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 300 | Foundations for the Study of Entertainment, Communication and Society | 4 |
| COMM 310 | Media and Society | 4 |
| COMM 384 | Interpreting Popular Culture | 4 |
| COMM 395 | Gender, Media and Communication | 4 |
| Electives | units |
|---|
| Choose 3-4 courses (12 units). One (4 unit) course must be in COMM; 8 units must be in an outside area. |
| COMM 306 | The Communication Revolution, Entertainment and the Arts | 4 |
| COMM 339 | Communication Technology and Culture | 4 |
| COMM 340 | The Cultures of New Media | 4 |
| COMM 360 | The Rhetoric of Los Angeles | 4 |
| COMM 395 | Gender, Media and Communication | 4 |
| COMM 430 | Global Entertainment | 4 |
| COMM 431 | Global Strategy for the Communications Industry | 4 |
| COMM 432 | American Media and Entertainment Industries | 4 |
| COMM 455 | Advertising and Society | 4 |
| COMM 456 | Entertainment, Marketing and Culture | 4 |
| COMM 457 | Children and Media | 4 |
| COMM 458 | Race and Ethnicity in Entertainment and the Arts | 4 |
| COMM 465 | Gender in Media Industries and Products | 4 |
| COMM 480 | Nonverbal Communication | 4 |
| COMM 498 | Ethical Issues in Entertainment and Communication | 4 |
| CTCS 409 | Censorship in Cinema | 4 |
| CTCS 464 | Film and/or Television Genres | 4 |
| CTPR 386 | Art and Industry of the Theatrical Film | 4 |
| CTPR 410 | The Movie Business: From Story Concept to Exhibition | 2 |
| CTPR 460 | Film Business Procedures and Distribution | 2 or 4 |
| CTPR 461 | TV Station Management | 2 |
| JOUR 452 | Public Relations in Entertainment | 4 |
| JOUR 459 | Fact and Fiction: From Journalism to the Docudrama | 4 |
| JOUR 466 | People of Color and the News Media | 4 |
| JOUR 467 | Gender and the News Media | 4 |
| MUIN 360 | Introduction to Music Law | 4 |
| MUIN 370 | Distribution of Recorded Music and Music Publishing | 4 |
| MUIN 385 | Radio in the Music Industry | 4 |
| THTR 487 | Promotion for the Performing Arts | 4 |
Total units: 24
Minor in Interactive Media and the Culture of New Technologies
The World Wide Web, 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 a 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 Courses | Units |
|---|
| COMM 202 | Introduction to Communication Technology | 4 |
| COMM 339 | Communication Technology and Culture | 4 |
| COMM 340 | The Cultures of New Media | 4 |
| Electives — choose three from the following | Units |
|---|
| COMM 310 | Media and Society | 4 |
| COMM 321 | Communication in the Virtual Group | 4 |
| COMM 345 | Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies | 4 |
| COMM 384 | Interpreting Popular Culture | 4 |
| COMM 395 | Gender, Media and Communication | 4 |
| COMM 422 | Legal Issues and New Media | 4 |
| COMM 431 | Global Strategy for the Communication Industry | 4 |
| COMM 465 | Gender in Media Industries and Products | 4 |
| COMM 471 | Communication Systems and Technologies | 4 |
|
| COMM 472 | Telecommunication Strategic Analysis | 4 |
| COMM 486 | Human and Technological Systems in Organizations | 4 |
| COMM 487 | Communication and Global Organizations | 4 |
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 a minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of a minimum of 32 units (sophomore standing).
| Required Core Communication Courses | units |
|---|
| COMM 320 | Small Group and Team Communication | 4 |
| COMM 375 | Business and Professional Communication | 4 |
| COMM 385 | Survey of Organizational Communication | 4 |
| Electives – Choose three from the following: | units |
|---|
| COMM 302 | Persuasion | 4 |
| COMM 304 | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| COMM 308 | Communication and Conflict | 4 |
| COMM 315 | Health Communication | 4 |
| COMM 321 | Communication in the Virtual Group | 4 |
| COMM 322 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 4 |
| COMM 324 | Intercultural Communication | 4 |
| COMM 345 | Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies | 4 |
| COMM 388 | Ethics in Human Communication | 4 |
| COMM 431 | Global Strategy for the Communications Industry | 4 |
| COMM 486 | Human and Technological Systems in Organizations | 4 |
| COMM 487 | Communication and Global Organizations | 4 |
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 a minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of a minimum of 32 units (sophomore standing).
| Required Core Communication Courses | units |
|---|
| COMM 371 | Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace | 4 |
| COMM 322 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 4 |
| COMM 421 | Legal Communication | 4 |
| Elective Courses | units |
|---|
| Choose three from the following. One must be in COMM; two must be in an outside area. |
| COMM 324 | Intercultural Communication | 4 |
| COMM 345 | Social and Economic Implications of Commu- nication Technologies | 4 |
| COMM 370 | The Rhetoric of Ideas: Ideology and Propaganda | 4 |
| COMM 388 | Ethics in Human Communication | 4 |
| COMM 402 | Public Communication Campaigns | 4 |
| COMM 412 | Communication and Social Movements | 4 |
| COMM 422 | Legal Issues and New Media | 4 |
| COMM 489 | Campaign Communication | 4 |
| ECON 330 | The Political Economy of Institutions | 4 |
| ECON 434 | Economic Analysis of Law | 4 |
| JOUR 373 | The Ethics of Television Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 460 | Social Responsibility of the News Media | 4 |
| LAW 200x | Law and Society | 4 |
| LAW 201x | Law and Politics: Electing a President | 4 |
| POSC 441 | Cultural Diversity and the Law | 4 |
| POSC 442 | The Politics of Human Differences: Diversity and Discrimination | 4 |
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 Course | Units |
|---|
| IR 305 | Managing New Global Challenges | 4 |
| International Relations Regional Courses (select one) | units |
|---|
| IR 303 | Leadership and Diplomacy | 4 |
| IR 325 | Rich and Poor States in the World Political Economy (departmental approval) | 4 |
| IR 326 | U.S. Foreign Economic Policy | 4 |
| IR 327 | International Negotiation | 4 |
| IR 330 | Politics of the World Economy | 4 |
| IR 333 | China in International Affairs | 4 |
| IR 345 | Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy | 4 |
| IR 360 | International Relations of the Pacific Rim | 4 |
| IR 361 | South and Southeast Asia in International Relations | 4 |
| IR 362 | The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East | 4 |
| IR 363 | Middle East Political Economy | 4 |
| IR 365 | Politics and Democracy in Latin America | 4 |
| IR 367 | Africa in International Affairs | 4 |
| IR 368 | French Foreign Policy: 1945 to the Present (offered in Paris only) | 4 |
| IR 369 | Contemporary European International Relations | 4 |
| IR 383 | Third World Negotiations | 4 |
| IR 384 | Introduction to Asian Security | 4 |
| IR 385 | European Foreign Policy and Security Issues | 4 |
| IR 403 | Transnational Diplomacy and Global Security | 4 |
| IR 439 | Political Economy of Russia and Eurasia | 4 |
| IR 442 | Japanese Foreign Policy | 4 |
| IR 468 | European Integration | 4 |
| IR Elective |
|---|
| Select one 300 or 400 level IR course |
| Required Communication Course | units |
|---|
| COMM 487 | Communication and Global Organizations | 4 |
| Communication electives (select two) | units |
|---|
| COMM 324 | Intercultural Communication | 4 |
| COMM 339 | Communication Technology and Culture | 4 |
| COMM 345 | Social and Economic Implications of Commu- nication Technologies | 4 |
| COMM 371 | Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace | 4 |
| COMM 385 | Survey of Organizational Communication | 4 |
| COMM 430 | Global Entertainment (Prerequisite: COMM 300) | 4 |
| COMM 431 | Global Strategy for the Communications Industry | 4 |
Total units: 24
For more information or to apply to this minor, contact the School of International Relations, USC College.
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.
For degree requirements or to apply to this minor, contact the Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine.
Minor in Cultural Studies
See the
Department of English.
Minor in Law and Society
See the
Department of Political Science.
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