Graduate & Professional Degrees

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Overview

The DMA in Choral Music consists of the following areas of study: the basic DMA curriculum, course work in the major, an academic field and two elective fields.

Degree Prerequisites

DMA applicants must complete the appropriate master of music degree program or its equivalent.

Admission

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

Grade Point Average Requirements

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for all graduate course units in music. A grade of B or higher is required for all courses in the major field. For courses in academic and elective fields, the minimum passing grade is C.

Transfer Credit

The Degree Progress Department in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar determines whether course work taken elsewhere is available for transfer credit. A maximum of 30 units of transfer credit may be applied toward a doctoral degree in music. Whether such credit is applicable toward a specific requirement in a major or minor field is determined by the Thornton School department in which the subject is taught, pending approval by the dean of the Thornton School. Transfer credit petitions must be filed with the Thornton doctoral adviser during the first semester in residence. Transfer work must have been completed within 10 years of admission to the DMA program to be applied toward that degree.

Residence Requirement

A minimum of two years of full-time study beyond the Master of Music degree is required for the Doctor of Musical Arts. At least one year of full-time study beyond the master’s degree (6 units or more per semester) must be in residence at USC.

Time Schedule

The time limit for completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree is eight years. For students who earned an applicable master’s degree within five years prior to admission to the doctoral program, the time limit for completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree is six years. Progress is measured from the beginning of the first course at USC applied toward the degree. Extensions will be granted by petition to the Thornton School for only the most compelling reasons.

Music Graduate Entrance Exams

All students entering a graduate-level degree program (MA, MM, DMA and PhD) at USC Thornton, who have not previously completed a degree at USC Thornton, must take a series of entrance exams in core music subjects. These exams are called Music Graduate Entrance Exams (MGEEs). Information regarding which exams are required for specific majors is available from the Thornton Student Affairs office. Also see the Thornton School of Music Admission to Graduate Standing section of this catalogue for specific policies relating to these exams.

Foreign Language

An academic reading knowledge of a language other than English is required of all Thornton doctoral students. This requirement can be met in any of the following ways:

• Completion of a prior degree, as verified on an official transcript, from an accredited institution of higher education at which the primary language of instruction is a language other than English.
• Completion of at least three semesters of college-level language instruction in a language other than English, as verified on an official transcript, at an accredited institution of higher education.
• Completion of one or more USC language course(s) (in a language other than English) as approved by the Thornton School.
• Earning a passing score on a written examination (in a language other than English) as approved by the Thornton School.

Departments within the Thornton School may require additional language skills. All language requirements must be fulfilled before entering the third semester in the program. Students who have engaged in extensive study of one or more languages other than English that does not meet this requirement as described above may request an exception.

Course Requirements

Each student is required to complete four areas of concentration: the major field, an academic field and two elective fields.

Required courses for each major curriculum are listed in the description of major programs below. Required courses for any academic or elective field are determined for their respective fields by the faculty advisers on a student’s DMA guidance committee.

A minimum of 65 graduate units beyond the bachelor’s degree are required to complete a DMA degree. Fifty-five or more units must be in music, 12 of these beyond the master’s level must be in the major. At least 40 of these must be at the 500 level or higher. All course work earned under these requirements for a doctoral degree is considered to be obsolete after 10 years from the date of completion of such work and may not be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Academic and Elective Fields

For the academic field students must choose one from Musicology, Theory and Analysis, Music Teaching and Learning, Choral Music or Sacred Music. For the elective fields students will choose two fields from among 50 possible areas, including Composition, Performance, Early Music, Jazz Studies, Music Teaching and Learning, Choral Music, Sacred Music, Conducting, Pedagogy, Electroacoustic Media, Music Industry, as well as areas outside of music. The fields comprise courses that are determined by the department in which they are administered. Eight to 10 units are taken in the academic field. Six to 8 units are taken in each elective field. The academic field may not duplicate a major or an elective field. No more than two of the four fields of concentration may be under the guidance of the same department within the Thornton School of Music, and at least one of the elective fields must culminate in a substantial written paper or examination. Students must apply to their chosen fields. Admission to academic and elective fields is determined by the appropriate department, prior to the Graduate Committee Interview. Individualized programs of study will be created in each field in consultation with a faculty adviser in each area.

Graduate Committee Interview

Before the completion of 16 units beyond the master’s degree and before permission to present the second doctoral recital is requested, doctoral students must meet with the Graduate Advisory Committee of the Thornton School of Music to discuss their progress in the program and their goals for the future. In preparation for this interview, students must prepare a dossier according to specific instructions available from the Thornton doctoral adviser. The committee determines the student’s continuation in the program, and approves both the student’s individualized curriculum (including all fields of concentration) and the members of his or her DMA guidance committee.

DMA Guidance Committee

The DMA guidance committee is composed of at least five members: two faculty members from the major department, one of whom will serve as chair, and a faculty member from each of the three other areas of concentration. At least three members of a committee must be full-time faculty of rank in the Thornton School. The composition of the DMA Guidance Committee is proposed and approved as part of the Graduate Committee Interview.

The guidance committee administers the written and oral parts of the comprehensive examination. The committee continues to serve until the comprehensive examination has been passed, the dissertation topic approved (if applicable) and the student is admitted to candidacy (if applicable). For students in curricula that require recitals, the two major field advisers serve as the recital committee and are responsible for determining the approved format, content, scheduling, and presentation of these performances for credit toward the requirements of the degree.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination for the DMA is administered by the student’s guidance committee. This examination consists of written and oral components and is designed to assess the student’s mastery of his or her fields of concentration and readiness for professional independence as a performer, composer, teacher, researcher and/or scholar. The student must obtain permission from the guidance committee to take the comprehensive examination and schedule it at least two months in advance to ensure the committee’s availability. The examination must be taken after completion of all required course work for all fields of concentration, except (in some cases) a limited number of the required units of Individual Instruction in the major field. In degree programs that require the presentation of four major recitals, at least two major recitals must be presented prior to the administration of the comprehensive examination. Up to two required recitals may be presented after the comprehensive examination. The dissertation (if required) must be written after the comprehensive examination. Comprehensive examinations will not be scheduled during summer sessions except under extraordinary circumstances and only with the written approval of members of the guidance committee. All portions of the examination must be completed within one month.

The comprehensive examination comprises a substantial culminative work for each field of concentration, as well as an oral examination with the student’s guidance committee. The culminative work for each field may be a written examination, paper, project or recital, as appropriate for the particular field. For the academic field and at least one elective field, this culminative requirement must be a substantial written examination or paper. Following the successful completion of all culminative requirements and the approval of each by the corresponding faculty adviser, the student will sit for a two-hour oral examination with the guidance committee. This oral examination covers in greater depth the topics discussed in the written examinations and other requirements for the fields of concentration. The oral examination may also cover new material as determined by the guidance committee.

The two major field advisers and the academic field adviser must be present at the oral examination and render a judgment on the acceptability of the comprehensive examinations as a whole. It is highly preferable that the faculty advisers for the two elective fields participate in the oral examination with the other members of the guidance committee. If, however, there are challenges with scheduling or other issues that are reasonably unresolvable, the participation of the faculty advisers for elective fields is not required for the oral examination if they feel that the candidate has demonstrated knowledge and mastery of material that is appropriate for an elective field in their disciplines.

The examinations will be reported as passing if there is no more than one dissenting vote on the committee. A student must pass both the written and oral portions to pass the comprehensive examination. A pass on the examination cannot be made contingent upon any form of additional work.

If a student fails the comprehensive examination, the guidance committee may permit the student to repeat it once at a mutually satisfactory time within a period of not less than six months nor more than one year from the date of the first oral examination. A student may not take the comprehensive examination more than twice.

The comprehensive examination serves as the qualifying examination for programs that require a dissertation.

Admission to Candidacy

For the DMA in Choral Music, admission to candidacy occurs after the student has passed the comprehensive examination, upon formal action of the dean of the Thornton School. The dissertation must be completed after admission to candidacy.

Doctoral Dissertation

A dissertation based on original investigation and/or creative work is required of candidates in Composition, Music Teaching and Learning and Choral Music. The dissertation must reveal scholarly ability, technical mastery, capacity for independent research and originality in creative thought.

Dissertation Committee

After the guidance committee recommends admission to candidacy and approves the dissertation topic, the committee is reduced to three members. This smaller committee shall be the dissertation committee and will guide the student through the completion of the dissertation. Additional members may be added at the discretion of the chair of the committee if the topic requires special expertise.

Registration for Dissertation

The student must register in 794 Dissertation each semester after admission to candidacy until degree requirements (including the dissertation) are completed. Registration for 794 in no less than two regular semesters following admission to candidacy entitles the candidate to supervision by the dissertation committee. If the dissertation is not completed and accepted within two semesters, the candidate must register for 794 each semester thereafter until the document has been accepted. No more than 8 units of credit in 794 may be accumulated regardless of the number of semesters the candidate may be required to register.

A candidate who must withdraw temporarily from registration in 794 for a semester must report this in writing to the Thornton doctoral adviser before the beginning of that semester. As part of that report, the candidate must also petition for a formal leave of absence. During a leave of absence the candidate will not be entitled to assistance from his or her dissertation committee or to the use of university services and facilities. A leave of absence will be granted only under exceptional circumstances.

Format for Theses and Dissertations

All dissertations submitted for requirements for graduate degrees must conform to university regulations in format and method of preparation. See the USC Graduate School’s guidelines for Theses and Dissertations.

Abstract of Dissertation

Since the abstract of the dissertation is published in Dissertation Abstracts International, it should be written with care and be representative of the final draft of the dissertation.

Defense of the Dissertation

After meeting all requirements including the comprehensive examination, the candidate must defend the dissertation. This defense takes place in order for the committee to determine whether the dissertation should be approved or rejected. While this oral defense is open to the general university community, only the members of the dissertation committee have the authority to recommend its acceptance or rejection. The recommendation must be unanimous in order for the dissertation to be approved.

At least seven weeks before the scheduled date of the defense of the dissertation, written approval by all members of the candidate’s dissertation committee, along with a typed copy of the dissertation abstract, must be filed with the doctoral adviser of the Thornton School of Music.

A candidate may defend the dissertation on the basis of an approved preliminary copy. If the defense is satisfactory and the committee is satisfied with the manuscript as presented, the committee then signs the Approval to Submit Defended and Final Copy of the Doctoral Work form. If additional work is required, the form is left unsigned until the work has been approved.

The final electronic PDF copy of the dissertation, together with signed signature sheet and approval forms, must be presented to the Thesis Editor in the USC Graduate School by the Graduate School’s submission date and times. Approval of format and acceptance by the Graduate School must be presented to the doctoral adviser of the Thornton School of Music at least one week before the end of the semester.

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Overview

The MM in choral music consists of course work in choral conducting, choral music seminars, choral literature, choral development, music history, and vocal arts. The program culminates with a graduate recital.

Admission

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

Unit and Grade Requirements

Students must complete at least 26 semester units at USC, including the thesis or recital. A grade point average of not less than 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for all graduate courses in music, and a grade of B or higher is required for all courses in the major department. Students who transfer credits must achieve this average on all combined transferred and residence units.

Transferred Credits

All credits transferred must be the equivalent of corresponding current work at USC. Course work completed at another institution that has been approved by the Thornton School for transfer credit must have been completed within seven years from the date of admission to a master’s degree program to be applied toward that degree. Transfer credit petitions must be filed with the appropriate Thornton adviser during the first semester in residence.

Time Limit

The time limit for completing the Master of Music degree is five years. Progress is measured from the beginning of the first course at USC applied toward the degree. Extensions will be granted by petition to the Thornton School for only the most compelling reasons.

Music Graduate Entrance Exams

All students entering a graduate-level degree program (MA, MM, DMA, PhD) at USC Thornton, who have not previously completed a degree at USC Thornton, must take a series of entrance exams in core music subjects. These exams are called Music Graduate Entrance Exams (MGEEs). Information regarding which exams are required for specific majors is available from the Thornton Student Affairs office. Also see the Thornton School of Music Admission to Graduate Standing section of this catalogue for specific policies relating to these exams. 

Master’s Recital

One public recital is required of all candidates for the Master of Music degree (Choral Music), as indicated below. Candidates must apply for recital dates, according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office. Some departments require that a candidate be prepared to play or conduct the recital program for the approval of a faculty committee in advance.

Comprehensive Review

Candidates for the Master of Music must pass a comprehensive review toward the end of their course of study, usually in the final semester. This review, which is administered by the faculty of the major department, consists of an oral or written examination, covering relevant aspects of musical performance, literature, and/or technique. A final oral examination in choral literature, conducting and rehearsal techniques will be administered by the choral music faculty.

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The Master of Arts degree in Cinema and Media Studies is administered through the Graduate School. Candidates for the degree are subject to the general requirements of the Graduate School (see The Graduate School section). Thirty-six units are required at the 400 level or higher, including a comprehensive examination. At least two-thirds of these units must be at the 500 level or higher.

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The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Cinema and Media Studies is administered through the Graduate School. The PhD program is tailored to the individual student’s particular needs and interests. The overall course of study will be designed by the student, the student’s designated adviser and, following the screening procedure, the student’s qualifying exam committee chair (see Screening Procedure under Media Production and Practice Courses).

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The graduate certificate in Cinematic Arts Archiving and Preservation is open to all USC graduate students interested in the history and preservation of film, television and digital media. The certificate is designed specifically for students and practitioners who want to use their education and skills for advancing the knowledge of media through the preservation and dissemination of the historical artifacts that form the underpinnings of scholarship in the performing arts. Through this certificate, students will gain the knowledge, tools and skills necessary to preserve the materials that make up the history of entertainment and to lead scholars through the research process to the completion of books or media in their fields of study.

The Cinema and Media Studies Archiving and Preservation Graduate Certificate consists of 12 units, two 4-unit classes and two 2-unit internships. For more information please contact the Division of Cinema and Media Studies SCA 320, 213-740-3334.

Please note: the Cinematic Arts Archiving and Preservation graduate certificate program is currently on hold.

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The degree of Doctor of Philosophy with an emphasis in Critical Studies is administered through the Graduate School. The PhD program is tailored to the individual student’s particular needs and interests. The overall course of study will be designed by the student, the student’s designated adviser and, following the screening procedure, the student’s qualifying exam committee chair (see Screening Procedure under Graduate Preparation Production Courses).

Admission

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in cinematic arts, or a closely related field, is required for admission to the PhD program. Applicants with only a bachelor’s degree must successfully fulfill all of the USC Critical Studies MA degree requirements as part of the degree program (see Screening Procedure).

Course Requirements

Each PhD candidate must complete 68 units beyond the bachelor’s degree, 43 of which must be at the 500 level or higher. (Up to 30 units may be transferred from graduate work completed at other institutions.) Dissertation units are not counted toward the 68-unit total. The required units will include seven to 12 courses in cinematic arts and 8 to 16 units in the minor area. The minor will be chosen by the student in close consultation with the adviser and will be in an academic field which supports the student’s dissertation topic. Each student must complete the following course work toward the 68 unit total:

1. CTCS 500, CTCS 506, CTCS 510, CTCS 587, CTPR 507. These courses should be taken before the screening procedure.
2. Two of the following: CTCS 673, CTCS 677, CTCS 678, CTCS 679, CTCS 688. These courses should be taken before the qualifying examination.

Graduate Preparation Production Course

Each candidate for the PhD must complete CTPR 507 Production I 4 with a grade of C or better. If the student enters the program with a master’s degree in cinematic arts and possesses production experience, the student may request a waiver of this requirement. The waiver requires passing a written examination and submission of films/videos to the production faculty for review.

CTPR 507 Production I 4  is designed to introduce the fundamental principles of motion picture production. The course also introduces students to visual and auditory communication and individual filmmaking. Each student makes several non-dialogue personal projects, serving as writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound designer and editor and takes a crew role on a collaborative project. Projects are shot on digital cameras and edited on non-linear systems. Approximately $1,200 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees. This course should be taken before the beginning of the screening procedure.

Screening Procedure

The Graduate School requires that programs administer an examination or other procedure at a predetermined point in the student’s studies as a prerequisite to continuation in the doctoral program. This procedure is designed to review the student’s suitability for continuing in the chosen PhD program. The School of Cinematic Arts has determined that this procedure will occur no later than the end of the student’s third semester of graduate course work at USC beyond the master’s degree. The screening procedure process will include the following steps:

1. If the faculty has determined during the admissions process that a comprehensive examination will be required as part of the screening procedure, an examination will be administered as appropriate. If the examination is passed to the faculty’s satisfaction, the student may proceed to the next step in the screening procedure process. If the student fails to pass the examination, the faculty will determine if the student will be allowed to retake the examination the following semester before proceeding to the next step in the screening procedure process.
2. The student will be interviewed and his or her progress in the program will be reviewed by the faculty to determine if the student will be approved for additional course work. If approved to continue, a qualifying exam committee chair will be selected by the student, with the approval of the faculty, who will serve as the student’s adviser. It is strongly recommended that full-time study be pursued following the successful completion of the screening procedure.

Qualifying Exam Committee

Following a successful screening procedure, the student, in consultation with the qualifying exam committee chair and the Critical Studies faculty, will formally establish a five-member qualifying exam committee. The composition of the qualifying exam committee will be as specified by the Graduate School. For the PhD in Cinematic Arts (Critical Studies), the committee is ordinarily composed of four Critical Studies faculty members and an outside member from the candidate’s minor area.

Foreign Language Requirement

The Critical Studies faculty will advise each student as to whether or not a foreign language is required. This requirement is determined by the student’s dissertation topic. The requirement must be met at least 60 days before the qualifying examination.

Dissertation Proposal Presentation

Working closely with the qualifying exam committee chair, the student will prepare to present his or her dissertation proposal to the full faculty. This will be a formal written proposal which will include a statement of the proposed topic, four fields for examination derived from the general dissertation topic area (including a field from the minor area), a detailed bibliography, and an appropriate and comprehensive screening list of film/television titles. Formal presentation of the dissertation proposal will occur no later than the end of the semester prior to taking the qualifying examinations. The qualifying exam committee must approve the dissertation topic. Once the dissertation topic has been approved, the student will complete the Request to Take the PhD Qualifying Examination form available from the program coordinator.

Qualifying Examinations

Written and oral examinations for the PhD are given twice a year, in November and April. Questions for the written portion of the examination will be drafted by members of the qualifying exam committee who will also grade the examination. The qualifying examination comprises four examinations administered one each day for four days during a five-day period.

The oral examination will be scheduled within 30 days after the written examination. All qualifying exam committee members must be present for the oral portion of the qualifying examination.

Admission to Candidacy

A student is eligible for admission to candidacy for the PhD degree after: (1) passing the screening procedure; (2) presenting the dissertation proposal and having it approved; (3) satisfying the language requirement, if applicable; (4) completing at least 24 units in residence; and (5) passing the written and oral portions of the qualifying examination. Admission to candidacy is by action of the Graduate School.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee is composed as specified by regulations of the Graduate School. A dissertation based on original investigation and showing technical mastery of a special field, capacity for research and scholarly ability must be submitted.

CTCS 794

Registration for dissertation units, CTCS 794a and CTCS 794b , in the two semesters following admission to candidacy is the minimum requirement. These units cannot be applied toward the required 68 unit total. The student must register for CTCS 794a, CTCS 794b, CTCS 794c, CTCS 794d, CTCS 794z each semester after admission to candidacy until the degree requirements are completed. No more than 8 units of credit can be earned in CTCS 794a, CTCS 794b, CTCS 794c, CTCS 794d, CTCS 794z.

Defense of Dissertation

An oral defense of the dissertation is required of each PhD candidate. The dissertation committee will decide whether the examination is to take place after completion of the preliminary draft or the final draft of the dissertation. The oral defense must be passed at least one week before graduation.

Policies

The following policies apply to each student admitted to the PhD program.

Residency Requirements

At least one year of full-time graduate study (24 units excluding registration for CTCS 794a, CTCS 794b, CTCS 794c, CTCS 794d, CTCS 794z) must be completed in residence on the main USC campus. The residency requirement may not be interrupted by study elsewhere. Residency must be completed prior to the qualifying examination.

Grade Point Average

An overall GPA of 3.0 is required for all graduate work. Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree.

Leaves of Absence

A leave of absence may be granted under exceptional circumstances by petitioning the semester before the leave is to be taken. Refer to “Leave of Absence” in the Graduate and Professional Education section.

Changes of Committee

Changes in either the qualifying exam or dissertation committee must be requested on a form available from the Graduate School Website.

Completion of All Requirements

Everything involved in approving the dissertation must be completed at least one week before graduation. Approval by the dissertation committee, the Office of Academic Records and Registrar, and the thesis editor must be reported and submitted to the Graduate School by the date of graduation.

Time Limits

The maximum time limit for completing all requirements for the PhD degree is eight years from the first course at USC applied toward the degree. Students who have completed an applicable master’s degree at USC or elsewhere within five years from the proposed enrollment in a PhD program must complete the PhD in six years. Extension of these time limits will be made only for compelling reasons upon petition by the student. When petitions are granted, students will be required to make additional CTCS 794a, CTCS 794b, CTCS 794c, CTCS 794d, CTCS 794z registrations. Course work more than 10 years old is automatically invalidated and cannot be applied toward the degree.

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The Master of Fine Arts, Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production, requires a minimum of 52 units in cinematic arts at the 400 or 500 level. At least two-thirds (35) of the units must be at the 500 level. A thesis is not required for the MFA degree.

Applications for the graduate production program are accepted for both fall and spring semesters. See a current Graduate Study Application for deadlines. Applicants must submit supplemental applications and materials to the Graduate Production Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-8358 or online at cinema.usc.edu.

Graduate First Year Production Courses

CTPR 507 introduces the fundamental principles of motion picture production, emphasizing visual and auditory communication through the lens of each production discipline: cinematography, production, editing, and sound. Classes combine aesthetics with hands-on exercises to build a comprehensive understanding of the production basics. In the first semester, production students must take CTPR 507 concurrently with CTPR 502 Fundamentals of Directing, CTPR 506 Visual Expression, and CTWR 505 Creating the Short Film.

In CTPR 508, students produce short films in small crews. The primary goal is to communicate effectively through sound/image relationships. Most equipment and materials are provided by the school, but approximately $2,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.

Students who earn a grade of C- (1.7) or less in either CTPR 507 or CTPR 508 will be disqualified, and will not be able to continue in the MFA program. In any other required Production course, students earning lower than a C (2.0) may repeat the requirement on a one-time-only basis upon approval of the division chair. Students earning a C- (1.7) or less after being allowed to repeat a required production course will be disqualified from the program, and will not be allowed to continue.

Our program is distinguished by the understanding and hands-on practice our graduates achieve in all mediamaking disciplines; at the same time, each student pursues specialized interests in years two and three. To qualify for the MFA, each must demonstrate mastery of at least one of six disciplines: writing, producing, directing, cinematography, editing or sound. In the discipline chosen, the candidate must register for and complete an advanced project, as well as the defined prerequisites.

CTPR 502, CTPR 507, CTPR 508, CTPR 546L and CTPR 547L cannot be waived or substituted with transfer credit under any circumstances.

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The PhD in Media Arts and Practice program offers a rigorous and creative environment for scholarly innovation as students explore the intersection of design, media and critical thinking while defining new modes of research and scholarship for the 21st century. Core to the program is its transdisciplinary ethos; after completing foundational course work, students design their own curricula, drawing on expertise across all divisions and research labs within the School of Cinematic Arts.

Admission

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in media arts, or a closely related field, is required for admission to the PhD program. In addition to submitting an application to USC Graduate Admissions, applicants for the PhD must submit the supplemental application and materials to the Media Arts and Practice Division. For specific instructions, contact the School of Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 840-8358, or online at cinema.usc.edu/imap.

Course Requirements

Each PhD candidate must complete 64 units beyond the bachelor’s degree, exclusive of IML 794a, IML 794b, IML 794c, IML 794d, IML 794z. (Up to 28 units may be transferred from graduate work completed at other institutions.) At least two-thirds of the units applied towards the degree (including transfer work and not including IML 794a, IML 794b, IML 794c, IML 794d, IML 794z ) must be at the 500 level or higher. The required units will include 8 to 16 units in a minor area. The minor will be chosen by the student in close consultation with the adviser and will be in an academic field that supports the student’s dissertation topic and project. Each student must complete the following course work:

1. IML 600 4, IML 601 4, IML 602 4, IML 603 1, IML 604 4, IML 605 4. These courses should be taken before the screening procedure.
2. At least 8 units in theory based course work within Cinematic Arts.
3. At least 14 units in practice-based course work within Cinematic Arts. Courses outside of Cinematic Arts will be considered for approval by the student’s adviser. The above courses should be taken before the qualifying exam.
4. At least 4, but no more than 8 units of IML 794a 2, IML 794b 2, IML 794c 2, IML 794d 2, IML 794z 0.

Screening Procedure

The Graduate School requires that programs administer an examination or other procedure at a predetermined point in the student’s studies as a prerequisite to continuation in the doctoral program. The screening procedure in the School of Cinematic Arts is designed to review the student’s suitability for continuing in the chosen PhD program. Two separate screening procedures will measure a student’s progress at two points in their work toward the degree. The first screening will occur no later than the end of the student’s third semester of graduate course work beyond the master’s degree or after 46 units of graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree. The second screening will occur no earlier than one-half of a semester following the first screening. The screening procedure process will include the following steps:

1. First screening. Prior to the first screening, the student will select a faculty adviser and formulate a provisional course of study. At the first screening, the student will be interviewed and his or her progress in the program will be reviewed by the faculty to determine if the student will be approved for additional course work. Following a successful first screening, the student, in consultation with the faculty adviser, will formally establish a five-member qualifying exam committee. The composition of the qualifying exam committee will be as specified by the Graduate School. For the PhD in Cinematic Arts (Media Arts and Practice), the committee is ordinarily composed of five faculty members with familiarity with the Media Arts and Practice program.
2. Second screening. Working closely with the faculty adviser, the student will prepare to present his or her qualifying exam fields and associated bibliographies and mediographies as well as a dissertation project proposal, to a subcommittee of Media Arts and Practice faculty. This will be a formal written proposal detailing the proposed topic, three fields for examination derived from the general dissertation topic area. Formal presentation of the dissertation project proposal will occur no later than the end of the semester prior to taking the qualifying examinations. The qualifying exam committee must approve the dissertation topic.

Qualifying Exam Committee

Following a successful screening procedure, the student, in consultation with the qualifying exam committee chair and the Media Arts and Practice faculty, will formally establish a five-member qualifying exam committee. The composition of the qualifying exam committee will be as specified by the Graduate School. For the PhD in Cinematic Arts (Media Arts and Practice), the committee is ordinarily composed of four cinematic arts faculty members and an outside member from the candidate’s minor area.

Foreign Language Requirement

The Cinematic Arts faculty will advise each student as to whether or not a foreign language is required. This requirement is determined by the student’s dissertation topic. The requirement must be met at least 60 days before the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examinations

Written and oral examinations for the PhD are given twice a year, generally in November and April. Questions for the written portion of the examination will be drafted by members of the qualifying exam committee who will also assess the examination. The qualifying examination comprises three examinations administered one day each for three days over a five-day period. The oral examination will be scheduled within 30 days after the written examination. All qualifying exam committee members must be present for the oral portion of the qualifying examination.

Admission to Candidacy

A student is eligible for admission to candidacy for a PhD degree after: (1) passing the second screening procedure; (2) presenting the dissertation proposal and having it approved; (3) satisfying the language requirement, if applicable, (4) completing at least 24 units in residence; and (5) passing the written and oral portions of the qualifying examination. Admission to candidacy is by action of the Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Programs.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee is composed as specified by regulations of the Graduate School. A dissertation project based on original investigation and showing technical mastery of a special field, capacity of research and scholarly ability must be submitted.

IML 794

Registration for dissertation units, IML 794a IML 794b, in the two semesters following admission to candidacy is the minimum requirement. These units cannot be applied towards the required 64 unit total. The student must register for IML 794a, IML 794b, IML 794c, IML 794d, IML 794z each semester after admission to candidacy until the degree requirements are completed. No more than 8 units of credit can be earned in IML 794a, IML 794b, IML 794c, IML 794d, IML 794z.

Defense of Dissertation

An oral defense of the dissertation is required of each PhD candidate. The dissertation committee will decide whether the examination is to take place after completion of the preliminary draft or the final draft of the dissertation. The oral defense must be passed at least one week before graduation.

Policies

The following policies apply to each student admitted to the PhD program.

Residency Requirements

At least one year of full-time graduate study (24 units excluding registration for IML 794a, IML 794b, IML 794c, IML 794d, IML 794z) must be completed in residence on the main USC campus. The residency requirement may not be interrupted by study elsewhere. Residency must be completed prior to the qualifying examination.

Grade Point Average

An overall GPA of 3.0 is required for all graduate work. Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree.

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence may be granted under exceptional circumstances by petitioning the Graduate School the semester before the leave is to be taken.

Change of Committee

Changes to either the qualifying exam or dissertation committee must be requested on a form available from the Graduate School.

Completion of All Requirements

Everything involved in approving the dissertation must be completed at least one week before graduation. Approval by the dissertation committee, the Office of Academic Records and Registrar, and the thesis editor must be reported on the triple card and submitted to the Graduate School by the date of graduation.

Time Limits

The maximum time limit for completing all requirements for the PhD degree is eight years from the first course at USC applied toward the degree. Students who have completed an applicable master’s degree at USC or elsewhere within five years from the proposed enrollment in a PhD program must complete the PhD in six years. Extension of these time limits will be made only for compelling reasons upon petition by the student.

When petitions are granted, students will be required to make additional IML 794a IML 794b IML 794c IML 794d IML 794z registrations. Course work more than 10 years old is automatically invalidated and cannot be applied toward the degree.

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The Master of Arts in Cinematic Arts with an emphasis in Media Arts, Games and Health is administered by the Graduate School in conjunction with the Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center. The curriculum is based on center crosscutting initiatives that represent the broadest descriptions of our vision and mission. Students benefit from emerging research, tools and methodologies that converge at the center, as well as the wide range of backgrounds represented by faculty, students and visiting scholars. Research is prioritized based on a combination of factors, including potential impact and benefit to society and overall alignment with center priorities. Some center initiatives include:

• Sports and Exercise for Wellness: investigation of novel assessment and treatment techniques using entertainment and technology for improvement of health outcomes related to obesity, nutrition and physical activity;
• Healthy Brain Architecture: production and dissemination of innovative storytelling products toward promotion of healthy behavior for brain development and affect regulation during the entire human lifespan;
• Social and Sensorimotor Play: investigation of novel assessment and treatment techniques using interactive play for improving social skills, visuospatial navigation and motor coordination in physical space;
• Games for Health: promotion, development and assessment of innovative games with behavioral health applications;
• Storytelling for mHealth (mobile health): mobile interactive entertainment with general health and wellness applications, or a specific chronic illness focus;
• The Future of Health Care: re-imagining the patient/user/player experience within and beyond health care settings.

The goal of the curriculum is to provide integrative research and practice-based training to enable students to combine prior/concurrent education and experience toward design, development and evaluation of health- and wellness-related interventions that incorporate entertainment media experiences (film, games, virtual reality, mobile media, public interactives, transmedia and emerging genres).

This program caters to polymathic and interdisciplinary students who are dedicated to acquiring or leveling up on scholarly rigor, design research, and participatory method skillsets.

Prospective students may:

• Be interested in making games or other entertainment media for social impact (education, science, health)
• Be pursuing a higher degree after the MA (PhD, OTD, MD) 
• Want to work in a research environment (games user research, other academic, industry, or government career) 
• Want to work as freelance consultants in R&D roles
• Want to work as a product owners/manager, or user researcher
• Want to become producers, makers, or researchers, especially in fields of education, science or social impact
• Want to launch their own start-up company

Candidates for the degree are subject to the general requirements of the Graduate School (see the Graduate School section). Thirty-six units are required at the 400 level or higher, including an integrative project. At least two-thirds of these units must be at the 500 level or higher.

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The graduate Certificate in City/County Management is for students interested in acquiring the foundational training needed to pursue a career in public service leadership and provides students with the necessary knowledge, training and skills development that will ensure their professional success as a future city/county manager.

The Certificate in City/County Management consists of 16 units of graduate course work.