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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 Courses | Units |
|---|
| CTIN 309 | Introduction to Interactive Media | 4 |
| EE 320x | Digital Media Basics for Multimedia | 3 |
| ITP 101x | Introduction to Information Technology, or | 4 |
| ITP 105x* | Introduction to Computer Technologies and Applications | 2 |
| ITP 210x | Multimedia Applications for Windows (corequisite to EE 320) | 2 |
| JOUR 413 | Introduction to Online Journalism | 4 |
| Total core units: | | 13-15 |
| Elective Courses: | | 6-8 units |
| Students will choose two elective courses from the following list: |
| CTIN 483 | Introduction to Game Development | 4 |
| CTIN 483 | Programming for Interactivity | 4 |
| CTIN 488 | Game Design Workshop | 4 |
| Engineering |
| EE 450 | Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 |
| ITP 413x | Interactive Web Development, or | 4 |
| CSCI 351* | Programming and Multimedia on the World Wide Web | 3 |
| Journalism |
| JOUR 417 | Online Journalism Management | 2 |
| Fine Arts (Multimedia Design) |
| FA 302 | Design II | 4 |
| FA 310 | Digital Photo Studio | 4 |
| FA 410 | Advanced Digital Photo Studio | 4 |
| FA 436 | Art and Technology | 4 |
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 Track | Units |
|---|
| CSCI 480 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CSCI 520 | Computer Animation and Simulation | 3 |
| CSCI 574 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| CSCI 580 | 3-D Graphics and Rendering | 3 |
| CSCI 582 | Geometric Modeling | 3 |
| CSCI 674 | Advanced Topics in Computer Vision | 3 |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| Networks and Databases Track | Units |
|---|
| CSCI 551 | Computer Communications | 3 |
| CSCI 558L | Internetworking and Distributed Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| CSCI 585* | Database Systems | 3 |
| CSCI 586 | Database Systems Interoperability | 3 |
| CSCI 694ab | Topics in Computer Networks and Distributed Systems | 3-3 |
| EE 450 | Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 |
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 Intelligence | 3 |
| CSCI 573 | Advanced Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CSCI 577ab* | Software Engineering | 4-4 |
| CSCI 583 | Computational Geometry | 3 |
| CSCI 588 | Specification and Design of User Interface Software | 3 |
| CSCI 590 | Directed Research | 1-12 |
| EE 554 | Real Time Computer Systems | 3 |
| ISE 571 | Human Factor Issues in Integrated Media Systems | 3 |
| ISE 575 | Topics in Engineering Approaches to Music Cognition | 3, max 6 |
| ITP 411x | Interactive Multimedia Production | 3 |
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 576 | Multimedia Systems Design | 3 |
| EE 483 | Introduction to Digital Signal Processing, or | |
| EE 469 | Introduction to Digital Media Engineering | 3 |
| EE 519 | Speech Recognition and Processing for Multimedia, or | |
| EE 522 | Immersive Audio Signal Processing | 3 |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing | 3 |
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 Engineering | Units |
|---|
| BME 527 | Integration of Medical Imaging Systems | 3 |
| Courses in Electrical Engineering | Units |
|---|
| EE 450 | Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 |
| EE 455x | Introduction to Programming Systems Design | 3 |
| EE 519 | Speech Recognition and Processing for Multimedia | 3 |
| EE 522 | Immersive Audio Signal Processing | 3 |
| EE 532 | Wireless Internet and Pervasive Computing | 3 |
| EE 555 | Broadband Network Architectures | 3 |
| EE 586L | Advanced DSP Design Laboratory | 4 |
| EE 590 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
| EE 596 | Wavelets | 3 |
| EE 599 | Special Topics | 3 |
| EE 669 | Multimedia Data Compression | 3 |
| Courses in Computer Science | Units |
|---|
| CSCI 480 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CSCI 485 | File and Database Management | 3 |
| CSCI 520 | Computer Animation and Simulation | 3 |
| CSCI 551 | Computer Communications | 3 |
| CSCI 558L | Internetwork and Distributed Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| CSCI 571 | Web Technologies | 3 |
| CSCI 574 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| CSCI 580 | 3D Graphics and Rendering | 3 |
| CSCI 582 | Geometric Modeling | 3 |
| CSCI 585 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CSCI 599 | Special Topics | 2-4 |
| Courses from the School of Cinematic Arts | Units |
|---|
| CTAN 452 | Introduction to Computer Animation | 2 |
| CTIN 483 | Introduction to Game Development | 4 |
| CTIN 483 | Programming for Interactivity | 4 |
| Course in Human Factors | Units |
|---|
| ISE 571 | Human Factors Issues in Integrated Media Systems | 3 |
| Course in Information Technology | Units |
|---|
| ITP 411x | Interactive Multimedia Production | 3 |
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