Are you an aspiring actor looking to refine your audition skills and take a more professional approach to your craft? Enroll in USC’s pre-college online certificate course, “The Art of Auditioning: Acting Techniques for Stage and Screen,” led by seasoned actor and USC Assistant Professor of Theatre Practice in Performance, Paul Urcioli.
Auditions are a crucial gateway for every actor, and this course provides the tools, techniques, and expert insights needed to navigate them with confidence. Through practical training and industry guidance, you’ll develop the skills to stand out in every audition.
UPCOMING START DATES
May 12, 2025
May 26, 2025
June 9, 2025
June 23, 2025
July 7, 2025
July 21, 2025
August 4, 2025
August 18, 2025
FORMAT AND COURSE LENGTH
Combined coursework of recorded lectures, readings, assignments, and chat-room discussions is approximately 20-25 -hours to be completed at the student’s own pace. Students are expected to complete the course in four-weeks but have 90-days of access if more time is needed.
ELIGIBILITY
Students must be at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program.
Recent high school graduates, students taking a gap year or time off from college and are older than 18 can request an exemption to apply by emailing precollegeonline@usc.edu and include a short paragraph (no more than 200 words) stating your interest and how this program will add value to your academic or career plans.
TUITION
$1990 USD
$35 application fee
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This course equips aspiring actors with essential audition techniques for theater, film, and television. From monologues to self-tapes and commercial auditions, you’ll learn from industry experts, analyze scripts, and practice strategies to hone your craft.
Guided by veteran actor Paul Urcioli—whose credits include The Lincoln Lawyer, On the Verge, Law & Order, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Americans, Elementary, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Wolf of Wall Street, and over 75 national commercials—you’ll gain insights from his decades of experience in TV, film, and theater.
In the process of earning a certificate, students will build a strong foundation in audition preparation by exploring strategies for mastering in-person and on-camera auditions. Through script analysis exercises, rehearsal demonstrations, and expert feedback, participants will sharpen their performances, polish their self-tapes, and create a professional toolkit that highlights their unique talents and sets them apart from the crowd.
Featured Topics
- Monologue selection and scene study
- Techniques for in-person auditions for theater, film, and TV
- Best practices for self-tape setup and auditions
- Commercial audition strategies
- Navigating the industry and building your professional toolkit
Learning Outcomes
This course will guide students through the auditioning process from the early stages of scene selection to delivering memorable performances in front of the camera or on the stage. Following the completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Master monologue auditions by selecting and performing contrasting material
- Understand the key differences between stage and on-camera auditions
- Learn to self-tape effectively with proper framing, lighting, and performance techniques
- Develop skills for commercial auditions, including personality casting and non-verbal performance
- Gain insights into navigating the entertainment industry, from working with casting agents to preparing standout headshots and resumes
Format and Course Length
The course consists of recorded lectures and demonstrations, clips and case studies from theater, film, and television, along with industry insights. Each topic provides context for key elements of auditioning for a range of roles in different formats. Students will engage with creative exercises to hone their auditioning skills and build their professional portfolio in order to take the first steps in pursuing their acting goals.
Combined coursework of recorded lectures, readings, assignments, and chat-room discussions is approximately 20-25 -hours to be completed at the student’s own pace. Students are expected to complete the course in four-weeks but have 90-days of access if more time is needed.
FEATURED FACULTY
In this course, you’ll be taking classes from USC School of Dramatic Arts faculty member Paul Urcioli, who is an actor, director and producer.
Paul’s prolific acting career includes many guest appearances in beloved television shows like Law & Order, Blue Bloods, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Elementary. On film, you’ve seen him in The Amazing Spiderman 2, The Wolf of Wall Street, Stranger in the House and much more. Paul’s theater credits span London, New York and Los Angeles, including Point Last Seen (Atlantic Theater Company 2nd Stage), The Invitation (Ohio Theater), Americana Absurdum (Edinburgh Fringe First Winner 2000) and more. His commercial work includes over 75 national spots.In addition to acting, Paul directed the short films Where You Go, which premiered at Cannes, and Runners, which premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival and has been an official selection at three more. He has also directed numerous theatrical productions.
Paul teaches Intro to Acting, Improvisation, 20th Century Realism (Drama and Comedy), Magic Realism and On-Camera Technique at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Prior to USC, he taught for 25 years at the NYU BFA program, as well as the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, PACE University and The Matt Newton Acting Studio. He was an Artist in Residence at Oberlin College teaching acting, movement, improvisation and performing with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applicants who submit a completed application can expect an admission decision within 3 – 5 business days.
- Include basic contact information from you and your parent(s) or guardian.
- Tell us why you want to take the course and a little about yourself through a short-answer essay.
- Share a piece of writing, video or social media content that reveals something about yourself (optional).
- Submit the $35 application fee.
- Students must be at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
In addition to the requirements listed above, international applicants are expected to be proficient in English. International students who successfully complete an online course will receive a digital Certificate of Completion and by request a USC Pre-College Program transcript at no additional cost.
PROGRAM START DATE AND APPLICATION DEADLINES
| PROGRAM START DATES | APPLICATION & TUITION DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Monday, May 12, 2025 | Wednesday, May 7, 2025 |
| Monday, May 26, 2025 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 |
| Monday, June 9, 2025 | Wednesday, June 4, 2025 |
| Monday, June 23, 2025 | Wednesday, June 18, 2025 |
| Monday, July 7, 2025 | Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
| Monday, July 21, 2025 | Wednesday, July 16, 2025 |
| Monday, August 4, 2025 | Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
| Monday, August 18, 2025 | Wednesday, August 13, 2025 |
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
Application fees are nonrefundable. All course cancellations requests must be made in writing to precollegeonline@usc.edu. Any tuition paid to the university will be refunded, not including fees, if requested no more than three (3) days past the course start date. Requests to drop the course more than three (3) days after the start date will not be eligible for a refund.
The university will not refund tuition for Pre-College Online Exploration courses for students who are removed from the program due to a violation of our Letter of Understanding for Online Participation and our Student Code of Conduct.