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.

By the numbers

121

available arts electivesChoose from a wide range of electives from across USC’s six arts schools.

Choose from a wide range of electives from across USC’s six arts schools.

students per class, on averageOur students develop intellectual, professional and ethical depth as they engage with our expert faculty in small-class settings.

Our students develop intellectual, professional and ethical depth as they engage with our expert faculty in small-class settings.

37% %

of students received fellowshipsSince 2007, arts journalism students have received a variety of prestigious scholarship awards, including Sony and Rotten Tomatoes Fellowships.

Since 2007, arts journalism students have received a variety of prestigious scholarship awards, including Sony and Rotten Tomatoes Fellowships.

90% %

of graduates work in the artsOur recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers in arts journalism, as well as in arts practice, management, education or their own arts-related businesses

Our recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers in arts journalism, as well as in arts practice, management, education or their own arts-related businesses

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.

Keith Reed 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.

Students and alumni honored with SoCal Journalism Awards

The Los Angeles Press Club names Ampersand Best News Website (Student Media).

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.

Learn more