About APOC - A USC Graduate School Master's Program in New Media, Internet Marketing, and Online Social Networking

USC's pioneering Charles Annenberg Weingarten Program on Online Communities (APOC) is a graduate school program in social media, digital strategy, Internet marketing, and online social networking sites. APOC recognizes that online communities are the future of our economic, political, and social lives. They are the most successful application of “Web 2.0” concepts, and are increasingly popular as well as critical to the success of a wide array of industries. According to Alexa rankings, more than half of the top ten most frequently visited websites revolve around social media, and many traditional mass media, such as newspapers and television, are incorporating new media and social networking features as part of media convergence. Online communities are central to new forms of social communication, increased political involvement, better support networks, online games, cutting-edge advertising, and new economic models for news, video, and music. The components of the program include a 1-year M.A. degree, close ties with industry, and ongoing research into how online communities are integrated with individuals, organizations, and technologies.