Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (The Arts)

We prepare you to be a leading-edge arts journalist in the world’s most dynamic and culturally rich city: Los Angeles.
As you immerse yourself in the vibrancy of L.A., you will build your storytelling, and multimedia skills with our expert faculty. You will also have opportunities to work behind-the-scenes with professional journalists and artists to experience and produce work that sets you apart as a cultural reporter and critic.
Whether you’re interested in film, TV, visual art, architecture, performance, food, or fashion, you can craft a customized program of study by taking courses from USC Annenberg and across USC’s six arts schools. Your work will also be amplified through our state-of-the-art media center and collaborations with major media outlets.
Student and alumni work
Fashioning a podcast for the LGBTQ community
Ellen Ford’s podcast Outfit explores the relationship between gender, presentation, sexuality and wardrobes.
Rodmy ‘Johnny’ Dorcil named Sony Pictures Entertainment Fellow
The fellowship, a joint venture by USC Annenberg, USC School of Cinematic Arts and SPE, supports aspiring film critics.
Two graduate alumni screen documentaries at Sundance
Dylan Valley and Matt Yoka were selected by the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to screen their work.
Cate Young receives Rotten Tomatoes Fellowship
The fellowship is designed to foster the next generation of entertainment storytellers and critics for social and emerging platforms.
The power of podcasting
Paola Mardo’s podcast Long Distance brings a Filipina voice to mainstream media.
Taco ’bout it
Students explore L.A.’s food culture as they learn about urbanization, health and much more.

Find your community with Ampersand
As an arts journalism master’s student, you will create, edit, manage and sustain Ampersand, our award-winning online arts and culture magazine. You will set the publication’s mission while gaining entrepreneurial expertise as you engage in real journalism in real time.