Catalogue 2007-08

• The Schools
• USC School of Cinematic Arts
  • Degree Programs
  • General Requirements
  • Critical Studies
  • Film and Television Production
  • Animation and Digital Arts
  • Writing for Screen and Television
  • The Peter Stark Producing Program
  • Interactive Media
  • Interdivisional Program in Media Arts and Practice
  • Minor Programs
  • Courses of Instruction
    • Cinema-Television
    • Animation
    • Critical Studies
    • Interactive Media
    • Production
    • Writing
    • Motion Picture Producing
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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 Courses		Units
CTCS 190	Introduction to Cinema	4
CTIN 309	Introduction to Interactive Entertainment	4
CTIN 483	Programming for Interactivity	4
CTIN 484L	Intermediate Game Development**	2
CTIN 488	Game Design Workshop	4
CTIN 489	Intermediate Game Design Workshop**	2
CTPR 241	Fundamentals of Cinema Technique*	2
CTPR 290	Cinematic Communication*	4

At least three of the following are required:
CTAN 330	Animation Fundamentals	2
CTAN 443L	3-D Animation and Character Design	2
CTAN 452	Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation	2
CTIN 401L	Interface Design for Games	2
CTIN 403L	Advanced Visual Design for Games	2
CTIN 404L	Usability Testing for Games	2
CTIN 405L	Design and Technology for Mobile Experiences	2
CTIN 406L	Sound Design for Games	2
CTIN 458	Business and Management of Games	2
CTIN 464	Game Studies Seminar	2
CTIN 482	Designing Online Multiplayer Game Environments	2
CTIN 485L	Advanced Game Development	2
At least one of the following is required:
CTCS 464	Film and/or Television Genres	4
CTCS 478	Culture, Technology and Communications	4
CTIN 462	Critical Theory and Analysis of Games	4
CTIN 463	Anatomy of a Game	4
CTWR 410L	Character Development and Storytelling for Games	4
At least one of the following is required:
CTIN 459L	Game Industry Workshop	4
CTIN 491L	Advanced Game Project	4
CTIN 492L	Experimental Game Topics	4
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

electives		units
At least 6 units from the following:
CMPP 591	Producing Practicum	2
CTAN 443L*	3-D Animation and Character Design	2, max 4
CTAN 451	History of Animation	2
CTAN 452*	Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation	2, max 4
CTAN 462	Visual Effects	2
CTAN 501	Interactive Animation	2
CTAN 502a	Virtual Reality and Stereoscopic Animation	2
CTAN 576	Seminar in Film/Television and New Technologies	4
CTAN 577a	Fundamentals of Animation	2
CTCS 409	Censorship in Cinema	4
CTCS 478*	Culture, Technology and Communications	4
CTCS 502	History of the Global Cinema After World War II	2
CTCS 504	Survey of Television History	2
CTCS 564*	Seminar in Film and Television Genres	4
CTIN 401L*	Interface Design for Games	2
CTIN 403L*	Advanced Visual Design for Games	2
CTIN 404L*	Usability Testing for Games	2
CTIN 405*	Design and Technology for Mobile Experiences	2
CTIN 406L*	Sound Design for Games	2
CTIN 458*	Business and Management of Games	2
CTIN 459L*	Game Industry Workshop	4
CTIN 462*	Critical Theory and Analysis of Games	4
CTIN 463*	Anatomy of a Game	4
CTIN 464*	Game Studies Seminar	4
CTIN 482*	Designing Online Multiplayer Game Environments	2
CTIN 483*	Programming for Interactivity	4
CTIN 484L*	Intermediate Game Development	2
CTIN 485L*	Advanced Game Development	2
CTIN 488*	Game Design Workshop	4
CTIN 489*	Intermediate Game Design Workshop	2
CTIN 491abL*	Advanced Game Project	2-4
CTIN 492L*	Experimental Game Topics	4
CTIN 499*	Special Topics	2-4
CTIN 590	Directed Research	1-12
CTPR 455	Introduction to Production Design	2
CTPR 472	Non-Theatrical Aspects of Film and TV Producing	2
CTPR 530	Producing for Independent Films	2
CTPR 566	Developing and Selling Your Film and TV Projects	2
CTWR 410L*	Character Development and Storytelling for Games	4
CTWR 513	Writing the Short Script	2
CTWR 520	Advanced Scene Writing Workshop	2
CTWR 528	Screenwriting Fundamentals	2
CTWR 529	Intermediate Screenwriting	2
CTWR 541	Writing from the Unconscious	2
No more than 4 units from the following**:
CSCI 480	Computer Graphics	3
CSCI 485	File and Database Management	3
CSCI 580	3-D Graphics and Rendering	3

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.

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