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Minor and Honors Programs

Minor in Fine Arts

The School of Fine Arts offers a minor in fine arts as a supplement to major fields of specialization in other departments and schools for students whose academic programs do not permit the opportunity to pursue one of the school's regular degree options. There are six intensive studio minors -- in painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, two-dimensional studies, and digital media-based imaging -- as well as interdisciplinary graphics minors in communication design and 3-D animation. There is a separate application for fine arts minors.

Candidates for the minors in the School of Fine Arts will be counseled by an academic advisor in the School of Fine Arts.

Minor in Communication Design
The core of this minor is communication design. In addition to courses in design, visual literacy and digital imaging, this minor includes optional courses in business, communication, journalism and marketing, allowing students to translate their design foundation in ways that are directly relevant to their career paths. The total number of units required for the minor is 24-28.

REQUIRED COURSESUNITS
FA 102Design Fundamentals4

One lower division course (4 units) chosen from the following:
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4
FA 202Design II (corequisite: FA 203)4
FA 210Introduction to Digital Photography4
FA 215Introduction to Digital Video and Interactivity4

Four upper division courses (16 units) chosen from the following:
ACCT 410xAccounting for Non-Business Majors4
BAEP 423Management of Small Businesses4
BAEP 451The Management of New Enterprises4
BAEP 454The Entrepreneurial Business Plan4
BUAD 307Marketing Fundamentals4
COMM 321Communication in the Virtual Group4
COMM 339Communication Technology and Culture4
COMM 340The Culture of New Media4
COMM 375Business and Professional Communication4
FA 302Design III4
FA 310Digital Photo Studio4
FA 315Multimedia Studio4
FA 320Video Studio4
FA 332Typography2
FA 402Advanced Design Projects4, max 12
FA 410Advanced Digital Photo Studio4, max 12
FA 415Advanced Multimedia Studio4, max 12
FA 420Advanced Video Studio4, max 12
JOUR 340Introduction to Advertising4
JOUR 342Advertising Media and Analysis4
JOUR 343Advertising Design and Production4
MKT 405Advertising and Promotion Management4
MKT 406Practicum in Advertising and Promotion Design4
MKT 450Consumer Behavior and Marketing4

Minor in Digital Media-based Imaging
This minor deals with art making using new technologies, including digital photography, digital video and computer imaging. Course work includes choice of classes in history of photography, digital media, visual literacy and computer imaging. The professional aspects of this minor assist students in developing careers in fine arts, communication, engineering, film, journalism and in any area where there is a need for flexible and creative imaging using digital media. The total number of units required for the minor is 28.

Required coursesUnits

Lower division
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4
FA 209aPhotography4
FA 210Introduction to Digital Photography4
FA 215Introduction to Digital Video and Interactivity4

Three upper division courses (12 units) chosen from the following:
AHIS 373History of Photography -- Pictorialism to Postmodernism4
AHIS 469Critical Approaches to Photography4
FA 310Digital Photo Studio4
FA 315Multimedia Studio4
FA 320Video Studio4
FA 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FA 410Advanced Digital Photo Studio4, max 12
FA 415Advanced Multimedia Studio4, max 12
FA 420Advanced Video Studio4, max 12

Minor in Drawing
Students enrolled in the minor in drawing will develop their creativity and technical drawing skills, as well as deepen their understanding of contemporary art. Foundation courses provide the fundamentals of spatial rendering, composition, figure drawing and visual expression. Advanced courses require more ambitious projects, personal direction, research and sustained focus. The minor is available to all USC students who wish to develop their abilities to communicate through visual means, or who wish to develop skills for conceptualization and problem solving. The minor in drawing can assist the students in art-related work, as well as creative pursuits such as printed works with images, Web sites, games and animation. A total of 24-28 units are required for this minor.

Required Courses (24-28 units)Units
FA 101abDrawing4-4
FA 201aLife Drawing4

Optional extra lower-division course:
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4

Three upper division courses (12 units) chosen from the following:
FA 301Advanced Drawing4
FA 331The Human Figure in Narrative Drawing2
FA 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FA 401Topics in Advanced Drawing4, max 12

Minor in Painting
Within both western and non-western traditions, painting has a long history as a site for aesthetic experience and cultural questioning. This minor allows students to immerse themselves in painting, as well as developing a grasp of the critical issues surrounding it. Foundation courses provide the fundamentals of color, composition, medium and drawing. Advanced courses require more ambitious projects, personal direction, research and sustained focus. Students majoring in many areas of the humanities may pursue this minor to augment their understanding of one of the key media in the arts. The minor is available to all USC students who wish to develop their painting skills. A total of 24 units are required for this minor.

Required courses (24 units)units

Three lower division courses (12 units) chosen from the following:
FA 101aDrawing4
FA 102Design Fundamentals4
FA 105Painting I4
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4
FA 205aPainting II4

Three upper division courses (12 units) chosen from the following:
FA 305Advanced Painting4
FA 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FA 405Topics in Advanced Painting4, max 12

Minor in Photography
The photography minor provides an in-depth experience in all aspects of photography. The well-equipped darkrooms allow individual hands-on exploration of black and white and color processes, camera types, historical and traditional printing methods, lighting and film technology. It also includes a foundation in photo theory and criticism. This minor is appropriate for students interested in an intense experiential exploration of the medium of photography. The total number of units required for the minor is 28.

Required Courses Units

Lower division courses (16 units)
FA 150 Visual Culture and Literacy4
FA 209abPhotography4-4
FA 210Introduction to Digital Photography4

One upper division course (4 units) chosen from the following:
AHIS 373History of Photography Pictorialism to Postmodernism4
AHIS 469Critical Approaches to Photography4

Two upper division courses (8 units):
FA 309Advanced Photography4
FA 310Digital Photo Studio4
FA 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FA 409Topics in Advanced Photography4, max 12
FA 410Advanced Digital Photo Studio4, max 12

Minor in Sculpture
This minor focuses on making, organizing and manipulating objects and their spatial relationships in a range of materials such as wood, fiberglass, clay, plaster, latex and metal. Course work includes choice of classes in sculpture, ceramics, visual literacy, public art, moldmaking, metal and casting. The three-dimensional skills taught in this minor intersect with many other disciplines including architecture, cinema-television, special effects, engineering design, urban planning and any other areas where skills in maquette and model building are relevant. The total number of units required for the minor is 28.

Required coursesUnits
FA 106Sculpture I4
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4

Eight lower division units chosen from the following:
FA 101aDrawing4
FA 112Ceramics4
FA 136Modeling and Mold Making2
FA 206Sculpture II4
FA 212Wheel Throwing2
FA 213Clay and Glazes2
FA 236Metal2
FA 246Construction Techniques2

Three upper division courses (12 units) chosen from the following:
FA 306Advanced Sculpture4
FA 312Advanced Ceramics4
FA 366Art in Context4
FA 406Topics in Advanced Sculpture4, max 12
FA 412Topics in Advanced Ceramics4, max 12
FA 436Art and Technology4
PAS 400Contemporary Public Art4

Minor in Two-Dimensional Studies
This minor is designed for students who wish to augment their understanding of art in general in two-dimensional areas, rather than complete a minor that focuses on one medium. This minor provides a broad scope of courses in 2-D media and studies. This minor is open to any USC student, especially those interested in animation to sharpen their drawing, color and compositional skills. Students interested in the vast varieties of digital visual communication can develop better color and compositional skills. Total number of units required is 28.

Required courses (28 units)units

Four lower division courses (16 units) chosen from the following:
FA 101abDrawing4-4
FA 102Design Fundamentals4
FA 105Painting I4
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4
FA 205aPainting II4
FA 207abxTwo-Dimensional Art Workshop2-2
FA 210Introduction to Digital Photography4
FA 215Introduction to Digital Video and Interactivity4

Three upper division courses (12 units) chosen from the following:
FA 301Advanced Drawing4
FA 305Advanced Painting4
FA 310Digital Photo Studio4
FA 315Multimedia Studio4
FA 331The Human Figure in Narrative Drawing2
FA 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FA 401Topics in Advanced Drawing4, max 12
FA 405Topics in Advanced Painting4, max 12

Minor in 3-D Animation
The 3-D animation minor merges theoretical concepts and practical skills to prepare students for a career in their major field of work with incorporation of 3-D animation and interactive technologies. Through integration of three major disciplines (cinema, fine arts and information technology), students gain a solid foundation in a wide range of important industry and academic skills. Two concentrations are available depending on professional goals and career or industry objectives. Refer to the School of Engineering's Information Technology program, page 596, for course requirements.

Honors in Multimedia Scholarship

This program offers qualified undergraduate students an opportunity to approach their discipline(s) of study through the critical application of multimedia expression and scholarship. The student experience will be characterized by smaller classes taught by leading faculty members and enriched by a program of lecture series, visiting scholars, symposia and conferences. For complete program requirements, see the Interdisciplinary Programs section.