Dr. Gale Lucas

Associate Professor

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Biography

Gale M. Lucas is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Southern California in the Viterbi School of Engineering and works at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT). She obtained her BA from Willamette University in 2005 and a PhD from Northwestern University in 2010. Following several years of teaching at small liberal arts colleges, she returned to academia for a postdoctoral position under Dr. Jon Gratch at ICT. She has since remained at ICT, advancing to the role of senior research associate and later as research faculty. Dr. Lucas's research primarily explores human-computer interaction, specifically focusing on areas such as affective computing, trust in automation, and the dynamics of rapport, disclosure, trust, persuasion, and negotiation in virtual agents and social robots.

Research Interests

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.