Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (The Arts)

We prepare you to be leading-edge food and arts journalists 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, artists and culinary experts to experience and produce work that sets you apart as a cultural reporter and critic.
Whether you’re interested in food or arts, including film, TV, visual art, architecture, performance, 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.
The act of listening: The study of popular culture and music
Josh Kun, professor and award-winning cultural historian, shares how his focus on music extends to performative lectures, books he has written, and a collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library.
Amplifying Black social change makers on the West Coast
Founded by Professor Allissa V. Richardson, the Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab saves, studies and shares history about Black social justice trailblazers on the West Coast.
Two graduate alumni screen documentaries at Sundance
Dylan Valley and Matt Yoka were selected by the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to screen their work.
Prioritizing an emphasis on culture
Oscar Garza, director of the MA in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) program, wants to teach students that arts journalism is about more than food, art and music — it’s about understanding culture
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.