Majors & Minors

The Choreography for Stage and Screen Minor explores the different techniques used to create dances for the stage and screen, including new media. By researching classic and contemporary film and stage musicals and existing choreographic works, combined with technical skills, students learn methods used to generate movement vocabulary and gain practical experience in choreographing for multiple mediums.

This minor consists of three lower-division courses, one upper-division course and 7 units of elective courses. Students must be in good academic standing to be admitted. No previous dance experience is required.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Media Studies is granted by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. Undergraduate students take their preprofessional courses in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, including the general education requirements. Major courses are selected from the curriculum of the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units, including 32 lower-division and 24 upper-division units in cinematic arts. A maximum of 40 School of Cinematic Arts upper-division units will apply to the BA degree. Before graduating, cinema and media studies majors are encouraged to take at least one small non-lecture class that emphasizes student critical writing or research papers. This category may include (but is not limited to): CTCS 402, CTCS 411, CTCS 412, CTCS 414, sections of CTCS 464 or CTCS 469 that require a D clearance, CTCS 494, and CTCS 495.

This minor introduces pre-health students to the theory and techniques of the cinematic arts and to a set of media practices useful for the implementation of health promotion strategies. 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 complements major programs such as biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, health promotion and disease prevention studies, and environmental studies.

The Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production is granted through the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. Students study within a framework that combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in a profession. Bachelor of Arts students are enrolled in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where they take their preprofessional courses, including the general education requirements. Major courses are selected from the curriculum of the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units, including 16 lower-division units and 26 upper-division units in Cinematic Arts. A maximum of 40 School of Cinematic Arts upper-division units will apply to the BA degree.

Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Undergraduate Production Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. For more information, see General Education.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production is a unique four-year program, offered by the School of Cinematic Arts, that combines a liberal arts background with comprehensive specialization in a profession. Students are provided an intensive production experience combined with requirements and electives from other School of Cinematic Arts programs including Cinema and Media Studies, Writing, Animation and Interactive Media. The degree requires 128 units, including 68 units in Cinematic Arts, many of which are taken in a sequential order.

Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Undergraduate Production Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing.

The minor in cinematic arts combines an introduction to this exciting and influential field with a diversified set of classes in critical studies, production, screenwriting, the entertainment industry, animation and interactive media. The curriculum is purposely flexible; students may choose to sample different areas in their upper-division courses or emphasize a single primary interest, such as production.

To be eligible for the cinematic arts minor, a student must be in good academic standing and have a declared major. To declare the cinematic arts minor a student must submit a Change of Major/Minor form to Cinematic Arts Office of Student Services, SCB 105.

Course Requirements for the Minor

A total of 20 units is required for the minor in cinematic arts, one 4-unit lower-division course and 16 upper-division units.

The minimum unit requirement for the degree is 131 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 215, CE 225 and CE 309. See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees.

The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in building science is 135 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 215, CE 225 and CE 309. See also the common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

The minimum unit requirement for the degree with an emphasis in construction engineering and management is 131 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 215, CE 225 and CE 309.

See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees.

The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in environmental engineering is 134 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper-division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 215, CE 225 and CE 309. See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees.