Full details can be found online at http://www.usc.edu/dept/elab/anth/mav.html

The Center for Visual Anthropology at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles is happy to announce a new one-year MA in Visual Anthropology. Continuing the tradition of ethnographic documentary production that the Center has had for 25 years (with over 60 documentaries produced by students, and over 20 by faculty), this new program updates its format by moving into the digital age.

The new Masters Program is open to USC undergraduates majoring in Visual Anthropology and to students coming from any other institution who have a background in Visual Anthropology, ethnographic documentary production or cross-cultural visual studies. 

It consists of the following courses:

Fall semester
Contemporary Theory in Anthropology
Anthropological Media Seminar 
Pre-production:  Hands on workshop on camera work, shooting techniques, meets in the digital media lab of the Institute for Multi-Media Literacy, established with the USC School of Cinematic Arts 
The Practice of Ethnography
One 4 unit graduate Anthropology course or 501 Introduction to Visual Studies: Methods and Debates

Spring semester
Seminar in Ethnographic Film 
Advanced Anthropological Media Seminar
Post production: Hands on workshop on editing footage in the digital media lab, established with the USC School of Cinematic Arts 
One elective chosen from graduate courses in Anthropology and Visual Studies
Offered in Spring 2010: Anthropology and Popular Culture

The final documentary project must be submitted in rough cut format by the end of August following the completion of all coursework in May. 

In addition to filling out the standard on line graduate admissions form, we ask each applicant to submit a 2 page proposal outlining the ethnographic documentary project that they would like to do.  This is in addition to the standard one page statement of purpose (detailing your own background and any special circumstances you may have had to deal with).  The documentary proposal should indicate the topic or subject of your project and some details about how you plan to shoot, edit and frame your documentary.  It can be uploaded as “supporting document #1″ in the on line application available at . If you wish to submit copies of earlier visual work you may do so, but it not required or expected of applicants.

We will review external applicants at the end of the months of April and May.  Full details can be found online at http://www.usc.edu/dept/elab/anth/mav.html
If you have any questions about the application process, write to jhoskins@usc.edu.