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.
American Language Institute
ALI 103x Elective Courses in English as a Second Language for International Students (2-8 units)
Description: Specialized tutorial classes in listening, speaking, reading, or writing. A maximum of 4 units may be counted toward a degree. Graded CR/NC.
Classes offered this semester include Pronunciation, Grammar, Spoken Grammar, and Dissertation Writing. Each course is 2 units.
ALI 258 Writing Workshop (2 units)
Description: Required for international students assessed by the International Student English Examination (ISE) or by completion of a lower level ALI course to be at the post-advanced level in all skills except writing. Graded CR/NC.
This course is also offered as an elective for those international students who want to improve their writing for college-level purposes. Students develop writing skills which will help them complete assignments faster and more efficiently. For more information, contact the ALI at (213) 740-0079.
ALI 259 Oral Skills (2 units)
Description: Required for international students assessed by the International Student English Examination (ISE) or by completion of a lower level ALI course to be at the post-advanced level in all skills except speaking. Graded CR/NC.
This course is also offered as an elective for those international students who want to communicate more fluently, effectively and confidently in spoken English. For more information, contact the ALI at (213) 740-0079.
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 206 Shelter (4 units)
Description: Introduction to issues, processes, and roles of the individual in relation to present and future shelter needs and aspirations.
ARCH 214a History of Architecture (4 units)
Description: History of building and cities, social, political, technical, formal, aesthetic dimensions in western and non-western traditions: antiquity through the Middle Ages.
ARCH 220x The Architect's Sketchbook (2 units)
Description: The architect's sketchbook as a portable laboratory for perceiving and documenting space introduces the study of the built environment. On-site sessions develop drawing, observation, and visualization skills. Not for professional elective credit for architecture majors.
ARCH 270 Introduction to Architectural Studies (2 units)
Description: Gateway course requirement for the B.S. in architectural studies program introduces related fields using mentoring, readings, case studies and field trips.
ARCH 326 The Modern Movement in Architecture (4 units)
Description: Major theories of modern architecture are presented by studying the work of masters such as: Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, Corbusier, and Kahn.
ARCH 531 The Natural Landscape (3 units)
Description: Lectures, laboratory exercises and field trips introducing basic knowledge of the continually transforming landscape as a base for human settlement.
ARCH 533 Urban Landscape Case Studies (2 units)
Description: Lectures, discussion, and individual research on the physical, formal, and spatial characteristics of historical urban centers.
ARCH 551 Conservation Methods and Materials (4 units)
Description: Concepts and techniques for building conservation including identification of treatments, recordation and research, material properties and behavior, building forensics, and implementation of preservation projects.
ARCH 552 Introduction to Historic Site Documentation (2 units)
Description: Survey of basic guidelines and standards for documentation in historic preservation, including cultural resource surveys, historic structures reports and Historic American Building Survey and Historic American Engineering Record recordation.
ARCH 563 Architecture in the Urban Landscape: Comparative Theories (2 units)
Description: A comparative study of design theories of the physical, formal and spatial characteristics of historic city types from ancient to modern.
Art History
AHIS 100 Introduction to Visual Culture (4 units)
Description: The description and analysis of various forms of visual culture, including both mass media and "high" art representations, both Western and non-Western images.
AHIS 121g Art and Society: Renaissance to Modern (4 units)
Description: European art and its legacy in the Americas. Painting, sculpture, architecture and other visual media considered in relation to social and cultural history.
AHIS 128g Arts of Latin America (4 units)
Description: Survey of the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from the colonial period to the present, focusing on connections to culture and society.
AHIS 201g Digging into the Past: Material Culture and the Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean (4 units)
Description: A broad survey, covering some 8,000 years and focusing on the material culture of the ancient world in a historical and social context.
AHIS 363m Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Contemporary Art (4 units)
Description: Focuses on issues of race, gender, and sexuality in American art of the last three decades. Recommended preparation: AHIS 121.
Business
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
BUAD 403 Legal Environment of Business (4 units)
Description: Legal principles of business: litigation process, constitutional law, torts, product liability, crimes, contracts, sales and leases, intellectual property, international law, agency, employment law, and ethics.
This course provides practical legal knowledge of specific substantive business law, personal law topics and current legal trends and issues. It is designed on the premise that the possession of legal knowledge is important for conducting business as well as protecting personal assets. The course will cover both theoretical and practical applications of the subject matter and will deal with the characteristics of American and relevant international laws as they apply to the operation of business and the structuring of personal transactions. Students will acquire a sound grasp of the relevant concepts, principles, legal vocabulary and rules of law that apply business and personal transactions.
FINANCE AND BUSINESS ECONOMICS
FBE 400x Introduction to Real Estate Finance and Development (4 units)
Description: Case analysis examining economic and financial aspects of real estate decisions for non-business majors. Focuses on dynamics of financing, markets and the development process. Open to all majors. Not available for credit as a senior options course for business majors or for students in the real estate option.
An introduction to the fundamental principles of real estate finance for the individual with little or no prior background in real estate or general finance. Students will develop a set of analytical tools for understanding real estate investment opportunities and markets so that they can make prudent investment decisions. Through a set of case examples, spreadsheet assignments and a reality-based final project, students will apply the knowledge they gain during lecture in practical settings.
FBE 429 International Business Law (4 units)
Description: Introductory course on the legal and regulatory environment of international business transactions.
This course will examine how the markets, people and places involved in trade, commerce and exchanges throughout the world influence international business. Students will become aware of the effect that different cultural, political and economic aspects of business have on each other. The course will require students to think how different international laws affect the way our own country and countries throughout the world do business. Specifically, students will examine such topics as the ethics of international law, international commercial dispute resolution, national import and export regulations, international contract law, financial transactions, transport of goods, law of intellectual rights and antitrust.
INFORMATION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
IOM 431 Business Information Systems (4 units)
Description: Fundamentals of computer networks, protocols, TCP/IP and the Internet; introduction to electronic commerce, Web application development (CGI scripting, Java, and JavaScript); discussion of security issues.
IOM 435 Business Database Systems (4 units)
Description: Computer-based management of data including data structures, conceptual data modeling, logical data modeling, structured query language (SQL), and physical optimization of high performance databases.
IOM 499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8 units)
Description: Selected topics reflecting current trends and recent developments in information systems, operations management, and statistics.
Technology-Enabled Global Businesses, Markets and Sourcing (4 units)
Global markets for products, services and strategies enabled by technology; spans businesses ranging from financial services, media and entertainment, and technology to specialized manufactured products.
IOM 528 Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence and Data Mining (3 units)
Description: Introduction to data warehousing, multidimensional database, online analytical processing, and survey of business intelligence applications that extract useful information from data warehouses: e.g., decision tree. Business applications emphasized.
Chemistry
CHEM 201Lg Chemistry in the Environment, Energy and Society (4 units)
Description: A range of issues where chemistry impacts society will be explored. Topics such as global warming, pollution, energy utilization and genetic engineering will be covered.
Energy and environmental issues take a large place in the issues of the day. Our approaches to solving problems ranging from the Middle East conflict to global warming are closely related to the decisions we make concerning our energy resources. This class will cover a range of issues where chemistry impacts energy and the environment.
Cinematic Arts
ANIMATION
CTAN 432 The World of Visual Effects (2 units)
Description: Introduction to the expanding field of visual effects; topics include magic lanterns shows, stop-motion fantasies and animation combination films employing the latest digital technologies.
CTAN 443L 3-D Animation and Character Design (2, max 4 units)
Description: Principles of 3-D animation and character design combining lectures, aesthetic concepts and techniques demonstrating the use of 3-D animation software and puppet animation. Prerequisite: CTAN 452.
The study of computer animation including storyboarding, geometric modeling, choreography, lighting, texture mapping, background creation and rendering. Lecture and laboratory.
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.
CRITICAL STUDIES
CTCS 190 Introduction to Cinema (4 units)
Description: Gateway to majors and minors in cinema-television. Technique, aesthetics, criticism, and social implications of cinema. Lectures accompanied by screenings of appropriate films.
Rated one of the top-six "USC classes you cannot afford to miss" by Saturday Night Magazine, 2004. Develop skills in analyzing the formal properties of cinema, such as literary design, performance, visual design, composition, editing, sound design, genre, style and production process.
CTCS 201 History of the International Cinema II (4 units)
Description: The development of international cinema from World War II to the present. Lectures, screenings, and discussions.
CTCS 464 Film and/or Television Genres (4, max 8 units)
Description: Rigorous examination of film genres: history, aesthetics, cultural context, social significance, and critical methodologies.
The Musical
This course explores the history of the American film musical; a time when Hollywood warbled with wit and melody, kicked up its heels, dressed up extravagantly, and everyone went from rags to riches. Films include "Mammy," "Chicago," "Swingtime," "Calamity Jane" and "Silk Stockings."
Instructor: Drew Casper
The Gangster Film
The gangster film has been one of Hollywood’s most durable and controversial genres. This class will examine the evolution of gangster films from a variety of perspectives: cultural, industrial, stylistic, mythic, ideological, etc. Among the films to be screened: "Little Caesar," "Scarface," "Gun Crazy," "White Heat," "Point Blank," "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Godfather" (Parts I and II), "The Long Good Friday," "Goodfellas" and episodes of "The Sopranos."
Instructor: Richard Jewell
CTCS 466 Theatrical Film Symposium (4, max 8 units)
Description: Lectures and readings on creative problems in the motion picture industry; current films; interviews with visiting producers, directors, writers, performers.
View contemporary Hollywood films before their theatrical release, then meet with the films’ creators for a one-of-a-kind Q&A session. Guests have included Guillermo del Toro, Kevin Costner, Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman.
CTCS 467 Television Symposium (4 units)
Description: Lectures and readings on creative problems in the television industry; study of current and historical trends, interviews with producers, directors, writers and performers.
Students are shown selected television programming, followed by a moderated Q&A with guests from the show. Past guests include: writers from “The Simpsons,” Jenji Kohan (“Weeds”), Damon Lindel (“Lost”), Thomas Schlamme and Matthew Perry (“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”).
CTCS 469 Film and/or Television Style Analysis (4, max 8 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.
The Blaxploitation Era
A study of the body of films and the era otherwise known as Blaxploitation. The class will consider the importance of this often misunderstood genre within its original context in the early 1970s, as well as the re-emergence of this culture in the 1990s. Films include "Sweetback," "Shaft," "Superfly," "Coffy," "Cleopatra Jones," "The Mack," "Dolemite" and "American Pimp."
Instructor: Todd Boyd
INTERACTIVE MEDIA
CTIN 309 Introduction to Interactive Entertainment (4 units)
Description: Critical vocabulary and historical perspective to analyze and understand experiences with interactive entertainment; students imagine and articulate their own ideas.
Lectures will address the cultural history and theories of videogames. Students will play, analyze, interpret and discuss works from 1961 to the present, while cultivating a critical language for videogame aesthetics.
CTIN 406L Sound Design for Games (2 units)
Description: Introduction to the techniques, terminology, and implementation of sounds in games, including establishing a sense of place and concepts of realistic sound.
Audio is one of the most important elements in selling a game's vision to the player. In our final project, we apply the concepts covered in the course to fully sonify a game from start to finish.
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 309, CTIN 483.
Students will experience the fundamentals of game design through the study of classic games in both traditional and electronic form as well as design their own games and play test/critique fellow students' games. The course is designed to provide the foundation of knowledge for becoming a professional game designer.
PRODUCTION
CTPR 327 Motion Picture Camera (3 units)
Description: Use of motion picture camera equipment; principles of black-and-white and color cinematography. Individual projects.
The magic of creating images on film from using cameras, lenses and filters to photographic processes and the role of the cinematographer in interpreting story. Hands-on projects put theory into practice.
CTPR 335 Motion Picture Editing (3 units)
Description: Theory, techniques, and practices in picture editing; use of standard editing equipment; individual projects.
Exploration of aesthetics, theory, history and procedures of motion picture editing for many styles of film. Students view award-winning shorts and sections of features to illustrate different editing styles and edit a series of scenes using the latest Avid Express DV equipment.
CTPR 385 Colloquium: Motion Picture Production Techniques (4 units)
Description: Basic procedures and techniques applicable to production of all types of films; demonstration by production of a short film from conception to completion.
Motion picture production from writing of the script to planning, shooting and completion of a movie. The class will write, direct and shoot a digital video.
CTPR 409 Practicum in Television Production (2 or 4 units)
Description: Television production laboratory course for students with a major production commitment with Trojan Vision. Requires station management and Chair of Production approval.
Get hands-on experience at Trojan Vision, USC's TV channel that produces local and network programming. Work in the state-of-the-art Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts to learn all aspects of television production and create your own shows with professionals from the Hollywood television industry.
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.
WRITING
CTWR 412 Introduction to Screenwriting (2 units)
Description: Introduction to the formal elements of writing the short film.
Learn the basic building blocks of any screenplay – visualization, character, dialogue, scene structure, conflict and sequence. After writing short premises, students will progress to combining scenes into sequences and a short script.
Earth Sciences
GEOL 105Lg Planet Earth (4 units)
Description: Geologic structure and evolution of planet earth. Principles of plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, processes of mountain building, continent and ocean formation, earthquakes, volcanism, development of landforms by running water and glaciers. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. One all-day or two-day field trip required.
GEOL 125Lxg Earth History: A Planet and Its Evolution (4 units)
Description: Basic principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics used in evaluating clues written in the rock record, and the processes that have shaped our planet. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. At least one field trip required. Not available for major credit to earth or geological sciences majors.
GEOL 130Lxg The Nature of Scientific Inquiry (4 units)
Description: Examination of the scientific process: what constitutes science; evolution of ideas about the nature of space, time, matter, and complexity; paradigm shifts in the biological and earth sciences. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. Not available for major credit to earth or geological sciences majors.
GEOL 150Lxg Climate Change (4 units)
Description: Climate systems from the beginning of earth history to the present; tools and techniques used to reconstruct prehistoric climate records; effects of climate variations on development of life forms on earth. Not available for major credit to earth or geological sciences majors.
East Asian Languages and Cultures
EALC 110g East Asian Humanities: The Great Tradition (4 units)
Description: Introduction to the major humanities traditions of China, Japan, and Korea through an examination of representative works drawn from literature, aesthetics, philosophy, religion, and historical writing.
EALC 342g Japanese Literature and Culture (4 units)
Description: Japanese literature from the earliest times to the present; development of prose, poetry and the novel; evolution of theatre; Japanese literature under Western influence. Conducted in English.
EALC 354g Modern Chinese Literature in Translation (4 units)
Description: Readings in modern Chinese poetry, fiction, and drama since 1919.
EALC 412b Business Chinese (4 units)
Description: Practice in the basic vocabulary and idioms of foreign trade and other commercial transactions in Mandarin. Continuation of a.
Education
EDUCATION COUNSELING
EDCO 030x The Process of Paraprofessional Counseling for Young Adults (2 units)
Description: Explores the theoretical processes involved in paraprofessional counseling with specific application to issues faced by young adults. Graded CR/NC.
EDCO 102xm Human Diversity: People, Power and Politics (4 units)
Description: Social and political power relationships: historical perspectives; factors which maintain dominate and subordinate status within current society; empowerment of persons (groups) in subordinate positions. Not available for major credit.
EDCO 248 Theories of Career Development (2 units)
Description: An exploration into the theories, literature, and techniques in the field of career development and the impact of psychological, sociological, economic, and other variables on career decision-making. Graded CR/NC.
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
EDPT 110 Motivation and Learning Strategies (4 units)
Description: Applying research in cognitive psychology and motivation theory to improve students' learning in different academic disciplines.
Fine Arts
FINE ARTS
For more information on fine arts, public art studies and non-major courses, visit roski.usc.edu/courses. For more information and application materials for fine arts major and minor programs, visit roski.usc.edu/undergraduate_programs.
FA 101ab Drawing (4-4 units)
Description: a: An introduction to drawing, both skill and perception oriented, as the basic tool for all the visual arts. b: Continuation of a .
FA 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.
FA 105 Painting I (4 units)
Description: Practical introduction to oil and acrylic pigments, painting equipment, processes, and media. Also, primary experience in: color, composition and perception through representational and abstract painting.
FA 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.
FA 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.
FA 140x A Cultural Guide to Los Angeles (2 units)
Description: An experiential and critical survey of the cultural phenomena that make up Los Angeles: dance, music, theater, film; emphasis on visual arts. Not available for major credit to fine arts majors. Graded CR/NC.
FA 215 Introduction to Digital Video and Interactivity (4 units)
Description: A course in digital imaging, which through studio practice and critical inquiry, explores the implications and potential of digitally-based image making.
FA 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.
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.
Gerontology
GERO 340 Policy, Values, and Power in an Aging Society (4 units)
Description: How Americans' political values affect public policy. Studies of landmark legislation to explore the social contract between generations and role of governments in social welfare.
GERO 380m Diversity in Aging (4 units)
Description: Exploring diversity in the older population and variability in the human aging process.
GERO 414 Neurobiology of Aging (4 units)
Description: Age-related changes in nervous system structure and function; relationship of brain changes to changes in cognitive function and perception; Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L .
GERO 416 Health Issues in Adulthood (4 units)
Description: Physiological, psychological, and social health problems of adults as they are impacted by health choices throughout life.
GERO 437 Social and Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying (2 or 4 units)
Description: Introduction and critical survey of the current issues, concepts, and research of the social and psychological aspects of death and dying.
GERO 499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8 units)
Description: Examination of special topics in the area of gerontology.
Gay and Lesbian Human Development and Aging (4 units)
This course explores the multiple factors involved in the human development and aging of gay and lesbian people from younger to older adulthood.
Molecular Biology of Aging (4 units)
Examination of the molecular biology, cellular biology, genetics, and biochemistry of aging. Major emphasis in: the molecular genetics of aging in model systems, DNA damage and repair, and macromolecular damage.
International Relations
IR 304 Espionage and Intelligence (4 units)
Description: The role and evolution of espionage and intelligence as tools of statecraft are examined. Open, covert, clandestine, counterintelligence programs and oversight processes are considered.
IR 318 Conflict Resolution and Peace Research (4 units)
Description: Processes of conflict, violence, change, integration, stability, and peace in world society, analyzed primarily through the literature of the peace research movement.
IR 369 Contemporary European International Relations (4 units)
Description: European interstate conflict and cooperation since 1945; history of Western European integration during the Cold War; the European Union in post-Cold War Europe.
Journalism
JOUR 371 Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace (4 units)
Description: The study of current and historical battles over the limits of free expression from press and public parks to television, movies, music and cyberspace.
JOUR 373 The Ethics of Television Journalism (4 units)
Description: Ethical questions in television journalism; the application of these moral dilemmas to prepare students for dealing with similar issues in their lives.
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.
JOUR 407 Newsradio (4 units)
Description: Production of radio news: research, reporting, writing, preparation and treatment of form and content: procedures, problems and practice in producing radio news programs.
JOUR 420 Advanced Photojournalism (4 units)
Description: Emphasis on advanced photojournalism techniques for complex photo storytelling; focus on style, content, design, expression and ethics. Prerequisite: JOUR 330.
JOUR 422 Visual Journalism (4 units)
Description: Emphasis on photographic storytelling in print, video and Web-based media; understanding of visual thinking and imagery techniques.
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. Junior standing.
JOUR 457 The Role of Celebrity in Public Relations (4 units)
Description: Understanding of the history and application of celebrity in public relations, focusing on the entertainment industry and the notoriety attached to politics and the media.
JOUR 465 Latino News Media in the United States (4 units)
Description: History and growing importance of Latino print and broadcast news media in covering immigration, discrimination, culture, social differences and other aspects of U.S. Latino life.
JOUR 466m People of Color and the News Media (4 units)
Description: Reporting and portrayal of people of color in the United States; impact of racial diversity on media, employment and access, and development of media for individuals and communities of color. Open to non-majors.
JOUR 467 Gender and the News Media (4 units)
Description: Gender and news media evolving images of women and men in print and electronic media. Impact of gender in content and style of news, television and cinema. Open to non-majors.
JOUR 499 Special Topics (2- 4, max 8 units)
Description: Selected topics in journalism.
The Making of the President, 2008 (4 units)
The 2008 presidential election promises to be one of the most interesting in history, partly because of the historic diversity of the candidates and partly because new rules (what the Washington Post calls "The New Calendar") make it unpredictable, even revolutionary. The class will be structured as the editorial board and staff of a political magazine focusing on the campaign – with students discussing and evaluating the importance of daily and weekly campaign developments. Students will be responsible for one of the following "beats": covering a single candidate and his/her Los Angeles operations; covering a specific activity such as fundraising, polling or advertising; covering issues such as war or economy; or covering a constituency, women, minorities or labor. One or more students can function as the production manager and/or graphic designer of the magazine. Students will be expected to spend time in the field covering their beats.
Instructor: Richard Reeves
The Journalism of Demographic Change (4 units)
Examines how the news media have covered some of the great demographic changes in the United States with a focus on immigration a century ago and today. Through case studies, including contemporary Los Angeles, this course examines journalistic depictions of immigration and the reactions they provoke in the host population with the way these subjects are treated by social scientists.
Instructor: Roberto Suro
Kinesiology
EXSC 202L Principles of Nutrition and Exercise (2 units)
Description: Fundamental knowledge of proper nutrition for optimal health performance. Concepts of weight loss, gain; understanding of cardiorespiratory functioning. Laboratory experiments; body composition evaluation, energy metabolism. Laboratory, 2 hours.
EXSC 203L Individualized Exercise Prescription (2 units)
Description: Principles and theories related to exercise prescription; programs of weight-training, circuit-training, aerobics, flexibility, high and low-intensity training guidelines; safeguards and effectiveness.
EXSC 205Lxg The Science of Human Performance (4 units)
Description: The physiological and nutritional basis of human performance. Factors that facilitate and limit athletic achievement. Lectures and laboratory. Not available for major credit.
EXSC 310 Sociopsychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity (4 units)
Description: Examination of the individual in a social environment related to sport and physical activity; personality, motivation, attitude, and group behavior viewed in physical activity contexts.
Linguistics
LING 110Lg In a Word (4 units)
Description: Words as a gateway to the human mind. How words are stored, comprehended and retrieved. How words are constructed. Word and concepts. Words and social constructs. The processing and the acquisition of words in normal and atypical children and adults.
LING 115g Language, Society, and Culture (4 units)
Description: Discourse patterns among diverse social groups in institutional and interpersonal settings; interrelationships among language practices and gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity; social structures and cultural values as reflected in language policies and practices. Concurrent enrollment: WRIT 140.
LING 122 Arabic I (4 units)
Description: Introduction to current Arabic; oral practice, hearing and reading comprehension; the grammar necessary for simple spoken and written expression. Lecture, classroom drill, laboratory practice.
LING 210 Introduction to Linguistics (4 units)
Description: Empirical study of the sounds and structures of human language; syntax and semantics; language change; linguistic universals.
LING 275Lg Language and Mind (4 units)
Description: Language within cognitive science: speech physiology and acoustics, language acquisition, reading, language disorders, perception and mental representation of words, linguistic diversity and computer analysis of speech.
LING 380 Languages of the World (4 units)
Description: Introduction to the world's linguistic diversity; number of languages spoken and where; grammatical structure and social function of selected languages.
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.
MUCO 130bx Basics of Music Theory (3 units)
Description: Introduction to music theory for music minors; scales, intervals, principles of common practice harmony; melodic, harmonic, and structural analysis; 20th century developments. Not available for credit to B.M. majors.
MUCO 221bx Composition for Non-Majors (2 units)
Description: Introduction to the composition of concert music. Includes set exercises, free composition, study of selected compositions. Intended for interested, qualified students not majoring in composition. Not available for degree credit to composition majors. Recommended preparation: MUCO 130bx, MUCO 133b.
MUCO 250 Songwriting I (2 units)
Description: Development of musical and lyrical skills, composing, listening, analysis, and critiques of popular original music.
ELECTROACOUSTIC MEDIA
MUEA 474ax Electronic Synthesizer Techniques (2-4 units)
Description: Electronic music procedures in a multi-track studio. Not available for major credit to electroacoustic media majors.
JAZZ STUDIES
MUJZ 100xm Jazz: A History of America's Music (4 units)
Description: Gateway to the minor in Jazz Studies. Historical evolution of jazz from its origins to present day; elements of musical structures and jazz styles revealed through the study of recorded examples, live performances and video. Not available for credit to jazz studies majors.
MUJZ 150x Beginning Jazz Improvisation (2, max 4 units)
Description: Development of beginning improvisational skills, including modal and the ii-V7-I chord progression, through instrumental performance. Recommended to non-jazz majors. Not available for jazz studies majors. Recommended preparation: demonstration of major scales of eighth notes at a tempo of 120 mm.
MUJZ 419m The Jazz Experience: Myths and Culture (4 units)
Description: An examination of the music, culture, and mythology of jazz revealed through the study of jazz fiction, film, poetry, and recorded examples.
MUSIC ENSEMBLE
MUEN 308 USC Men's Chorus (1, max 8 units)
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, max 8 units)
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, max 8 units)
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 508 USC Men's Chorus (1, max 4 units)
Description: Rehearsal and performance of choral repertoire from all periods written for male voices. Open to all students.
MUEN 511 USC Oriana Choir (1, max 4 units)
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, max 4 units)
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. An ability to read music highly recommended.
MUHL 403 Armenian Musical Culture (2 units)
Description: Study of the four branches of Armenian music within the context of past and present Armenian culture.
MUSIC INDUSTRY
MUIN 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.
MUIN 372bx The Business and Legal Aspects of the Music Industry (4 units)
Description: A survey of the major elements that support the music industry. History, copyright, music contracts, radio, record companies, managers, music publishing and communication. Not available for major credit to B.M. and B.S. music industry majors.
MUIN 442 Operation of the Radio Studio (2 units)
Description: An in-depth study of radio studio technical operations. Topics include consoles, microphones, transmission considerations, networks, satellites, and digital and analog production situations. Prerequisite: MUIN 275ab.
MUIN 495 Music Industry, Broadcast and the Internet (4 units)
Description: An exploration of the effects of new technologies, laws, economic models, media (Internet, mobile, satellite), the decline of traditional broadcasting, and convergence with the music industry. Recommended preparation: MUIN 360 or MUIN 372bx .
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 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.
PERFORMANCE (STRINGS)
MPST 163 Beginning Harp (2 units)
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, max 4 units)
Description: Introduction to the fundamental principles of singing: breath control, tone production, diction, and the use of appropriate song material.
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
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 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 430m Music and the Holocaust (4 units)
Description: Study of the creation and performance of Holocaust-related music from 1933 to the present, including interaction with other arts.
MUSC 444 American Roots Music: History and Culture (4 units)
Description: The history, genre, styles, songs, lyrics, and influences of American vernacular music in the 20th century, including the background that spawned these musical genres.
MUSC 465 Music, Television and American Culture (4 units)
Description: An exploration of the social and cultural impact of music written for, popularized by, or exploited by American television from the 1950s through today.
Occupational Therapy
OT 220 Introduction to Occupational Therapy (2 units)
Description: Exploration of philosophy and practice of occupational therapy (helping the disabled regain independence), including visits to hospitals; designed for students considering a health career.
This course will examine the theoretical concepts concerning the relationship of engagement in activities (occupations) to health and well being; application of these perspectives to your own life; and an introduction to occupational therapy, a health profession dedicated to helping people to create fulfilling lives through the activities in which they engage.
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.
OT 310x 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. Not available for major credit to occupational therapy majors.
OT 330 Perspectives on the Daily Life of Families (4 units)
Description: Examines family structures and processes, the occupational dimensions of families, and the meanings embedded in the acts of daily life of contemporary families.
OT 350 Disability, Occupations, and the Health Care System (4 units)
Description: Exploration of the ways in which able-bodyism, sexism, racism, classism and homophobia contribute to occupational opportunities or barriers and weave their way into health care.
This course will examine alternative views of disability by questioning the construct of “normalcy” as related to occupational participation and health care. Examines how issues of gender, race, sexual orientation and disability merge as forms of oppression in society.
Physical Education
PHED 102a Weight Training (1 unit)
Description: Improvement of body shape, muscle endurance, and muscle strength; understanding of weight training and nutrition principles that can be utilized for future weight training development.
PHED 104a Self-Defense (1 unit)
Description: Basic instruction of self-defense for beginners; strategies for standing and ground fighting situations with and without weapons.
PHED 106a Physical Conditioning (1 unit)
Description: Improvement in cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, muscle endurance and flexibility; running, circuit training, resistance exercises; fitness principles and nutrition to develop individualized program.
PHED 110a Swimming (1 unit)
Description: Instruction and practice of basic strokes for beginners and intermediate swimmers; elementary summerboard diving; water safety techniques; endurance training as a fitness program.
PHED 120 Yoga (1 unit)
Description: Introduction to meditation, breathing techniques and postures as a means towards relaxation; increase muscle strength and flexibility; understanding of basic anatomy and nutritional guidelines.
PHED 129ab Aerobics (1 unit)
Description: Aerobic exercise emphasizing increased fitness levels; learn group exercise teaching techniques; counting, cueing, and choreography.
PHED 154a Soccer (1 unit)
Description: Development of basic skills for beginners, intermediate and advanced players; rules, positioning elements of play, small group and team tactics; full field scrimmages.
PHED 156a Basketball (1 unit)
Description: Basic skill development in dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding and defense; rules, history, and etiquette; drills and full court games.
PHED 160 Stress Management for Healthy Living (2 units)
Description: Instruction on the effects of stress as it relates to work, sport and academics; coping strategies are discussed and applied through physical conditioning interventions.
Policy, Planning, and Development
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 230 Introduction to Health Policy and Management (4 units)
Description: Gateway to the minor in Health Policy and Management and the Health Care Policy and Management track of the B.S., Public Policy and Management. Institutions and processes affecting health care policy and the management of health care delivery in the United States; historical and philosophical roots; access and quality issues; responsiveness to public needs.
PPD 372m Public Service in an Urban Setting (4 units)
Description: Voluntary service in an urban, multicultural context: diverse meanings and practices, history, motivations, relationship to charity and change, dilemmas, public policies; service learning project required.
This class is part of the minor in Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Volunteerism.
Political Science
POSC 110 Ideology and Political Conflict (4 units)
Description: Modern political ideologies; their assumptions, perceptions, and prescriptions regarding political stability and social injustice: anarchism, communism, socialism, liberalism, conservatism, and fascism.
POSC 130g Law, Politics and Public Policy (4 units)
Description: Interaction between law and politics; overview of the American legal system; value conflicts and public policy questions which arise within it. Concurrent enrollment: WRIT 140.
POSC 365 World Political Leadership (4 units)
Description: Comparative analysis of theories of power and leadership; application to leaders from western democracies, Third World, and socialist countries. Societal consequences of their policies.
POSC 375 American Political Thought (4 units)
Description: Historical and topical review of American political philosophy from the Puritans to the present. Special emphasis on such recurrent themes as equality, democracy, and racism.
POSC 381 Sex, Power, and Politics (4 units)
Description: An evaluation of the ways in which different ideologies, institutions, and policies contribute to differences in political power between men and women.
POSC 395 Directed Governmental and Political Leadership Internship (2-8, max 8 units)
Description: Intensive experience in governmental and political offices. Minimum time requirement; evaluation by office and intern report required. Prerequisite: permission of Director of Institute of Politics and Government.
POSC 423 Presidents and the Presidency (4 units)
Description: Presidential coalition; sources of presidential power; recent leadership styles; decision-making within the presidency.
POSC 432 The Politics of Local Criminal Justice (4 units)
Description: Roles and behavior of major legal and political participants in the criminal justice system including the police, the legal profession, judges, and the public.
Theatre
THTR 122 Improvisation and Theatre Games (2, max 4 units)
Description: Individual and group exercises to free the actor physically and emotionally and to stimulate creativity, imagination, and self-expression.
THTR 341x Voice for the Non-Theatre Major (2 units)
Description: Designed for the non-theatre major focusing on the range, color, texture, and projection of the human voice in a variety of situations. Not available for credit to theatre majors.
THTR 365 Playwriting I (4 units)
Description: Essential elements of playwriting through weekly assignments, students' initiative, occasional productions of scenes, and extensive classroom analysis.