USC School of Cinematic Arts students learning virtual production techniques in LED Volumes. Photo by Habib Zagarpour.
Departments
The USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) is one of the nation’s preeminent centers for the creation, study, research and development of film, television and interactive media. With nearly 200,000 square feet of facilities, the school confers degrees ranging from the bachelor’s to the doctorate. SCA is composed of seven divisions and one stand-alone MFA program: the John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts; the Division of Cinema and Media Studies; Expanded Animation Research + Practice; Film and Television Production; Interactive Media and Games; the Peter Stark Producing Program; the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen and Television; and Media Arts + Practice. The school also has two organized research units — the Institute for Multimedia Literacy and the Entertainment Technology Center.
Since its founding in 1929 as the first course of study in film at any college or university in the United States, USC’s cinema program has consistently set academic and professional standards for excellence. In addition, the school has a record-breaking number of endowed chairs in the discipline; production facilities that rival industry counterparts, and extraordinary faculty and staff.
Thanks to SCA’s location in Los Angeles, students have access to the country’s leading film, television, animation, and video game producers; world-class literary and talent agencies; libraries and archives brimming with research materials; and alumni that support the school and the men and women in its academic body. The school is also home to USC’s Trojan Vision television station.
The USC School of Cinematic Arts recognizes that students can only truly excel in their chosen area of expertise after exposure to all elements of the art form. Consequently, there is an emphasis on cross-disciplinary course work that ensures writers get behind the camera; cinema and media studies scholars edit footage; and production majors examine the canon from a rigorous academic perspective.
Administration
Elizabeth M. Daley, PhD, Dean
Akira Mizuta Lippit, PhD, Vice Dean of Faculty
Michael Renov, PhD, Vice Dean, Academic Affairs
Andreas Kratky, PhD, Associate Dean, Research
Evan Hughes, MA, Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
Marcus Anderson, MEd, Assistant Dean of Student Services
Bonnie Alain Chi, BA, Assistant Dean of Cinematic Business of Entertainment
Office of Student Services
School of Cinematic Arts - SCB 105
(213) 740-8358
Email: admissions@cinema.usc.edu; studentaffairs@cinema.usc.edu
cinema.usc.edu
Office of Industry Relations
School of Cinematic Arts - SCA 235
(213) 740-4432
Email: ir@cinema.usc.edu
The John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts
Teresa Cheng, Division Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCB 210
(213) 740-3986*
FAX: (213) 740-5869
The Division of Cinema and Media Studies
Priya Jaikumar, Division Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCA 320
(213) 740-3334*
Expanded Animation Research + Practice MFA Program
Sheila M. Sofian, Director
School of Cinematic Arts - SCA 250
(213) 821-9770*
Film and Television Production
Gail Katz, Division Chair
Susan Arnold, Vice Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCA 434
(213) 740-3317*
Interactive Media and Games Division
Danny Bilson, Division Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCI 201M
(213) 821-4472*
FAX: (213) 821-2665
Media Arts + Practice
Holly Willis, Division Chair
Elizabeth Ramsey, Vice Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCI 101
(213) 821-5700*
The Peter Stark Producing Program
Ed Saxon, Division Chair
Nina Yang Bongiovi, Producer-in-Residence and Associate Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCA 366
(213) 740-3304*
The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen and Television
David Isaacs, Division Chair
School of Cinematic Arts - SCA 335
(213) 740-3303*
FAX: (213) 740-8035
The SCA Summer Program
David Maquiling, Academic and Artistic Director
School of Cinematic Arts - SCB 210
(213) 740-3327
*For information regarding admission, call (213) 740-8358.
Faculty
Steven J. Ross/Time Warner Endowed Dean’s Chair in Cinema-Television: Elizabeth M. Daley, PhD
Berdakin Family Endowed Chair for Ethics in Media and Technology: Diego Berdakin, BA
Dana and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli Endowed Chair in Producing: John Watson, MA
The Mark Burnett Summer Program Endowed Chair: David Maquiling, BFA
The Joseph Campbell Endowed Chair in Cinematic Ethics: Theodore Braun, MFA
Cecil B. DeMille Endowed Chair in Silent Film: Henry Jenkins, PhD
The Sergei Eisenstein Endowed Chair in Cinematic Design: Bruce A. Block, MFA
Electronic Arts Endowed Chair in Interactive Entertainment: Tracy Fullerton, MFA
Hugh M. Hefner Endowed Chair for the Study of American Film: Tara McPherson, PhD
The John C. Hench Endowed Division Chair: Teresa Cheng, BA
The Alma and Alfred Hitchcock Chair: J. D. Connor, PhD
The Michael Kahn Endowed Chair in Editing: Nancy Forner, BA
The Mona and Bernard Kantor Chair in Production: Lisa Leeman, BA
The Kortschak Family Endowed Division Chair in Film and Television Production: Gail Katz, MBA
William Cameron Menzies Endowed Chair in Production Design: Alex McDowell, BFA
John H. Mitchell Endowed Chair in the Business of Entertainment: Bonnie Chi, BA
Jack Oakie Chair in Comedy: Jack Epps Jr., BA
Mary Pickford Endowed Chair: Gail Katz, MBA
The Katherine and Frank Price Endowed Chair for the Study of Race and Popular Culture: Todd Boyd, PhD
John Riccitiello Endowed Chair in Games and Interactive Media: Danny Bilson, BA
Kay Rose Endowed Chair in the Art of Sound and Dialogue Editing: Midge Costin, MA
Fran and Ray Stark Endowed Chair: Edward Saxon
The T.C. Wang Family Endowed Chair in Cinematic Arts: Akira Mizuta Lippit, PhD
The Haskell Wexler Endowed Chair in Documentary: Michael Renov, PhD
The Robin Williams Endowed Chair in Comedy: Barnet Kellman, PhD
Dino and Martha De Laurentiis Endowed Professorship: Mary Sweeney, MA
Microsoft Endowed Professorship: TreaAndrea Russworm, PhD
Presidential Professor of Cinematic Arts: George Lucas, BA
Judge Widney Professor: Robert Zemeckis, BFA
Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Cinematic Arts: Henry Jenkins, PhD
University Professor: Akira Mizuta Lippit, PhD
Professors: Tom Abrams, MFA; Danny Bilson, BA; Bruce Block, MFA; Don Bohlinger, MFA; Mark Bolas, MS; Todd Boyd, PhD; Ted Braun, MFA; Teresa Cheng, BA; Midge Costin, MA; Elizabeth M. Daley, PhD; Jack Epps Jr., BA; Scott S. Fisher, MS; Tracy Fullerton, MFA; David Howard, MFA; Aniko Imre, PhD; David Isaacs, BA; Priya Jaikumar, PhD; Nicole Jefferson, MFA; Henry Jenkins, PhD; Jeremy Kagan, MFA; Gail Katz, MBA; Kara Keeling, PhD; Barnet Kellman, PhD; Aurorae Khoo, MFA; Scott Kroopf, BA; Lisa Leeman, BA; Akira Mizuta Lippit, PhD; Tara McPherson, PhD; Jason Reisig, BFA; Michael Renov, PhD; Howard A. Rodman, BA; TreaAndrea Russworm, PhD; Edward Saxon, MFA; Tom Sito, BFA; Kathy Smith, BA; Sheila M. Sofian, MFA; Mary Sweeney, MA; Michael Taylor, BA; Robert Townsend, DFA; John Watson, MA; Holly Willis, PhD
Associate Professors: Janet Batchler, MA; Linda Brown, MFA; J. D. Connor, PhD; Lan Duong, PhD; Nitin Govil, PhD; Helaine Head, BA; James Huntley, MS; Aisling Kelliher, PhD; Andreas Kratky, PhD; Richard Lemarchand, BA; Everett Lewis, MFA; Andrew Nealen, PhD; Laura Isabel Serna, PhD; Peter Sollett, BFA; Stephanie Spray, PhD; Jennifer Wild, PhD
Assistant Professor: Thomas Pringle, PhD
Professors of Practice: Susan Arnold; Irving Belateche, MA; Gordon Bellamy, BA; Peter Brinson, MFA; Vicki Callahan, PhD; Christopher Chomyn, MFA; Stephen Flick, BA; Nancy Forner, BA; Pablo Frasconi, BFA; Brenda Goodman, BS; Marientina Gotsis, MFA; Eric Hanson, BA; Virginia Kuhn, PhD; Duane Lose, BFA; Elisabeth Mann, MFA; Alexander McDowell, BFA; Thomas Miller, MD, MFA; Maks Naporowski, BA; Michael Patterson, BFA; Candace Reckinger, MFA; John Rosenberg, MFA; Robert Schiler; David Weber, MFA
Associate Professors of Practice: Steve Albrezzi, BA; Kiki Benzon, PhD; Sean Bloom, BA; Michael Bodie, MFA; Richard Burton, BA; Reine-Claire Dousarkissian, MA; Dianne Farrington, MA; Eric Freiser, MBA; Jordan Halsey; Evan Hughes, MA; DJ Johnson, MFA; Suhail Kafity; Margaret Moser, MFA; Angelo Pacifici, BArch; Michael Provart, MFA; Elizabeth Ramsey, PhD; Jesse Vigil, MFA; Tristan Whitman, MFA
Assistant Professors of Practice: Martzi Campos, MFA; George Carstocea, PhD; Jeremy Deneau, BA
Visiting Professors: Chris Eyre, MFA; Joseph Garlington, BFA; Josh Staub; Tyger Williams, BA; Robert Yeoman, MFA; Habib Zargarpour, BS
University Professor Emerita: Marsha Kinder, PhD
Professors Emerita: Doe Mayer, MA; Christine Panushka, MFA; Amandas Pope, BA
Distinguished Professor Emeritus: Mark Harris, BA
Professors Emeriti: Drew Casper, PhD; Ron Curfman, MFA; Michael Fink, MFA; Trevor Greenwood, MA; Richard Harber, MA; David E. James, PhD; Richard Jewell, PhD; Edward Kaufman, PhD; Woody Omens, MA; Morton Zarcoff, MA
Associate Professors Emeriti: Pamela Douglas, MA; Robert Miller, PhD; Dennis Wixon, PhD
Research Professor Emeritus: Richard Weinberg, PhD
Professors Emeritus of the Practice of Cinematic Arts: Jason Squire, MFA; William Yahraus, MA
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 Fine Arts — Animation and Digital Arts
This is a program designed for students who wish to receive intensive training in all aspects of pre-production and production to ideate, design and create animated works. The BFA in Animation and Digital Arts is granted through the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Arts, Cinema and Media Studies
This degree is granted through the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts and requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Arts, Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production
This degree is a two-year program for transfer students. The BA is granted through the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts and requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production
This degree is a four-year program only available to incoming freshmen. The BFA in Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production is granted through the School of Cinematic Arts and requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Game Art
Dedicated to creating beautiful art assets for interactive media and technologies, this program focuses on Games with concentrations that might include character animation, environmental design, visual effects, 3-D pipelines and interactive animation. Students study within the framework that combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in a profession. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Art is granted through the the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Game Development and Interactive Design
Dedicated to immersive experience design and core best practices from the games industry, this program is for students who are passionate about the games industry and driven to innovate the emerging future of entertainment. The BFA in Game Development and Interactive Design is granted through the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Arts — Media Arts and Practice
In this program, students learn how to work with a broad spectrum of media-making tools, including video, sound, graphic design and interactive media, while also exploring the relationships among media forms, emerging technologies, and culture. This degree is granted through the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Themed Entertainment
In this unique four-year program, students study within a framework that combines a broad liberal arts background with a specialization track within the Themed Entertainment Industry. The degree requires 128 units, including 62 units in the major. For more information, see here .
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 BFA in Writing for Screen and Television is granted through the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units. For more information, see here .
Bachelor of Science, Business of Cinematic Arts
The combined Bachelor of Science degree program in the Business of Cinematic Arts offers qualified students an opportunity to gain an educational foundation in both areas. For more information, see Business of Cinematic Arts (BS) .
Master of Arts, Cinema and Media Studies
This degree is granted by the USC Graduate School in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. This program requires 36 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Arts, Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games and Health)
This program requires 36 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production
This professional degree requires 52 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Writing for Screen and Television
This program requires 44 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Animation and Digital Arts
This program requires 50 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Expanded Animation Research and Practice
This program requires 50 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Interactive Media
This program requires 50 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Interactive Media (Games and Health)
This program requires 50 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Fine Arts, Producing for Film, Television, and New Media
The Peter Stark Producing Program requires 44 units. For more information, see here .
Master of Science, Game Design and Development
This program requires 38 units. For more information, see Game Design and Development (MS) .
Doctor of Philosophy, Cinema and Media Studies
The PhD 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 Cinematic Arts, or a closely related field, may apply to the PhD program. The doctoral degree is granted by the Graduate School in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. For more information, see here .
Doctor of Philosophy, Cinematic Arts (Media Arts and Practice)
The PhD in Media Arts and Practice program offers a rigorous and creative environment for scholarly innovation as students explore the intersection of design, media and critical thinking while defining new modes of research and scholarship for the 21st century. Core to the program is its transdisciplinary ethos; after completing foundational course work, students design their own curricula, drawing on expertise across all divisions and research labs within the School of Cinematic Arts. The doctoral degree is granted by the Graduate School in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. For more information, see here .
Writing for Screen and Television Certificate
The Writing for Screen and Television Certificate provides an established writer, domestic or international, with a one-year program of study. It is meant to accommodate a writer who has already attained significant recognition and would like to learn the craft of screenwriting. Sixteen units are required. For more information, see here .
Graduate Certificate in the Business of Entertainment
This certificate program provides graduate-level education in various aspects of the business of film, television and new media. It requires 16 units. For more information, see here .
Graduate Certificate in Cinematic Arts Archiving and Preservation
This certificate program is designed specifically for students and practitioners who want to use their education and skills for advancing the knowledge of film, television and interactive media through the preservation and dissemination of the historical artifacts that form the underpinnings of scholarship in the performing arts. Through this program, students will gain the knowledge, tools and skills necessary to preserve the materials that make up the history of entertainment and to lead scholars through the research maze to the completion of books or media in their fields of study. This certificate requires 12 units. For more information, see here .
Graduate Certificate in Digital Media and Culture
This certificate program explores the shifting nature of scholarly expression, pedagogical practice and research in the 21st century, combining seminars with hands-on, lab-based workshops in order to facilitate sophisticated critical thinking and practice in and through multimedia. The program requires 12 units. For more information, see here .
General Requirements
Acceptance of Transfer Units
The School of Cinematic Arts rarely accepts media production courses taken at other institutions to fulfill degree and minor requirements. Basic media history and theory courses can sometimes be accepted for transfer credit. Please check with the program administrator or a student affairs counselor for more detailed information.
No transfer credit will be accepted in lieu of CTPR 290 , CTPR 294 , CTPR 295 , CTPR 310 , CTPR 507 and CTPR 508 and any advanced film production courses.
No transfer credits are accepted for the Peter Stark producing track, the graduate programs in animation and digital arts, screenwriting and interactive media.
Transfer policies for PhD degrees require advisement and approval of the division chair.
Waiver of Course Requirements
Under special circumstances waivers and substitutions are granted; check with the Cinematic Arts Office of Student Services. All course waivers and substitutions are reviewed by committee and must be approved by the associate dean of academic affairs.
The following courses cannot be waived for students majoring in Film and Television Production: CTPR 290 , CTPR 294 , CTPR 295 , CTPR 310 , CTPR 480 , CTPR 507 , CTPR 508 , CTPR 546L , CTPR 547L , CTPR 581a , CTPR 581b , CTPR 581c , CTPR 581z , CTPR 582a , CTPR 582b , CTPR 582z , CTPR 583 , CTPR 587a , CTPR 587b , CTPR 587c , CTPR 587z .
The following courses cannot be waived for students majoring in the BFA in Game Art, and the MFA in Interactive Media: CTAN 280 , CTAN 480 , CTIN 190 , CTIN 290 , CTIN 488 , CTIN 489L , CTIN 491L , CTIN 532L , CTIN 534L , CTIN 541 , CTIN 542 , CTIN 544 , CTIN 548 , CTIN 594a and CTIN 594b .
Student Advisement
Each program has its own advisement system. The SCA Student Services counselors are available to answer questions about degree programs, grades, advisement and other matters.
Grade Point Average Requirements
A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A = 4.0), must be earned in all required and prerequisite courses in order to progress to the next course level. Students may attempt to improve a grade lower than a C (2.0) only one time by registering and retaking the specific course. Departmental committee approval is required to retake a School of Cinematic Arts course. Students requesting to retake a required course must submit a written appeal to the departmental chair. Students who do not successfully complete a required course after repeating it will be disqualified from their program of study.
In addition, a minimum grade point average must be achieved to earn all cinematic arts degrees (see the individual program descriptions). For example, undergraduates and graduates must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required cinematic arts courses. However, graduate students must also achieve a B (3.0) average in all courses required for the degree.
Undergraduate students in the film and television production program who achieve a grade lower than a C (2.0) in CTPR 290 (BFA only), CTPR 294 , CTPR 295 or CTPR 310 , and graduate students in the production program who earn a grade lower than a C (2.0) in CTPR 507 or CTPR 508 are subject to dismissal from the program, but may petition to retake a required course once. Permission to retake any prerequisite or core production courses requires prior departmental committee approval.
Undergraduate students in the media arts and practice program who achieve a grade lower than a C (2.0) or withdraw after the add/drop deadline for IML 201 are subject to dismissal from the program but may petition to retake the course once.
Students who do not satisfy the degree requirement after repeating a class will be disqualified from the program.
Tuition and Fees (Estimated)
Students in the School of Cinematic Arts’ graduate programs pay differential tuition (see the Tuition and Fees section for current tuition rates). Undergraduate programs are assessed the university-wide tuition rate. In addition, some classes are charged lab fees, as noted in the Schedule of Classes, and insurance fees. The university reserves the right to assess new fees or charges. The rates listed are subject to change without notice by action of the Board of Trustees.
Attendance Policy
The School of Cinematic Arts curriculum relies heavily on in-class participation and interaction between faculty and students. Many of our courses are taught in a collaborative workshop environment and our theoretical lectures are driven through in-depth classroom discussion and analysis. We hold collaboration and constructive criticism as foundational to all of our learning environments and essential to the methodologies of our instruction. Student attendance is not only fundamental, but mandatory for the structure and success of our program for both the individual student and the educational experiences of other students within our community.
Minors, International Programs and Summer Program
Minor in Cinematic Arts
A minor in cinematic arts 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. The program requires 20 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Comedy
The minor in comedy is designed to train students in the creation of comedic entertainment in film, television and new media. The program utilizes both analysis courses and creative workshops to train students in comedic theory and practice. Through elective choices students may focus their studies on a number of cinematic disciplines as they pertain to the creation of comedic content, including writing sit-coms, directing comedic actors and producing sketch comedy. The program requires 16 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Digital Studies
The minor in digital studies explores the rich potential of digital media for critical analysis and creative discovery. Learning the exciting and dynamic potential of a broad array of tools and technologies, students create innovative projects, from photo essays to web-based documentaries, from interactive videos to sophisticated websites, and from typography in motion to 3-D visualizations. The program requires 20 units. Minor students may also choose to earn an Honors designation by completing 6 additional units of course work, culminating in a capstone thesis during the student’s final year. For more information, see here .
Minor in Documentary
The minor in documentary is designed to train students in the preparation and production of documentary media. Courses are designed to give students insight into the history of documentary as well as experience with both the traditional and emerging forms of the genre. For more information, see here .
Minor in Entertainment Industry
The minor in entertainment industry provides students interested in media content creation with a focused curriculum that will give them insight into the economic factors and professional practices that influence the creative process, and how they interact with social, historical, technical and aesthetic elements. For more information, see here .
Minor in Future Cinema
The minor in Future Cinema explores the frontier of audiovisual storytelling building on the cutting edge research within the School of Cinematic Arts. Students will explore the creative and technological transformations of an industry in transition as cinema becomes live, playable, immersive, mobile, virtual, crowdsourced and more. The program requires 20 units. For more information see here .
Minor in Game Audio
Game audio professionals must not only be competent in one area (e.g., expressly in music composing or in audio recording), but also in other areas of audio and in theories of procedurality and interaction. This minor provides a grounding in game design and systems thinking, while providing a theoretical backing and skills in audio design and composition to prepare students to design successful audio for the games industry. The program requires 24 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Game Design
Design for games is a young, exciting field applicable to media artists working all over the world, in different aspects of the industry and with many different tools. The game design minor teaches basic iterative design and prototyping skills while providing students the opportunity to explore design for new technologies and the skills of user assessment and usability testing. The program requires 24 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Game Entrepreneurism
The modern media, technology and entertainment fields are built on the backs of new businesses and new ideas. To start a successful business, you need skills and knowledge of the processes for setting up a business, finding investment and turning your creative project from prototype to finished project. The game entrepreneurism minor provides an educational path that teaches hard business thinking for creative entrepreneurs. The program requires 24 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Game Studies
Games are a major cultural form, with game sales now exceeding box office revenue in the United States. Attention to games and interactive media is growing, and it has become necessary to understand them as meaningful systems, reflect on their cultural influence, and to help guide their evolution with insightful criticism. The game studies minor prepares students with fundamental underpinnings in media criticism and games. For more information, see here .
Minor in Game User Research
Game and interaction design are deeply dependent upon human-computer interaction and the ability to use research methods to improve player experience. This minor is designed to give students an underpinning in game design, interface design and research methods, while teaching a full set of skills for playtesting and usability practice. The program requires 24 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Immersive Media
The minor in immersive media is designed to train students to create projects in virtual reality, augmented reality, and other immersive media formats. The core program requirements provide the solid fundamentals needed to understand, conceive of, and create immersive work. Through elective choices students may focus their studies on theory, on specific fields of immersive, on creative expression, or on building technology. The program requires 24 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Media and Social Change
The minor in media and social change provides the opportunity for students who are interested in media content creation and research to take classes in a focused curriculum on the various aspects of media for change. Students will gain insight into the professional practices of creating media content, analyzing existing content, and learning how they can influence the future by integrating social issues into the work they are doing in related fields. The program requires 20 units. For more information, see here .
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 16 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Themed Entertainment
From cruise ships to casinos to immersive educational retreats, themed entertainment design involves submerging a real, live human being into a story in a truly robust, physical way. As new tools for entertainment and education develop, they continually push toward enabling players to completely become the heroes and heroines of their own stories. The themed entertainment minor focuses on history, theory and skills of themed entertainment design. The program requires 24 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in 3-D Animation in Cinematic Arts
The minor in 3-D animation in cinematic arts offers an introduction to basic animation principles and history, as well as creative and skill-based instruction in 3-D computer animation. Through elective choices students may focus their studies on their specific area of interest, including visual effects, motion capture, virtual reality, modeling, or character animation. The program requires 16 units. For more information, see here .
Minor in Cinema-Television for the Health Professions
This 24-unit 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. See the Keck School of Medicine of USC for course requirements.
Minor in Video Game Design and Management
The video game design minor integrates theoretical concepts and practical skills to prepare students for a career in interactive entertainment, specifically the video game industry. Through integration of two major disciplines (cinematic arts and information technology), students will be exposed to a variety of design concepts related to creating video games. See the Information Technology Program for course requirements. For specific information on admission and application procedures, contact the School of Cinematic Arts at (213) 821-2515 or the Information Technology Program at (213) 740-4542.
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 cinematic arts, 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. See USC School of Dramatic Arts for requirements.
International Programs
Global Exchange Workshop
“The Global Exchange Workshop” is an intensive, seven-week workshop in documentary filming that pairs graduate students from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the Communication University of China (CUC) to make short documentaries on Los Angeles and/or Beijing as global cities. Participating students enroll in CTPR 515 Global Exchange Workshop (2 units).
With faculty guidance from both universities, the students must negotiate cultural differences both in front of and behind the camera. In the process, both students and faculty directly experience the other culture and learn how it defines globalism in general, sees its own city in global terms, combines theory and practice, and processes a new set of perceptions and lived experience.
Interested students should contact Professor Pablo Frasconi of the division of Film and Video Production at pfrasconi@cinema.usc.edu.
The SCA Summer Program
The USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program is a six-week program that offers classes from different facets of the entertainment industry, all for college credit. Participants from around the world have an opportunity to attend intensive, creatively demanding and satisfying filmmaking courses. Please note: the SCA Summer Program consists of collegiate-level courses and is not a continuing education or certificate earning program.
Minor
Graduate Certificate
Motion Picture Producing
Note: Instructor availability for a particular course or section cannot be guaranteed.
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CMPP 541a Producing Workshop
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Fa
Hands-on workshops in creative and physical filmmaking.
Duplicates Credit in CTPR 504 and former CMPP 541L.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 541b Producing Workshop
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sp
Further hands-on creative and physical filmmaking, making more advanced short films.
Duplicates Credit in CTPR 504 and former CMPP 541L.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 548 Introduction to Producing for Television
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
An introduction to the creative and business aspects of producing for television.
Registration Restriction: Open only to PFTM students.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 550 Script Analysis for the Producer
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Detailed evaluation of completed scripts and of the producer’s role in bringing them to fruition.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 560 Script Development
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
From idea and story to finished shooting script.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 561 Motion Picture and Television Marketing
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Analysis and preparation of film and television show marketing campaigns from creative concept to targeting across various media.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 563 Producing Symposium
Units: 1
Terms Offered: Fa
Lectures on creative aspects of producing.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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CMPP 564 Digital Media and Entertainment
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Exploring the effect of digital media on the entertainment landscape.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 565 Scheduling and Budgeting
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Concept and preparation of a complete schedule and budget.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 566 Finance
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Seminar on financial aspects of film industry and methods of financing films.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 568 Producing for Television
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Discussions of the creative and financial aspects of television producing.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 569 Seminar on Non-Mainstream Producing
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Discussions on non-major studio producing options, including non-traditional financing and non-theatrical producing.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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CMPP 570 Advanced Television
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Advanced studies of the business of television, including the economic structure of the television industry.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 571 Producing the Screenplay
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Workshop for the creation and development of a screenplay or teleplay.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 572 Seminar in Filmic Storytelling
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Fa
Guides students through the building blocks of screenwriting, from building compelling and proactive characters to understanding the basic format and structure of storytelling, while improving their understanding and facility with the story and the screenplay format.
Registration Restriction: Only open to students enrolled in the Peter Stark Producing Program
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 589a Graduate Film Business Seminar
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Economics of the entertainment industry, including entertainment law, and rights acquisition. Includes weekly film screening.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Producing for Film, Television and New Media students
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 589b Graduate Film Business Seminar
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Economics of the entertainment industry, including entertainment law, and rights acquisition. Focuses on independent low budget producing and studio management.
Prerequisite: CMPP 589a
Registration Restriction: Open only to Producing for Film, Television and New Media students
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 591 Producing Practicum
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Irregular
Producing workshop encompassing all aspects of producing, including script development, budgeting, casting and actual production.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 592 Individual Project Seminar
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sp
Directed research project and seminars in related topics.
Duplicates Credit in former CTPR 592.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CMPP 599 Special Topics
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Irregular
Investigation of new and emerging aspects of producing motion pictures and television; special and experimental subjects.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
Cinematic Arts
Note: Instructor availability for a particular course or section cannot be guaranteed.
-
CNTV 101 Reality Starts Here
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Introduction to emerging forms of immersive entertainment, to Cinematic Arts faculty, and to guest speakers who will comment on the changing nature of the industry.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 325 Digital Cinematography
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Sm
The craft of cinematography for digital media; includes lectures, on-set video production exercises, and scene studies.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 332 The Art of Motion Picture Editing
Units: 2
Analyzing and deconstructing all the elements of the art of creatively manipulating visual images through editing.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 367 The Music Video: Business and Practice
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
Creating concepts, writing treatments, pitching, and the realities and details of music video production including budgeting, pre- and post-production.
Duplicates Credit in CTPR 497 Music Video Production.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 370 3-D Animation for Film and Video
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
The basics of 3-D computer animation techniques and their use in creating animated characters.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 372 Developing the Screenplay
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sm
The process of script development, examining a project from the initial idea and tracking its progress through to the completed screenplay ready for production.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 375 Breaking Into the Entertainment Industry
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSm
An overview of the entertainment industry and the tools needed to secure jobs and survive and succeed in the market.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 390 Special Problems
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4
Terms Offered: Irregular
Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 392 Filmmaking Intensive
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
The basic technical and aesthetic concepts underlying motion picture production and an exploration of visual language.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 393 16mm Filmmaking: Structuring Scenes That Work
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
The creative and technical aspects of 16mm filmmaking, particularly as they apply to the short film or the individual scene.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 403 Filmmaking Online
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
An intensive online course in expressing ideas through the moving image. Writing, directing, photographing and editing short projects.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 405 Studio Producing and Directing
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
Understanding the craft and art of directing in the studio system, and developing a working methodology for creative producing.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 410 Documentary Filmmaking
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
Conceiving, researching, writing, producing, directing and editing an original non-fiction work and exploring practical training in techniques of documentary film.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 411 Directing the Short Film
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
An overview of the concerns, functions and responsibilities of the director. Casting, producing and directing an individual short film project.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 413 Digital Editing
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
Introduction to non-linear editing techniques, hardware, digitizing, logging, and special effects, using the AVID Media Composer editing system.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 415 Commercial Production: The Art of the Sixty-Second Story
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
The three main components of commercials: agency creation, spot production, and post-production. Writing, pitching, casting, directing, and editing commercials.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 419 Inside the Business of Film and Television
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
An overview of the contemporary studio system, independent films, and television, including script analysis, pitching, optioning properties, the marketplace, representation, career management, and networking.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 420 Independent Feature Filmmaking
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Independent feature film development, financing, production, and distribution. Discussions with independent filmmakers.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 427 The Art and Commerce of Independent Film
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
A comprehensive analysis of the development-to-release life cycle of independently produced films.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 428 Fundamentals of Entertainment Law and Dealmaking
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
An introduction to the legal aspects of securing and protecting content in all forms of media, and the business side of project development and implementation.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Business Administration with Cinematic Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 440 The Business of the Entertainment Industry: Motion Pictures, Television, Animation, Video Games, and Interactive Entertainment
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
An in-depth analysis of the history, evolution, and current state of the motion picture, television, animation, video game, and interactive entertainment industries.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 441 Business and Cinematic Arts Entertainment Practicum
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Application of business and cinematic arts concepts to entertainment industry networking and career-building experiences. Peer collaboration/competition, and identifying organizational compatibility.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Business Administration (Cinematic Arts) majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 457 The Entertainment Entrepreneur: Getting Your First Project Made
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
The practical aspects of entrepreneurial producing in the entertainment industry. Identifying and understanding the pitfalls and benefits of creating one’s own projects.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 458 Producing and Marketing Feature Length Films
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
The principles and business practices of producing and marketing feature length films in the motion picture industry.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Business Administration (Cinematic Arts) majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 463 Television: Integrating Creative and Business Objectives
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
An investigation of the creative and business sides of television and how they connect, including changes caused by fractionalization and digital technology.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Business Administration (Cinematic Arts) students
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 467 The Future of Digital Media and the Entertainment Industry
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Examines how digital media will affect the future of the television, motion picture, game, music, and interactive industries.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 473 Digital Media Techniques of Entertainment and Fake News
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Examines media disinformation in content creation, online news sources and entertainment; includes guest experts on technology, media and ethics.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 474 Digital DNA: Media Redefined
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
A practical, hands-on learning experience in creating media content and turning that content into a myriad of viable businesses.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 475 How to Make “It”: Mapping Your Way to Success in Showbiz
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Explores creating film and television projects, starting from the initial stages of sourcing material to the final stages of marketing and advertising.
Recommended Preparation: CNTV 375
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 478 Horror Film Analysis and Production
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
The fundamentals of horror filmmaking, analysis of horror as a genre and professional opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 481 Entertainment Industry Launchpad
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sp
Provides senior Business of Cinematic Arts majors with the practical and theoretical skills needed to launch their entry into the Entertainment Industry.
Registration Restriction: Open only to seniors in Business Administration with Cinematic Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 490x Directed Research
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Max Units: 12.0
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Individual research and readings.
Credit Restriction: Not available for graduate credit.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 495 Internship in Cinematic Arts
Units: 1, 2, 4
Max Units: 04
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
On-the-job film, television, and interactive industry experience in the areas of interest of the individual student. Requires departmental approval.
Duplicates Credit in former CTIN 495 and former CTPR 495
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 499 Special Topics
Units: 2, 3, 4
Max Units: 8.0
Selected topics in cinematic arts.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 501 Cinematic Arts Seminar
Units: 1
Max Units: 4.0
Terms Offered: Fa
Introduction to an industry and art form in the midst of transformation, with guest speakers and cinematic arts faculty who will address new research and technologies.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 521 The World of the Producer
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
A comprehensive overview of the role of the producer in creating television programming, feature films, and new media content.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 522 The Television Industry: Networks, Cable and the Internet
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
The current state of the television industry and future business paradigms.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 523 Feature Film Financing and the Studio System
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
An overview of the motion picture studio system and how to finance feature films. Principles, business practices, and future trends.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 524 Digital Technologies and the Entertainment Industry
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
The impact of digital technologies on the film, television, and music industries from content creation to distribution.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 525 Entertainment Marketing in Today’s Digital Environment
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Fa
Entertainment industry marketing disciplines, covering motion pictures, television, music, theme parks, home entertainment, and video games. Current principles and business practices.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 530 Cinematic Ethics
Units: 1
Terms Offered: FaSp
An introductory course in the ethical questions professionals encounter in the field of cinematic arts. Case studies and guest lectures.
Registration Restriction: Open only to students in the School of Cinematic Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Discussion
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 561 Publicity for Cinema and Television
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Analysis and preparation of advertising and publicity campaigns for entertainment films and television.
Duplicates Credit in former CTPR 561
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 562 Seminar in Motion Picture Business
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Problems of studio operation, production, distribution, exhibition or legal procedures relating to the motion picture.
Duplicates Credit in former CTPR 562
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 563 The Business of Representation
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Various roles an agent, manager, attorney and publicist play in representing talent, producers and writers. Taught by professionals who are at the forefront of the entertainment industry.
Duplicates Credit in former CTPR 563
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 589 Graduate Film Seminar
Units: 2 or 4
Max Units: 8.0
Terms Offered: FaSp
Detailed investigations and discussion of various aspects of film.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 590 Directed Research
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 594a Master’s Thesis
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of thesis.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress to Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 594b Master’s Thesis
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of thesis.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress to Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 594z Master’s Thesis
Units: 0
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of thesis.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress to Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 595 Professional Practicum
Units: 1, 2, 4
Max Units: 8
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Film, media, archival and interactive industry experience in areas of interest to the individual student, and development of a personal brand. Requires departmental approval.
Registration Restriction: Open only to graduate students.
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 599 Special Topics
Units: 2, 3, 4
Max Units: 8.0
Terms Offered: FaSp
Detailed investigation of new or emerging aspects of cinematic arts; special subjects offered by visiting faculty; experimental subjects.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CNTV 794a Doctoral Dissertation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of dissertation.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress & Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 794b Doctoral Dissertation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of dissertation.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress & Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 794c Doctoral Dissertation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of dissertation.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress & Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 794d Doctoral Dissertation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of dissertation.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress & Credit/No Credit
-
CNTV 794z Doctoral Dissertation
Units: 0
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Credit on acceptance of dissertation.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In-progress & Credit/No Credit
Animation
Note: Instructor availability for a particular course or section cannot be guaranteed.
-
CTAN 101L Introduction to the Art of Animation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Theory and practice of animation across organic and digital media with an emphasis on self-exploration.
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 102L Introduction to the Art of Movement
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Theory and practice of animation with a focus on movement, gesture, timing and performance.
Prerequisite: CTAN 101 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 110 Design Fundamentals for Animation I
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Developing skills in design, composition, shape language, image-making, and visual thinking to create more sophisticated style frames and imagery for animation practice.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Animation and Digital Arts majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 200g The Rise of Digital Hollywood
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sp
An overview of the evolution of computer graphics in modern media.
Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 201L Intermediate Animation Production
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Fa
Tools, skills and procedures used in animation production with a focus on professional execution of independent and collaborative productions.
Prerequisite: CTAN 102 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 202L Introduction to 3-D Character Animation
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Sp
3-D animation performance utilizing preset rigs and virtual characters. Emphasis on timing, gesture, and performance.
Registration Restriction: Open only to sophomores in Animation and Digital Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 210 Design Fundamentals for Animation II
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Applying design principles in image-making and motion with software skills in After Effects to produce creative content and expand animation practice.
Prerequisite: CTAN 110
Registration Restriction: Open only to Animation and Digital Arts majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 220 Introduction to Storyboarding
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
A practical introductory course that emphasizes the fundamentals of digital storyboarding to include storyboarding basics, proper composition, staging for clarity, pitching and critique.
Recommended Preparation: Basic drawing skills
Registration Restriction: Open only to Animation and Digital Arts majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 280 Intermediate Character Animation for Games
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Fa
An applied introduction to the techniques used for animating 3-D bipedal human character content for the movement and interactive experience within 3-D video games.
Prerequisite: CTAN 452 or ITP 215L
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 301L 3-D Character Performance Animation
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Fa
Advanced 3-D character animation with an emphasis on performance, lip-syncing, timing and execution.
Prerequisite: CTAN 202L .
Registration Restriction: Open only to juniors in Animation and Digital Arts.
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 305 Professionalism of Animation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Understanding the business of the animation industry. Developing presentation skills for interviewing and pitching, preparing personal marketing tools, researching employment opportunities, and practicing networking techniques.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 320 Cinematography for Animators
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
The basic cinematic principles for animation, and how to shoot storyboards for the best composition to serve the story.
Prerequisite: CTAN 452
Registration Restriction: Open only to Animation and Digital Arts majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 330 Animation Fundamentals
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
An introduction to the fundamentals of animation, covering such topics as timing, anticipation, reaction, overlapping action, and metamorphosis.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 336 Ideation and Pre-Production
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Sp
Emphasis on lateral thinking working across boundaries to find underlying principles in terms of ideation: the act of becoming an agent of ideas.
Prerequisite: CTAN 301L
Registration Restriction: Open only to juniors in the School of Cinematic Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 401a Senior Project
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Fa
Understanding the requirements and relationships between theory and practice regarding the complexity of an animated film in idea and execution.
Prerequisite: CTAN 336
Registration Restriction: Open only to seniors in the School of Cinematic Arts
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 401b Senior Project
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Completion and exhibition of the short animated film to demonstrate understanding and further examination of the possibilities of animation time based graphic media.
Prerequisite: CTAN 401a
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 420 Concept Design for Animation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Creating characters and environments for animation, live action, and video games.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 425 Studio Careers: Story to Screen
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSp
Seminar featuring guest speakers from major animation studios to provide an overview of a feature animation pipeline from development to pre-production, production and post-production.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 432 The World of Visual Effects
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Introduction to the expanding field of visual effects; topics include integration for cinematic storytelling and the study of digital productions employing the latest visual effects.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 436 Writing for Animation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Workshop exploring concept and structure of long and short form animated films through practical writing exercises.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 438 Story Structure for Animation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
Storytelling principles as they pertain to episodic and serialized animated television series and animated feature films.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Animation and Digital Arts majors
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 443L Character Development for 3-D Animation and Games
Units: 2
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Development, modeling, and animation with an emphasis on character setup features: rigging, skeletons, deformers and scripting. Applying principles of traditional animation to 3-D character rig/puppet.
Prerequisite: CTAN 452 or ITP 215L
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 451 History of Animation
Units: 2
Terms Offered: Fa
In-depth survey of historical developments, styles, techniques, theory and criticism of animation as an art form.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
CTAN 452 Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation
Units: 2
Max Units: 04
Terms Offered: FaSp
Lecture and laboratory in computer animation: geometric modeling, motion specification, lighting, texture mapping, rendering, compositing, production techniques, systems for computer-synthesized animation using Maya software.
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
Grading Option: Letter
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