Video/Film Production Program Requirements

COM 1040

Media Writing

This course introduces students to the basics of writing for 21st century media, exploring both forms that have their origins in print, and emergent forms native to the digital landscape. Students will practice writing for news and entertainment outlets, film and video, podcasting and radio, advertising, public relations and social media.

Every Semester

COM 1211

Introduction to Video and Filmmaking

This is a project-oriented course in which students develop their abilities to communicate in a wide range of video applications. It offers hands-on instruction, practice and guidance in writing, producing, directing, camerawork, audio recording, single and multi-camera production, and editing. Depending on their interests, students produce, direct and/or appear on camera in a number of in-and out-of class productions.

This course fulfills an Arts and Aesthetics general education requirement.

Fee Studio fee $20.

Every Semester

COM 1220

Introduction to Media and Communication

This course introduces students to the study of communication processes and media literacy practices. Students will explore print media, audio-visual media and mobile platforms. They will also examine historical and technological developments, and subsequent cultural, political and economic implications of these platforms.

This course fulfills a Social Science general education requirement.

Every Semester

COM 2140

Race, Gender and Sexuality in Media

OR COM 2260 - Media and Society

Media are among our primary sources of images of people, places and things we do not encounter ourselves in our everyday lives. This course examines the images of women and racial and sexual minorities who have been on the fringes of policy development and yet at the center of narratives created by mainstream media. It takes a detailed look at the symbolic and social power of commercial media's role in constructing social and cultural differences around age, gender, race, class and sexuality.

This course fulfills an Arts and Aesthetics general education requirement.

Prerequisite: COM 1220 or consent of instructor.

Fee Fee $20

Spring

COM 2212

Video Production II: News and Feature Production

complete these three courses:

This production course fosters the development of storytelling skills through the creation of news and feature segments for a web-based video magazine with hands-on skills and guidance in commercial filmmaking. Students create projects from pre-production through distribution.

Prerequisite: COM 1211

Fee Fee $20

Every Semester

COM 3020

Documentary Filmmaking

Exploration of documentary filmmaking practices and expression through critical analysis of medium and hands-on documentary production experience. Students create short documentaries from pre-production through post-production.

Prerequisite: COM 1211

Fee Fee $20

Spring, odd years

COM 4020

Fiction Filmmaking

Exploration of narrative filmmaking practices with emphases on storytelling techniques. Students create short fiction filmmaking projects from pre-production through post-production.

Prerequisite: COM 1211

Fee Fee $20

Spring, even years

ART 3130

Motion Graphics and Animation

-OR- COM 3133 - Motion Graphics and Animation 3 cr

This course will introduce the study and application of the basic technical and aesthetic components of motion design. Using industry standard time-based media software, students learn animation principles ans skills as applied to a variety of media on computer and video screens. Topics include character animation, animation layering, motion logo development, and motion typography.

Prerequisite: ART 2221 or COM 2221

Fee Fee $50

Periodically

COM 1150

Introduction to Cinema Studies

Why are movies made? Who makes them? How do they make their way to us? Why does it matter? In this course, we will explore contemporary cinema's capacity to entertain, express, inform, and generate revenue. We'll work to understand why Hollywood and other film industries favor certain subjects and styles, and to illuminate the challenges of working in film production. Each class meeting will include a movie screening, lecture, discussion, and a lab instruction period.

This course fulfills an Arts and Aesthetics general education requirement.

Fee Fee $15

Every semester

COM 2120

Script Workshop I

This course is designed to allow students to explore a wide range of script styles and formats, including the stage play, film script, radio play, and television script. The focus will be on understanding the process of script development through reading and analyzing published scripts, and by writing original short scripts.

Periodically

COM 2130

Experimental Cinema and Video

Students explore video as an artistic medium through group projects, production and critique of individual projects, and viewing and analysis of the work of current video artists. Emphasis is on developing methods to present artistic concepts coherently. Students are encouraged to experiment with modes of narrative, camera and editing techniques and forms of presentation.

This course fulfills an Arts and Aesthetics general education requirement.

Fee Studio Fee $20.

Periodically

COM 2210

Broadcast Performance

Instruction, practice and critique of television and radio performance in a wide array of nonfiction genres such as news, talk, variety, documentary and commercial programming.

Fall, odd years

COM 2221

Graphic Design I: Intro to Graphic Design

This course will introduce students to the basic principles, language, tools and practice of graphic design and teach them how to apply concepts through visual problem solving and communication. Students will also learn the process of design: research, ideation, iteration, implementation via industry-standard graphics software, and critique.

Fee Fee $50

Every Semester

COM 2240

Video Magazine Workshop

Intensive practice in news feature production emphasizing field production and editing. Limited enrollment.

Prerequisite: COM 2212.

Fee Studio fee $20.

Every semester

COM 3120

Multimedia

Through theory and practice, students will learn to use a variety of media to provide instruction in a number of content areas. Media will range from video through world wide web delivery of multi-media. Students will produce instructional materials for use by the university and community from needs assessment and educational objectives through project planning and production to distribution and evaluation.

Prerequisite: COM 1211 and COM 2220 or consent of instructor.

Spring, odd years

COM 3790

Special Topics in Media Production

This course provides a focused study in the theory and practice of a single aspect of media production (e.g. cinematography, editing, "spot" production, streaming media, a specific industry software package). Topics will vary by semester. May be taken twice for credit.

Prerequisite: COM 1211

Fee Studio fee $20

Fall, odd years

COM 4510

Communication Portfolio

In this course students develop and organize materials to support their career development efforts. Drawing from papers, stories, scripts, graphics, videos, audio files, etc. produced during their time as undergraduates, students produce online and hard copy portfolios and "reels." Students reflect on their overall growth and development within their fields of study, and thoughtfully address the works selected for their portfolios.

Restrictions Restrictions: Senior Standing

Fall

COM 4810

Internship in Communication

and one of the following courses:

The student takes on a position of responsibility in an off-campus professional environment under the direction of an on-site supervisor and a faculty member. Experiences are available in newspapers, magazines, large and small radio and television stations, production companies, marketing and PR firms, nonprofits, and other areas. All students enrolled meet periodically to discuss experiences. (Students may take up to 15 credits in COM 3810 and COM 4810 combined.)

Signed contract required at time of registration.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

COM 4850

Senior Project in Communication

The student produces an independent project in his or her field under close supervision of a faculty advisor. Projects may be production oriented (short film) or analytical (thesis paper). Such projects may be in coordination with the university radio station, newspaper or local television facilities, but may not consist of an established position within these organizations. All students enrolled meet weekly to discuss projects.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and senior standing.