The School of Cinematic Arts looks forward to receiving your application for admission. The Admissions Office is available to assist you during the application process and can be reached at 213-740-8358 or admissions@cinema.usc.edu with any questions.

Please note that students are admitted to a specific semester and cohort within the School of Cinematic Arts. As such, deferrals are not typically granted for any of our programs outside of verified medical circumstances. If a student is unable to attend for the term they were admitted to, they are welcome to re-apply for a future term. In submitting this application, students confirm their intention to enroll for the term of admission and have no plans to request a gap semester or year if admitted and accepted.

Application Process & Requirements

Please note application requirements are subject to change at any time. Prospective applicants should review the requirements once their intended term's application is open to confirm the most up-to-date requirements.
Please click the corresponding box to learn more

Freshman Applicants (Click here)
First-Year/Freshmen Applicants
External Applicants (Click here)
External (Non-Current USC) Transfer Applicants
USC transfer Applicants (Click here)
Current USC Transfer Applicants
Graduate Applicants (Click here)
Graduate Applicants

Application Open Dates & Deadlines

Application Open Dates

  • Fall semester:
    • Undergraduate (first-year/freshmen and transfer) applications: August 1st
    • Graduate applications: August 26th
  • Spring semester:
    • Current USC transfer applications: June 24th
    • Graduate Film & Television Production MFA application only: June 24th

Application Deadlines

Freshmen (First-Year Applicants)

  • November 1: Early Decision Application Deadline
    Admission Notification Date: Mid-December
  • November 1: Early Action Application Deadline
    Admission Notification Date: Mid-to late January
  • January 10: Regular Decision Application Deadline
    Admission Notification Date: by April 1

External Transfer Applicants

  • December 1: BFA Majors Application Deadline
    (Animation & Digital Arts BFA, Game Art BFA, Game Development & Interactive Design BFA, Themed Entertainment BFA, Writing for Screen & Television BFA)
    Admission Notification Date: May 31
  • February 15: BA Majors Application Deadline
    (Cinema & Media Studies BA, Film & Television Production BA, Media Arts & Practice BA)
    Admission Notification Date: May 31

Current USC Transfer Applicants

  • Fall Semester Admission
    • December 1: BFA Majors Application Deadline
      (Animation & Digital Arts BFA, Game Art BFA, Game Development & Interactive Design BFA, Themed Entertainment BFA, Writing for Screen & Television BFA)
      Admission Notification Date: May 31
    • February 15: BA Majors Application Deadline
      (Cinema & Media Studies BA, Film & Television Production BA, Media Arts & Practice BA)
      Admission Notification Date: May 31
  • Spring Semester Admission
    • September 15: BA Majors (Cinema & Media Studies BA, Film & Television Production BA, Media Arts & Practice BA)
      Admission Notification Date: May 31

Graduate Applicants

  • Fall Semester Admission
    • November 15: Animation + Digital Arts MFA, Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games & Health) MA, Film & Television Production MFA, Interactive Media MFA, Game Design and Development MS, Peter Stark Producing MFA, Writing for Screen & Television MFA
    • December 1: Cinema & Media Studies MA and PhD and Media Arts + Practice PhD
      Admission Notification Date for all Fall semester programs: mid-March
  • Spring Semester Admission
    • August 15: Film & Television Production MFA
      Admission Notification Date: October 31