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, Advanced Academic Professional Spoken English (AAPSE), and Dissertation Writing. Each course is 2 units.
ALI 254 Advanced Oral Skills (2 units)
Description: Required for international students whose oral skills are assessed to be at the advanced level by the International Student English Examination (ISE) or previous ALI course. 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.
ALI 255 Advanced Writing Skills (2 units)
Description: Required for international students whose writing skills are assessed to be at the advanced level by the International Student English Examination (ISE) or previous ALI course. 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.
Architecture
ARCH 106x Workshop in Architecture (2 units)
Description: Introduction to the ways architecture is created and understood. Hands-on discussion and laboratory session with some drawing and model building.
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 214b History of Architecture (4 units)
Description: History of building and cities, social, political, technical, formal, aesthetic dimensions in western and non-western traditions from the Renaissance to present.
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.
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. This course explores the educational requirements and career options for architecture and related professions. Guest lecturers and field trips will be used to introduce students to the broad range of careers that are made possible by a degree in architecture. Students will be exposed to careers in real estate development, landscape architecture, historic preservation, architectural law, construction, product design, management and other professions related to architecture and design. Students will also learn about the aspects of architectural education, internships and licensing. Guest lecturers will include real estate tycoons, Disney Imagineers, lawyers, contractors, architects, urban planners, and engineers.
ARCH 304x Intensive Survey: Prehistory to the Present (4 units)
Description: An intensive historical overview of architecture from prehistory to the present, emphasizing interrelationships of various global cultures and how social considerations were translated into form.
ARCH 422 Architectural Photography (2 units)
Description: Perceiving and documenting the built environment through the perspective and frame of the camera. Abilities with 35mm and large format cameras, lighting, and black and white lab techniques will be developed. Recommended preparation: knowledge of 35mm camera.
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.
ARCH 549 Fundamentals of Historic Preservation (4 units)
Description: Concepts and strategies for preservation of significant elements of the built environment: buildings, sites and communities as revealed by reading, site visits and case studies.
Art History
AHIS 220g Medieval Visual Culture (4 units)
Description: Medieval visual culture as an introduction to the Christian heritage of western civilization and to the interaction of Church and state from the 3rd to the 13th century.
AHIS 250m Modernity and Difference: Critical Approaches to Modern Art (4 units)
Description: Consideration of various categories of "The Modern" as they have been constructed in Western art of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
AHIS 255g Culture Wars: Art and Social Conflict in the USA, 1900-Present (4 units)
Description: Examination of social conflicts and political controversies in American culture through the lens of visual art and photography. Concurrent enrollment: WRIT 140
AHIS 364m Myths, Arts, Realities: Visual Culture in California, 1849 to the Present (4 units)
Description: Diverse interpretations of "the California experience and lifestyle" in paintings, sculpture, photography, cinema, public art and popular culture of the last 150 years.
AHIS 373 History of Photography (4 units)
Description: Explores key moments in the history of photography from its invention to the present. Issues include modernity and mass culture; photography as a fine art; technologies of vision.
Chemistry
CHEM 203Lxg Chemistry in Life: 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.
Cinematic Arts
Animation
CTAN 443L 3-D Animation and Character Design (2 units)
Description: The study of computer animation including storyboarding, geometric modeling, choreography, lighting, texture mapping, background creation, and rendering.
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. Instructor: Christine Panushka.
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. Instructor: Eric Hanson.
Critical Studies
CTCS 190 Introduction to Cinema (4 units)
Description: Gateway to the 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” (Saturday Night Magazine, 2004), this course explores the formal properties of cinema, such as literary design, performance and visual design. Films include: Atonement, Imitation of Life, Singin’ In The Rain, The Boston Strangler and Fargo. Instructor: Drew Casper.
CTCS 191 Introduction to Television and Video (4 units)
Description: Exploration of the economic, technological, aesthetic, and ideological characteristics of the televisualion medium; study of historical development of television and video including analysis of key works; introduction to TV/Video theory and criticism.
Are we doomed to a future of wall-to-wall reality television? Will YouTube replace network TV? This course introduces students to the study of television as a unique dramatic form in order to answer questions such as these. Screenings and readings will focus on topics such as adult swim, Battlestar Galactica, MTV, Hannah Montana, I Love Lucy and The Colbert Report. Instructor: Ellen Seiter.
CTCS 464 Film and/or Television Genres (4 units)
Description: Rigorous examination of film and/or television genres: history, aesthetics, cultural context, social significance, and critical methodologies.
Hip Hop Culture
This course addresses the phenomenal rise of hip hop culture and its influence on society from the 1970s to the present. The Source Magazine describes the class as the most “in-demand hip hop course in the country.” Screenings will include: Scarface, Boyz n the 'Hood, American Gangster, Fade to Black and Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. Instructor: Todd Boyd.
The Western
John Ford, Howard Hawks, John Wayne, Sam Peckinpah, Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood and more. A thorough investigation of the most American of film genres, from The Great Train Robbery to Deadwood. Screenings will include Shane, The Searchers and The Wild Bunch, among others. Instructor: Rick Jewell.
CTCS 466 Theatrical Film Symposium (4 units)
Description: Lectures and readings on creative problems in the motion picture industry; current films; interviews with visiting producers, directors, writers, performers.
View Hollywood films before their theatrical release and meet with the films’ creators for one-of-a-kind Q&A sessions led by film critic and historian Leonard Maltin. Past semesters featured Lord of the Rings III, Crash, Pan's Labyrinth, 300 and Casino Royale, with such guests as Alexander Payne, Billy Bob Thornton, Guillermo del Toro, Kevin Costner and Forest Whitaker. Instructor: Leonard Maltin.
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.
An exciting counterpart to Theatrical Film Symposium and led by Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic Howard Rosenberg, this course focuses on the television industry. View selected television programs and engage in a Q&A with guests from the show. Past guests include Damon Lindel (Lost), Jenji Kohan (Weeds) and Doug Ellin (Entourage). 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.
This course will explore some of the main traditions of experimental filmmaking outside or on the edges of the commercial feature industry. Topics will include the U.S. and European avant-gardes, especially the history of the Los Angeles avant-garde, the U.S. art film, European and Asia art cinema, certain periods of innovation in Hollywood, and recent innovations in video and digital moving-image culture. Instructor: David James.
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.
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. Instructor: William Huber.
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.
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. Instructor: Chris Swain.
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. Use of motion picture camera equipment, principles of black/white and color cinematography, and hands-on projects put theory into practice. Instructors: Robert Ballo, Chris Chomyn & Tristan Whitman.
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 (2-4, max 8 units)
Description: Television production: laboratory course covers operating cameras, creating graphics, technical operations, controlling audio and floor-managing live productions. Students plan and produce actual Trojan Vision programs.
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. Instructor: Joel Parker.
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. Instructor: Helaine Head.
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.
You design, produce, direct, shoot and edit episodes of a half-hour comedy. Taught by directors Peter Bonerz (Friends, Home Improvement) and Todd Stevens (Friends, Joey). Makes use of professional actors, department heads and studio visits. For the student who wants to work hard to make people laugh. Instructors: Peter Bonerz, Tony Porter & Todd Stevens
Writing
CTWR 410L Character Development and Storytelling for Games (4 units)
Description: An exploration of characters and story worlds as they relate to gaming with an emphasis on emotionally rich environments in interactive entertainment. Recommended preparation: CTIN 488
Explore characters and story worlds as they relate to gaming with an emphasis on emotionally rich environments in interactive entertainment. Instructors: Danny Bilson & Paul DeMeo.
CTWR 412 Introduction to Screenwriting (2 units)
Description: 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.
CTWR 459a Entertainment Industry Seminar (2 units)
Description: Examination and analysis of various topics, issues, and resources pertaining to creative, legal, and business perspectives for writers in the entertainment industry.
Earth Sciences
GEOL 107Lxg Oceanography (4 units)
Description: Physical, chemical, and geological character of the oceans and ocean basins. Origin of the oceans. Ocean processes and agents. Economic value of the oceans. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. One all-day field trip required. Not available for major credit to earth or geological sciences majors.
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 145g Introduction to Chinese Culture, Art and Literature (4 units)
Description: Introduction to the civilization, art and literature of pre-modern China through the lens of the cultural products of identity.
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 350g Chinese Civilization (4 units)
Description: Characteristics and aspects of Chinese civilization; interpretation of philosophy, literature, religion, art, music. Conducted in English.
EALC 352g Chinese Literature and Culture (4 units)
Description: Readings of Chinese poetry, prose, novels and drama; influence of the West on Chinese literature and culture in modern times. Conducted in English.
Education
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.
Fine Arts
Fine Arts
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 150 Visual Culture & Literacy I (4 units)
Description: Introduction to modern and contemporary visual culture with emphasis on the major aesthetic theories and practices of the past 150 years.
FA 209a Photography (4 units)
Description: Introduction to the practice of photographic image making within a fine arts context. Emphasis on the development of technical skills in relation to personal vision. Work is in black and white.
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 236 Metal (2 units)
Description: Introduction to metal in fine art. Emphasis on technical proficiencies and effective solutions working in a variety of metals. Recommended preparation: FA 106.
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.
Geography
GEOG 393 Field Techniques (4 units)
Description: Field exploration of physical and cultural aspects of different regions, with emphasis on rural California. Field methods, especially mapping and interviewing.
GEOG 419 Environment and Health (4 units)
Description: The geographical determinants of illness and health, with emphasis on environmental factors. Processes of disease diffusion. Spatial organization of health care systems.
GEOG 482L Principles of Geographic Information Science (4 units)
Description: Introduction to evolving science, technology and applications of GIS. Laboratories provide experience with computer processing of geographic information using several GIS software and programming languages.
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 435m Women and Aging: Psychological, Social and Policy 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 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.
Graduate Studies
GRSC 850b The Professoriate: Preparing for the Future (2 units)
Description: Preparation for academic careers: various methodologies and approaches to teaching, learning, assessment, and research; statements of research and teaching philosophies; creation of online academic portfolio. Graded IP/CR/NC. Open to doctoral students only.
Institute for Multimedia Literacy
IML 104 Honors in Multimedia Scholarship: The Languages of New Media II (4 units)
Description: An introduction to the expressive range of screen languages in their cultural, historical, and technological contexts. Open to students in the Honors Program in Multimedia Scholarship only. Recommended preparation: one course from the Multimedia in the Core General Education program.
This hands-on lab/seminar focuses on depictions of virtual worlds in short stories, novels, films and artworks, considering shifting notions of identity, the body, community and politics. Significant class time is spent in virtual worlds, and students produce media-based projects for assignments.
Journalism
JOUR 190 Introduction to Journalism (2 units)
Description: Survey of all media and outlets including print, broadcasting, public relations and online journalism, plus analysis of what it means to be a professional journalist or public relations practitioner.
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. This course offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of news and development of journalism in America.
JOUR 210x Basics of Broadcast Newsroom Production for Non-Majors Only (2 units)
Description: Introduction to broadcast newsroom production; preparation and treatment of form and content; procedures, problems, ethics, and practice in planning and producing a nightly newscast. Open to non-journalism majors only. Not available for degree credit to journalism majors. Graded CR/NC. This class is taught in conjunction with the production of Annenberg TV News, USC's student-run nightly news operation.
JOUR 330 Photojournalism (4 units)
Description: Emphasis on fundamental skills necessary for photojournalism including camera techniques, story ideas and digital darkroom. Students will learn the basic principles and ethics of visual journalism, with an eye toward the diverse perspectives existing throughout our community. Students should have access to a 35mm film or digital camera.
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. Students study many areas of advertising, including television, radio, print, out-of-home interactive, campaign development and production to execution.
JOUR 375 The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture (4 units)
Description:The impact of conflicting images of reporters in movies and television on the American public's perception of newsgatherers in the 20th century. A decade-by-decade evaluation. “Sob Sisters: The Image of the Female Journalist in Popular Culture” is the emphasis this semester. Students investigate the conflicting images of female reporters in movies, television and fiction, and how journalism offered women one of the few opportunities for an independent career in a male-dominated society.
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. Guests will include entertainment executives, celebrities, publicists, journalists and other media experts.
JOUR 421 Photo Editing for News Media (4 units)
Description: Emphasis on understanding, selection and power of photographs; how they work in concert with words and graphics to inform the public. The class will focus on organizing photographic coverage, the implementation of that coverage, editing the results and ultimately the layout of the finished product.
JOUR 432 Sports Commentary (4 units)
Description: Techniques of reporting and writing sports columns and commentary for print, video, radio and Web-based media. In the world of sports, where everyone has an opinion, this course will examine how to present an argument that stands out among all of the screaming voices.
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. This course will analyze the methods, ethics and controversies of public relations, product placement and promotion in the entertainment industry.
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. The course will look at the television, team, newspaper, radio, agency and Internet aspects of the sports public relations field.
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. The course will focus on the means by which a political campaign develops its message, how that message is communicated through the news media and paid advertising, as well as the broader strategic and tactical questions which guide a campaign's operation.
JOUR 460 Social Responsibility of the News Media (4 units)
Description: News media as instruments of constructive social change; standards of ethics and aesthetics; interactions between news media and cultural settings; social responsibility of news media personnel. Students emerge from the course with an understanding of the news media's responsibilities, which transcends delivering information and, instead, encompasses influencing societal norms.
Judaic Studies
ARLT 100g Arts and Letters (4 units)
Description: Critical analysis of significant works of literature, philosophy, visual arts, music and/or film; intensive reading and writing to develop knowledge of analytical techniques in the humanities. Limited to freshmen and sophomores.
The Jew in American Fiction
This course draws on American Jewish and non-Jewish writers to achieve an understanding of the American Jewish experience from the late 19th century to our own time.
JS 100g Jewish History (4 units)
Description: Major ideas, personalities, and movements in Jewish history from antiquity to the present in light of the interaction of the Jews with the general culture.
JS 180 Introduction to Judaism (4 units)
Description: Jewish beliefs, practices, and history from the biblical period to the present; Judaic contributions to Western civilization.
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. Lecture, 2 hours; 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. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 2 hours.
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. Words 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.
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 125 Hindi I (4 units)
Description: Introduction to current Hindi. Oral practice, listening and reading comprehension; 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 480 Linguistic Structures (4 units)
Description: Analysis of grammatical structures of an individual language.
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 130ax 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 221ax 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 372ax 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
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.
MPKS 150a Beginning Piano (2 units)
Description: Techniques of performance, note reading, and basic musicianship. Not open to music majors.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
Exploration of 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 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.
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.
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: a: 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: a: 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: a: Instruction and practice in basic strokes for beginners and intermediate swimmers; elementary springboard 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 129a Aerobics (1 unit)
Description: a: Aerobic exercise focusing on cardiorespiratory endurance encompassing a variety of training methods such as high/low impact aerobics, body sculpting, circuit training and nutritional guidelines.
PHED 139a Volleyball (1 unit)
Description: a: Introduction to beginning and intermediate volleyball skills, rules, game tactics, and strategies. Emphasis on the development of: passing, setting, hitting, serving, blocking, and digging.
PHED 140a Tennis (1 unit)
Description: a: Fundamental instruction of basic strokes for beginners and intermediate players; rules, scoring, court etiquette, strategies; singles and doubles; practice and match play.
PHED 154a Soccer (1 unit)
Description: a: 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: a: 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 250m Third World Cities (4 units)
Description: Gateway to the B.S., Planning and Development. The transition from traditional to modern cities in the developing world. Primacy and dualism; comparative urbanism as an expression of cultural variation; contrast in Western cities.
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.
Political Science
POSC 100 Theory and Practice of American Democracy (4 units)
Description: Theoretical, institutional, and functional aspects of American national, state, and local government and politics; contemporary issues. Recommended for freshmen and sophomores.
POSC 120 Comparative Politics (4 units)
Description: Gateway to the major in political science. Comparative analysis of political institutions and processes in selected industrial, developing and socialist countries, in terms of contrasting ideologies, parties, elites, and economies.
POSC 335 Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections (4 units)
Description: Organization and function of political parties, nominations and elections, strategy and tactics of campaigning, professional candidate management finance, political machines, voting behavior.
POSC 366 Terrorism and Genocide (4 units)
Description: Comparative analysis of the determinants of political violence, terrorism, and genocide and their social and moral consequences; application of theories to contemporary case studies.
POSC 395 Directed Governmental and Political Leadership Internship (2-8 units, 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 421 Ethnic Politics (4 units)
Description: Analysis of the political behavior and roles of ethnic and racial groups in the American political system; policy issues and patterns of political action are examined.
POSC 423 Presidents and the Presidency (4 units)
Description: Presidential coalition; sources of presidential power; recent leadership styles; decision-making within the presidency.
POSC 448a The Politics of Peace (4 units)
Description: Issues of social justice, large-scale social change, high technology, impacts on human survival, and uses of national and international institutions. a: Human rights.
Slavic Languages and Literatures
SLL 344 Tolstoy: Writer and Moralist (4 units)
Description: Tolstoy's major works in the context of his ethical views. Readings and lectures in English.
Theatre
THTR 222 Stage Make-up (2 units)
Description: Principles of stage make-up materials and skills allowing the actors to enhance their features and techniques for moderate and extreme aging, injuries, and character roles.
THTR 421 Effective Oral Presentation (2 units)
Description: Developing and practicing performance skills necessary to give an effective oral presentation.
THTR 499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8 units)
Description: Studies in selected areas of theatre art. Intensive practice in role and script interpretation and its psychological relationship to the audience.
From the Border to Broadway (4 units)
American politics, diverse societies and the largest growing demographic in the United States are all subject matters of a new generation of young Latina/o playwrights who are writing about the American experience with humor, poetry and ferocity. From the mainstream to the experimental, this course is an opportunity for students to meet the next generation of writers examining the American Dream. From Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz's, “Anna in the Tropics”, to Melinda Lopez’, popular regional theatre hit, "Sonia Flew", we will have the opportunity to explore form, content and the unique American prose of an established Latina/o body of work. Instructor: Luis Alfaro.
Theatre on the Edge (4 units)
This course explores the art of theatre at the edge of possibilities. Organized by interrelated themes, the course pursues a series of case studies to examine how the time-based art of theatre intersects with other art forms and surpasses its preexisting boundaries. Our inquiry investigates the various ways in which the edge fosters theatre artists' iconoclastic ventures and sustains their constant struggles to evolve beyond the limit of imagination. Instructor: Meiling Cheng.