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Multimedia and Creative Technologies

Minor in Interactive Multimedia

A minor in interactive multimedia is open to undergraduate students in all majors. This minor provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to apply and develop interactive multimedia tools within a variety of industries. Although this program is geared towards the non-technical student, computer literacy is a key component to being successful in this program.

Students must apply to the program through the Viterbi School of Engineering, and approval of the student's advisor will be required on the application form. Students are required to complete a minimum of 19 units of course work consisting of both core requirements and elective courses.

Successful completion of the interactive multimedia minor requires a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in the following courses.

Core CoursesUnits
CTIN 309Introduction to Interactive Media4
EE 320xDigital Media Basics for Multimedia3
ITP 101xIntroduction to Information Technology, or4
ITP 105x*Introduction to Computer Technologies and Applications2
ITP 210xMultimedia Applications for Windows (corequisite to EE 320)2
JOUR 413Introduction to Online Journalism4
Total core units:13-15

*May be waived based on demonstrated computer literacy.

Elective Courses:6-8 units
Students will choose two elective courses from the following list:

Cinema-TV
CTIN 483Programming for Interactivity4
CTIN 488Game Design Workshop4

Engineering
EE 450Introduction to Computer Networks3
ITP 413xInteractive Web Development, or4
CSCI 351*Programming and Multimedia on the World Wide Web3

*Prerequisites waived if students are competent in programming.

Journalism
JOUR 417Online Journalism Management2

Fine Arts (Multimedia Design)
FA 302Design II4
FA 310Digital Photo Studio4
FA 410Advanced Digital Photo Studio4
FA 436Art and Technology4

Total units required for completion of minor: 19-23 units

Total units including all prerequisite courses: 26-36

Master of Science in Computer Science (Multimedia and Creative Technologies)

Students may earn a specialization in multimedia and creative technologies by completing the general requirements for the Master of Science in computer science and the following additional courses:

Every student must complete CSCI 576 Multimedia Systems Design (3). Students must also complete at least two courses selected from one of the two specialization tracks: Graphics and Vision or Networks and Databases.

Graphics and Vision TrackUnits
CSCI 480Computer Graphics3
CSCI 520Computer Animation and Simulation3
CSCI 574Computer Vision3
CSCI 5803-D Graphics and Rendering3
CSCI 582Geometric Modeling3
CSCI 674Advanced Topics in Computer Vision3
EE 569Introduction to Digital Image Processing3

Networks and Databases TrackUnits
CSCI 551Computer Communications3
CSCI 558LInternetworking and Distributed Systems Laboratory3
CSCI 585*Database Systems3
CSCI 586Database Systems Interoperability3
CSCI 694abTopics in Computer Networks and Distributed Systems3-3
EE 450Introduction to Computer Networks3

Suggested Core and Elective Courses
Since this specialization is systems oriented, it is recommended (but not required) that students select CSCI 555 Advanced Operating Systems and EE 557 Computer Systems Architecture as two of their three core courses. Additional electives may be taken from the two tracks or from the partial list of suggestions below.

CSCI 561*Foundations of Artificial Intelligence3
CSCI 573Advanced Artificial Intelligence3
CSCI 577ab*Software Engineering4-4
CSCI 583Computational Geometry3
CSCI 588Specification and Design of User Interface Software3
CSCI 590Directed Researchmax 6
EE 554Real Time Computer Systems3
ISE 571Human Factor Issues in Integrated Media Systems 3
ISE 575Topics in Engineering Approaches to Music Cognition3, max 6
ITP 411xInteractive Multimedia Production3

*Also satisfies a core course requirement in the general requirements for the M.S. degree in Computer Science.

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Multimedia and Creative Technologies)

Students may earn a specialization in multimedia and creative technologies by completing the general requirements for the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and the following additional requirements:

(1) At most four units of electives can be taken outside of the Viterbi School of Engineering with advisor approval. Some examples are CTAN 452 Introduction to Computer Animation (2 units) and CTIN 483 Programming for Interactivity (4 units).

(2) Computer science courses that are cross-listed with EE can (but do not have to) count toward the 18 EE units. Up to nine units of other CSCI courses that either are or are not cross-listed can also be used. Multimedia and creative technologies draws heavily on concepts and techniques from computer science.

(3) Students must include the following four courses in their program

CSCI 576Multimedia Systems Design3
EE 483Introduction to Digital Signal Processing, or
EE 469Introduction to Digital Media Engineering3
EE 519Speech Recognition and Processing for Multimedia, or
EE 522Immersive Audio Signal Processing3
EE 569Introduction to Digital Image Processing3

A course can be waived if a student can demonstrate equivalent knowledge of the material and if the course instructor will certify it.

(4) Students can only take courses from the list of approved courses, except with advisor approval students may include in their program one multimedia-related EE 599 or CSCI 599 Special Topics course (2-4 units). Every course requires prior approval from the faculty advisor, recorded each semester on the plan of study form.

(5) Students may include a maximum of 6 units of EE 590 Directed Research in their programs. Before registering for these units, the faculty advisor must approve a written description of the intended multimedia research project signed by the faculty member who will supervise the student.

(6) Students entering this program are expected to have already completed, either at USC or at another institution, formal course work equivalent to USC course EE 364 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Electrical Engineering. Although a course on probability is not required, it is recommended preparation for some of the courses such as EE 569.

(7) Although not required, students should be proficient in C or C++ programming, at the level taught in CSCI 455x.

(8) Although not required, ITP 411x Integrated Multimedia Production (3 units) will provide the student with hands-on experience in using multimedia application tools. This will help the student prepare a portfolio, which is expected by industry from students who major in a multimedia program.

(9) The remaining units must be chosen from the following list of courses.

Approved Courses for the Multimedia Specialization
Course in Biomedical Engineeringunits
BME 527Integration of Medical Imaging Systems3

Courses in Electrical Engineeringunits
EE 450Introduction to Computer Networks3
EE 455xIntroduction to Programming Systems Design3
EE 519Speech Recognition and Processing for Multimedia3
EE 522Immersive Audio Signal Processing3
EE 532Wireless Internet and Pervasive Computing3
EE 555Broadband Network Architectures3
EE 586LAdvanced DSP Design Laboratory4
EE 590Directed Research1-6
EE 596Wavelets3
EE 599Special Topics3
EE 669Multimedia Data Compression3

Courses in Computer ScienceUnits
CSCI 480Computer Graphics3
CSCI 485File and Database Management3
CSCI 520Computer Animation and Simulation3
CSCI 551Computer Communications3
CSCI 558LInternetwork and Distributed Systems Laboratory3
CSCI 571Web Technologies3
CSCI 574Computer Vision3
CSCI 5803D Graphics and Rendering3
CSCI 582Geometric Modeling3
CSCI 585Database Systems3
CSCI 599Special Topics2-4

Courses from the School of Cinema-TelevisionUnits
CTAN 452Introduction to Computer Animation2
CTIN 483Programming for Interactivity4

Course in Human FactorsUnits
ISE 571Human Factors Issues in Integrated Media Systems3

Course in Information TechnologyUnits
ITP 411xInteractive Multimedia Production3