adults negotiate the meanings of food, creating new registers of value. She is collaborating on a project with the University of Toronto that delves into the Catholic borderlands of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, exploring the interplay between faith and community engagement. Ruiz aims to highlight the transformational power of religious practices in shaping social relationships and community support systems.

Research Interests

Catholicism Charitable Food Giving Social Transformations in Food Value Religious Practices and Community Engagement

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.