Faculty of Fine Arts
Introduction to Cinema Studies
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An introduction to the study of narrative cinema focusing on the historical function, effects, and uses of various formal properties including narrative structure, design, composition, cinematography, editing, sound, and performance.
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Introduction to Filmmaking
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 4-0-0
An introduction to foundational concepts and techniques of filmmaking by exploring technical and creative approaches to cinematic storytelling including principles of directing, cinematography, and editing.
Recommended Background:
Cinema 1000
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Note:Studio Course.
Cinema History and Theory
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-2-0
A historical survey of major stylistic movements, cultural developments, and theoretical discussions in the history of global cinema.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000
OR
French 2300
OR
Spanish 2300
OR
One of Drama 1000, English 1900, or New Media 1000 AND
Seven university-level courses (21.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Contemporary American Cinema
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
This course examines a variety of forms of contemporary American filmmaking practices. Students will become acquainted with the industrial, technological, and economic forces that determine modern production, distribution, and exhibition strategies. In addition, students will learn the fundamentals of film criticism and acquire their own critical priorities through evaluative work on recent American films.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000 or 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Film Authorship
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An investigation of the tensions between individual creativity and collaborative enterprise in commercial filmmaking, with a focus on the work of two major directors.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000 or second-year standing (a minimum of 30.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Cinematography and Lighting
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An exploration of concepts and techniques of cinematography including composition, camera movement, lenses, and lighting as expressive tools.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1010
OR
New Media 2030
Recommended Background:
Cinema 1000
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Note:Studio course
Editing and Post-Production
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 4-0-0
An exploration of editing technique and post-production methods with an emphasis on narrative cinematic storytelling.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1010
OR
New Media 2030
Recommended Background:
Cinema 1000
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Note:Studio course.
Documentary Film Studies
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Reviewing some of the fundamental ethical and aesthetic principles of non-fiction filmmaking, the course provides an overview of the major documentary modes' historical development.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000 or 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Film Noir and Crime Cinema
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Drawing on various models of genre theory, the course analyzes the recurring thematic, stylistic and rhetorical preoccupations of film noir and hard-boiled crime films. Additionally, the course demonstrates how this category is informed by the socio-political climate in which it is produced.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000 or 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Film Comedy
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Comedy has long been the most popular film genre with audiences. This course will try to understand the comic perspective and explore the world of comedy, and many different aspects pertaining to it, through examples from film and television.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000 or 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)
Equivalent:Cinema 3200 (Film Genres: Comedy) (prior to 2018/2019)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Script Development and Pre-Production
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An exploration of script writing and the creative and practical processes that facilitate pre-production for narrative short films and episodic web series.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1010 AND
One of Drama 2750 or New Media 3420
Equivalent:Cinema 3850 (Narrative Development and Pre-Production) (prior to 2024/2025)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Note:Studio Course.
History of Animation
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 4-0-0
This course traces the evolution of animation from silent cinema through the 'Golden Age of Animation' to the digital age. Study areas will include the impact of television and other media on animation and focus on some of the important people, studios, and institutions that have contributed to its rich and varied tradition across the globe.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 1000 or 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Short Film Production
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Other hours per term: 0-0-40
An intensive exploration of the craft of short-form narrative film production, including methods in producing, directing, cinematography, and editing.
Prerequisite(s):Cinema 3210 AND
One of Cinema 3010 or Cinema 3110
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Note:Studio course.
Students enrolling in Cinema 4010 should have a short narrative screenplay ready for production (5-10 pages).
Screenwriting
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Exploring the fundamentals of screenwriting and story development through script writing and film analysis. The importance of character and conflict is explored with an emphasis on the scene as the basic unit of the screenplay.
Prerequisite(s):One of New Media 3420 or Drama 2750
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Writing for Comedy
Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Writing for comedy is serious business. This course explores the important difference between simply being funny, and comic, which requires an understanding of what comedy is and how it works. It covers how to write comedy for movies, television situation comedies, web series, sketch comedy, and stand up.
Prerequisite(s):One of Cinema 3203, New Media 3420, or Drama 2750
Lib Ed Req:Fine Arts and Humanities
Note:Studio course.