Frequently Asked Questions
1. The Interactive Media brochure states that only familiarity with computers is required for the program. Is it possible to elaborate on this?
Students who can express themselves hands-on with computer tools have an advantage at the entry level over those who can't. This means that it’s easier to get what you want coming out of USC if you have some programming skills. This does not mean you have to become a programmer to succeed. In fact we do not suggest that you strive for that if it’s not naturally in your personality. We do, however, suggest that you invest time learning some programming tools regardless of your calling.
2. What type of equipment (hardware, software, etc.) and facilities will be available for admitted students?
Please see the description of the Interactive Media Lab.
3. Must admitted students be familiar with any specific types of computer hardware or software prior to their arrival?
The USC School of Cinematic Arts will provide access to the necessary computer hardware and software for admitted students.
4. Must admitted students purchase any of their own computer hardware or software prior to beginning the program? If so, what types?
No specific hardware or software is required but at least some means for basic email and Internet access would be advantageous.
5. Will a student be considered for admission if they've previously completed a master's degree in any field?
Yes.
6. What types of course waivers might be available for previously completed coursework and/or work experience?
The School of Cinematic Arts does not accept courses taken in film and/or television at other institutions to fulfill degree requirements. Required courses cannot be waived or substituted with transfer credit or work experience.
7. Is part-time attendance an option?
Part-time attendance is only an option for undergraduate students.
8. Are there any possible scholarships or assistantships available for incoming students? Continuing students? Does the receipt of these scholarships depend on academic background?
There will be a few partial scholarships available for incoming students. All applicants will automatically be considered. Incoming students may wish to contact the USC Financial Aid Office for need-based financial aid options.
9. Besides the courses required for the IM Program, might students take additional Computer Science coursework?
There are several courses in Computer Science that may be taken as electives for credit towards the M.F.A. degree in Interactive Media. Other courses can be taken but will only fulfill degree requirements with approval of the department chair. Undergraduate Interactive Entertainment students may take any computer science courses as elective credit only.
10. Will internships be available during the program? If so, which types of companies will offer the internships? Will they be paid or unpaid internships?
A number of paid and unpaid internships will be available. Positions are typically with companies involved in some aspect of interactive entertainment such as game design studios, the film and broadcast entertainment industry, the broadband entertainment industry, or the consumer electronics industry.
11. Who will own the copyright to student work?
In general, intellectual property in any work produced at USC that uses substantial University resources is owned by USC and protected under a USC copyright. In the context of SCA this applies to most media, films and other audio/visual works produced in courses (“Student-Produced Works”) that use SCA funds, equipment, guild agreements or insurance. However, works produced in some advanced graduate courses, such as Production 582, are not owned by USC because such coursework does not require use such USC resources, such as funds, equipment, guild agreements or insurance.
Where USC owns the intellectual property rights of a Student-Produced Work that you have helped to produce through SCA, you personally are protected with Workman’s Compensation insurance and with Errors and Omissions insurance (referred to in industry as E & O insurance) and included under SCA’s agreement with the Screen Actors Guild of America. What this means is that with respect to such Student-Produced Works you do not have to seek these protections and contractual arrangements on your own; these can be very time consuming and difficult to get as an individual. E & O insurance is something few students even know about, but it is generally required by companies who want to distribute or further develop your work.
USC DOES NOT HOLD THE UNDERLYING RIGHTS OF STUDENT-PRODUCED WORKS. Even though USC may own the copyright rights to a Student-Produced Work that is an audiovisual work, the student retains ownership of intellectual property rights (including copyright rights) to the underlying script, idea, treatment, concept or other written work product related to any such audiovisual work (“Underlying Rights”). In other words if you later develop a feature, television show or game related to a Student-Produced Work that you created in a class here at USC/SCA, then you and your fellow creators will hold the rights entirely to any such new work developed and you do NOT need USC’s permission to develop/sell/distribute it. USC will not make any claim on such new works or income from such new works.
We strongly advise that when a group undertakes to create a project you have a written agreement among you as to the ownership/control of the underlying rights. We have forms for such agreements that you can use at your own discretion.
With regard to computer software (specifically interactive media games and related projects) it can sometimes be difficult to define in these cases what constitutes “Underlying Rights.” Where computer programming activity merely uses commonly used computer resources (such as common personal computers and commonly used software, and as opposed to specialized computing equipment, software or operating systems), this would not be considered use of substantial university resources and the student would own all of the associated intellectual property rights. Even where it is determined that the university is the copyright holder of a Student-Produced Work that is computer software, generally the university will accommodate the student by providing an assignment or license in order to allow the student to move forward with a third party who may desire to commercially exploit the Student-Produced Work.
A goal of SCA is to support the maximum exposure of a Student-Produced Work so as to help advance the student’s career within the bounds of university policies. Student works are invaluable tools to display talent and may become the basis of commercial product, though such student works themselves rarely directly make money in the marketplace. However, on the rare occasions when a Student-Produced Work that is owned by USC does make money in distribution or otherwise, SCA has developed a formula for sharing the income with the student creators. A copy of this formula is available in the Office of the Director of Physical Production and in the Office of Student-Industry Relations.
12. Who should detailed questions be referred to? Should they be sent by email or is there a phone number interested parties with specific questions may call?
Additional questions may be emailed to usc_interactive@cinema.usc.edu.
