This unique two-year programme is the oldest joint international degree program at both USC and the LSE and enables students to study for one year at LSE in London, and one year at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California (USC). The first year at LSE lays solid theoretical and methodological foundation for future media and communications professionals to examine issues of media and communication within political, social and cultural context. The analytical skills acquired through the rigorous social science training at LSE are easily transferrable to a diverse range of careers.

In your second year at USC Annenberg, students will complete a research practicum as well as 20 elective units (four courses) from the School of Communication graduate curriculum. You may choose one of your elective courses from a department outside Annenberg with the approval of your advisors.

You will produce a final research project on global communication that will be the product of work done at both the LSE and Annenberg. You complete a dissertation during the summer after your year at the LSE. You will continue to develop the thesis during the year at Annenberg in the research practicum.

Global students can:

Continue to take courses in global media and cultural studies and other courses in the MA and PhD programmes in seven tracks:

Global and Transnational Communication
Media, Culture and Community
Rhetoric, Politics and Publics
Health Communication and Social Dynamics
Groups, Organizations and Networks
Information, Political Economy and Entertainment
New Media and Technology

Take practical courses in the Communication Management programme, with area studies in:

Marketing Communication
Media & Entertainment Management
Health & Social Change Communication
International & Intercultural Communication
Organizational & Strategic Corporate Communication

Students can also take courses in Public Diplomacy, in Journalism and Strategic Public Relations, and in addition take a class outside the Annenberg School. Courses popular among Global students can be found in the Music Industry program in the Thornton School of Music, Cultural Critiques of Film in the School of Cinematic Arts and Global Marketing in the Marshall School of Business.

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles a global centre for the arts, technology and intercontinental trade, and USC is a world-recognized private research institution with over a billion dollars in external research and project funding each year. It operates an integrated academic medical centre that serves more than a million patients each year and is home to leading science and engineering initiatives. USC, in the heart of L.A. and near Hollywood, is particularly renowned for its communication, media, cinema and arts programs, many ranked in the top ten in the world. USC currently has 41,000 students enrolled, including more international students than any other U.S. university. It has close to 4,000 full-time faculty and over 2,000 part-time faculty members. The university has an endowment of over $4 billion.

The Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism has over 100 full-time faculty and over 100 part-time faculty members, including world-renowned scholars such as Manuel Castells and Henry Jenkins. It is the number one ranked program in communication and technology in the United States. It is home to over three-dozen research centers and labs that take up three entire buildings, including the brand new Wallis Annenberg Hall, considered the state-of-the-art in facilities for communication and media studies in the world. It enrols over 2,200 students, however, the school operates like a small college with fewer than 20 students in most of its classes and close interactions between students and the faculty and staff members. Please visit the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism website for full details.

At LSE, you will have access to leading international teaching and research - The Department is rated #1 in the 2014 UK research evaluation with 91% of research outputs ranked world-leading or internationally excellent.

During Lent term at LSE, students can apply for USC scholarships and fellowships for the second year as well as Annenberg scholarships and Global Research Associate positions. These are merit-based scholarships of $15,000 and $5,000 and research positions for $10,000 and $5,000. Please visit the USC Financial Aid website and click on the graduate student link.

The Annenberg Advantage: Students should take advantage of thousands of internships and a career mentorship program through the Annenberg Career and Development Center.

We also encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities such as radio and TV stations, student publications, social change organizations and graduate student leadership and social activities. See the following link for a partial list. There will be sign-up tables during the Annenberg Orientation Picnic.

You will maintain your LSE connections during your year at Annenberg, with meetings and career panels with alumni of the Global Program, the LSE faculty and activities with the LSE alumni association at the British Consulate and elsewhere in LA.

USC offers an international speaker series and Annenberg hosts multiple speakers each week from academia and major corporations and media organizations. The university produces world-class entertainment in theater, film, sports, concerts and other activities that are mostly free, and also offers discounted tickets to many well-known places and events (e.g., the symphony, the opera, Disneyland) and Los Angeles is famed for its beaches, nightlife, and international cuisine. We know you will have an amazing experience.

USC/LSE Joint Research

USC: Annenberg School

LSE USAPP Blog

LSE Alumni and Friends USA

Video: Maria Shriver at USC Annenberg