PDF version of this chapterMultimedia and Creative Technologies
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Integrated Media Systems)
See listing under Electrical Engineering.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 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| EE 320x | Digital Media Basics for Multimedia | 3 |
| CTIN 309 | Introduction to Interactive Media | 4 |
| JOUR 413 | Introduction to Online Journalism | 4 |
| Total core units: | 13-15 | |
Students will choose two elective courses from the following list:
Engineering
Journalism
Fine Arts (Multimedia Design)
Total units required for completion of minor: 19-23 units
Total units including all prerequisite courses: 26-36
Minor in Multimedia and Creative Technologies
A minor in multimedia and creative technologies is available to undergraduate students majoring in electrical engineering, computer engineering/computer science and computer science and to other students who have sufficient background for the required courses and elective courses. This minor provides students with the skills necessary to compete in the multimedia industry.Students must apply to the School of Engineering for the minor and departmental approval will be required. At least 16 units must be taken outside of the major department. Students must have completed at least one semester of USC course work and be in good academic standing. Students must take at least 16 units, which are unique to the minor (i.e., not required to fulfill the major, another minor or general education requirement). Other specific university guidelines apply to minors and can be found in the Academic Policies section.
| Required courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTPR 405 | Filmic Expression | 4 |
| CSCI 351 | Programming and Multimedia on the World Wide Web | 3 |
| EE 321 | Introduction to Integrated Media Systems, or | |
| EE 469 | Introduction to Digital Media Engineering | 3 |
| ITP 411x | Interactive Multimedia Production (corequisite to EE 321) | 3 |
| Total core units: | 13 | |
| Advisor approved Electives (6 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one course from the following: | ||
| EE 450 | Introduction to Computer Networks, or | 3 |
| CSCI 480 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
and at least one course from the following:
| CTAN 452 | Introduction to Computer Animation | 2 |
| CTIN 483 | Programming for Interactivity | 4 |
| FA 310 | Digital Photo Studio | 4 |
| FA 336 | Visual Arts and Technology | 4 |
| FA 410 | Advanced Digital Photo Studio | 4 |
| MUEA 474abx | Electronic Synthesizer Techniques | 2-4, 2-4 |
Total units required for completion of the minor: 19
Total units including all prerequisite courses: 38-49
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 574 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| CSCI 580 | 3D 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 485 | File and Database Management | 3 |
| 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 | max 6 |
| EE 554 | Real Time Computer Systems | 3 |
| ITP 411x | Interactive Multimedia Production | 3 |
Master of Science in Integrated Media Systems
The Master of Science in Integrated Media Systems is an interdisciplinary degree offered by the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Departments. It is available to students who satisfy the following admission requirements: (a) B.S. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering; or (b) a bachelor's degree in another area of engineering or science or mathematics; however, the student must have the equivalent of USC course CSCI 455 and may be required to take additional prerequisite courses for entry into this program; (c) undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; and (d) satisfactory general GRE scores of at least 400 verbal, 650 quantitative and 550 analytical.Students can enter this program in fall or spring semesters, and it is available to full-time and part-time students.
Deficiency courses, e.g., CSCI 455, cannot be counted toward the 27 units and must be taken if needed.
1. The M.S. in Integrated Media Systems requires a minimum of 27 units. It is a course-work-based program, although students can choose to take up to six units of directed research.
2. ITP 411x Interactive Multimedia Production is a required course.
3. The field of integrated media systems has been broken into four areas of specialization: media processing and hardware design, graphics and visualization, interconnection networks, and multimedia information management. Each area has one 400- or 500-entry level course associated with it (noted by asterisk). The student must take two of the four entry level courses (only one from each area). The student must take the 400-level course, unless he or she already has had an equivalent course. If the student uses the 400-level course as the entry course, the 500-level course may be taken later in the program. The entry level courses will provide the student with some breadth across the field.
4. The remaining 18 units can only be taken from an approved list of IMS courses that will be updated annually.
5. The student must take two 3-unit area courses in both of the two areas of specialization within which the student has already taken the two entry-level courses. These courses must be from the approved list of courses. Doing this will provide the student with some depth as well as breadth. If the student takes the 400-level entry-level course to satisfy requirement (3), she or he may take the 500-level entry level course to satisfy requirement (5).
6. The remaining six units can be chosen by the student. Some possibilities are:
- Directed Research (3-6 units): useful for the student's "portfolio."
- If the student has only taken 6 units of 400-level courses, she or he could take one of the other two entry-level courses and a 500-level course from that area of specialization. Doing this will provide the student with even greater breadth.
- Six more units either in one or from both areas of specialization, thereby gaining even greater depth.
- A mixture of directed research and six additional units in one or both areas of specialization.
7. A maximum of nine units can be taken at the 400-level.
8. EE 477L can count toward the 27 units only if students do not need CSCI 480 or EE 450 or CSCI 485 to be counted as an entry-level course. Otherwise, EE 477L must be treated as a deficiency course and cannot be counted toward the 27 units.
9. For students who choose the Interconnection Networks area of specialization and need to take both CSCI 402 and EE 450, one of them must be treated as a deficiency course and cannot be counted toward the 27 units.
Approved Courses for the M.S. in Integrated Media Systems (four areas of specialization)
| Media Processing and Hardware Design | units | |
|---|---|---|
| EE 469* | Introduction to Digital Media Engineering | 3 |
| EE 477L | MOS VLSI Circuit Design | 4 |
| EE 483* | Introduction to Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| EE 519 | Speech Recognition and Processing for Multimedia | 3 |
| EE 522 | Immersive Audio Signal Processing | 3 |
| EE 560 | Digital System Design: Tools and Techniques | 3 |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| EE 577a | VLSI System Design | 3 |
| EE 586L | Advanced DSP Design Laboratory | 4 |
| EE 590 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
| EE 596 | Wavelets | 3 |
| EE 669 | Multimedia Data Compression | 3 |
| Graphics and Visualization | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 480* | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CSCI 574 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| CSCI 576 | Multimedia Systems Design | 3 |
| CSCI 580* | 3D Graphics and Rendering | 3 |
| CSCI 582 | Geometric Modeling | 3 |
| CSCI 588 | Specification and Design of User Interface Software | 3 |
| CSCI 590 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| Interconnection Networks | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 402x | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSCI 551* | Computer Communications | 3 |
| CSCI 558L | Internetworking and Distributed Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| CSCI 590 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
| EE 450* | Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 |
| EE 555 | Broadband Network Architectures | 3 |
| EE 590 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
| Multimedia Information Management | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 485* | File and Database Management | 3 |
| CSCI 555 | Advanced Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSCI 561 | Foundations of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CSCI 573 | Advanced Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CSCI 577ab | Software Engineering | 4-4 |
| CSCI 585* | Database Systems | 3 |
| CSCI 586 | Database Systems Interoperability | 3 |
| CSCI 590 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
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 School of Engineering with advisor approval. Some examples are CTAN 452 Introduction to Computer Animation (2 units) and CNTV 483 Interactive Entertainment and Multimedia (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 six 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 Introduc-tion 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 Cinema-Television | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTAN 452 | Introduction to Computer Animation | 2 |
| CNTV 483 | Interactive Entertainment and Multimedia | 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 |