Master of Arts in Visual Anthropology

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

The program is open to USC undergraduates majoring in Visual Anthropology and to students coming from other institutions who have a background in visual anthropology, ethnographic documentary production or cross-cultural visual studies. The program consists of the courses listed below.

At right is a selection of images from thesis films produced in the MAVA program that was active from 1984-2001.

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 Multimedia Literacy, established with the USC School of Cinematic Arts
• The Practice of Ethnography

Spring semester

• Seminar in Ethnographic Film
• Advanced Anthropological Media Seminar (Post production)
  Hands on workshop on editing footage in the digital media lab
• One elective chosen from graduate courses in Anthropology and Visual Studies

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

To apply:

• Fill out USC's standard online graduate admissions form at https://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/apply/index.html
  
  
• We also 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 online application. If you wish to submit copies of earlier visual work you may do so, but it is not required or expected of applicants.

Please contact Professor Janet Hoskins (jhoskins@usc.edu), if you have questions about the program or application process.