the MA+P Honors Brochure

The University of Southern California offers several honors programs for motivated
undergraduate students. These programs are often connected in some way with the
student’s major course of study - they provide an opportunity to strive for excellence in
research, critical analysis, innovation and creative thinking. Students who pursue honors
designations work closely with faculty members who are experts in their fields, and together
with fellow honors students they create a learning environment that engages them,
challenges them and ultimately shapes their entire USC experience.
The Honors in Multimedia Scholarship program is one such honors designation, offered
through the Division of Media Arts + Practice (MA+P) within the USC School of Cinematic
Arts. Interested students are encouraged to visit the Interactive Building (SCI), enroll in a
course and discover the opportunities here, where students and faculty engage in critical
thinking, creative expression and the design of smart, sophisticated and cutting-edge media
projects.
ABOUT THE HONORS IN MULTIMEDIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
A century of mass media and the advent of digital communication have transformed the way ideas are expressed and understood
across the university. As a result, the notion of literacy, which has traditionally referred to the reading and writing of printed
materials, has fundamentally expanded to include new forms of expression.
The Honors in Multimedia Scholarship program is a dynamic honors program for undergraduates in all majors across the USC
campus. Students encounter the creative and critical use of new media tools, learning how to express ideas through images,
sound, video, text, networks, games and interactivity. They also learn new approaches to the production of knowledge through
the critical application of digital media. In all cases, students become part of a unique community of scholars who are passionate
about the power of visual expression.
Students in the program have access to the some of the most innovative resources in the field — state-of-the art computer labs,
video and audio equipment and instructional support in learning to use these technologies. They also enjoy an array of activities
beyond the traditional academic curriculum, including screenings, lectures, workshops and field trips, as well as media-based
internships, summer programs and job opportunities. Most importantly, students leave USC with a competitive edge, bringing
their skills into new fields where the demand for digital media proficiency is rapidly growing.
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Students earn Honors in Multimedia Scholarship by completing a minimum of 24 units of
required course work culminating in a capstone thesis during their final year. They are
expected to integrate both theory and interdisciplinarity into the practice of media
scholarship; for this reason, courses include discussion of historical and theoretical
material, instruction in basic research practices, as well as opportunities to develop skills
in multimedia authorship, collaboration, leadership and creative thinking.
Sample course titles include Information Visualization, New Media for Social Change,
Tactical Media, and Creative Coding for the Web. Each course is no larger than 20
students and incorporates both seminar discussion and practical laboratory components.
THESIS PROJECT
Students complete the Honors program by creating a media-rich thesis project based on
a research topic within their major course of study. Previous thesis projects include a 3-D
virtual world based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, an interactive web site exploring
programmed cell death in E.coli bacteria, and an interactive map examining United
States military budget allocations.
Upon completion of the thesis project, students graduate with the designation “Honors in
Multimedia Scholarship” on their academic transcript. This demonstrates an intellectual
breadth and skill-set commensurate with the changing nature of knowledge production
in a digital age. Participation in an MA+P program provides each student with a distinct
advantage as they move into graduate programs or professional careers.
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Who can participate in the Honors program?
The Honors in Multimedia Scholarship program enrolls students
from every corner of the campus: biology, engineering, international
relations, psychology, sociology, cinema, business, theater and
more. They all share the desire to push the boundaries of traditional
academic work and to discover new ways to conduct research and
make arguments using diverse forms of media.
Do I need to have prior experience with digital media?
No! The program does not require previous experience and in
general emphasizes conceptual issues rather than specific technical
skills. Our 100-level courses introduce the basic theory and practice
of still image manipulation, video production and editing and
interactivity; subsequent classes build on this foundation.
What are the benefits of pursuing this program?
Upon graduation, our students move on to exciting and diverse
careers or advanced study, bringing their media skills into the fields
of business, medicine, international relations, journalism,
filmmaking and more. Many have won awards and recognition for
their work — recent prizes include Fulbright scholarships, first
place honors in USC’s Festival of Scholarly and Creative Work, the
USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship and USC’s
highest undergraduate honor, the Discovery Scholar Award.
Is there an additional cost associated with the program?
Honors students pay no extra cost beyond normal USC tuition and
fees. *Please note: Honors in Multimedia Scholarship is not a
financial award program and offers no financial assistance to its
participants. However, Honors students will be well-positioned to
pursue academic awards and scholarships outside of USC.
Can I still enroll in other programs?
Yes, definitely. Many Honors students have double majors and/or a
minor. The program allows students to work in their own field with
more complexity than is otherwise possible.
How/when do I apply?
We highly recommend that students apply for the program within
their first three semesters at USC. Although the program does not
require a large number of units to complete, it does work on a
“foundation” basis which builds over a period of three or four years.
Students who are interested in participating in the program or
taking MA+P courses should seek an appointment with the Media
Arts + Practice academic advisor (email map@cinema.usc.edu).
HONORS IN MULTIMEDIA SCHOLARSHIP: STUDENT PROFILES
Name: Adam Perez
Major & Year: Print Journalism, Class of 2011
Previous Media Experience: Photography
First IML Class: IML 340 in fall of sophomore year
Highlighted Project: In IML 340, Adam created a compelling ten-minute
video argument about the “brain drain effect” and its ramifications on both
third-world and first-world communities.
Adam completed a Masters degree in Journalism at Columbia University,
where he is currently a Digital Media Associate.
Name: Xing Chen
Major & Year: Neuroscience, Class of 2008
Previous Media Experience: None
First IML Class: IML 101 in fall of sophomore year.
Highlighted Project: Xing’s thesis project, Cerebellar
Conditioning in Mice, demonstrates not only the brain
research she has conducted at USC, but also the research
protocols themselves. The interactive web site, embedded
with video, image and text, presents a meta-level view of
neuro-scientific research.
Name: Jason Lipshin
Major & Year: Cinematic Arts Critical Studies, Class of 2011
Previous Media Experience: None
First IML Class: IML 101 in fall of junior year.
Highlighted Project: In IML 101, Jason created a remix video project that
integrated elements of remix culture itself and the sampling practices used
by individuals as well as institutions in the contemporary mediascape. The
project integrates words, images and sound in order to comment on
contested issues having to do with fair use, copyright, ripping, digital identity
and affiliation, as well as the role of the arts and the corporatization of
culture.
Xing Chen just earned her PhD in visual neuroscience from
Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
Jason is working on his Master's degree in MIT's Comparative Media Studies
program and has worked with both the MIT Imagination, Computation, and
Expression Lab and the MIT Mobile Experience Lab. During the summer of
2014, he will be working for Disney Interactive Group in Tokyo.
Tiffany is now working as a Project Designer at the LA-based
Studio FV, an architecture and design studio. She plans to
pursue a graduate degree in media arts and sciences.
Name: Tiffany Cheng
Major & Year: Architecture, Class of 2012
Previous Media Experience: Visual and Web Design
First IML Class: IML 140 in summer of junior year.
Highlighted Project: For her IML 140 “Sound Sculpture”
project, Tiffany applied computational and algorithmic
models to sonic materials, examining the parallels between
design processes in the worlds of architecture and music.
Media Arts + Practice
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California
3470 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
map@cinema.usc.edu
(213) 821-5700
To watch a video about the
Media Arts + Practice programs, visit
http://vimeo.com/iml/about
OR
download a QR code reader app on your
smartphone and snap a photo of this code!
Visit us online to learn more:
http://map.usc.edu
facebook.com/imlusc
twitter.com/USC_MediaArts