Media Arts, BA

Introduction to film aesthetics, history, and criticism for non-communication majors. Establishes a vocabulary for examining films and their roles in American culture.

History and development of mass media in the United States as well as the organizational, institutional, and cultural dynamics of today's major commercial media. Included are substantial components on print media, radio, television, cinema, and computer Internet communication systems. Course themes include media production and consumption, globalization, cultural imperialism, race, class, gender in media and popular culture.

Intensive instruction in postproduction software, postproduction workflows, and editing techniques for moving images.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1380.

Overview of tools and skills necessary to produce digital media content such as editing, cinematography, sound recording, producing and directing for film, television and new media.

This course will examine the roles and responsibilities of the director of photography for film and visual media. Students will learn creative brainstorming and cinematic techniques for visual storytelling, including the basic principles of lighting for studio and natural environments.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1380.

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of writing for the mass media.  It includes instruction in professional methods and techniques for gathering, processing and delivering content.

This course focuses on advanced news-gathering and writing skills. It concentrates on the three-part process of producing news and features, which include discovering the news, reporting the news and writing news in different formats. This course will incorporate all forms of news writing, including: press release, print news, web news and TV and radio broadcast news.

Prerequisite: MEDA 2311.

This course is designed to teach students articulation, pronunciation, effective writing and on-air performance techniques for all kinds of media environments with videotaped and audio taped presentations.

Examination of the formal elements of media texts, including cinematography/videography, sound, and editing, across a variety of media platforms and styles.  Includes instruction in writing formal analysis.

Examination of the media industries, including how they have evolved and now operate, as well as broader theoretical and practical implications of changing media organizations and practices. Includes instruction in researching contemporary and historical modes of media production, distribution, and exhibition.

Exploration of how TV communicates through the study of programming content, production practices, and audiences. Includes a laboratory for screening assigned programs.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

Exploration of the critical approaches to the study of film from a variety of historical and theoretical perspectives, with an emphasis on narrative film and some consideration of experimental cinema.  Includes a laboratory for screening assigned films.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

Historical and critical study of the non-fictional film with attention to changing technologies, to varying uses and styles of documentary, and to contemporary critical and theoretical issues.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

This course is intended to immerse students in the leading theoretical and methodological approaches employed within the field of media studies to gain understating of media texts, popular culture, and audiences. Readings and case studies will offer students insight into the way these media research theories and methods are being used in the field, including their limitations and strengths. A series of assignments will allow students to propose, design, and conduct research projects and analyze data in ways that engage with a variety of theories.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

Principles and techniques of media production with a focus on non-fiction filmmaking.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1380.

This course is designed to strengthen students’ digital journalism skills, including field-based news gathering and reporting, on-air performance, interviewing techniques, live reporting, and podcasting. The course will prepare students for modern-based multimedia journalism outside of the studio.

Principles and techniques of media production with a focus on fictional narrative filmmaking.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1380.

Intensive instruction in advanced postproduction software, postproduction workflows and editing techniques for moving images.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1315.

This course will teach the principles of copy editing, with an emphasis on accuracy and fairness, as well as the principles of layout and design for print and web publications.

Prerequisite: MEDA 2311.

This course will instruct on photojournalism skills and methods for use in visual communication. It will examine ethical and legal limitations to photography and in editing. Student work in this class will be eligible for possible publication in the student newspaper or its accompanying website.

Examination of the varieties of screen comedy, from silent comedy to contemporary forms, with some attention to the history and theory of comic performance.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

Writing and analysis of the screenplay for narrative fictional films. Writing projects include problem-solving exercises and work on an original screenplay. Course can be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1380.

This course will teach the elements of sports writing and reporting to include interviewing and writing to cover different aspects of sports coverage. This course will address content for print, Internet, radio and television. Campus-related sports assignments will be eligible for publication in the student newspaper and its accompanying website.

Examines how new media technologies impact society and change communication practices. Particular emphasis placed on different modes of cultural expression and social interaction made possible through digital media and the Internet.

This course examines the visual culture of Hollywood media production in a focused context, such as during a particular decade, or in relation to a particular genre, star, or cultural topic. The visual culture studied will include not just primary media texts such as films or television programs, but also posters, trailers, and other promotional materials, as well as visual culture not produced directly by the media industries, such as contemporary art. Students will learn and utilize basic design techniques to create their own artwork related to these materials, including movie posters, album covers, and sequential art. As resources and equipment availability allow, these designs will be produced using techniques including print-making.

Advanced techniques in the creation of client based commercial media content with a focus on conceptualization, production, and delivery of a commercial, PSA, or corporate video project.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1380.

Advanced techniques in the creation of documentary media content with a focus on conceptualization, production, and distribution of a short documentary film. Course can be repeated once for credit. This course serves as a capstone for the Media Production Track.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1315, 2303, 3313 and 3360.

Advanced techniques in the creation of narrative media content with a focus on scripting, production, and distribution of a short narrative film. Course can be repeated once for credit. This course serves as a capstone for the Media Production Track. 

Prerequisite: MEDA 1315, 2303, 3316 and 3360.

Conceptualization and execution of digital media projects using visual effects, motion graphics and composition through the creation of video, animation, special effects and more using Adobe's After Effects postproduction software. 

Prerequisite: MEDA 1315.

The examination of advertising history through critical and cultural approaches.

Study of legal and ethical issues in mediated communication, including the First Amendment and free speech, control, and regulation of broadcasting, obscenity in the media.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

Examines global media in the context of international communication, diversity of media and cultural production, styles of media practices abroad, including differences between U.S. news values and ethical and moral dimensions across differing societies of the world.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307.

This course will be a hands-on newsroom experience with the student newspaper the Island Waves  and its accompanying website. Individual assignments will be assigned by editors of the student media. Assignments may include writing, advertising, photography, cartooning and video production and editing. Students are required to work on the staff of the official college publication during prescribed hours under faculty supervision.

Prerequisite: MEDA 2311.

As the capstone course for the New Media Arts Certificate, this course guides students through the planning, development, and execution of new media-based project.

Prerequisite: ARTS 2356, MEDA 2313 and 1315.

The capstone course for seniors in the Media Studies offers opportunities to synthesize information learned in other Media Studies courses through in-depth study of a particular topic. Students will demonstrate their abilities to think and write critically, and to conduct independent research or produce media projects at an advanced level. Topics vary by instructor.

Prerequisite: MEDA 1307 and 3310.

Study of specialized topics and themes in media arts. May be repeated when topics vary.

See College description. By application. Only 3 semester hours of Directed Individual Study credit may be counted toward the major.

Practical experience in the field through placement in a media internship position. Students interested in applying for the internship course must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; have at least junior standing at the university; be a media arts (media studies or media production emphasis) major or digital journalism minor; have completed at least 12 hours of coursework in the major or minor at TAMU-CC. Preferred applicants will have a minimum media arts or digital journalism GPA of 3.25. All applicants must solicit a recommendation form from a Department of Communication and Media faculty member. Course may be taken three times for credit; however only 3 semester hours of internship credit may be counted toward the major. A second internship may apply to the digital journalism minor; a third internship may be used as a free elective. Authorization to repeat the internship course is contingent on the students' successful completion of the previous internship experience.This course is graded Credit/No Credit.