Media Arts and Studies

Designed to familiarize the student with the basic concepts of real-time and recorded audio. Topics covered include: a brief history of recording, wave propagation, signal flow, analog and digital console operation, monitoring and amplification, cables, connectors, microphones, and a hands-on approach to mixing for live sound reinforcement, digital theory, and basic DAW operations.

Founded upon an historical overview of the persons and technological discoveries that contributed to the origins of mass media, this course examines the advances, roles, and impact of mass media in a changing world. The contemporary convergence, contexts, and controversies of mass media are examined within print, electronic, information, and persuasion industries.

An introduction to the use of digital cameras for professional or personal digital filming. Training includes introduction to camera capabilities, movement, control, lighting, sound, and scene composition. Essential editing skills also introduced.

Provides instruction in the area of news collection, writing, and reporting for broadcast media. Individuals successfully completing this class should have an adequate working knowledge for an entry level position in the broadcast journalism area.

Will teach mass communication students, regardless of their concentration, basic media writing skills. Emphasis is placed on a journalistic style of writing using AP style that is required by all media industries including radio, television, newspaper, internet, and public relations.

Surveys the major theories of human communication. The study will focus on the origins, usefulness, and limitations of each theory for understanding communication events. This course will help prepare students to analyze and interpret human communication in all its forms (intrapersonal communication, interpersonal communication, small group transactions, organizational communication, public speaking, drama, and mass communication).

Gives students practical experience in the preparation and presentation of the speeches that are usually required in business and the professions. Areas of instruction include speech making, oral reading of reports, and speech for radio and television.

Intensive study, observation, and participation in various field projects designed and contracted between the student and instructor. Internships will be arranged in conjunction with the student's major. Supervision is coordinated with the Career Services Office. Maximum of 6 hours. Graded S/U.

Introduces students to the most commonly used qualitative and quantitative methods of research associated with the discipline of communication.

All majors in the Department of Communication Studies are required to present a senior project as a public performance. The project should relate to the student's specialized interest in the field, demonstrate his or her acquired skills, and be academically and vocationally beneficial as a culminative experience. The project must be approved by the faculty advisor at least one semester in advance. The number of credits is contingent upon the number of hours given to the project [40+ hours for one (1) credit; 80+ for two (2) credits.] Graded S/U.

Prepares the Christian journalist to make decisions about coverage and sources in a fast-paced work environment. This course will explore personal ethics as well as institutional ethics of media organizations and issues of representation, race, etc. Personal ethics involved with social media will also be discussed and studied.

Explores how print, radio, and television started and how they work together to tell the stories that matter in a democracy. The ever growing trend of social media will also be analyzed and discussed.

Students will learn several basic ways to "read" a film and how to respond to it descriptively, evaluatively, and interpretively through the writing of film reviews. Students will engage in the responsible, competent, critical evaluation/judgment of actual films. Some attention also will be given to generic influences, filmic literacy, and artistic accountability.

Surveys the development, scope, and role of public relations in society and provides training in basic public relations skills. Includes practical experience with news releases, PR campaigns, communication schedules, and media strategies.

An overview of international cinema art from the beginning to the present, including topics such as early cinema and silent film, the arrival of sound, the studio system, genre growth, distribution, mass marketing expansion, and digital technology. Emphasis is placed on the unique relationship between film production/presentation and social practices, and vice-versa, over the past century, as well as how new media continues to impact traditional narrative forms and the structure of the film industry.

A course that exposes important theoretical and applied strategies used by studio and independent filmmakers to create narrative in either fiction films or documentaries. Students develop skills in recognizing and applying practices found in montage, mise-en-scene, various narrative structures, film language, auteurist tendencies, aesthetics of film sound, celebrity/star power, genres, and critical approaches to film. See course description under Dramatic Arts courses (COM 3170).

Advanced instruction in the concepts and technique of video design and production.

An in-depth study of broadcast news. From reporting breaking news stories to scripting and composing the shot, students will learn advanced elements of the broadcast news business. Story research and development, writing, producing, reporting, and anchoring will be the key factors along with the understanding of daily newsroom routines. Students will shoot, write, and edit television and audio reports for a university television program or online news magazine. Another key element will be the preparation of a resume demo reel that will help market the students' abilities upon graduation for an entry level job in broadcast news.

Advanced instruction in writing techniques and managing a journalism beat. Students will choose a beat and cover stories, issues and trends while learning how to cultivate sources and write both breaking news for the student newspaper website. Additionally, students in this course will learn to post stories on the online newspaper. They will tell stories in multiple formats and promote those stories via social media.

An introductory workshop course focusing on beginning acting techniques and scene study. Students will explore the actors' instrument and the use of space, relaxation, concentration, imagination, movement, and how to pursue an objective through physical and psychological actions in order to create a character.

Students will learn several basic ways to "read" a film and how to respond to it descriptively, evaluatively, and interpretively through the writing of film reviews. Students will engage in the responsible, competent, critical evaluation/judgment of actual films. Some attention also will be given to generic influences, filmic literacy, and artistic accountability.

Advanced instruction in the concepts and technique of video design and production.

An introduction to basic storytelling and screenwriting techniques. Students will research and develop multiple fictional screenplays. An on-going dialogue will be encouraged in the investigation of one's Christian faith and how it works itself out through creative endeavors.

Focuses on the application of acting and performance skills for single-camera film and video presentations. Development of "commercial" and on-camera spokesperson performances are presented and analyzed in a workshop environment. Students also examine the process of evaluating, coaching and directing actors for the camera. Intensive work in auditions, cold readings, blocking, and improvisations for both film and television performance is prepared.

Collaborative development of a feature film or festival-ready short films, including all the legal documentation and rights to enable the finished production to qualify for festival submission. The course offers students the opportunity to make a motion picture production using locations, resources, and protocol. This course operates as a community-building experience where all students participate in at least one role in the production process. The workshop environment is specifically designed to meet the needs of both novice and experienced students.

Designed to have students to research, produce, direct, write, and edit a documentary project. Story structure and creative approach to the documentary will be emphasized as well as the key stages of producing a documentary including pre-production, production, and post-production. One of the goals of the class is to have a student festival ready documentary worthy of a resume reel. Pre-requisite: COM 3610 or permission of instructor.

Designed to teach the student skills in recording, editing and mixing sound for video and film. During the course, students gain hands-on experience through projects implementing key aspects in audio for the digital cinema. Aspects covered include: microphone techniques for recording on-location, sound design, automatic dialogue replacement, Foley, special effects, editing dialogue, sound effects, music score, and mixing in both stereo and surround.