Dr. Daniel Durbin

Professor

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Biography

Daniel T. Durbin is a Clinical Professor of Communication and the founder director of the USC Annenberg Institute of Sports, Media, and Society. His work examines the rhetorical processes in sports, particularly focusing on the African-American experience within Major League Baseball through the creation of oral histories of the remaining African-American players from the era following Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier. As a lead investigator for various grants from the LA’84 Foundation, Durbin has published numerous articles addressing the intersections of sport, popular culture, and media philosophy. His current research interests are centered on rethinking the performative aspect of public discourse in sports, and he is in the process of writing a book about significant social changes in Los Angeles and Hollywood during the summer of 1947. Durbin is frequently invited as a guest lecturer at universities including the University of Alabama and Emerson College, and appears as an expert in various media outlets across the country.

Research Interests

Experience

Clinical Professor

2000-08-01 — Present

USC Annenberg • Los Angeles, CA

Teaching courses in communication with a focus on sports media and rhetorical analysis.

Courses

COMM 330p: Rhetoric Classical Culture COMM 383m: Sports, Communication Culture

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.