Student Life

At the USC School of Dramatic Arts, you will find the close, supportive and reassuring atmosphere you need to hone your talent and find your career path.

Here you will find the community and family environment of a small school while enjoying the vast resources that come with being at the University of Southern California. From the first time you arrive on campus, you will begin to understand what the Trojan Family means and the many benefits it offers. You will also have countless opportunities to participate in organizations within the USC School of Dramatic Arts and across the university to further enrich your experience. Students are strongly encouraged to supplement their coursework with extracurricular activities that build relationships between fellow students, faculty, and the community.

Student Organizations

Student organizations are the backbone of campus life. Ranging from professionally minded clubs to student interest associations, student organizations spearhead activities including guest speakers, social events, and productions.

Here are just a few of the dramatic arts-related student organizations in which you can become involved:

  • Aeneid Theatre Company
  • Artists in Action
  • Artemis
  • Brand New Theatre
  • Commedus Interruptus
  • Dorothy’s Friends Theatre
  • Impulse Theatre Co
  • Merry Men Improv
  • Modern Minority Theatre Co
  • Musical Theatre Repertory
  • Second Nature Improv
  • Spoiler Alert Improv
  • Theatre Student Association
  • Trojan Vision
  • The Suspenders Sketch Comedy
  • Trojan Stunt Team
  • 11 different Acapella organizations

To learn more about the different student organizations, please visit the Campus Activities website to search the 900+ student organizations at USC.

Independent Student Productions

The USC School of Dramatic Arts strongly believes that Independent Student Productions (ISPs) enhance the creative spirit of our students and serves as an incredible vehicle to expand their opportunities as the next generation of performers and storytellers.

Entirely produced, directed, designed, built, choreographed, performed and marketed by the students themselves, these productions help to create young theatre entrepreneurs who take initiative around their own creative and professional development.

Monetary grants are available to SDA majors to help offset the cost of mounting a production. Students interested in scheduling an ISP or participating in one of these many projects should visit the ISP Hub organized by the Theatre Student Association.

For details and/or questions regarding how to apply for an ISP grant, please visit the ISP grant page on the SDA student portal (current students only, login required). SDA Staff contact for ISP related questions: Meghan Laughlin, mlaughli@usc.edu