Comparative Media and Culture

Description: The Master of Arts in Comparative Media and Culture at the University of Southern California offers an interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach to understanding media's role within various cultural, social, political, and technological contexts. This program is designed for students who are passionate about critically analyzing the ways media shapes societies and influences global and local cultures. Through a diverse curriculum that combines theoretical inquiry with practical application, students explore a broad range of topics including media history, new media technologies, cultural studies, communication theories, digital culture, and global media practices. The program encourages students to develop critical thinking, research skills, and innovative perspectives on how media operate across different cultural landscapes. Students have the opportunity to engage in rigorous coursework, participate in seminars, and undertake original research projects that address pressing issues in contemporary media environments. The faculty comprises leading scholars and practitioners who bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives, fostering an enriching academic environment. The program also emphasizes experiential learning through internships, collaborative projects, and engagement with media organizations, preparing graduates for careers in media production, cultural analysis, academia, policy, and related fields. Graduates of the Comparative Media and Culture program will be equipped with deep analytical skills, cultural awareness, and technical knowledge necessary to navigate and influence the ever-changing landscape of media and communication worldwide. Emphasizing interdisciplinarity and innovation, USC’s program seeks to prepare students to understand and challenge the narratives that shape our world, making it an ideal choice for individuals aiming to become thoughtful practitioners and scholars in media and cultural studies.

Core Curriculum

The following courses make up the core curriculum of the Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture Doctoral Program.  All introductory sequence courses noted below are required.  Ph.D. students are required to take one of the three advanced sequence courses noted below. 

Introductory sequence (all are required): 

• CSLC 501 Introduction to Comparative Media Studies:  Ways of thinking about the differences and relations among different cultural media:  literature, film, video, manga/comics, “new media,” and so forth. 
• CSLC 502 Introduction to Literary Theory:  Major developments in 20th-century literary criticism, with special attention to theoretical work of the past three decades.
• CSLC 503 Introduction to Comparative Studies in Culture: Examines culture as an instrument of discursive practice that shapes social formations in Asia, Europe, North and Latin America.   

Advanced sequence (one is required): 

• CSLC 601 Seminar in Comparative Media Studies: Intensive comparative study of visual and literary media.
• CSLC 602 Seminar in Literary Theory:  Intensive study of a theoretical tradition or critical movement, or of an individual topic or thinker, in literary criticism or theory.
• CSLC 603 Seminar in Comparative Studies in Culture: Intensive study of intellectual and cultural history, with focus on key literary and theoretical texts.

Professional Development Workshops

Toward the end of your program, you will also take two workshop courses (ungraded and for two credit units each) that will help prepare you for the profession of teaching and research:

• CSLC 600 Professional Development I: Publication:  Preparation of book and article manuscripts for publication and placement in presses and journals; revising dissertations for publication; preparing papers for conferences. Students produce an article manuscript ready for submission to a journal.
• CSLC 700 Professional Development II: Applying for Positions: Familiarizes students with the process of seeking an academic position, from assembling a dossier to interviews and on-campus visits.

• A Bachelor’s degree awarded by a U.S. institution in a relevant discipline, or the equivalent degree from another accredited college or university
• A minimum earned grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), or the equivalent, in undergraduate and any previous graduate course work
• Score on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
• Letters of recommendation from three recent instructors in relevant disciplines
• For international applicants whose native language is not English, a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 
• A 500-word statement in which you describe clearly your interest in Comparative Media and Culture, your proposed field of concentration, the research you would like to undertake, and your level of competence in languages other than English.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (15-25 pages) that treats a subject relevant to the field of Comparative Media and Culture. A paper submitted for a course is fine.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

All offers of admission to CSLC include five years of full financial support. These support packages take several forms, which are described below. There is no separate application for any of them.

Dornsife-Graduate School Ph.D. Fellowship in the Humanities

This is the most common form of the five-year financial support package offered to admitted applicants. Three of these five years are fellowships. This means that students receive tuition remission for up to 12 units each semester (fall, spring and summer), medical and dental insurance, all fees, and a monthly stipend. In 2015-16, the stipend is $26,000 paid out over ten months. For the two non-fellowship years, students are assigned some teaching responsibilities, for example, as a teaching assistant in a large lecture class, an instructor in a basic language course or in the Writing Program. During these years, they receive essentially the same level of support as during their fellowship years: tuition remission, health insurance, fees, and stipend. 

Provost Fellowship in the Humanities

This highly competitive fellowship is awarded to a top-ranked applicant who has a record of excellence in scholarship and demonstrates outstanding academic promise. With the exception of the higher stipend ($30,000 in 2014-15), the other conditions of the award are the same as the Dornsife-Graduate School Ph.D. Fellowship: three fellowship years and two teaching years, full tuition remission, insurance, and fees.

The Master of Arts in Comparative Media and Culture at the University of Southern California is an interdisciplinary program designed to explore the complex relationships between media technologies, cultural practices, and societal transformations. This program offers students an opportunity to critically analyze various forms of media, including digital, print, visual, and performative arts, within historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts. Emphasizing a comparative approach, the curriculum encourages examination of media phenomena across different cultures and societies, fostering a nuanced understanding of global media landscapes.

Students in the program engage with a diverse array of coursework that covers media theory, cultural studies, communication practices, and media history. The program integrates perspectives from media studies, anthropology, sociology, and art history, enabling graduates to develop a multidimensional understanding of the role media plays in shaping cultural identities and social dynamics. Through seminars, research projects, and thesis work, students scrutinize topics such as media democracy, digital culture, globalization of media industries, and the impact of new technologies on cultural expression.

The program also emphasizes practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge, encouraging students to undertake media production, digital storytelling, and critical analysis of media content. This prepares graduates for careers in academia, media industry roles, cultural policy, digital communications, and related fields. The university provides access to state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and a vibrant academic community, enriching the learning experience.

Interaction with faculty includes mentorship by experts in media studies, offering personalized guidance and fostering research initiatives. The program promotes a global outlook with opportunities for international collaborations, conferences, and internships, enhancing the students' readiness to operate in an interconnected media environment. Graduates of the Comparative Media and Culture program at USC are equipped to critically analyze media systems and contribute to scholarly discourse, media critique, and innovative cultural practices worldwide.