Music Industry College at USC Started by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine have not only made waves in the music industry with their $3.2 billion sale of Beats by Dre to Apple.  Last year they also donated $70 Millions Dollars to USC for a new four-year college dedicated to art and design, engineering and computer science, and business and venture management.  The college is called the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation…and the college focuses on creativity and critical thinking.

Some of the courses offered include audio production, graphic design, and computer science.  The program  will accept 25 to 30 students each year, and one student named Arjun Mehta , wrote to HYPETRAK to communicate how the first half of the semester has gone.  Here’s what he wrote…

“We see Jimmy and Dre, as we affectionately like to call them, from time to time,” “In late August, we went on a ‘field trip’ to Jimmy’s home for a backyard BBQ where we met with him, Dr. Dre, will.i.am and others.  Two weeks ago, Jimmy visited our on-campus workspace and checked out some of the class projects we’ve been working on.”

The academy has a three-pronged approach that includes a core curriculum, curricular emphasis, and the garage experience.  Ultimately, students will learn how to take ideas from concept to creation and develop the tangible skills to do so successfully.  This is ideal to help students learn how to navigate the ever changing music industry and obtain long term success.