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Please note: Due to late revisions, some text on this page differs from what appears in the printed version of the USC Catalogue. The changes appear below as highlighted text, with corresponding explanations appearing in the right margin. Click here for more information.

Interactive Media

The Interactive Media Division offers a Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Entertainment and a Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media as well as a number of courses in computer-based entertainment for non-majors. The fundamental philosophy of the division is coherent with that of the school's program, stressing creativity of expression, experimentation and excellence in execution.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Entertainment is granted through the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. Students study within a framework which combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in a profession. Undergraduate students take their pre-professional courses in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, including the general education requirements. Major courses are selected from the curriculum of the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units, including 10 lower division units and 30 upper division units in cinematic arts.

General Education Requirements

The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing, foreign language and diversity requirements, which comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.

Required Production Courses

Undergraduates admitted to the Interactive Entertainment Program are required to take CTPR 241 Fundamentals of Cinema Technique and CTPR 290 Cinematic Communication. These introductory production courses are taken concurrently (see description below).

CTPR 241 is an experimental course dealing with the technical and aesthetic principles of directing, cinematography, editing, sound and the development of ideas through a cinematic vocabulary.

In CTPR 290 students are taught the principles of filmmaking through demonstrations, hands-on production and critical analysis. Each student makes five digital video non-dialogue movies using equipment supplied by the school. Approximately $1,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.

Required CoursesUnits
CTCS 190Introduction to Cinema4
CTIN 309Introduction to Interactive Entertainment4
CTIN 483Programming for Interactivity4
CTIN 484LIntermediate Game Development**2
CTIN 488Game Design Workshop4
CTIN 489Intermediate Game Design Workshop**2
CTPR 241Fundamentals of Cinema Technique*2
CTPR 290Cinematic Communication*4

*Enrollment in CTPR 241 and CTPR 290 is concurrent

**Enrollment in CTIN 484L and CTIN 489 is concurrent

At least three of the following are required:
CTAN 330Animation Fundamentals2
CTAN 443L3-D Animation and Character Design2
CTAN 452Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation2
CTIN 401LInterface Design for Games2
CTIN 403LAdvanced Visual Design for Games2
CTIN 404LUsability Testing for Games2
CTIN 405LDesign and Technology for Mobile Experiences2
CTIN 406LSound Design for Games2
CTIN 458Business and Management of Games2
CTIN 464Game Studies Seminar2
CTIN 482Designing Online Multiplayer Game Environments2
CTIN 485LAdvanced Game Development2

At least one of the following is required:
CTCS 464Film and/or Television Genres4
CTCS 478Culture, Technology and Communications4
CTIN 462Critical Theory and Analysis of Games4
CTIN 463Anatomy of a Game4
CTWR 410LCharacter Development and Storytelling for Games4

At least one of the following is required:
CTIN 459LGame Industry Workshop4
CTIN 491LAdvanced Game Project4
CTIN 492LExperimental Game Topics4

Four additional elective units must be taken from any of the electives listed above.

Grade Point Average Requirements

A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A=4.0), must be earned in all required and prerequisite courses. A grade of C- (1.7) or lower will not fulfill a major requirement.

Students who do not earn the minimum grade of C (2.0) in CTIN 309, CTIN 483, CTIN 484L, CTIN 488 or CTIN 489 after repeating these requirements will be disqualified from the program.

Limitations on Enrollment

Registration in graduate-level courses (numbered 500) for undergraduate credit requires prior approval of the School of Cinematic Arts.

Curriculum Review

Cinematic arts majors are expected to meet with an advisor every semester to review their progress. Contact the Interactive Media Program Office, Lucas 310, (213) 740-6797, for an appointment.

Master of Fine Arts

The Interactive Media Division offers a Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media as well as a number of courses in computer-based entertainment for non-majors. The fundamental philosophy of the division is coherent with that of the programs of the school, stressing creativity of expression, experimentation and excellence in execution.

The Interactive Entertainment track is part of the M.F.A. in Interactive Media. This track focuses on game design and innovation and offers a list of suggested electives best suited for interests in interactive entertainment. Students in the Interactive Entertainment track are required to follow the M.F.A. in Interactive Media curriculum.

The M.F.A. in Interactive Media is a three-year intensive program that requires 56 units of which 42 are requirements and 14 are electives. Of these electives, a minimum of 6 units must be taken in the School of Cinematic Arts. Students are required to complete an advanced interactive project which they design and produce. Students who opt to take CTIN 594ab rather than CTIN 555ab as a requirement must complete 18 units of electives.

Computer and digital production facilities for the program are provided by the school. However, students should budget additional funds for incidental expenses for intermediate and advanced projects. Cost will vary depending on the scope of a student's project. For the first year production course, approximately $1,000 will be needed for miscellaneous costs, lab and insurance fees.

The program is intended to prepare students for creative careers in the emerging field of interactive entertainment. While the program does not require advanced computer capabilities, familiarity and comfort with computer based authoring and production/post-production tools is recommended.

The creation of interactive media requires a combination of skills from the traditional media of film and television as well as a deep understanding of the effects of interactivity upon the quality of experience. Therefore, we emphasize and encourage collaboration with students in other Cinematic Arts programs.

Approximately 12 students are admitted in the fall semester (there are no spring admissions).

Applicants for the M.F.A. in Interactive Media must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Interactive Media Program. For specific instructions contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-2911 or online at cinema.usc.edu.

CTPR 507 Production I (4 units), which brings together students from other School of Cinematic Arts divisions, introduces the fundamental principles of motion picture production, emphasizing visual and auditory communication. Each student makes several non-dialogue personal projects, serving as writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound designer and editor, and takes a crew role on a collaborative project. Projects are shot using digital cameras and edited on non-linear systems. Approximately $1,200 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.

Requirements for the M.F.A. in Interactive Media

The requirements for this program will change in fall 2008.Show revised version
Year One, First SemesterUnits
CTCS 505Survey of Interactive Media2
CTIN 511Interactive Media Seminar1
CTIN 534Experiments in Interactivity I2
CTIN 541Design for Interactive Media4
9

Year One, Second SemesterUnits
CTIN 511Interactive Media Seminar1
CTIN 544Experiments in Interactivity II2
CTWR 518Introduction to Interactive Writing2
Electives*4
9

Year Two, First SemesterUnits
CTIN 511Interactive Media Seminar1
CTIN 532Interactive Experience Design4
CTPR 506Visual Expression2
Electives*4
11

Year Two, Second SemesterUnits
CTIN 511Interactive Media Seminar1
CTIN 542Interactive Design and Production4
CTIN 548Preparing the Interactive Project2
CTIN 558Business of Interactive Media2
Electives*2-4
11-13

Year Three, first SemesterUnits
CTIN 594aMaster's Thesis2
Electives*2
4

Year Three, Second SemesterUnits
CTIN 594bMaster's Thesis2
Electives*2
4

Additional RequirementUnits
CTIN 495Internship in Interactive Media*2

Year One, First SemesterUnits
CTCS 505Survey of Interactive Media2
CTIN 511Interactive Media Seminar1
CTIN 541Design for Interactive Media4
CTPR 507Production I4
11

Year One, Second SemesterUnits
CTIN 511Interactive Media Seminar1
CTPR 506Visual Expression2
CTWR 518Introduction to Interactive Writing2
Electives*4
9

Year Two, First SemesterUnits
CTIN 532Interactive Experience Design4
CTIN 534Experiments in Interactivity I2
Electives*4
10

Year Two, Second SemesterUnits
CTIN 542Interactive Design and Production4
CTIN 544Experiments in Interactivity II2
CTIN 548Preparing the Interactive Project2
8

Year Three, first SemesterUnits
CTIN 555aAdvanced Interactive Project, or4
CTIN 594a**Master's Thesis2
CTIN 558Business of Interactive Media2
Electives*4
8-10

Year Three, Second SemesterUnits
CTIN 555bAdvanced Interactive Project, or4
CTIN 594b**Master's Thesis2
CTPR 495Internship in Cinema/Television2
Electives*2
6-8

* A minimum total of 14 units of electives are required. Graduate students must enroll in a minimum of 8 units a semester to be considered full-time.

**Students who choose to enroll in CTIN 594ab Master's Thesis as a requirement must complete an additional 4 units of electives, for a minimum of 18 units of electives.

electivesunits
At least 6 units from the following:
CMPP 591Producing Practicum2
CTAN 443L*3-D Animation and Character Design2, max 4
CTAN 451History of Animation2
CTAN 452*Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation2, max 4
CTAN 462Visual Effects2
CTAN 501Interactive Animation2
CTAN 502aVirtual Reality and Stereoscopic Animation2
CTAN 576Seminar in Film/Television and New Technologies4
CTAN 577aFundamentals of Animation2
CTCS 409Censorship in Cinema4
CTCS 478*Culture, Technology and Communications4
CTCS 502History of the Global Cinema After World War II2
CTCS 504Survey of Television History2
CTCS 564*Seminar in Film and Television Genres4
CTIN 401L*Interface Design for Games2
CTIN 403L*Advanced Visual Design for Games2
CTIN 404L*Usability Testing for Games2
CTIN 405*Design and Technology for Mobile Experiences2
CTIN 406L*Sound Design for Games2
CTIN 458*Business and Management of Games2
CTIN 459L*Game Industry Workshop4
CTIN 462*Critical Theory and Analysis of Games4
CTIN 463*Anatomy of a Game4
CTIN 464*Game Studies Seminar4
CTIN 482*Designing Online Multiplayer Game Environments2
CTIN 483*Programming for Interactivity4
CTIN 484L*Intermediate Game Development2
CTIN 485L*Advanced Game Development2
CTIN 488*Game Design Workshop4
CTIN 489*Intermediate Game Design Workshop2
CTIN 491abL*Advanced Game Project2-4
CTIN 492L*Experimental Game Topics4
CTIN 499*Special Topics2-4
CTIN 590Directed Research1-12
CTPR 455Introduction to Production Design2
CTPR 472Non-Theatrical Aspects of Film and TV Producing2
CTPR 530Producing for Independent Films2
CTPR 566Developing and Selling Your Film and TV Projects2
CTWR 410L*Character Development and Storytelling for Games4
CTWR 513Writing the Short Script2
CTWR 520Advanced Scene Writing Workshop2
CTWR 528Screenwriting Fundamentals2
CTWR 529Intermediate Screenwriting2
CTWR 541Writing from the Unconscious2

No more than 4 units from the following**:
CSCI 480Computer Graphics3
CSCI 485File and Database Management3
CSCI 5803-D Graphics and Rendering3

*Courses suggested as part of the Interactive Entertainment track

**Courses not listed may satisfy this requirement with approval of the program chair.

Thesis/Advanced Project
In order to begin work on the thesis/advanced project, students must first successfully propose their project to a committee of M.F.A. interactive media program faculty. The proposal is prepared during the second year of study in CTIN 548 Preparing the Interactive Project and is submitted at the end of the second year. Throughout the three years of study, students will meet regularly with an M.F.A. interactive media program advisor to develop and refine the proposal and discuss the progress of their work. The advisor will be a member of the thesis committee.

The proposal itself will include a written treatment of the project with a discussion of similar work in the field and its relationship to the proposed project. It will describe aesthetic issues to be explored and specific techniques to be employed in its realization. It will also include a project visualization, budget and schedule, in addition to supporting materials created by the student demonstrating his or her ability to pursue the project. The faculty committee will make comments and decide whether the student may go forward with his or her project. Upon acceptance, the student will begin work on the project, otherwise revising the proposal and meeting again with the committee.

In the third and final year, students concentrate on their thesis projects, completing production and post-production. A final review will take place in the second semester of the third year. The committee will meet and the student must show and defend the work.

Criteria for successful completion include: 50 percent originality and 50 percent quality of execution.

Grade Point Average Requirement

An overall GPA of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained in all USC course work toward the master's degree.

A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be earned in all required courses. Students who do not achieve a grade of C (2.0) in the core courses CTIN 532, CTIN 534, CTIN 542 and CTIN 544 after repeating these requirements will be disqualified from the program. The core courses as well as CTIN 555ab cannot be waived or substituted with transfer credits under any circumstances.

Time Limit

Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master's degrees at all times. The degree must be completed three years from the first course at USC applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course work more than seven years old is invalidated and will not be applied toward the degree.

Graduate Review

One year prior to graduation, students are required to file M.F.A. forms for a curriculum and graduation review. Contact the Interactive Media Program Office for forms.

Honors in Multimedia Scholarship

Honors in Multimedia Scholarship offers selected undergraduate students an opportunity to approach their chosen major field(s) of study through the critical application of multimedia scholarship and expression. This four-year program introduces students to the theory and practice of multimedia and provides the opportunity to develop skills in multimedia authorship, collaboration, leadership and creative thinking.

Honors in Multimedia Scholarship is designed to address the changing nature of scholarship and literacy in the digital age, introducing students to a broad range of expressive possibilities using images, sound, dynamic media and interactivity in addition to traditional, text-based scholarship.

No prior experience with multimedia is required, but students should be willing to engage with new media technologies, ways of thinking and modes of expression. Open to students from all departments and schools.

For complete information, see Honors in Multimedia Scholarship.