Fall 2024

Interactive Media (CTIN)

• http://cinema.usc.edu/interactive
• D class assignments available; Email: USC_Interactive@cinema.usc.edu.
• D class assignments for undergraduates available; Email: USC_Interactive@cinema.usc.edu.
• cinema.usc.edu/interactive For D class assignments send a request to USC_Interactive@cinema.usc.edu. YOU MUST ATTEND THE FIRST SESSION of each course or you may be replaced by a student on the waiting list, even if you are registered. If you do not register for a class for which you have D-clearance by the registration deadline, your D-clearance will EXPIRE. School of Cinematic Arts "R" courses change to "D" in the third week of classes, and require both instructor and departmental approval. D class Assignments for undergraduate and graduate courses are available by emailing USC_Interactive@cinema.usc.edu with student ID, section number(s), current major, and class year/standing. Thank you.

CTIN 101: Fundamentals of Procedural Media (2.0 units)

Introduction to the procedural nature of interactive media and games, though the coding language Processing. Students will develop proficiency in reading and creating computational media.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18351D	001	Lecture	2:00-3:50pm	Thursday	41 of 43	Mark Bolas	SCI108

Crosslist CTIN 180: Video Game Production (2.0 units)

The process of video game production. Video game history, genres, development process (concept, preproduction, production and post-production) and roles (producers, artists, programmers, etc.).

• Crosslist: This course is offered by the ITP department but may qualify for major credit in CTIN. To register, enroll in ITP 180.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
31827R	001	Lecture	1:00-2:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 20	Kyle Ackerman	EGG108	PDF (399388 KB)

CTIN 190: Introduction to Interactive Entertainment (4.0 units)

Critical vocabulary and historical perspectives on interactive entertainment; students articulate their own ideas, while wrestling with the larger conceptual issues at play within the field.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18353D	001	Lecture	3:00-5:50pm	Tuesday	119 of 154	TreaAndrea Russworm	SCA108

CTIN 191: Survey of Themed Entertainment (4.0 units)

Introduction to the field of themed entertainment and education design, covering its history, and, especially, current practice.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18431D	001	Lecture	9:00-12:50pm	Wednesday	21 of 42	Rae Jillian Rivera	SCI106

CTIN 289: Game Development Fundamentals (4.0 units)

Covers core skills for creating in a digital game engine, the role of prototyping in the game development and the use of version control systems.

• Prerequisite: 1 from (CTIN 101 or ITP 165)
• Concurrent enrollment: CTIN 290

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18364D	001	Lecture-Lab	10:00-11:50am	Mon, Thu	13 of 20	Margaret Moser	SCIL113

Concurrent Course
CTIN 290: Digital Media Workshop (4.0 units)

Exploration of a variety of moving image aesthetics and methodologies in order to highlight how the language of cinema shapes contemporary digital and interactive media practices.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18432D	001	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:20pm	Monday	8 of 18	Jesse Vigil	SCB104
			1:00-2:50pm	Thursday			SCI209

CTIN 290: Digital Media Workshop (4.0 units)

Exploration of a variety of moving image aesthetics and methodologies in order to highlight how the language of cinema shapes contemporary digital and interactive media practices.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18432D	001	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:20pm	Monday	8 of 18	Jesse Vigil	SCB104
			1:00-2:50pm	Thursday			SCI209

CTIN 291: Crew for Advanced Game Project (2.0 units, max 4)

Hands-on creating experiences for students who want to work as crew on an advanced game project.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18413D	001	Lecture	2:00-5:20pm	Thursday	36 of 42	Andrew Nealen,David White, Mason Lieberman, Timothy Lee	EGG108	PDF (394259 KB)

CTIN 389: Game Development Principles (4.0 units)

Concepts and projects relating to the implementation and presentation of digital games; core level design preproduction techniques.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 289 and CTIN 290

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18433D	001	Lecture-Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Mon, Thu	18 of 20	Margaret Moser	SCIL113
18434D	001	Lecture-Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Tue, Thu	23 of 23	Sean Bouchard	SCIL113

CTIN 395: Miniature Golf Design (4.0 units)

Workshop on the design of miniature golf holes, considering theming, experience, and build.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 452

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18429D	001	Lecture-Lab	9:00-12:50pm	Wednesday	10 of 16	Joseph Garlington	SCIL114

CTIN 401L: Interface Design for Games (2.0 units)

Introduction to the aesthetics, terminology and common trends of interface design for games. Topics include 2-D and 3-D spaces and user/camera perspectives.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18441D	001	Lecture-Lab	6:00-7:50pm	Thursday	21 of 22	Chevon Hicks	SCIL113	PDF (305933 KB)

CTIN 409: Producing Interactive Projects (2.0 units)

An in-depth exploration of the development and production concepts woven into the USC Games curriculum and utilized in the professional games industry.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18354D	001	Lecture	6:00-7:50pm	Thursday	12 of 12	Kathleen Bucklin	SCB104	PDF (322404 KB)

CTIN 411: Tabletop Game Mechanics Seminar (2.0 units)

Seminar on the design patterns and mechanics of successful tabletop games. Includes guest speakers on the latest trends in gaming content, tools, business and culture.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18380D	001	Lecture	5:00-6:50pm	Wednesday	21 of 48	Kyle Ackerman	SCI108	PDF (292108 KB)

CTIN 412: Interactive Systems Design (2.0 units)

An overview of systems thinking, complex systems, game economies and emergence with practical applications towards designing and balancing systems for games and interactivity.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18435D	001	Lecture	1:00-2:50pm	Wednesday	36 of 60	Scott Rogers	SCI108

CTIN 444: Audio Expression (2.0 units)

Foundational aesthetic principles and creative technologies for game audio. Processing, mixing, and controlling sound for games for expressive effect.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18442D	001	Lecture	1:00-2:50pm	Wednesday	23 of 24	Jesse Vigil	SCIL113

CTIN 452L: Themed Entertainment Design (4.0 units)

The fundamentals of design, technology, operations and process for the creation of themed entertainment experiences and story-centric place-making.

• Prerequisite: 1 from (CTIN 191 or CTIN 488 or CTIN 541)

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18356D	001	Lecture-Lab	2:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	22 of 29	Martzi Campos	SCIL114

CTIN 457: Themed Entertainment Business Operations (2.0 units)

The business of themed entertainment, focused on teaching literacy to communicate with business partners and understanding the basic needs of a themed entertainment project.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18436D	001	Lecture	5:00-6:50pm	Tuesday	10 of 20	Justin Brooks	SCIL114	PDF (290352 KB)

CTIN 458: Business and Management of Games (2.0 units)

Overview of current business models in games and interactive media, methods for pitching and getting products funded; copyright and intellectual property.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18366D	001	Lecture	6:00-8:50pm	Monday	66 of 80	Robert Nashak	SCI108

CTIN 463: Anatomy of a Game (4.0 units)

Examine two game products from concept to delivery; introduce students to each of the professional disciplines involved in making digital games. Recommended preparation: CTIN 488.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18423D	001	Lecture	7:00-10:20pm	Wednesday	80 of 81	Gordon Bellamy, John Nee	SCI106

CTIN 468: Advanced Games Business (2.0 units)

An advanced dive into the structure of the games industry with a focus on emerging trends and the future of games as business and entertainment.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18402D	001	Lecture	6:30-9:20pm	Monday	15 of 20	Ed Zobrist	SCI206

CTIN 487: Streaming Explorations: Games and Entertainment for Communit (2.0 units)

Best practices and strategies for streaming. Students build a personality and audience through the course, receiving advice and feedback from emerging leaders in the field.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18428D	001	Lecture	3:00-4:50pm	Wednesday	11 of 45	Gordon Bellamy	SCI108

CTIN 488: Game Design Workshop (4.0 units)

An introduction to making games. Students will explore the principles of game design through the entirely analog creation of card, board and tabletop games.

• Note: Register for lecture and one lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18358D	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Monday	151 of 164	Tracy Fullerton	SCA108	PDF (165123 KB)
18355D	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Thursday	16 of 16	Martzi Campos	SCI206
18359D	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Friday	6 of 16	Cynthia Woll	SCI206
18360D	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	16 of 16	Shing yin Khor	SCI206
18361D	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 16	Whitney Wade	SCI206
18393D	001	Lab	1:00-2:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 16	Robert Nashak	SCI206
18394D	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Thursday	11 of 16	Trey Alsup	SCI206
18401D	001	Lab	6:00-7:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 16	Andrew Goldstein	SCI206
18403D	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 16	Brian Upton	SCI206
18438D	001	Lab	6:00-7:50pm	Thursday	16 of 16	Avimaan Syam	SCI206
18439D	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Wednesday	9 of 16	Jared Yeager	SCI206
18443D	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Friday	14 of 16	Jonathan Ogilvy	SCI206

CTIN 489L: Intermediate Game Design and Production (4.0 units)

A follow-up to the introductory game design class, this course will introduce more advanced concepts in game design and game theories, including ideation, digital prototyping and level design.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 488

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18368D	001	Lecture-Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Mon, Fri	18 of 18	David Warhol	SCIL113
18427D	001	Lecture-Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Mon, Thu	18 of 18	Sean Bouchard	SCIL113

CTIN 490x: Directed Research (1.0-8.0 units, max 12)

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18407D	001	2.0-8.0	Lecture	TBA	TBA	6 of 16	Margaret Moser	OFFICE

CTIN 491L: Advanced Game Project I (4.0 units, max 8)

Students work in teams on pre-production and production of a functional digital game suitable for showcases, festivals, and further development.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 489

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18418D	001	Lecture	2:00-5:20pm	Thursday	3 of 12	Andrew Nealen	EGG108	PDF (394259 KB)
18370D	001	Lecture-Lab	2:00-5:20pm	Thursday	36 of 50	Andrew Nealen,Danny Bilson,Jim Huntley, Duane Loose	EGG108	PDF (394259 KB)
18422D	001	Lab	4:30-5:20pm	Wednesday	3 of 12	Andrew Nealen	SCI209

CTIN 492L: Experimental Game Topics (4.0 units, max 8)

Development of a game around a custom-made physical interface;various technologies and techniques involved in software/hardware integration; peripheral design.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18369D	001	Lecture-Lab	10:00-11:50am	Tue, Thu	6 of 18	Mark Bolas	SCI206	Word (155738 KB)

CTIN 495: Advanced Themed Entertainment Design (4.0 units)

Design and planning for themed attractions. Large scale multidisciplinary teams work together to develop themed entertainment experiences.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 396

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18408D	001	Lecture-Lab	3:00-6:50pm	Tuesday	6 of 8	Joseph Garlington	SCA214

CTIN 499: Special Topics (2.0-4.0 units, max 8)

Detailed investigation of new or emerging aspects of cinema, television, and/or interactive media; special subjects offered by visiting faculty; experimental subjects.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Visual Development for Games
18444D	001	2.0	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	5 of 20	Evan Gasper	SCIL113
The Art of Themed & Immersive Shows
18448D	001	2.0	Lecture	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	19 of 20	Joseph Garlington	SCIL113	Word (44896 KB)

CTIN 529a: Graduate Advanced Game Project (2.0 units)

Capstone course for assigned Game Directors or Area Leads to start an innovative, large-scale game project.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 532
• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Game Design and Development
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18447D	037	Lecture	2:00-5:20pm	Thursday	6 of 16	Andrew Nealen	EGG108	PDF (394259 KB)

CTIN 532L: Interactive Design and Production I (4.0 units)

The development of interactive experiences with an emphasis on prototyping and development.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18383D	037	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:20pm	Mon, Fri	16 of 16	Richard Lemarchand	SCIL114
18395D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-11:50am	Mon, Thu	18 of 20	Jesse Vigil	SCIL114

CTIN 534L: Experiments in Interactivity I (4.0 units)

Experimental studio course to explore concepts of structure, aesthetics and content of interactive experience design.

• Note: Students are also required to attend two Graduate Diversity Lab sessions over the semester focused on building stronger, more diverse and equitable media communities. Dates and information about the sessions will be provided early in the semester.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18396D	037	Lecture-Lab	4:30-6:50pm	Mon, Thu	20 of 20	Peter Brinson	SCIL114
18411D	037	Lecture-Lab	2:00-4:20pm	Tue, Thu	18 of 20	Peter Brinson	SCIL114

CTIN 541: Design for Interactive Media (4.0 units)

Practical exploration and practicum on the fundamental process and principles of interactive media design. Students develop design and prototyping skills while working in collaborative teams.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18415D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-12:50pm	Tue, Fri	18 of 18	Tracy Fullerton	SCIL114	PDF (474065 KB)
18419D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-12:50pm	Tue, Fri	20 of 20	Sean Bouchard	SCIL113

CTIN 575: Health and Interactive Entertainment Research Lab (2.0-4.0 units, max 8)

Emerging transdisciplinary research methods for conducting formative or summative evaluation of interactive entertainment-based interventions.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18362D	037	2.0	Lecture-Lab	TBA	TBA	7 of 8	Marientina Gotsis	OFFICE

CTIN 583: Game Development for Designers (2.0 units)

The fundamentals of 3-D real time game engines, scripting for interactivity, and building games with digital tools.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18416D	037	Lecture-Lab	8:00-9:50am	Mon, Wed	11 of 18	Deborah Yuen	SCIL113

CTIN 590: Directed Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research project leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18388D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	22 of 24	Peter Brinson	OFFICE

CTIN 591: Crew for Graduate Advanced Game Project (2.0 units, max 4)

Students from many disciplines work in large teams to create an innovative, large-scale interactive media or game project.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18371D	037	Lecture	2:00-5:20pm	Thursday	11 of 24	Andrew Nealen,Jennifer McCormick, Chevon Hicks	OFFICE	PDF (394259 KB)

CTIN 593: Integrative Project: Media-based Interventions in Healthcare (2.0-4.0 units, max 4)

A project that showcases integrative mastery of prior and newly acquired knowledge, skills and interests. Permission of instructor required.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 503
• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games and Health), Computer Science (Games), Interactive Media (Games and Health), Computer Science Games

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18397D	037	2.0	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 8	Marientina Gotsis	OFFICE

CTIN 594a: Master's Thesis (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of theis. Graded IP/CR/NC. Open to M.F.A., Interactive Media majors only.

• Prerequisite: CTIN 548
• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Interactive Media

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
18378D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-1:50pm	Thursday	23 of 24	Martzi Campos, Laird Malamed	SCI306	PDF (188376 KB)