List all employment (paid and unpaid) including the nature of work and dates of employment (note if self-employed in your own business). Also, include academic and professional awards, honors, teaching experience, exhibitions, work published or produced, subject matter expertise, language(s) proficiency other than English, and your familiarity with research or communications technologies, e.g. web design, television or radio production, video editing, podcasting, etc. Your résumé may exceed one page.

For the Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture) master’s, we invite three different kinds of applicants: working journalists who consider arts and/or food culture their domain; or recent undergraduate students with basic knowledge of story structure and deep training in the performing or culinary arts; or experienced artists and food culture professionals who are called to journalism.

In a single personal essay no longer than 1500 words, double spaced with one-inch margins, please consider and address the following: Why are you pursuing the Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture) degree? Describe the specific subject area you intend to pursue. Knowing that our program encourages you to take electives from USC’s art schools and others outside of USC Annenberg, what excites you about this possibility? Explain how you expect to apply your new skills and knowledge to your future work.

Some questions to consider: What motivates you to be a journalist? In a world that craves leadership and creativity, hope and engagement, where do you anticipate fitting in? What do you want to do, and learn, and contribute to the craft, and to the public interest? What stories inspire you, and what kind of journalism do you want to make? Where do you see the profession going? Where do you see yourself in helping to remake journalism going forward? Provide at least one relevant anecdote that reveals a time when your assumptions were challenged and how this connects to your decision to apply to this graduate program.

This statement should be representative of your best writing. It must be your original words and work. Avoid using ChatGPT or other generative AI tools.

For journalists, submit both of the following:

1. Samples of professional journalism work that are equivalent to five short pieces (550 words or less) or two longer features (up to 3,000 words). You may submit video or podcast, in which case the short pieces should be no longer than three minutes and the long pieces should be no more than 20 minutes. If live links are unavailable to upload to SlideRoom, upload the samples as attachments.
2. A bibliography of up to 10 — and no fewer than three — of your published, broadcast or online works in journalism, ideally two years old or less. In addition, if you design or manage a website, include the link.

If you are an editor or producer, supply up to 10 — and no fewer than three — samples of work with an explanation of your contribution.

For arts practitioners (artists) and recent graduates,submit no fewer than five links to your recent work (from three years ago max), each being no less than 550 words and not more than 1,100. These may be video or podcasts of your visual art, music compositions, etc., no longer than 20 minutes. Written work unrelated to the arts is accepted, but there should be no more than two of these. Blogs are considered published work; provide links. Academic papers will also be accepted. If you want us to look at your body of work as an artist, submit no fewer than five links to your recent work (from three years ago max). In addition, show us written work samples, as per the instructions above in this section.

Two professional recommendations are expected. If you are a recent college or university graduate with no work experience, submit one academic recommendation and one from an internship supervisor.

Create online profiles for your recommenders in the Program Materials section of the application by providing names and email addresses. Instructions and forms will be emailed from the CAS application to your recommenders. If you or your recommenders encounter difficulties, contact the CAS help desk.

Copies of a registrar-issued official transcript (with registrar’s signature, stamp or seal) from all colleges and universities attended (including USC) must be uploaded to your application in the Academic History section. If you do not possess copies of your registrar-issued official transcripts, request to have official transcripts with legend or grading scale emailed to you from your previous colleges/universities.

After submitting your online application and receiving your 10-digit USC ID, request to have e-transcripts sent from all colleges and universities attended to USC Graduate Admission at etrans@usc.edu.

Note:

• International transcripts must include the original language and the English translation as one document.
• Transcripts from your institution’s student portal are unacceptable.

All applicants are required to complete a recorded video interview via Kira Talent. The recorded video response is an opportunity for the faculty admissions committee to get a sense of your potential and how you think on your feet. No advance preparation is required.

A desktop or laptop computer with a functioning webcam, microphone, and internet connection is required. You may complete unlimited practice sessions prior to starting the interview. Once started, applicants will have one opportunity to respond (no exceptions).

*OPTIONAL: Audio and video content may be uploaded to the USC Graduate application in SlideRoom. Content must be solely created by you. You will access the SlideRoom application under the “Programs Materials” section of the UCS CAS application. To ensure that your USC and SlideRoom applications sync properly, it is important that you access SlideRoom via the USC Graduate application only.

GRE scores are not required for admission to summer 2026. Submitted scores are not considered in the application review process.

TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores are required from international student applicants unless waived; see below for the exception. English-proficiency scores must be dated within two years (24 months) of the date you submit your graduate application. To be considered official, USC must receive scores electronically from the testing service. Applicants are encouraged to take exams by November 30, 2025. Photocopies or paper copies of scores are unacceptable.

• For TOEFL, request to have your scores sent to USC institution code 4852.
• For IELTS or PTE, select “University of Southern California” from the list of available institutions when you register for the test. Alternatively, provide this information to your testing center after you have taken the test.
• Exception: If you completed your entire bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in the United States or another Anglophone country where English is both the language of instruction and the only official language of the country, English proficiency scores are waived.

Email USC Graduate Admission at askUSC If you have questions or concerns.

If you plan to request a fee waiver, initiate your application at least seven (7) business days before the application deadline.

Review the fee waiver requirements at USC Graduate Admission website: https://gradadm.usc.edu/lightboxes/us-students-fee-waivers/.

Applicants seeking a fee waiver must start the online application and then wait for the fee waiver approval from USC Graduate Admission before submitting the application.

Pay the $105 non-refundable application fee with a credit card or request an application fee waiver prior to submitting an application.