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School of Communication

Minor Programs

Minor in Communication and the Entertainment Industry

This minor offers courses that examine the theory, social impact and economics of the music, film and television industries. Students will learn strategies for analyzing popular culture texts; management and public relations in the entertainment field; and social, cultural and political issues related to entertainment. USC provides a broad array of courses that equip students with tools to evaluate the marketing of entertainment and the cultural products of the film, television, theatre and music industries. This minor is intended to encourage students in a variety of majors to draw upon these properties in preparation for different careers in the entertainment industry.

Admission requirements are: a minimum 3.0 grade point average and completion of 32 units (sophomore standing). The 3.0 GPA is a minimum standard and does not guarantee admission.

Required Core Communication Courses (Choose three of four)units
COMM 300Foundations for the Study of Entertainment, Communication and Society4
COMM 310Media and Society4
COMM 384Interpreting Popular Culture4
COMM 395Gender, Media and Communication4

Electivesunits
Choose 3-4 courses (12 units). One course must be in COMM; two must be in an outside area.
COMM 306The Communication Revolution and the Arts4
COMM 339Communication Technology and Culture4
COMM 340The Cultures of New Media4
COMM 360The Rhetoric of Los Angeles4
COMM 395Gender, Media and Communication4
COMM 430Global Entertainment4
COMM 431Global Strategy for the Communications Industry4
COMM 432American Media and Entertainment Industries4
COMM 455Advertising and Society4
COMM 456Entertainment, Marketing and Culture4
COMM 457Children and Media4
COMM 458Race and Ethnicity in Entertainment and the Arts4
COMM 465Gender in Media Industries and Products4
COMM 471Communication Systems and Technologies4
COMM 472Telecommunication Strategic Analysis4
COMM 480Nonverbal Communication4
COMM 498Ethical Issues in Entertainment and Communication4
CTCS 409Censorship in Cinema4
CTCS 464Film and/or Television Genres4
CTPR 386Art and Industry of the Theatrical Film4
CTPR 410The Movie Business: From Story Concept to Exhibition2
CTPR 460Film Business Procedures and Distribution2 or 4
CTPR 461TV Station Management2
JOUR 452Public Relations in Entertainment4
JOUR 459Fact and Fiction: From Journalism to the Docudrama4
JOUR 466People of Color and the News Media4
JOUR 467Gender and the News Media4
MUIN 360Introduction to Music Law4
MUIN 370Distribution of Recorded Music and Music Publishing4
MUIN 385Radio in the Music Industry4
MUIN 447Radio Management4
THTR 487Promotion for the Performing Arts4
Total units: 24

Minor in Interactive Media and the Culture of New Technologies

Virtually unheard of and unused by the general public less than two years ago, World Wide Web sites, electronic mail and many other interactive technologies are changing the way we learn, the way we work and the way we gather and exchange information in all areas of our lives. The 24-unit minor in interactive media and the culture of new technologies focuses on the wide-ranging social, cultural and economic ramifications of these new technologies and equips students with the basic technical skills necessary to excel in this age of the communication revolution.

Requirements for admission are: minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of a minimum of 32 units (sophomore standing). The 3.0 GPA is a minimum standard and does not guarantee admission.

Required Core Communication Coursesunits
COMM 202Introduction to Communication Technology4
COMM 339Communication Technology and Culture4
COMM 340The Cultures of New Media4

Electives -- choose three from the followingunits
COMM 310Media and Society4
COMM 321Communication in the Virtual Group4
COMM 345Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies4
COMM 384Interpreting Popular Culture4
COMM 395Gender, Media and Communication4
COMM 422Legal Issues and New Media4
COMM 431Global Strategy for the Communication Industry4
COMM 465Gender in Media Industries and Products4
COMM 471Communication Systems and Technologies4
COMM 472Telecommunication Strategic Analysis4
COMM 486Human and Technological Systems in Organizations4
COMM 487Communication and Global Organizations4
Total units: 24

Minor in Professional and Managerial Communication

The ability to succeed in today's workplace necessitates a growing number of communication skills. As today's increasingly global and highly competitive marketplace grows in complexity, the need to understand intercultural differences, the power of structure in the workplace and other issues such as dealing with interpersonal conflicts continues to increase. This 24-unit minor will provide students interested in the management of people, resources or products with these necessary tools. Requirements for admission are: minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of a minimum of 32 units (sophomore standing). The program consists of three core classes, COMM 320, COMM 375 and COMM 385, and three electives to be chosen from the following list.

Required Core Communication Coursesunits
COMM 320Small Group and Team Communication4
COMM 375Business and Professional Communication4
COMM 385Survey of Organizational Communication4

Electives -- Choose three from the following:units
COMM 302Persuasion4
COMM 304Interpersonal Communication4
COMM 308Communication and Conflict4
COMM 315Health Communication4
COMM 321Communication in the Virtual Group4
COMM 322Argumentation and Advocacy4
COMM 324Intercultural Communication4
COMM 345Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies4
COMM 388Ethics in Human Communication4
COMM 431Global Strategy for the Communications Industry4
COMM 486Human and Technological Systems in Organizations4
COMM 487Communication and Global Organizations4
Total units: 24

Minor in Communication Law and Media Policy

The rapid advance in information and communication technologies raises serious questions about the limits of free speech, censorship, and the impact of present and emerging communication policies on domestic and international industries. To address these developments, this 24-unit cross-departmental minor combines courses from communication, law, economics, political science and journalism. This minor not only enables students to understand what is occurring in the communication revolution, it also prepares them to participate in the movement as critics and advocates. Requirements for admission are: minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of a minimum of 32 units (sophomore standing). The program consists of three core classes; COMM 322, COMM 421 and JOUR 371, as well as three electives to be chosen from the following list.

Required Core Communication Coursesunits
COMM 322Argumentation and Advocacy4
COMM 421Legal Communication4
JOUR 371Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace4

Elective Coursesunits
Choose three from the following. One must be in COMM; two must be in an outside area.
COMM 324Intercultural Communication4
COMM 345Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies4
COMM 370The Rhetoric of Ideas: Ideology and Propaganda4
COMM 388Ethics in Human Communication4
COMM 402Public Communication Campaigns4
COMM 412Communication and Social Movements4
COMM 422Legal Issues and New Media4
COMM 489Campaign Communication4
COMM 471Communication Systems and Technologies4
ECON 330The Political Economy of Institutions4
ECON 434Economic Analysis of Law4
JOUR 373The Ethics of Television Journalism4
JOUR 460Social Responsibility of the News Media4
JOUR 480The News Media and World Affairs4
LAW 200xLaw and Society4
LAW 201xLaw and Politics: Electing a President4
POSC 441Cultural Diversity and the Law4
POSC 442The Politics of Human Differences: Diversity and Discrimination4
Total units: 24

Minor in Global Communication

The rise of global firms and international changes that followed the end of the cold war raise new opportunities and challenges. This minor provides students from fields such as business, journalism, engineering and political science an understanding of the dynamic nature of global relations, communications and technology. The global communication minor consists of six 4-unit courses, three from International Relations and three from Communication.

Required International Relations Courseunits
IR 305Managing New Global Challenges4

International Relations Regional Courses (select one)units
IR 303Leadership and Diplomacy4
IR 325Rich and Poor States in the World Political Economy
(departmental approval)
4
IR 326U.S. Foreign Economic Policy4
IR 330Politics of the World Economy4
IR 333China in International Affairs4
IR 345Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy4
IR 360International Relations of the Pacific Rim4
IR 361The Asia-Pacific in International Relations4
IR 362The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East4
IR 363Middle East Political Economy4
IR 365U.S. Responses to Revolutionary Change in Latin America and the Caribbean4
IR 367Africa in International Affairs4
IR 368French Foreign Policy: 1945 to the Present
(offered in Paris only)
4
IR 369Contemporary European International Relations4
IR 383Third World Negotiations4
IR 384Introduction to Asian Security4
IR 385European Foreign Policy and Security Issues4
IR 403Transnational Diplomacy and Global Security4
IR 405International Negotiation
(junior standing)
4
IR 439Political Economy of Russia and Eurasia4
IR 442Japanese Foreign Policy4
IR 468European Integration4

IR Elective
Select one 300 or 400 level IR course

Required Communication Courseunits
COMM 487Communication and Global Organizations4

Communication electives (select two)units
COMM 324Intercultural Communication4
COMM 339Communication Technology and Culture4
COMM 345Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies4
COMM 385Survey of Organizational Communication4
COMM 430Global Entertainment
(prerequisite: COMM 300)
4
COMM 431Global Strategy for the Communications Industry4
COMM 471Communication Systems and Technologies4
COMM 472Telecommunication Strategic Analysis4
JOUR 371Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace4
Total units: 24

For more information or to apply to this minor, contact the School of International Relations, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Minor in Health Communication

This minor is designed to appeal to students with a wide range of interests, including those with a general interest in promoting healthy lifestyle practices through communication. These students will be prepared to seek future job opportunities from various areas including the managed care industry, hospitals, wellness programs, broadcast and cable companies, private and governmental agencies as well as other organizations looking for experts with demonstrated knowledge in health-related fields.

Required courses (20 units)units
COMM 302Persuasion4
COMM 385Survey of Organizational Communication4
HP 200Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention4
HP 443Health Communication Strategies and Evaluation4

Elective courses (select one)
COMM 304Interpersonal Communication4
COMM 308Communication and Conflict4
COMM 315Health Communication4
COMM 324Intercultural Communication4
COMM 375Business and Professional Communication4
COMM 402Public Communication Campaigns4
COMM 480Nonverbal Communication4
COMM 486Human and Technological Systems in Organizations
(Recommended preparation: COMM 385)
4
HP 400Culture, Lifestyle and Health4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues4
HP 421Violence as a Public Health Issue4
HP 422AIDS in Society4
HP 430Nutrition and Exercise Epidemiology
(Prerequisite: HP 230)
4
HP 442Chronic Disease Epidemiology4
HP 443Health Communication Strategies and Evaluation4
Total units: 24

For more information or to apply to this minor, contact the Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine.

Minor in Cultural Studies

Cultural studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines a broad array of issues of culture, including popular culture, identity, subcultures, nationalism, global culture and ethnography. This minor is designed for students majoring in the humanities or in the professional schools who wish to complement their majors with courses that investigate the politics of culture and cultural negotiation. Students are required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA and the completion of 32 units for admission to the minor.

Required courses units
COMM 384Interpreting Popular Culture4
CTCS 407African American Cinema, or
CTCS 411Film, Television and Cultural Studies4
ENGL 392Visual and Popular Culture, or
ENGL 472Literature and Related Arts4

Elective courses units
Choose three courses from the following. Students must take two electives outside the department of their major. Students may not take any more than two electives from any one department or school.
ANTH 263Exploring Culture Through Film4
AHIS 363Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Contemporary Art4
AHIS 469Critical Approaches to Photography4
CTCS 406History of American Television4
CTCS 407African American Cinema4
CTCS 478Culture, Technology and Communications4
COMM 339Communication Technology and Culture4
COMM 340The Cultures of New Media4
COMM 360The Rhetoric of Los Angeles4
COMM 370The Rhetoric of Ideas: Ideology and Propaganda4
COMM 395Gender, Media and Communication4
COLT 365Literature and Popular Culture4
ENGL 473Literature and Society4
ENGL 478Sexual/Textual Diversity4
FA 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FREN 320French Cinema and French Society: 1900 to the Present4
GEOG 325Culture and Place4
HIST 225Film, Power and American Society4
HIST 255American Popular Culture4
PAS 400Contemporary Public Art4
SOCI 342Race Relations4
Total units: 24

For more information or to apply to this minor, contact the Department of English, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Interdisciplinary Law and Society Minor

See the Department of Political Science, Interdisciplinary Law and Society Minor.