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Degree Programs
The USC School of Cinematic Arts offers professional and academic degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
Bachelor of Arts — Animation and Digital Arts
This program combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in a profession.
Bachelor of Arts — Cinema Television
Students can choose either a Film and Television Production or Critical Studies track. The degree is granted through the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. The B.A. degree requires 128 units.
Bachelor of Arts — Interactive Entertainment
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. The degree requires 128 units, including 14 lower division units and 30 upper division units in cinema-television.
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Writing for Screen and Television
This is a unique program designed for students who wish to receive intensive training for non-fiction and fiction writing for screen and television. The B.F.A. in Writing for Screen and Television is granted through the School of Cinematic Arts and requires 128 units.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — Emphasis in Cinema-Television
This program offers a unique coupling of the Marshall School of Business and the School of Cinematic Arts in a four year joint degree. In addition to the Marshall School of Business core classes, the students will also take a total of 24 units from the School of Cinematic Arts. The competitive program is offered to freshmen admitted to the Marshall School of Business as Business Scholars. Upon completion of all requirements, students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in
Master of Arts, Cinema-Television
This degree, which allows a track in Critical Studies, is granted by the USC Graduate School in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. The Critical Studies track requires 36 units.
Master of Fine Arts, Cinema-Television
The School of Cinematic Arts offers this professional degree in two tracks: Film and Television Production and Writing for Screen and Television. The Writing for Screen and Television track requires 44 units and the Film and Television Production track requires 52 units.
Master of Fine Arts, Animation and Digital Arts
This program requires 50 units.
Master of Fine Arts, Interactive Media
This program requires 56 units.
Master of Fine Arts, Motion Picture Producing
The Peter Stark Producing Program requires 44 units.
Doctor of Philosophy, Cinema-Television (Critical Studies)
The Ph.D. is based on a program of study and research culminating in the completion of a dissertation in the major field of study. A minimum of 68 semester units (exclusive of dissertation registration) beyond the baccalaureate is required. Applicants who have completed a Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts degree in Cinema-Television, or a closely related field, may apply to the Ph.D. program. The doctoral degree is granted by the Graduate School in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts.
Cinema-Television Minor
A minor in cinema-television is available to USC undergraduate students in all schools and departments. The minor provides the opportunity for students to become familiar with various aspects of media study. Admission to the minor program is granted in the fall and spring semesters. The program requires 24 units.
Minor in Animation and Digital Arts
The minor in animation offers students an introduction to the theory and practice of animation, including its relationship to the history of art and cinema, creative writing, and basic film production. It provides students with an opportunity to create both personal and collaborative work in a wide range of genres, from traditional character to contemporary experimental and computer animation. The program requires 32 units.This new minor will be available beginning fall 2006.
Minor in Cinema-Television for the Health Professions
This minor is designed for students who plan to enter careers or professional programs in medicine after graduation and are interested in working with film and television producers to disseminate accurate health information to the public. It introduces pre-health students to the theory and techniques of cinema and television and to a set of media practices useful for the implementation of health promotion strategies. The minor will provide a foundation for students who want to be able to function as consultants to the entertainment industry in their roles as researchers and clinicians. It complements major programs such as biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, health promotion and disease prevention studies, and environmental studies. The minor requires 24 units.
Minor in Performing Arts Studies
The minor in performing arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinema-television, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society. The minor requires 20 units. See the School of Theatre for requirements.
Minor in Screenwriting
The minor in screenwriting provides thorough training in the craft of writing for screen and television. Students learn the fundamentals of character, conflict and scene structure and build on their skills through each course as they write feature and television scripts in all genres and explore areas of their interest. Students may apply in the spring or fall semester. The program requires 24 units.
Minor in 3-D Animation
See the School of Engineering, Information Technology Program.
Minor in Video Game Design and Management
See the School of Engineering, Information Technology Program.