Dr. Larry Gross

Professor

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Biography

Larry Gross spent 35 years teaching communication at the University of Pennsylvania before joining USC Annenberg as the director of the School of Communication from 2003 to 2014. He served as the Sol Worth Professor of Communication and deputy dean at the Ivy League university’s Annenberg School of Communication. Gross holds degrees from Brandeis University and Columbia University, becoming a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. His specialist areas include media culture, art communication, and visual communication, particularly as they relate to media portrayals of minorities. Gross was instrumental in establishing the field of LGBT studies. He has mentored over 180 students through their theses and dissertations at Penn and chaired the university’s faculty senate while leading numerous committees and organizations. From 1971 to 1991, he co-directed the Cultural Indicators Project with George Gerbner, which focused on the influence of television content on viewer attitudes and behavior, introducing the cultivation theory. Gross has written and edited books covering a wide variety of issues in visual and cultural communication, including 'Contested Closets: Politics Ethics of Outing' and 'Invisibility: Lesbians, Gay Men, Media America.' He also served as founder and editor of the International Journal of Communication and the Annenberg Press Book Series.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor Emeritus

2014-01-01 — Present

USC Annenberg School for Communication • Los Angeles, CA

Professor Emeritus specializing in communication, media culture, and visual communication.

Director

2003-01-01 — 2014-01-01

USC Annenberg School for Communication • Los Angeles, CA

Served as the director overseeing the academic programs and initiatives of the school.

Communication Specialist

1968-01-01 — 2003-01-01

University of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia, PA

Taught and conducted research in various aspects of communication.

Awards

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Guggenheim Fellow

1998-01-01
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Aubrey Fisher Mentorship Award

2001-01-01
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Elected Fellow

2011-01-01

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.