The USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program has rolling admission. After the application is received and reviewed, classes will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis upon acceptance. Therefore, we encourage students to apply early.

Please review the courses we offer HERE. To apply, you must first fill out the online application. You then select the courses you want to consider for the upcoming summer.

Open Deadline
Applications December 1, 2023 April 30, 2024
International Student Application (without valid visas) December 1, 2023 April 5, 2024
International Student Application (with valid visas*) December 1, 2023 June 7, 2024
Waitlist (Applicant Notifications) May 1, 2024 June 7, 2024
*F-1 visa (from any USA school), J-1 visa, O-1 visa, E-2 visa, and Green Card/Permanent Resident Card students

To view available classes for the upcoming summer, please select "view classes" below.

 
 
Required Materials
  • 30 Second Video Student Introduction (Required)
    • Please submit a 30-second introduction video of yourself and why you wish to attend the USC SCA Summer Program.
      • This video is a self-recorded interview and not a sample of work. Please make sure to show yourself speaking to the camera.
    • A few things to keep in mind to help you with your video introduction. These are not questions that you need to answer specifically in the video, but just thoughts to think about while making the video.
      • What do you wish to get out of attending our program?
      • Why the USC School of Cinematic Arts?
      • Why do you think you are a good match for our program?
      • What are your future ambitions and goals?
  • Writing Sample
    • Cinematic Arts Summer Program Personal Statement
      Your personal statement will be read by the Summer Program Admission Committee as a measure of creativity, self-awareness, and vision with respect to films or games. We are looking for a sense of you as a unique individual and how your distinctive experiences, characteristics, background, values, and/or views of the world have shaped who you are and might influence your work as a creative filmmaker or game developer. We want to know about the kinds of stories you want to tell or the kinds of game experiences you want to make. Enthusiasm for your field, descriptions of your favorite films or games, and involvement in the production process are common among many candidates. As a result, we encourage you to focus on your individuality. Note that there is no standard format or correct answer. (500-word limit)

  • Minor Students Application Requirements
    Minor students (16 & 17 year olds) are required to submit their most recent transcript (official or unofficial) and the USC SCA Recommendation Form from a school official. Please have your school counselor or official fill out the form and email it directly to summer@cinema.usc.edu. Please note that this document should come from the official's email and not the applicants.
Submitting a Video

When submitting your video, please remember that you are submitting a link (URL) to your video (such as on YouTube, Vimeo, some other video hosting site, or your own website), not the video itself.

Do not secure your video with a password. Instead, we recommend that you make the video unlisted. The following descriptions apply to YouTube, but should be applicable to other video hosting sites. YouTube has three privacy settings: Public, Private, and Unlisted.