Courses of Interest

The courses listed in this section have been chosen by the designated departments as having special interest for students who are not majoring in that particular subject but who might find courses in that discipline both enjoyable and beneficial. For more information, contact the department directly.

School of Architecture

ARCH 106x Workshop in Architecture (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the ways architecture is created and understood, for minors and non-majors. Hands-on discussion and laboratory session with some drawing and model building. Not available for credit to architecture majors.

ARCH 114 Architecture: Culture and Community (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the ways architecture represents aspirations of culture, satisfies practical and spiritual needs, shapes the social and urban environment, and helps preserve the planet.

ARCH 203 Visualizing and Experiencing the Built Environment (4 units)

Description: Methods for direct observation and recording of the directly experienced built environment through drawing, diagramming, photographing, and writing. Course includes exercises and field experience.

ARCH 214b World History of Architecture (3 units)

Description: A world-wide perspective of architectural history as a product of social, cultural, religious, and political dimensions, 1500 CE to present.

ARCH 361L Ecological Factors in Design (3 units)

Description: Lectures, laboratory exercises and field trips introduce basic knowledge of incorporating ecological factors in urban design and interaction of landscape science with the human environment.

ARCH 370 Architectural Studies — Expanding the Field (2 units)

Description: Survey of opportunities, specializations, and professions related to architecture provides a resource for professional growth for architecture majors, and introduction to the field for non-majors.

ARCH 406 Global Studies: Topics in Architecture, Urbanism, History and Art (2 units, max 6)

Description: Offered for particular geographic areas of study. Required prerequisite for all full semester undergraduate global programs. Also intended for general interest in focused study on particular geographic area. Prerequisite: ARCH 214ab or ARCH 304.

ARCH 421 Digital Architectural Photography (2 units)

Description: Perceiving and documenting the built environment through the perspective and frame of the digital camera. Mastering the basic principles of the digital image through an understanding of frame, light, exposure, color correction, and printing output.

ARCH 422L Architectural Photography – Film and Digital (3 units)

Description: See how light alters the visual impact of architectural forms; master high-resolution images both with film and digital; become a professional image developer/processor utilizing photographic software.

ARCH 441 A History of Architectural Theory: 1400-1914 (2 units)

Description: A seminar on architectural theory from Alberti to Scott, reviewing primary texts and subsequent criticisms.

ARCH 442m Women’s Spaces in History: “Hussies,” “Harems,” and “Housewives” (4 units)

Description: Methods for studying patterns of spatial differentiation of women throughout history from home to city, embodied in gender specific language and gendered spaces.

ARCH 444 Great Houses of Los Angeles (4 units)

Description: An introduction to the architectural philosophies of seven influential California architects through readings and site visits to significant case studies. (Duplicates credit in former ARCH 322.)

ARCH 454 Contemporary Asian Architecture (4 units)

Description: Exploration of various “Asian” architectures, comparisons of areas, identifying current trends and impact of Asia on Southern California and Los Angeles.

ARCH 514a Global History of Architecture (3 units)

Description: A historical survey of global architecture, analyzed as a product of social, cultural, religious and political forces, 4500 BCE to 1500 CE.

ARCH 519 Sustainability in the Environment: Infrastructures, Urban Landscapes, and Buildings (3 units)

Description: Methodologies and exercises on contextual design and environmentally sound technologies (EST’s) applications for the sustainability of urban infrastructures, operative landscapes, and building integration in the urban system.

ARCH 521 Health and the Designed Environment: Landscape, Place, and Architecture (4 units)

Description: Case study-oriented course presenting critical relationships between human health and well-being and architectural and landscape architectural design at three scales: buildings, public space, and the urban landscape.

ARCH 527 Case Studies: The Development of Urban Housing (2 units)

Description: An exploration of the various elements and stages of the housing development process. Recommended preparation: a preliminary understanding of real estate or housing.

ARCH 544 Urban Landscape: Process and Place (3 units)

Description: Projects are examined as incremental interventions in the formation and qualities of the evolving urban landscape. Case studies are explored to understand purposes, typologies, catalytic capacities, and strategies for urban landscape design.

ARCH 549 Fundamentals of Heritage Conservation (3 units)

Description: Concepts and strategies for conservation of significant elements of the built environment: buildings, sites and communities as revealed by readings, site visits, and case studies.

ARCH 553 History of American Architecture and Urbanism (3 units)

Description: History of American architecture and urbanism from prehistory to World War II examined in relation to European influences and indigenous developments.

ARCH 557 Sustainable Conservation of the Historic Built Environment (2 units)

Description: Analysis of the intersection between “green building” and historic resources with an emphasis on stewardship and sustainability.

ARCH 561 Urbanism Themes and Case Studies (2 units)

Description: Examines urbanism through case studies in theory and design to understand the impacts of globalization, technology, and sustainability on the contemporary city.

ARCH 562 Architecture Themes and Case Studies (2 units)

Description: Architectural themes and case studies focusing on the design and development of architecture, from the industrial city to today.

ARCH 565 Global History of Landscape Architecture (3 units)

Description: Understanding of the global history of landscape design in relation to social, political, religious, environmental and aesthetic principles; current design theory, projects and their historical references are critically reviewed and analyzed. (Duplicates credit in ARCH 465.)

Roski School of Art and Design

CERAMICS

FACE 112 Ceramics (4 units)

Description: Practical and theoretical exploration of the nature of surface, form, volume and mass as fundamental elements of clay sculpture and the ceramic object. (Duplicates credit in former FA 112.)

DESIGN

FADN 102 Design Fundamentals (4 units)

Description: Introduction to the basic elements and processes of visual communication and design. Instruction includes studio projects, lectures and readings. Various media used. (Duplicates credit in former FA 102.)

FINE ARTS

FA 140x A Cultural Guide to Los Angeles (2 units)

Description: An experiential and critical survey of the cultural phenomenathat make up Los Angeles: dance, music, theater, film; emphasis onvisual arts. Not available for major credit to fine arts majors. Graded CR/NC.

FA 208ax Three-Dimensional Art Workshop (2 units)

Description: Studio practice to develop standards of judgment andappreciation of the visual arts. Not available for credit to studio majors.

INTERMEDIA

FAIN 220 Introduction to Video and Time-based Experimentation (4 units)

Description: An introductory course exploring contemporary processes and practices of video experimentation including the camera, desktop production, and editing. Experimentation with multiple modes of execution, presentation, and distribution. (Duplicates credit in former FA 215 and former FA 220.)

PAINTING

FAPT 105 Painting I (4 units)

Description: Practical introduction to oil and acrylic pigments, painting equipment, processes and media. Primary experience in: color, composition and perception through representational and abstract painting. (Duplicates credit in former FA 105.)

SCULPTURE

FASC 106 Sculpture I (4 units)

Description: Practical and theoretical introduction to sculpture as dimensional manipulation. Primary exploration of form, mass, gravity, surface, structure and associative recognition in three-dimensional art. (Duplicates credit in former FA 106.)

FASC 136 Modeling and Mold Making (2 units)

Description: Introduction to plaster mold making using clay and wax for both ceramics and sculpture. Exploration of various casting materials. (Duplicates credit in former FA 136.)

FASC 436 Art and Technology (4 units)

Description: An interdisciplinary course between art and engineering that addresses creative thinking in the manipulation of media and the communication of ideas. (Duplicates credit in former FA 436.)

PUBLIC ART STUDIES

PAS 371 Art in the Public Realm: Contemporary Issues (4 units)

Description: Critical frameworks and theoretical perspectives of contemporary public art issues explored through case studies and discussions with artists, architects, and designers engaging the public realm.

Chemistry

CHEM 203Lxg AIDS Drug Discovery and Development (4 units)

Description: Scientific principles underlying molecular approaches to diagnosis and treatment of diseases, using specific models within a societal (business, legal, ethical) context. Not available for major credit.

School of Cinematic Arts

ANIMATION

CTAN 330 Animation Fundamentals (2 units)

Description: An introduction to the fundamentals of animation, covering such topics as timing, anticipation, reaction, overlapping action, and metamorphosis.

CTAN 410 Audio Design for Animation and Immersive Media (2 units)

Description: Experimental and traditional audio design practices for animation, culminating in an immersive audio project utilizing acoustic design, surround sound, and professional recording and editing tools.
Fundamental principles of traditional and experimental audio design for cinema and new media culminating in a unified immersive audio project.

CTAN 420 Concept Design for Animation (2 units)

Description: Creating characters and environments for animation, live action, and video games.

CTAN 435 Story Art Development (2 units)

Description: Using basic storyboarding techniques to develop a sense of character, plot, and continuity. Technical aspects of developing ideas into films.

CTAN 436 Writing for Animation (2 units)

Description: Workshop exploring concept and structure of long and short form animated films through practical writing exercises.

CTAN 443L Character Development for 3-D Animation and Games (2 units, max 4)

Description: 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.

CTAN 448 Introduction to Film Graphics — Animation (4 units)

Description: An introduction to methods for creating analog animation through experimentation with imagery, concepts and materials. Emphasis on basic timing principles and hands-on techniques.

CTAN 450a Animation Theory and Techniques (2 units)

Description: Methods for creating animation blending traditional techniques with contemporary technologies.

CTAN 451 History of Animation (2 units)

Description: In-depth survey of historical developments, styles, techniques, theory and criticism of animation as an art form.

CTAN 452 Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation (2 units, max 4)

Description: Lecture and laboratory in computer animation: geometric modeling, motion specification, lighting, texture mapping, rendering, compositing, production techniques, systems for computer-synthesized animation.

CTAN 455L Organic Modeling for Animation (2 units)

Description: The art of digital sculpting for animated characters, with visual effects integration. Recommended preparation: CTAN 452 or CTAN 462.

CTAN 462 Visual Effects (2 units)

Description: Survey of contemporary concepts and approaches to production in the current state of film and video effects work. Digital and traditional methodologies will be covered, with a concentration on digital exercises illustrating modern techniques.

CTAN 464L Digital Lighting and Rendering (2 units)

Description: Concepts, tools and techniques used to create cinematic lighting and rendering in computer-generated imagery (CGI). Prerequisite: CTAN 452 or CTAN 462.

CTAN 485L Pipeline and Character Modeling for Animation (2 units)

Description: Modeling and pipeline integration for 3-D animation props, sets and characters. Recommended preparation: Prior knowledge in Maya preferred.

This class teaches all the necessary skills to model and texture 3-D characters in Maya and ZBrush.

CTAN 503 Storyboarding for Animation (2 units)

Description: Focus on film grammar, perspective, and layout, staging and acting as it relates to storyboarding for animation.

CTAN 525 Gesture Movement (2 units)

Description: The concepts of animation performance, body and facial gesture, and the emotional and psychological resonance through cinematic arts.

CTAN 550 Stop Motion Puppet and Set Design (2 units)

Description: Puppet and set design for stop motion animation while providing guidance on armature rigs that allow the character to be animated effectively.

CTAN 564L Motion Capture Fundamentals (2 units)

Description: Fundamental principles of motion capture technology explored while working through a structured series of assignments based around performance, gesture and motion. Prerequisite: CTAN 452 or CTAN 462.

CRITICAL STUDIES

CTCS 190 Introduction to Cinema (4 units)

Description: Gateway to the majors and minors in cinematic art. Technique, aesthetics, criticism, and social implications of cinema. Lectures accompanied by screenings of appropriate films.

Fulfills new general education category The Arts. Rated one of the top six “USC classes you cannot afford to miss” (Saturday Night Magazine, 2004), this course explores the formal properties of cinema, such as literary design, performance, and film design. Films may include Whiplash, Sunset Blvd., Singin’ in the Rain, All About Eve, and Fargo.
Instructor: Drew Casper

CTCS 200 History of the International Cinema I (4 units)

Description: The development of international cinema from its beginnings to World War II. Lectures, screenings, and discussions.
Instructor: Laura Isabel Serna

CTCS 367 Global Television and Media (4 units)

Description: Studies in the global configurations of television industries and cultures, including new technologies and the textual and sociological analysis of global media events and programming.
Instructor: Nitin P. Govil

CTCS 402 Practicum in Film/Television Criticism (4 units, max 8)

Description: Exercise in writing film and television criticism using new and classic films and television programs.

A hands-on practicum designed to sharpen the critical skills of students and apply those skills to the analysis of television as it relates to popular culture. The course stresses doing, not theorizing.
Instructor: Howard A. Rosenberg

CTCS 403 Studies in National and Regional Media (4 units, max 8)

Description: Detailed investigation of traditions, achievements, and trends of film and/or electronic media in a particular country or region.
Instructor: David James

CTCS 412 Gender, Sexuality and Media (4 units, max 8)

Description: Examines how gender and sexuality are figured in cinema and television with an emphasis on the development of feminist media theory.

An examination of how media informs our understandings of race, gender and sexuality and how theories of race, gender and sexuality can influence our understanding of media. Students are expected to be open and comfortable with discussing a wide range of representations of race, gender and sexuality.

CTCS 464 Film and/or Television Genres (4 units)

Description: Description: Rigorous examination of film and/or television genres: history, aesthetics, cultural context, social significance, and critical methodologies.
Section 18200: Screening the Past.

Instructors: Todd Boyd, Priya Jaikumar

CTCS 467 Television Symposium (4 units)

Description: Description: Lectures and readings on creative problems in the television industry; study of current and historical trends, interviews with producers, directors, writers and performers.

Instructor: Howard Rosenberg

CTCS 469 Film and/or Television Style Analysis (4 units)

Description: Intensive study of the style of an auteur, studio, film or television making mode in terms of thematic and formal properties and their influences upon the art of film.

Section 18219: Time Machines. Delve into temporal paradoxes, the politics of time travel, and ponder if time-based media allow us to travel in time.

Section 18225: Film Noir. A walk in a nightmarish cul-de-sac where males were tough but bruised and females were fatal.

Instructors: Drew Casper, Rene Bruckner

CTCS 478 Culture, Technology, and Communications (4 units)

Description: Cultural study of communications technology and its relationship to society. Evaluation of the social and cultural impact of technologies from the telgraph to the Internet.

Instructor: Tara McPherson

CTCS 482 Transmedia Entertainment (4 units)

Description: An examination of transmedia, or cross-platform, entertainment: commercial and grassroots texts, theoretical framework, historical context, and commercial projects. Developing transmedia strategies for existing media properties.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

CTIN 101 Fundamentals of Procedural Media (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the procedural nature of interactive media. Developing proficiency in procedural literacy, reading and creating computational media. (Duplicates credit in former CTIN 400.)

This course is not focused on learning a specific programming language, but on helping the future game designer, 3D modeler, interactive writer, or software engineer become procedurally literate.

CTIN 190 Introduction to Interactive Entertainment (4 units)

Description: Critical vocabulary and historical perspective in analyzing and understanding experiences with interactive entertainment; students imagine and articulate their own ideas. (Duplicates credit in former CTIN 309.)

Offers students the historical perspective, critical vocabulary, and design skills by which they can analyze and understand their own experiences with interactive entertainment, as well as imagine and articulate their own ideas for interactive experiences.

CTIN 458 Business and Management of Games (2 units)

Description: Overview of current business models in games and interactive media, methods for pitching and getting products funded; copyright and intellectual property.

CTIN 488 Game Design Workshop (4 units)

Description: Theory and evaluation of interactive game experiences and principles of game design utilizing the leading software approaches and related technologies. Recommended preparation: CTIN 190, CTIN 483.

The purpose of this workshop is to examine models and strategies for creating electronic games that are based in solid play mechanics. Students will experience the fundamentals of game design through the study of classic games, as well as design their own games and playtest/critique the games of others.

PRODUCTION

CTPR 335 Motion Picture Editing (3 units)

Description: Theory, techniques, and practices in picture editing; use of standard editing equipment; individual projects.

CTPR 340 Creating the Motion Picture Sound Track (2 units)

Description: Techniques and aesthetics for recording production sound, editing dialogue, sound effects, music, Foley and preparing for the mix. For film, television, and other media.

Exploration of aesthetics, theory, history and procedures of sound editing for many styles of film and TV.

CTPR 426 The Production Experience (2 units)

Description: To provide students with basic working knowledge of both the skills of the motion picture set and production operations through classroom lectures and hands-on experience.

Learn the fundamentals of episodic TV drama and participate in the shooting of an episode written and directed by students. Positions available in producing, camera, sound, production design, or editorial.

CTPR 457 Creating Poetic Cinema (2 units)

Description: An investigation of poetic cinema from four different perspectives: found poetry; applied poetry; poetry as image; and poetry in narrative fiction. Production of short films.

Explores the relationship between poetic cinema and artistic expression — especially the visual arts, literature and music — through the creation of short films. Approaching the poetics of cinema through: found poetry, translating written poetry, cinema AS poetry and the poetic image in narrative cinema.

CTPR 461 Managing Television Stations and Internet Media (2 units)

Description: Managing electronic media, including radio and television stations, broadcast and cable networks, and the Internet.

In a period of unprecedented growth and change in media, students focus on how managers of TV, cable, radio and digital mass media are facing the challenges of the era. The class includes guest speakers, field trips and studies in mass media financing, marketing and history.

CTPR 470 Practicum in On-screen Direction of Actors (4 units)

Description: Concentration on the basic skills in working with actors from a director’s point of view.

Focuses on the relationship between a director and actor. Students will learn to break down scripts from the actor’s point of view and give the director an understanding of the process an actor has to go through to achieve the emotional elements that the director would like to create.

CTPR 484 Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop (4 units)

Description: Exercises and practical application for writing and producing a multi-camera television project. Special attention to the development of the sitcom. Recommended preparation: CTPR 371 required for students who wish to direct a sitcom.

The Witt-Thomas-Harris Endowed Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop. Exercises and practical application for producing/directing/editing a half-hour television project. Recommended preparation: CTPR 371, CTPR 476, CTPR 523, CTPR 532/comedy for students who wish to direct and CTPR 310 or CTPR 335 for students who wish to edit. Offered in conjunction with CTWR 487 Staff Writing the Multi-Camera Television Series.

WRITING

CTWR 404 Foundations of Comedy (2 units)

Description: Study of comedy theory and practical applications in film, television, and social media. Lectures and screenings of comedic forms tracing past, present and future.

CTWR 412 Introduction to Screenwriting (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the formal elements of writing the short film.

CTWR 416 Motion Picture Script Analysis (2 units)

Description: Critical analysis of story structure from classic films to contemporary works. Identification of key story concepts and elements of three-act structure.

CTWR 417 Script Coverage and Story Analysis (2 units)

Description: Evaluation of completed scripts prior to their production. Coverage and analysis of scripts as potential properties from the perspective of a production company.

CTWR 432 Television Writers and Their Work (2 units, max 6)

Description: Detailed investigation of various television writers’ styles, the worlds they have created, and the works they’ve influenced. Lectures include screenings and visiting television writers.

MEDIA ARTS AND PRACTICE

IML 104 Introduction to Digital Studies (2 units)

Description: An introduction to the expressive range of screen languages in their cultural, historical, and technological contexts.

IML 140 Workshop in Multimedia Authoring (2 max 4 units)

Description: Introduction to the expressive potential of multimedia as a critical and creative tool, supplementing traditional forms of academic work.

IML 295Lm Race, Class and Gender in Digital Culture (4 units)

Description: Critical analysis of the categories of race, class and gender within the diverse digital spaces of contemporary culture, from video games to the digital divide.

Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

COMMUNICATION

COMM 200 Communication and Social Science (4 units)

Description: Social scientific inquiry into human communication; core theories of message production and reception in interpersonal, group and organizational contexts.

COMM 201 Rhetoric and the Public Sphere (4 units)

Description: Humanistic approaches to inquiry in communication; qualitative research techniques; core theories of message production and reception in social, political, and mediated contexts.

COMM 202 Communication and Technology (4 units)

Description: Survey of the cultural, social, political, and economic impacts of new communication technologies, including written language, the printing press, the telephone, television, and cyberspace.

COMM 203 Communication and Mass Media (4 units)

Description: Survey of mass communication research; history, content, effects, theories, and policy implications of various media.

COMM 204 Public Speaking (4 units)

Description: Principles and practices of effective oral communication; analysis of the speaking-listening process; selection and organization of speech materials; use of new presentation technologies.

COMM 206 Communication and Culture (4 units)

Description: Examines cultural institutions, ideologies, artifacts, and productions; role of culture in everyday life; cultural studies as methodology; culture and power.

COMM 310 Media and Society (4 units)

Description: Interplay between media and society, including family and children’s socialization, inter-group relations and community, pornography and violence, gender and race, media ethics, conduct of politics.

COMM 360 The Rhetoric of Los Angeles (4 units)

Description: Representations of Los Angeles communicated in diverse media; the city as rhetorical text; analysis of cultural identities, art, architecture, and representations in popular culture.

COMM 375 Business and Professional Communication (4 units)

Description: Oral and written communication skills demanded in the workplace including informative and persuasive speeches; interviewing; team communication; and training material preparation. Recommended preparation: COMM 204.

COMM 383m Sports, Communication and Culture (4 units)

Description: Rhetorical and critical approaches to sports and public discourse; application to sports organizations, the news and popular media; representations of gender and race in sports.

JOURNALISM

JOUR 201 History of News in Modern America (4 units)

Description: Understanding news today. A survey of how news is gathered, weighed, and disseminated and how historical events have shaped news in the 20th century.

JOUR 210x Basics of News Production for Non-Majors (2 units)

Description: Introduction to television, radio, and/or digital news production. Examination of issues in journalism. Graded CR/NC.

JOUR 330 Photojournalism (4 units)

Description: Emphasis on fundamental skills necessary for photojournalism including camera techniques, story ideas and digital darkroom.

JOUR 340 Introduction to Advertising (4 units)

Description: History and development of advertising; basic advertising campaigns showing relationships of marketing, creative, print and electronic media.

JOUR 341 Advertising Copywriting (4 units)

Description: Writing and editing for advertising and commercial copy for all media. Prerequisite: JOUR 340.

JOUR 342 Advertising Media and Analysis (4 units)

Description: Selling, planning, buying for the media; advertising’s relationship to society and business; media choice. Prerequisite: JOUR 340.

JOUR 380 Sports, Business and Media in Today’s Society (4 units)

Description: An inside look at the symbiotic relationship of sports and the media — from the interdependence of sports and media, to the coverage of sports in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The economic and ethical issues involved, the conflicts of interest, the history and current status of sports coverage in American media today.

Instructor: Jeffrey C. Fellenzer

JOUR 381 Entertainment, Business and Media in Today’s Society (4 units)

Description: An examination of the symbiotic relationship of the entertainment business and the media; press coverage of the entertainment industry; Hollywood’s relationship with news media.

Instructor: Mary Murphy

JOUR 432 Sports Commentary (4 units)

Description: Techniques of reporting and writing sports columns and commentary for print, video, radio and Web-based media.

JOUR 452 Public Relations in Entertainment (4 units)

Description: Public relations in the design, promotion, and presentation of popular entertainment, including films, broadcasting, music, expositions, amusement parks, resorts, and arenas.

JOUR 454 Sports Public Relations (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the field of sports information and promotion, including lectures, media assignments, role-playing, and presentations by sports professionals.

JOUR 455 Public Relations for Non-Profit Organizations (4 units)

Description: Introduction to the specialized field of public relations for non-profit and non-governmental organizations; emphasis on case studies, strategic and critical thinking, and campaign development. Prerequisite: JOUR 250.

JOUR 458 Public Relations in Politics and Political Campaigns (4 units)

Description: Application of public relations principles to the context of political campaigns; emphasis on message development and delivery; relationship between candidate, news media, and electorate.

JOUR 469 Money, Markets and Media (4 units)

Description: Practical approach to understanding and writing about economic concepts through current events, case studies and historical examples.
Instructor: Gabriel Kahn

JOUR 475 Publications Design and Technology (4 units)

Description: Art, typography, and other graphic elements in publication design; traditional, contemporary, and advanced production methods, processes, and equipment; representative examples; practice in design

JOUR 477 Web Analytics for News and Nonprofit Organizations (2 units)

Description: Introduction to using Web traffic and other audience behavior data to manage Websites and social media for news and nonprofit organizations.
Instructor: Dana L. Chinn

JOUR 484 American Religion, Foreign Policy and the News Media (4 units)

Description: Exploration of the influence of American religion on foreign policy from Colonial Era to present; how the news media, reporting on international stories, shapes public opinion.

JOUR 486 Multimedia PR Content: Introduction to Digital Design Tools (2 units)

Description: Hands-on lab; producing multimedia content; basic principles of design; tools and techniques to create digital images and layouts.

JOUR 487 Multimedia PR Content: Introduction to Audio/Video Tools (2 units)

Description: Hands-on lab; audio/video tools for conceiving, shooting, editing, delivering and archiving compelling stories for online audiences; personal brand building; digital storytelling trends and applications.

JOUR 488 Multimedia PR Content: Visual Communication of Information (2 units)

Description: Overview of tools and techniques available to convey messages and experiences; exploration into graphic design, visual branding, design methods and processes.

JOUR 492 Personal Branding (4 units)

Description: Learn to build, promote and manage a personal brand through critical analysis, case study, interactive interpretation and creative problem solving.

Kaufman School of Dance

DANC 181a Modern Dance (2 units)

Description: Techniques of modern dance; elements of dance composition. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 181a.)

DANC 181b Modern Dance (2 units)

Description: Advanced techniques of modern dance; elements of choreography and production. Prerequisite: DANC 181a. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 181b.)

DANC 183a Ballet (2 units)

Description: Beginning techniques of classical ballet consisting of basic barre and center work; basic body and arm positions, port de bras, allegro and elementary adagio. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 183a.)

DANC 183b Ballet (2 units)

Description: Intermediate techniques of classical ballet with intermediate barre, adagio, allegro combinations and pirouettes; development of a working knowledge of ballet terminology. Prerequisite: DANC 183a. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 183b.)

DANC 183c Ballet (2 units)

Description: Advanced techniques of classical ballet; emphasis on clarity and precision with execution of movement. Study of beats, tours, advanced adagio and allegro, grand combinations, pointe-work. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 183c.)

DANC 184a Jazz Dance (2 units)

Description: Beginning techniques and practice of jazz dance. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 184a.)

DANC 184b Jazz Dance (2 units)

Description: Continuing study in the techniques of jazz dance. Prerequisite: DANC 184a. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 184b.)

DANC 185 Hip-Hop Dance (2 units, max 4)

Description: Elements of Hip-Hop dance, including technique, movement, musical rhythm, tempo and phrasing required to develop the skills needed to perform this unique dance form. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 185.)

DANC 188a International Style Ballroom Dance (2 units)

Description: Representative ballroom dances: waltz, slow foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. Beginning. Graded CR/NC. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 188a.)

DANC 188b International Style Ballroom Dance (2 units)

Description: Representative ballroom dances: waltz, slow foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. Intermediate. Graded CR/NC. Prerequisite: DANC 188a. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 188b.)

DANC 189a Tap Dance (2 units)

Description: Basic tap rhythms developed into elementary dances with progression of time steps and other combinations of sound. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 189a.)

DANC 212g Dance in Popular Culture (4 units)

Description: Examination of the role of dance in popular culture in a studio setting. Practical studies in styles and their evolution in recreational and professional settings.

DANC 280g Introduction to Dance as an Art Form (4 units)

Description: Gateway to the minor in dance. Concepts of art exemplified in dance; origins and evolution of classic and contemporary dance forms; elements of art criticism applied to dance productions. Required attendance at dance concerts and art exhibits. (Duplicates credit in former THTR 280.)

DANC 362 Pilates Mat Training (2 units)

Description: Mat exercises designed to promote healthy movement practices, develop strength, balance, flexibility and coordination.

DANC 402 Urban Folk and Street Dance: History and Culture (4 units)

Description: Introduction to the history and practice of Urban Folk Dance including hip hop, freestyle, street dance and the relevant social dances of the 20th century.

DANC 442b International and Historical Perspectives on Dance (4 units)

Description: Exploration of dance as an art form in its artistic, political, and socio-cultural climate. Studies of the continuum of dance within its historical context.

DANC 490x Directed Research (1-12 units)

Description: Individual research and readings. Open only to juniors and seniors. Not available for graduate credit.

School of Dramatic Arts

THTR 295 Theatre in America (2 units)

Description: Current state of American theatre, through a study of acting, playwriting, criticism, stage design, lighting and dramatic styles.
See seven dynamic productions both on-campus and at some of Los Angeles amazing theatrical venues. You will gain an intimate understanding of how live theatre is created and how it relates to audiences.

THTR 365 Playwriting I (4 units)

Description: Essential elements of playwriting through weekly assignments, students’ initiative, occasional productions of scenes, and extensive classroom analysis.

THTR 405 Performing Identities (4 units)

Description: This course explores the live performance medium as a creative means of social redress and personal expression. (Duplicates credit in the former THTR 393m).

THTR 406 Theatre on the Edge (4 units)

Description: An exploration of the art of theatre at the edge of possibilities.

THTR 421 Public Speaking as Performance: A Course for Non-Actors (2 units)

Description: Public speaking approached as performance, using acting techniques to communicate with confidence, clarity and charisma.

THTR 445 Accent Reduction for the Professional-Theory and Practice (2 units)

Description: Speaking Professional English clearly and expressively. Working on pronunciation, intonation, phrasing and clarity of thought. Developing clear, spontaneous and expressive verbal communication.

THTR 486 Creating Characters (4 units)

Description: A writing workshop devoted to the creation of living, breathing characters, exploring a range of techniques designed to develop authenticity.

Davis School of Gerontology

GERO 200 Gerontology: The Science of Adult Development (4 units)

Description: Introduction to adult development through the lifespan; biological, psychological, and social processes; gerontology as a career for the future.

GERO 380m Diversity in Aging (4 units)

Description: Exploring diversity in the older population and variability in the human aging process.

GERO 411L Physiology, Nutrition, and Aging (2, 4 units)

Description: Explores nutritional needs and the physiological, psychological, and sociological relationships to nutrition. Laboratory experiments in assessment and evaluation.

GERO 423 Psychological Development through Autobiography (4 units)

Description: Introduction to autobiography as a source of individual psychological development, with emphasis on integration of cognitive, emotional, and decision processes.

GERO 435m Women and Aging: Psychological, Social, and Political Implications (4 units)

Description: Problems and resources of the middle-aged and older woman in a changing society; including discrimination, stereotypes, employment, social interaction, etc.

GERO 452 Economic Issues and the Aged (2, 4 units)

Description: Analysis of economic factors associated with the aged; implications for individuals, society, and the economy; lifecycle economics, retirement, income maintenance, and social security.

GERO 470 Aging and Business (4 units)

Description: An introduction to the dynamic roles of business in an aging society focusing on workplace issues, marketing to mature consumers, and careers for business gerontologists.

GERO 496 Introduction to Clinical Geriatrics (4 units)

Description: Medical problems of older adults emphasizing common geriatric syndromes, chronic illness, and alternative approaches to primary health care of older persons and their families. Upper division standing. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L.

GERO 500 Perspectives on a Changing Society: An Introduction to Aging (4 units)

Description: Analysis of physical, mental, and social age-related changes as well as implications of population aging trends for individuals and society.

GERO 502 Marketing and Shifts in Consumer Decision Making (4 units)

Description: Branding, marketing, and consumer behavior through examination of established, transitioning and emerging aging services and organizations.

GERO 505 Behavioral and Social Consequences of Design and Environment (4 units)

Description: Examination of the behavioral and social consequences of design and the environment to create a more satisfying physical environment for both frail and active older adults.

GERO 507 End of Life Care (4 units)

Description: Examination of programs related to end of life care. Cultural competencies in working with a diverse population on end of life issues.

GERO 541 Health Care Delivery Models: Comparative Approaches (4 units)

Description: Examination of programs related to end of life care. Cultural competencies in working with a diverse population on end of life issues.

GERO 543 Continuum of Care: Systems Perspective (4 units)

Description: Structural and organizational aspects of institutional and community programs; public policies, fiscal management, regulation, administration; obstacles to interagency coordination; the continuum of care.

Thornton School of Music

COMPOSITION

MUCO 101x Fundamentals of Music Theory (2 units)

Description: An introductory course in music theory required for those majors in need of remedial training, and available to the general student who wishes to develop music writing skills. Not available for credit to B.M. and B.A. music majors. Recommended preparation: ability to read music.

JAZZ STUDIES

MUJZ 100mx Jazz: America’s Music (4 units)

Description: Music of the jazz greats. Experience through live performances, field trips, readings, recordings, videos and guest lectures. Not available for credit to jazz studies majors.

MUJZ 150 Beginning Jazz Improvisation (2 units)

Description:Development of beginning improvisational skills including underlying principles of theory, harmony, jazz ear training, and jazz style.

MUJZ 218a Afro-Latin Percussion Instruments (2 units)

Description: Instruction in the performance of percussion instruments associated with African, South American, and Caribbean music traditions, with special emphasis on adaptation to jazz music.

MUJZ 218b Afro-Latin Percussion Instruments (2 units)

Description: Instruction in the performance of percussion instruments associated with African, South American, and Caribbean music traditions, with special emphasis on adaptation to jazz music. Prerequisite: MUJZ 218a.

MUJZ 450 Intermediate Jazz Improvisation (2 units)

Description: Development of intermediate improvisational skills including underlying principles of theory, harmony, jazz ear training, and jazz style. Recommended preparation: MUJZ 150.

MUSIC ENSEMBLE

MUEN 222 Trojan Marching Band (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and participation in performances for athletic and other university functions. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 305 Vocal Jazz Ensemble (1 unit)

Description: Study and performance of vocal ensemble literature from the Jazz idiom, with emphasis on improvisational techniques. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 307 University Chorus (1 unit, max 8)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of choral literature from all periods of music history. Open to all students. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 308 USC Men’s Chorus (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of choral repertoire from all periods written for male voices. Open to all students. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 311 USC Oriana Choir (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of advanced chamber music written for women’s voices. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 321 USC Concert Orchestra (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of orchestra repertoire. Open to all students, faculty, staff and members of the community. Audition not required. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 322 Trojan Marching Band (1 unit)

Description: Continuation of MUEN 222. Graded CR/NC.

MUEN 505 Vocal Jazz Ensemble (1 unit)

Description: Study and performance of vocal ensemble literature from the Jazz idiom, with emphasis on improvisational techniques. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in MUEN 405.)

MUEN 507 University Chorus (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of choral literature from all periods of music history. Open to all graduate students.

MUEN 508 USC Men’s Chorus (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of choral repertoire from all periods written for male voices.

MUEN 511 USC Oriana Choir (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of advanced chamber music written for women’s voices. Open to all graduate students by audition.

MUEN 521 USC Concert Orchestra (1 unit)

Description: Rehearsal and performance of orchestra repertoire. Open to all graduate students. Audition not required.

MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE

MUHL 315x Music and Culture (4 units)

Description:Gateway to the B.A. degree in music. Western and non-Western music in its sociocultural context. Not available for credit to B.M. majors. Ability to read music highly recommended.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

MUIN 272x Basics of the Music Industry (4 units)

Description: Introductory survey of the music business. Topics include: copyright, record companies, contracts, music publishing, performance rights societies, managers, agents, and other artist team/income considerations. Not for major credit for music industry majors. (Duplicates credit in former MUIN 372ax.)

MUIN 372x Business and Legal Aspects of the Music Industry (4 units)

Description: An intermediate-level survey of music law, artist contract analysis, case studies, modern/emerging business models and the business of music licensing. Prerequisite: MUIN 272x. Not available for credit for music industry majors. (Duplicates credit in former MUIN 372bx.)

MUIN 440 Arts Management (4 units)

Description: A survey of the management of non-profit and for-profit arts organizations with emphasis on funding, donor development, tax status and promotion.

MUIN 495 Web Design for the Music Industry (4 units)

Description: A hands-on experience in which students work in teams to create web sites specifically designed to promote, market, and sell musical artists products online.

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

MTEC 245 Introduction to MIDI Sequencing (1 unit)

Description: Introductory course where students will learn to use professional MIDI sequencing software to sequence, edit, and realize music compositions.

MTEC 246 Introduction to Audio Recording and Editing (1 unit)

Description: Introduction to the techniques and applications of recording, editing and mixing sound on personal computers.

MTEC 248 Introduction to Music Notation (1 unit)

Description: Introduction to the skills and techniques required to prepare musical scores and parts using industry standard music notation software.

MTEC 277x Introduction to Music Technology (4 units)

Description: A survey of the technology used to create, prepare, perform, and distribute music, with an emphasis on recording, MIDI, music production, mastering and Internet technologies. Not available for major credit to B.M. and B.S., Music Industry majors. (Duplicates credit in former MUIN 277.)

MTEC 446a Computer Assisted Recording and Editing (2 units)

Description: Techniques and applications of recording and editing sound on personal computers. Hardware, software, editing for song, sound effects and dialog for film. (Duplicates credit in former MUIN 446a.)

PERFORMANCE (GUITAR)

MPGU 120a Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the performance technique of pop/rock guitar as well as music theory fundamentals, exploring repertoire by artists such as The Beatles and Dave Matthews.

MPGU 120b Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the performance technique of pop/rock guitar as well as music theory fundamentals, exploring repertoire by artists such as The Beatles and Dave Matthews.

MPGU 120c Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar (2 units)

Description: Introduction to the performance technique of pop/rock guitar as well as music theory fundamentals, exploring repertoire by artists such as The Beatles and Dave Matthews.

MPGU 121 Intensive Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar (4 units)

Description: Introduction to the performance technique of pop/rock guitar as well as music theory fundamentals, exploring repertoire by artists such as The Beatles and Dave Matthews.

MPGU 125 Beginning Fingerstyle/Chord Guitar (2 units)

Description: Basic fingerstyle guitar, learned through the study of such pieces as “Greensleeves,” “Malaguena,” and “Minuet” (Bach); song accompaniment patterns and music notation for the beginner.

MPGU 126 Easy Fingerstyle Beatles (2 units)

Description: Techniques of classical guitar applied to the study of five to eight Beatles songs, from “Hey Jude” to “Blackbird.” No guitar or music background required.

PERFORMANCE (KEYBOARD STUDIES)

MPKS 150a Beginning Piano (2 units)

Description: Techniques of performance, note reading, and basic musicianship. Not open to music majors.

MPKS 150b Beginning Piano (2 units)

Description: Techniques of performance, note reading, and basic musicianship. Not open to music majors. Prerequisite: MPKS 150a.

PERFORMANCE (POPULAR MUSIC)

MPPM 120 Popular Music Performance I (2 units)

Description: Study of musical elements appropriate to the performance of popular music in a collaborative, interactive environment.

MPPM 240 Drumming Proficiency for the Popular Musician (2 units)

Description: Beginning and elementary instruction in drum set techniques.

MPPM 340 Intermediate Drum Set Proficiency (2 units)

Description: Intermediate level instruction in drum set performance including accompaniment techniques, fills, beat and brush patterns in jazz, Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian styles, interpreting drum charts. Recommended preparation: MPPM 240.

PERFORMANCE (STRINGS)

MPST 163 Beginning Harp (2 units, max 8)

Description: Basic instruction in the fundamentals of solo harp playing, note reading, and basic musicianship. Open to music and non-music majors.

PERFORMANCE (VOCAL ARTS)

MPVA 141 Class Voice (2 units, max 4)

Description: Introduction to the fundamental principles of singing: breath control, tone production, diction, and the use of appropriate song material.

MPVA 241 Intermediate Class Voice (2 units, max 4)

Description: Continued development of the fundamentals of singing, diction, and repertoire building. Prerequisite: MPVA 141.

MPVA 402 Musical Theatre Workshop (2 units, max 8)

Description: Stylistic and technical features of dramatic and musical elements involved in performance of American musical and standard operetta repertory; staging of scenes.

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

MUSC 255 Songwriting I (2 units)

Description: Development of musical and lyrical skills, composing, listening, analysis, and critiques of popular original music.

MUSC 355 Songwriting II (2 units)

Description: Continuation of Songwriting I; particular emphasis on the analysis of the techniques of important popular songwriters and the application of these techniques to original songs. (Duplicates credit in former MUCO 252.) Prerequisite: MUSC 255.

MUSC 400m The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences (4 units)

Description: Selected Broadway musicals serve as a catalyst for inquiry into human diversity, cross-culturalism, and significant social and political issues.

MUSC 410m Electronic Dance Music (4 units)

Description: The study of EDMs origins and development, focusing on the cultural and technological contexts that have influenced the genre.

MUSC 420 Hip-Hop Music and Culture (4 units)

Description: A history of hip-hop music from its inception to the present: its musical processes and styles, as well as attendant social, political, and cultural issues.

MUSC 422 The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times (4 units)

Description: Music, lyrics, recordings, production techniques, career strategy, social ramifications, and especially the technological impact of the musical group known as The Beatles.

MUSC 423 Classic Rock: Popular Music of the Sixties and Seventies (2 units)

Description: Critical examination of the lyrics, structure, associated mythology, technology, and evolving styles of popular music reflecting the turbulent societal changes during the Sixties and Seventies.

MUSC 424 Iconic Figures of Popular Music (2 units, max 8)

Description: Music, life, recordings, and attendant musical, cultural and political influences of a seminal musician or group in 20th or 21st century popular music.

MUSC 450m The Music of Black Americans (4 units)

Description: The musical contribution of Africans and African Americans to American society. Musical genres and the relationship between music and society will be topics for examination.

MUSC 460 Film Music: History and Function from 1930 to the Present (4 units)

Description: A survey of the art and craft of film music as practiced by outstanding composers in motion pictures.

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

OT 220 Lifestyle Design: Introduction to Occupational Therapy (2 units)

Description: Introduction to theoretical concepts concerning the relationship of engagement in activities (occupations) to health and well-being. Application of these perspectives to students’ own lives.

OT 250 Introduction to Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (4 units)

Description: Introduction to concept of occupation and overview of human drive for meaningful activity; impact of occupations on health and well-being; analysis of personal occupational patterns; selected therapeutic applications.

What you choose to do or not do, minute by minute, day by day, and year by year, shapes who you will become and how healthy you will be. Develop expertise in lifestyle design, starting with your own.

OT 251x Across the Lifespan: Occupations, Health and Disability (4 units)

Description: Exploration of the transformative power of occupation throughout the lifespan for all individuals.

Understand how disability, gender, sexual orientation and class affect human development throughout the lifespan. Reflect on different activities and discuss adaptations made by individuals with disabilities and their families in order to participate.

OT 310 Creativity Workshop (2 units)

Description: Theories and practice of the creative process in varied media, genres and occupations. Explores creativity in the arts, sciences, professions, evolution, daily life, and culture.

Explore your creative side while you discover all that you have in common with famous writers, cartoonists, artists, and performers.

OT 312 Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle (2 units)

Description: Scientists and policymakers advocate lifestyle changes as crucial to solving the environmental crisis. Investigation into the development of habits that promote environmental sustainability and personal well-being.

OT 320 The Nature of Human Occupation: Form, Function, and Meaning (4 units)

Description: The complex nature of human occupation is covered from an interdisciplinary perspective. Emphasis is on how occupation contributes to human experience in a lived world.

The pursuit of activities is central to the human experience. Learn how your everyday activities can be observed and classified, as well as how they impact your health and wellness, while you discover their significance in your life.

OT 333 Sports Ethics (4 units)

Description: Critically examines ethical issues central to the world of sports that range from matters of fair play and cheating to performance-enhancing drugs and gene-doping.

Every day in the news we hear about ethical dilemmas involving sports and athletes. Critically examine ethical issues central to the world of sport, such as fair play, cheating, performance-enhancing drugs, gene doping, and women’s sports equality.

OT 375 The Narrative Structure of Social Action: Narrative, Healing and Occupation (4 units)

Description: Narrative as guide and structure of practical action. Special emphasis on chronic illness and disability and narrative structure of clinical interactions.

Personal stories guide the actions and choices we make in our day-to-day lives. Explore how stories help us to make sense of our actions, guide our future decisions, and can impact our healing and personal transformations.

Price School of Public Policy

PPD 225 Public Policy and Management (4 units)

Description: Institutions, legal context, and processes of public policy and management. Contemporary theories of public policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Public managerial challenges and reforms.

PPD 227 Urban Planning and Development (4 units)

Description: Gateway to B.S., Public Policy, Management and Planning and minor in Planning and Development. City building and development process; who plans; politics of planning and development; major topics include land use, fiscal policy, transportation, sustainability, and economic development.

PPD 371 The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest (4 units)

Description: Theories of the voluntary nonprofit sector in society and its relationship to government and business; public policies toward the sector.