Majors & Minors

The Dynamics of Early Childhood minor is intended to facilitate students' understanding of the historical implications that guide what we know and how we use the information we know related to the development of young children. The noted ideologies of theorists such as Dewey, Froebel, Pestalozzi and others will be examined from the perspectives of professions such as journalist, cinematographer, sociologist and psychologist. The effects of sources of entertainment such as children's books, films and television programs as well as consumer products such as toys will be studied in order to determine the "power" and effects they have on our developmental understandings and designs of educational needs for young children. Students will be encouraged to pursue a self-selected investigation of early childhood in order to be able to contribute as a professional, a family member, and an educator to address the roles and importance of young children in our society.

The general minor in theatre invites students to explore the many facets of this exciting field. Students have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in acting, playwriting, literature, stage management, directing, costume design and production. The curriculum is flexible and encourages students explore theatre through a broad combination of introductory and upper-division course work. All minor students are also eligible to participate in performance and production projects.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design provides four years of intensive training at the undergraduate level. A total of 128 units of course work is required for the degree, including a 16-unit Critical Studies core in addition to required courses for the program.

All BFA students are required to earn a grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0) in their theatre courses each semester. BFA students who fail to earn a GPA of 2.75 in their theatre courses will be placed on probation the following semester. Students who remain on probation for a consecutive second semester will be disqualified from the BFA program.

A student disqualified from continued study in the BFA program for failing to meet the GPA standards outlined above will be given the option of transferring into the BA program.

General Education Requirements

The university's General Education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. In addition, all entering freshmen are expected to complete a General Education Seminar during their first year at USC. These seminars satisfy one of the Core Literacy requirements above.

Note that courses within the program will also satisfy certain Core Literacy requirements. Please work with your adviser to determine those courses.

The interdisciplinary minor in Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society allows students to examine a range of thematic and theoretical approaches to understanding culture and society from multiple standpoints in the humanities. The minor is rich in course and schedule options, enabling students with an interest in the humanities to continue their studies. It also includes co-curricular events and advisement from Thematic Option staff. Thematic approaches to humanities and society builds on the intellectual community developed in the Thematic Option honors program and is open to all interested students.

The minor focuses on themes such as interdisciplinary perspectives and modes of inquiry; approaches to criticism and history; reification, ideology, contextualization; and knowledge, human diversity and social relations. Students choose six 4-unit classes, including one lower-division elective, one upper-division Thematic Option class (CORE 301 Modes of Inquiry), and four upper-division electives. Students also complete a 2-unit reading salon (CORE 200 Liberal Arts Reading Salon).

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Themed Entertainment is a unique four-year program offered by the School of Cinematic Arts. Students study within the framework that combines a broad liberal arts background with a specialization track within the Themed Entertainment Industry. Areas of concentration might include show design, interactive arts, production, project management.

Undergraduate students take their pre-professional courses in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, including the general education requirements. Major courses are selected from the curriculum of the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units, including 62 units in the major.

Who designs theme parks, museums, fireworks shows, water fountain spectaculars and parades? Themed entertainment designers do. From cruise ships to casinos to immersive educational retreats, they design almost anything that involves submerging a real, live human being into a story in a truly robust, physical way. As new tools for entertainment and education develop, they continually push toward one, common goal: a single place where movies, games, theme parks and museums converge. It is a non-dystopian kind of Westworld where we truly and completely become the heroes and heroines of our own stories. And it is the ultimate adventure because there is nothing (at least nothing that we notice) between our full, physical selves and the stories we want to live. 

To be eligible for the themed entertainment minor, a student must be in good academic standing and have a declared major. To declare the themed entertainment minor a student must get permission from the Interactive Media and Games Division (SCI 201) and submit a Change of Major/Minor form to Cinematic Arts Student Services (SCB 105).

Course Requirements for the Minor:

A total of 24 units is required for the themed entertainment minor: 4 lower-division units and 20 upper-division units.

This minor is designed for students who wish to augment their understanding of art in general in two-dimensional areas, rather than complete a minor that focuses on one medium. This minor provides a broad scope of courses in 2-D media and studies. This minor is open to any USC student, especially those interested in animation to sharpen their drawing, color and compositional skills. Students interested in the vast varieties of digital visual communication can develop better color and compositional skills. Total number of units required is 24.

The program requires 72 units toward the major and completion of the minimum of 128 units for the bachelor's degree.

The 20-unit minor in urban sustainable planning focuses on the application of public policy, urban planning and public management to the analysis and solution of urban problems. It draws upon the interdisciplinary faculty and programs of the Price School of Public Policy and includes foundational courses that introduce students to the nature of urban phenomena and the analysis and solution of urban problems. The minor also introduces students to the professional and academic fields of either urban planning and development or public policy and public management. In addition, based on their specific interests, students have the opportunity to explore in greater depth three areas and approaches of urban problem-solving. This minor is appropriate for students interested in expanding their understanding of the fields of urban planning and public policy and management as potential professional careers as well as increasing their comprehension of the analysis and solution of urban problems.

This interdisciplinary minor explores the experience of people interacting with digital sites and other products and environments. It involves training in psychology, sociology, economics, design, marketing and other units offering course work in relevant areas. How do individual factors, culture and economics influence people's decisions? Why do people form the impressions that they do, and how can products and environments be designed to engage them more readily and responsively?   

As with all minors, students must choose at least four upper-division 4-unit courses and four courses dedicated exclusively to this minor (which may or may not be the same four courses). Students must also include four courses outside their major. To earn credit for this minor, psychology majors must choose four courses outside of psychology, art and design majors must choose four courses outside of the Roski School, and Business Administration majors must choose four courses outside of the Marshall School. Among the total, students must include courses from at least three departments. 

 For advisement, contact the Dornsife Advising Office.

 Requirements

 Please note that prerequisites will not be waived for upper-division courses; students should be sure to complete the introductory classes they will need.