Nov 26, 2024

Fitchburg State University 2015-16 Undergraduate Catalog

Fitchburg State University 2015-16 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Film/Video Production Concentration, Communications Media, B.S.

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Communications Media

Chairperson
Randy Howe
Professors	Associate Professors	Assistant Professors
George Bohrer	Mary Baker	Jonathan Amakawa
Robert Carr	Stephen Godlstein	Kevin McCarthy
John Chetro-Szivos	M. Zachary Lee	Kyle Moody
Robert Harris	Viera Lorencova	Les Nelken
Randy Howe	Donald Tarallo, Jr.	Samuel Tobin
Jon Krasner
Peter Laytin
Richard McElvain
Kelly Morgan
Ann Mrvica
Wayne Munson
Helen Obermeyer-Simmons
Charles Roberts
Charles Sides
Jeffrey Warmouth

Objectives for the Program in Communications Media

The Communications Media Program prepares individuals to assume communication positions as freelancers, designers, independent producers, or employees of corporations, institutions, and media organizations.

The program provides a blend of the principles and practices necessary for the effective design, production, and evaluation of media for information presentation by graphic, photographic, film, video, electronic, and print technologies. In combination with the Liberal Arts and Sciences Program, Communications Media fosters the development of skills critical to adapting to an ever changing technological and knowledge-based society.

Requirements for the Major in Communications Media

The Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Media requires 54 semester hours in its major requirements. Course requirements are organized into five phases.

* Fulfills Jr/Sr Writing requirement
** Computer Literacy requirement is met through a Production Concentration (e.g. COMM 3305 , COMM 3470 , COMM 3645 , COMM 3890 , COMM 3895 , COMM 3960 .)
***Fulfills speaking/listening requirements

LAS Requirement

SOC 1100 - Introduction to Sociology 3 cr.

LAS Recommendations

Students should select the course or courses related to their concentration:

COMM 2003 - History of Interactive Media 3 cr.
COMM 2400 - History of Photography 3 cr.
COMM 2405 - History of Film I 3 cr.
COMM 2415 - History of Film II 3 cr.
COMM 2420 - History of TV 3 cr.
COMM 2430 - History of Graphic Design 3 cr.
COMM 3200 - Contemporary Cinema 3 cr.
THEA 2730 - History of the Theater I 3 cr.
THEA 2740 - History of the Theater II 3 cr.

Phase I Freshman Introductory Requirements

Phase I exposes students to the foundations, concepts, and practices used in the preparation, delivery, evaluation, and research of verbal and visual messages.

Required Courses

COMM 1105 - Introduction to Communication and Media Studies 3 cr.
COMM 1120 - Message Design 3 cr.

Phase II Applied Concentration

Phase II enables students to become involved with an indepth investigation of an area in communications which is most closely aligned with individual talents and interests. Students must select and complete one concentration with the consent of their advisor. A minimum of five required courses must be taken within a concentration.

Note: Only students who have completed the requirements of a second concentration can formally declare this concentration to have it recognized on their transcript. Students interested in Communication Studies as a second concentration may formally declare it at any time.

Note: For some concentration courses, students are expected to pay for supplies that may range in cost from $100 to $300 per course.

Film/Video Production Concentration

Media History Requirement

Communications Media students are required to complete a media history course, prior to their capstone internship, selected from the following list. The course may be used to fulfill an LA&S requirement or elective, OR a Communications Media requirement or elective, according to its current designation. Dual concentration students need only take one media history course from either of their concentrations to fulfill the requirement.

COMM 2405 - History of Film I 3 cr.
COMM 2415 - History of Film II 3 cr.
COMM 2420 - History of TV 3 cr.
COMM 3200 - Contemporary Cinema 3 cr.
THEA 2730 - History of the Theater I 3 cr.
THEA 2740 - History of the Theater II 3 cr.

This is in addition to the Communications Media department theory and internship requirements active for all Communications Media students as well as Communications Media major status and classification as matriculated into the Film and Video Concentration.

Phase III Advanced Electives

Following or concurrent with Phase II, students, in consultation with their advisor, select four courses from COMM, GAME or THEA:

Four additional courses in the same concentration
Four courses in other concentrations
Four courses from a combination of concentrations, including additional theory, conceptual, or methodological courses

Any course which a student is using to fulfill either an LAS Requirement or a Minor may NOT be counted toward Phase III Requirements for the major.

Phase IV Upper-Level Theory/Conceptual/Methodological Requirements

Students in their junior/senior year will take the following:

Requirement

COMM 4200 - Human Communication 3 cr. ***

Writing Electives

COMM 2800 - Journalism 3 cr. *
COMM 3200 - Contemporary Cinema 3 cr. *
COMM 3430 - Writing for Advertising 3 cr. *
COMM 3460 - Public Relations 3 cr. *
COMM 3470 - Document Design 3 cr. *
COMM 3765 - Writing for Film and Video 3 cr.
COMM 3860 - Writing for Business and Technology 3 cr.
COMM 4000 - Writings in Aesthetics 3 cr. *
COMM 4211 - Writing for the Professional Artist 3 cr.
COMM 4240 - Media Criticism 3 cr. *
THEA 3035 - Playwrighting 3 cr.

Electives

(Select One)

COMM 4000 - Writings in Aesthetics 3 cr.
COMM 4206 - Media and Society 3 cr.
COMM 4220 - Organizational Communication 3 cr.
COMM 4230 - Communication Law and Ethics 3 cr.
COMM 4240 - Media Criticism 3 cr. (unless used for junior writing requirement)
COMM 4250 - Research Seminar 3 cr.
COMM 4205 - Seminar in Communication Theory 3 cr.
COMM 4280 - Intercultural Communication 3 cr.
COMM 4281 - Gender and Communication 3 cr.

Phase V Integrated Studies

This required senior level phase provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional environment.

Required Course

COMM 4880 - Internship 12 cr.

Enrichment Courses

(electives)

COMM 4260 - Advanced Professional Study 3 cr.
COMM 4901 - Independent Study 1 cr.
COMM 4902 - Independent Study 2 cr.
COMM 4903 - Independent Study 3 cr.
COMM 4906 - Independent Study 6 cr.
COMM 4940 - Field Study 3 cr.
COMM 4950 - Field Study 6 cr.

VISIONS

VISIONS is an annual juried exhibition of the best work by Communications Media students during that year. VISIONS is held in late April of each year.