Media and Communication Arts (MCA)

This course provides students with a broad overview of the field of Media and Communication Arts. This includes various tracks such as Advertising, Television, Radio, Print Media, Video and Production, the Internet, New Media, and Public Relations. Furthermore, areas of nonverbal, interpersonal, organizational, cultural, and mass communications are explored. Students will use critical thinking skills to evaluate each type of communications.

This course explores the fundamentals of journalism and how It operates in diverse news media: print (newspapersand magazines), broadcast (radio and television) and the Internet (news websites, news biogs, online magazines, etc.). It tackles the issues of journalistic independence, objectivity, commitment to truth, press ethics, and globalization. Furthermore, the course examines the nature of news media today and their future in a technologically turbulent time.

This course explores the history of American journalism from its inception in Pre-Revolutionary times to the present day. We will learn about key personalities as well as legal, economic and cultural issues that have shaped conceptions and expectations of journalism throughout history. We will trace the path to journalism’s current challenges, such as economic uncertainty, technological change, the fragmentation of media audiences, misinformation, and lagging public trust.

This course offers an introduction to the theory and practice of reporting, evaluating and interacting with sources, newswriting, and story structure. Students gain hands-on experience in reporting using text, photos, audio and video. We also discuss digital media literacy, the differences between news and opinion writing, and legal and ethical issues related to news gathering.

Digital Photography is a studio art course designed to introduce students to the use of the digital camera and to photography as a visual means of expression. Emphasis is on the expression of ideas through learning digital techniques, camera control and output options.

This course provides students with a broad hands-on view of the Audio Visual field as it relates to the media, communications, and educational service industries. This will include various topics such as designing spaces, signal types, audio/video systems, project management, and more.

Students learn to make a believable stage character by using time-honored theatrical techniques.

An introduction to the world of public relations. Students get an overview of the field, examining the techniques of communication, publicity activities, media contacts and other areas of public relations.

: An introduction to the world of public relations. Students get an overview of the field, examining the techniques of communication, publicity activities, media contacts and other areas of public relations.

This course equips students with the necessary skills to evaluate, interpret, and engage with news and information in the Digital Era. In a media environment where technologies grow rapidly and falsehoods often spread faster than the truth, individuals face increasing challenges in acquiring reliable and trustworthy information. Through guided practice and critical analysis, students in this course will explore how news is produced and disseminated, while learning to distinguish between various forms of false content, including misinformation, disinformation, mal-information, and fake news. They will be equipped with the tools to navigate the complex digital landscape, strengthen their critical thinking abilities, and develop skills to assess information obtained through diverse platforms, thus becoming more responsible participants in today’s information ecosystem.

Grades will be based on the following. There will be periodic quizzes/assignments that will account for 40 percent of the grade. There will be a mid-term that will account for 20 percent of the grade. There will be a final that will account for 25 percent of the grade. Finally, attendance and class participation will make up the final 15 percent of the grade. YOU ARE ALLOWED ONE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE .FOUR OR MORE ABSENCES WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE.

This course will examine the mass media, e.g., radio, film, television, newspapers and magazines, and the cultural, political, economical and educational effects these media have on society.

This course examines what a feature story is, and how it differs from other kinds of news writing. We discuss how to pitch ideas to editors, conduct in-depth research, interview sources, and craft compelling longform multimedia stories. We focus on deep reporting and rich, colorful descriptions. We also read and analyze published feature stories, and discuss the storytelling techniques that make them effective.

A look at how the journalist has been treated in American film, from the advent of talkies to the present day. An examination of a dozen films {from "Front Page" to "Citizen Kane• to "All the President's Men" to "Broadcast News") and how they reflect both journalism of their time and film making of their time.

The course examines the world of arts and culture journalism including film, theater, dance, television, podcasts, music, books, visual arts, food, and pop culture fandom. Students produce short and longform multimedia stories on deadline, covering the arts and entertainment scene at Pace University and in the broader community. We also study award-winning arts and culture writers and discuss formats particular to this genre, including reviews, trend pieces and critical essays.

A study of the art and craft of the motion picture. This course will examine direction, lighting, music, continuity, visceral time and space, point of view, camera angle, and what role each individual plays in the making of a motion picture.

The objective of this course is to improve communications skills in the workplace. The course will focus on theories of communication, the influence of new technologies in the workplace and will incorporate practical exercises to build effective communication.Permission of Director required. Contact Janet Kirtman at jkirtman@pace.edu for further registration information

An introduction to the theory and practice of writing for radio and television. The course includes a study of both theory and practice in writing commercials, public service announcements, and semi-scripted programs such as music, talk and interview shows. Restrictions/Requirements: Sophomore standing or permission of Instructor. Major Elective or fulfills writing requirement in the major.

An introduction to the theory of writing for the print media and practice in writing press releases, advertising copy, corporate and public service newsletters and articles, and non-news magazine articles.

This course focuses on global media issues, the structures and operations of news organizations around the world, and international reporting, with a particular focus on technological change. The course analyzes news production and consumption in the U.S. and around the world.

This course will focus on how media functions in our information society. Students will gain factual information on the history, processes and effects of different types of media including the mass media of newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television and the Internet. Special attention is paid to the convergence of digital technology and each of the traditional mass mediums.

An investigation of television and radio designed for students who will have professional contact in communications; the role and influence of broadcasting in American life, F.C.C. regulatory activities and industry codes, station operations, program types, listener characteristics and program preferences will be considered.

A basic workshop course allowing student production of television programs. Students learn theory and operation of television, lighting, and audio equipment. Emphasis is on field production.

The emphasis of this course is to learn the technical, operational and creative skills required to produce a horror film. During this fast-paced, hands-on course, students will write, shoot, edit and premier a short horror film.

The course will define and analyze the importance of casting in the complex structure of contemporary film, television and media. A true blend of theoretical and practical, COM 257 students will explore the interplay between casting director and key players in production, including the partnership of casting director and talent agent, film director and actors. Students will arrive at an understanding of the collaborative nature of media production, the importance of establishing a casting concept, and the critical and creative skills needed to cast a production. Students will study and analyze the casting of recent films and television shows, study interviewing techniques involved in casting, meet with professionals in the field, and develop original casting plans.

This course examines the phenomenon of reality television from programming, economic and social viewpoints.

Do men and women communicate differently? Do they use words differently? Do they understand them differently? And if they do, how did things get this way? What are the consequences? These are just some of the puzzling male/female communication issues that will be studied in-depth.in this course based on readings and field studies.

Students will gain a thorough understanding of the event planning industry. This industry is vital to Public Relations. Students plan, promote, understand logistics, execute the event, and assess its effectiveness.

With emphasis on the methodology of rhetorical research, students are introduced to the practice of public relations research in applied settings.

In this course students will come to realize how much family, and most specifically communication within the family, affects them throughout every developmental stage of their lives.

Knowledge of audio and video is the foundation for starting a career in the AV industry. This course will provide students with a focus on Audio and Video specifics as it related to the media, communication and educational technology service industries. This will be a hands on experiential course which goes into details on how audio and video is the backbone of any installation, event, and more.

: The primary objective of this course is for students to be equipped with a strong understanding of what sports television is and how it's produced. Students will be able to comprehend the similarities and differences between studio and remote production as well as the personnel, tools and equipment needed to create those productions. Through this course, students will be able to better transition into internships and entry-level jobs in the sports television production field with a foundation and understanding of how sports shows and events are produced.

Students watch original movies then the remakes. Discussion of actions, directors, casting, cinematography and budget discussed.

To provide a foundation in story development, which is the genesis for all forms of media and for all genres within the media. Story development is also the basis for many of the production courses in the Media, Communications and Visual Arts Department.

: Audio, it has been said, is the most visual of media. How can that be? Radio programmer Rick Sklar said that, since audio engaged only one of the senses (hearing), it "stimulated the listener to create in his or her mind a picture... Every listener 'saw' a different show, but each show was perfect." Audio Is a powerful way to make listeners feel like they're part of the story. Learning the basics of recording and editing audio is not hard. But capturing high-quality sound and weaving it together into compelling stories is an ongoing challenge, even for the most seasoned producers. In this course, you will learn how to record and edit audio, write for the ear, conduct effective interviews, and produce sound-rich stories in various styles. You will get hands-on experience with recording and editing hardware and software, and learn how to pitch and produce a podcast. This course also examines the history, economics and ethics of audio storytelling.

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the technical crafts and logistical aspects involved in International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E) Local 100 live remote sports broadcast productions.

The students will gain an understanding of how persuasive theory functions in the real world. The course focuses on fundamental theories, contexts and components of persuasion.

This course is designed to teach the basic principles of audio production. It offers an overview of modern audio recording techniques for radio broadcast, podcasts, film, promotional videos, and voiceovers. By taking this course you will learn how to operate microphones and basic DAWs (Digital Audio Workspace) to record and edit audio. You will also learn the basic of EQ techniques to help improve the sound of your recordings and remove unwanted sound from them. You will master the conceptual and technical fundamentals of basic audio engineering. You will also have the opportunity to learn about audio production in the music world. The course is extremely hands on, which will help students, learn to use the equipment. Student will also create an account on Soundcloud.com which will act as their portfolio for the class. At the end of the semester, students may keep the Sound cloud account to add to their resume or eportfolio.

Students will realize that listening is about much more than hearing. They will see that being a skilled listener influences one’s ability to “speak, read, write and reason. ”They will gain an appreciation of just how the media affects all of this. Ultimately, students will realize that being a good listener leads to both personal and professional success.

Students will realize that listening is about much more than hearing. They will see that being a skilled listener influences one’s ability to “speak, read, write and reason.” They will gain an appreciation of just how the media affects all of this. Ultimately, students will realize that being a good listener leads to both personal and professional success.

In this course, students will write, design, produce, direct and program live series that are produced for online media platforms. These program offerings will include short form content, long form content, live newsroom production, and field production applications. Through an applied learning method students learn all the stages involved in what it takes to develop an idea and bring it to air. Students gain both technical experience in production equipment and television facilities as well as the skills needed to be the leading producer and director.

The primary objective of this course is for students to be equipped with a strong understanding of what sports television is and how it’s produced. Students will be able to comprehend the similarities and differences between studio and remote production as well as the personnel, tools and equipment needed to create those productions. Through this course, students will be able to better transition into internships and entry-level jobs in the sports television production field with a foundation and understanding of how sports shows and events are produced.

The seminar course examines the basic principles and theories of sports communication including print media, broadcast media, advertising, public relations, and new technologies. Special attention is paid to the role media plays in audience perceptions of sports. Students will use critical thinking skills through class discussions and assignments as well as group and individual presentations to explore how the media covers sports in America.

By analyzing successful and failed public relations strategies, students in the course will engage in real-world exercises that bring guidance to life. Students examine case studies of typical public relations problems.

An examination and evaluation of the performance and responsibilities of the various media with regard to ethical and moral standards and the constitutional protection given them. The course focuses on analysis and discussion of such issues as censorship, public access, pornography, privacy, advertising, and programming.

This course will combine theory and practice to examine the impact social media has on the media communications field. Student will actively use blogs, Storify, Twitter, and eportifolos to understand the influence of social media on journalism and society.

Over the past two decades, shifts in media technologies, corporate structure and the organization of public life have combined to change the practice of journalism. This course explores these shifts, with an eye to seeing how they affect journalism's role in society. Students will gain experience writing, interviewing, and exercising news judgment while using tools and techniques for reporting and publishing multimedia stories in the digital age.

This course focuses on the practice of reporting and writing stories on short and rolling deadlines, also known as breaking news. In an age of push notifications, social sharing, and the potential for "fake news," demand for reporting that is both speedy and accurate has never been greater. Breaking news requires a skill set that is different from other kinds of reporting. Journalists must be able to recognize when breaking stories are happening, identify relevant sources, verify and attribute information, and create stories that provide appropriate context for their audiences, using a multitude of formats. This course will help you develop skills to create accurate, clear, compelling, and contextual accounts of breaking news in a deadline environment. Seven weeks of the semester will consist of a simulation involving students in two other MCVA courses: Case Studies in Public Relations and Producing Corporate Video. The simulation is designed to help you practice developing relationships with sources and understand the challenges of mediating a public forum in which a wide range of voices compete to be heard.

The course will examine what it is like to be a sportswriter in a business that is rapidly shifting from a print to an electronic media mode.

This course is designed to develop the student's awareness of the treatment of women in American cinema and to familiarize students with the icons of that cinema.

Propaganda is inherently neither evil nor virtuous: it is a systematic technique of persuasion of large groups of people using the mass media. This course examines the nature and techniques of propaganda necessary for an understanding of mass communication, history, public opinion, and politics.

Instruction and practice in writing techniques for effective placement of information, including press releases, brochures, and other public relations copy.

A survey of past and contemporary aspect of control of media content including: sexually explicit material, blasphemy, violence, school publications, libel, etc. Constitutional, political, commercial implications are explored with special attention paid to landmark Supreme Court cases.

This course will take the student from back concepts to a first level of practice through a consistent and original method. It will train students to consistently identify a problem, think it through, and find a resolution before beginning to write. Students will acquire the skills and confidence needed to write effective films, corporate and training videos, documentaries, PSAs, TV series, and other types of visual narrative.

This writing class is designed for a practical purpose. The student will put together a portfolio which can be used to help secure an entry-level job in advertising. The course develops the ability to visualize ideas, to write concisely, and to combine creative with strategic thinking. Artistic skill is not a prereq.

Media organizations are increasingly using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, to tell stories in innovative ways. And media producers aren’t the only ones interested in drones; they are also being used in law enforcement, agriculture, and retail. The increasing affordability and portability of drones have also led to concerns about privacy and safety. In 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration established rules for amateur and commercial drone flight. These rules continue to evolve as drones become more common among professionals and hobbyists. Students in this course learn about the uses of drones, study why they have been controversial, and gain hands-on experience in flight. This course also prepares students for the Federal Aviation Administration’s exam for a commercial drone pilot’s license, which is a useful addition to any media professional’s resume. The instructor for this course is an FAA-certified drone pilot.

This course will advance students to greater depth in creative vision and technical image production skills. Students will acquire the skills needed to create and sustain long-term body of work engage in a series of assignments designed to question our understanding of how to best communicate photographically. Students will be introduced to scanning, larger-scale printing, flash and studio lighting and trends in contemporary photography. Students will enlarge their creative potential through critiques, discussions, readings, and gallery visits. Class discussions and assignments will address and consider how students currently create and consume images, and thereby explore the influence of images on their lives.

A comedy film seeks to make the audience laugh for entertainment purposes. Comedy is one of the oldest genres in film. Some of the earliest silent films were comedies, often relying on slapstick visual depictions (without requiring sound.) Today, audiences around the world enjoy comedies of all different subject matters, and a variety of platforms, including streaming services, social media, and of course the silver screen. While the comedy film has evolved over the years, its core goal of entertainment has always remained the same. Students will work together as a production team to produce a short comedy film from script to screen during the course of the semester. Students will gain experience in writing, casting, pre-production, all the elements of production (including camera operation, lighting, audio and direction) and post production.

An advanced production course. Student groups produce television programming using skills acquired in COM 252. Importance of professional attitude is stressed.

An advanced laboratory course that acquaints students with location production. Projects deal with corporate subjects to prepare students for internal corporate video and corporate public relations production. All aspects of video and audio production are covered.

An intermediate digital editing course using Adobe Premiere and Avid Media Composer. Students edit several 4-5 projects, each focused on different aspects of sound or picture editing, and learn the two most common editing programs used in the industry, as well as editing standards and aesthetics. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be very comfortable navigating video and sound editing, will have a solid grounding in the aesthetics of editing, and will have at least one project they can show as a portfolio piece.

Students develop skills in shooting scripts, writing narration, recording sound, rigging cameras, and setting up shots in the field. Students will also learn to organize, shoot and edit a video documentary.

An advanced digital editing course focused on editing picture and sound, color correction, green screen, visual effects, sound recording, and editor as producer. Students should have a solid foundation in digital editing as they will use Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Audition, and possibly other software in a fast paced course, and will be encouraged to develop their own creative projects in class. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have advanced skills in editing sound and picture, a strong understanding of the aesthetics of editing, and solid skills in video effects. All of the projects are potential portfolio pieces.

The Cutting Edge -What's New in the Media is a comprehensive overview of emerging media forms from a production and storytelling perspective. In it, students will explore how the worlds of film, television, journalism, and other fields are adopting new forms of communicating their messages, telling the viewer a story or simply sharing the news. How are cutting edge forms of media becoming part of our daily mix of news, entertainment, sports, documentaries , commercials, and other types of media consumption? The Cutting Edge will explore virtual reality, augmented reality, storytelling in video games, 360 videos, and the many small computers we carry with us everywhere we go. Through series of readings, lectures, assignments , in-class exercises, and creative research projects, students will learn about the history and form of each of several emerging media technologies, with an emphasis on understanding the differences in storytelling, audience, niche, and technology used to create each one.

A study of art and craft of screenwriting for the shorter documentary and longer screenplay. Students will explore writing for the spoken word as opposed to the written word and will be introduced to script formatting for dialogue.

Cinematography is the art of making motion pictures, and a skilled cinematographer must know and use the techniques necessary to control the motion picture image. Students will be introduced to digital cinematography and the latest cameras used in the industry. Through hands-on learning they will learn the capabilities of digital cinema cameras and to how to use them to obtain the desired cinematic image. This will include the digital workflow, sensor latitude, and dynamic range. Students will learn and gain experience in the techniques used to control the motion picture image including lighting, exposure, color theory, composition, lenses, filtration, depth-of-field, and shot design. The skills and theories covered in class will be applied throughout in-class test shoots.

Cinematography is the art of making motion pictures, and a skilled cinematographer must know and use the techniques necessary to control the motion picture image. Cinematography 2 builds upon the fundamentals covered in Cinematography 1. The objective is to provide students with an in-depth study on digital cinema technologies and how they can be applied in their cinematography. Through hands-on learning students will begin to shape their own styles as cinematographers by using tools and methods established in the industry. This will include the digital cinema camera advanced menus and functionality, camera graphs and charts, exposure latitude, light meters, the Zone system. RAW recording, variable frame rates, shutters speeds and angles, and advanced camera tools. The skills and theories covered in class will be applied throughout in-class test shoots.

The ability to operate and control the camera to deliver the cinematographer and director’s vision is an integral part of the video and film production process. It is an important tool that allows cinematic artists to create pictures that help tell a story. This course focuses on the fundamentals of camera operating including equipment, on-set procedures, and the theory and applications of camera operating. Through screenings and analysis, students learn about what motivates the camera. The in-class workshop covers the theory of cinematic language, composition, shot design, pulling focus, and how to work together as a camera crew. Hands-on learning includes a comprehensive study of handheld, dolly, Steadicam, and jib. Students perform a series of challenging shots to gain experience in handling the equipment and delivering the desired image.

Through participation in this course, you will begin to make sense of many of the trends and issues emerging in today's strategic communication environment. You will become familiar with the modern world of media and you will learn how to apply communication theories in order to assess industry issues. Most importantly,you will gain hands on experience creating a strategic communication plan, providing you with the skills necessary to translate communication and media theory into actionable plans. This course will provide you with a stepping-stone into the media world,and equip you with tools for understanding the challenges facing 21st century media and communication professionals.

Learn about documentary film-making by creating a groundbreaking documentary series as you travel the world. As a class, students work on an environmentally and culturally relevant subject to conduct interviews, film, edit, and produce a final film. Prior to and on location, the class is broken up into filming teams for each day—every student has a role in pre-production, production and post production. Past classes have produced award-winning documentaries in locations across the world, including the relationship between people and the Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii, the effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the result of Cuba at a crossroads.

The course traces the development of the film in America through the contribution of the writers, directors and performers from the pioneer efforts at the turn of the century to the present day.

The course focuses on the classic horror films of the last 80 years and how the production and purpose of these films has changed over that time. A special emphasis will be given to the Universal films of the 1930s, including studying the lightning, costumes, set design and cinematography that have made these films classics. Among the works that will be discussed will be the Hammer films of the 1960s, the Vincent Prince collection based on Edgar Allen Poe's works, the silent films of Lon Chaney and the blockbusters of the 70s. They will all be explored for the aforementioned characteristics including how these films compare in production value to the Universal classics.

Welcome to Crisis Communication! I hope you find the course informative and enjoyable as you are introduced to this specialized area of public relations. Every day something happens in the world of business, government, nonprofit, and/or in the lives of celebrities that involve crises. Crises interrupt organizations’ routines and attract extreme public and media scrutiny. For some organizations, a crisis may have long-term and even fatal implications – irrevocably harming the organization’s bottom line, or often worse, its perceived image and reputation. For other organizations, a crisis can be an expected event for which the organization has planned and prepared well in advance. The critical difference between a fatal or fleeting outcome is effective crisis management. And the key to effective crisis management is quick, open and honest communication of actions that restore credibility, confidence and control.

Multimedia Storytelling is a digital film and photo production class combined with a community engagement/service learning course. In it, students will explore multiple ways of telling stories about their surrounding community, will use a variety of common media storytelling methods, and will explore how to expand the reach of a single story through varied connections with target audiences. For example, student teams might create a short documentary along with related social media posts and a trailer for the documentary.

This course offers a practical and theoretical survey into the way that celebrity image is designed and presented through various forms of public relations.

Students write, design, produce, direct and program projects that are produced for television and online media platforms. These program offerings will include short form content, long form content, live newsroom production, and fieldproduction applications. Through an applied learning method students learn all the stages involved in what it takes to develop and idea and bring it to air. Students gain both technical experience in production equipment and television facilities as well as the skills needed to be the leading producer and director.

During this course students will engage in the pre-production, production and post-production involved in producing contemporary Music Videos. This is a hands-on, experientially based course that is focused on the development, filming and editing of original music videos for existing artists.

Video journalists, even at the entry level, are increasingly required to write, shoot, and edit their own stories. In this course, we will gain experience reporting, gathering video and audio, editing, and voicing stories for broadcast and online audiences. We will also practice conducting effective interviews, and editing news packages. Students will additionally practice live delivery using a teleprompter and ad-libbing. Students who do well in this course will leave with a polished demo reel that will help them apply for their first on-air job.

The purpose of this course is to examine scholarship and professional practice related to strategic communication and leadership across a variety of organizations types and settings.

In our digital world being a good communicator is a must. Indeed, it can easily make the difference between success and failure in social and professional situations. Since the nonverbal in communication often carries most of a message, this course will explore and analyze nonverbal communication with the goal of making students better at understanding what other people really mean, and at the same time, better at communicating exactly what they mean.

One to one-and-a-half days per week for 14 weeks or equivalent number of hours. Internships in corporate communication, public agencies, public relations, and related fields.

With the approval of the appropriate faculty member, the department chairperson, and the academic dean, students may select a topic for guided research that is not included in the regular course offerings. The student meets regularly with the faculty member to review progress. A research project or paper must also be submitted.Restrictions/Requirements: Junior standing, minimum CQPA of 3.00.

After a study of successful ad campaigns students create their own advertising ideas.

An examination of works of the most famous Italian Directors.

The essential American Film genre is the western. From simple morality story to complex psychological study, the western is a mirror of America.

Alec Guinness (1914-2000) was one of the most versatile screen actors (in Kind Hearts and Coronets) he played eight roles. Students will know him as Obi-Wan from Star Wars, but his skills went far beyond that performance. We will view representative Guinness films, discuss them and write about them.

The students will gain an understanding of how persuasive theory functions in the real world. The course focuses on fundamental theories, contexts and components of persuasion.

Students will act in videos produced by the Directing class.

This course will review the vibrant history and current direction of one of cinema's most popular mediums: animation. From the earliest days of animation to the most contemporary anime, rotoscopic animation and 3-D motion-capture effects, film audiences have been entranced by this art form. We will review and study examples from many of the great animation houses, studios and directors as part of the course.

This course is an overview of commercial production. The role of Coordinator, Producer, Director, Editor and other Production Staff are examined.

From Henry Fonda to Humphrey Bogart; from Marlon Brando to Johnny Depp; from Robert Mitchum to Robert DeNiro; from Jamie Foxx to Tom Hanks; from Jimmy Stewart to James Dean: from Jack Nicholson to Jim Carrey: American film has depicted masculinity in myriad ways. Through the examination of iconic figures from the world of acting, directing and screenwriting, this course will explore the manner in which the term “masculinity” has evolved in relation to American culture, history and world events.

The Documentary film and video is often used to expose corruption and shed light on illegal practices. Students will watch and write about documentaries that expose the worst.

Students watch original movies and remakes. Discussion of Acting, Directing, Cinematographer and Budget.

Are sitcoms and dramas doomed? An examination of the Reality TV Phenomenon.

A look at the practical side of the industry. Getting started, careers and industry best practices.

An Alumni and Senior Producer for CBS news examines the world of Television news.

This course explores celluloid robbery. A sub-genre of crime and noir, heist films present an array of comedy and drama when things (always) go wrong or succeed too much. There are weekly screenings and two five-to-eight page papers.

From William Randolph Hearst to Entertainment Tonight. Journalistic quality, integrity and ethics in tabloid journalism.

An appreciation of the best screenwriting and how it translates to the screen. Read the screenplay and watch the film. Students review the screening each week.

Event planning is an important career in public relations. This course covers everything that goes into PR event planning - from concept to measuring success.

A 20 year veteran examines the world of magazine publishing: publishing, writing for, and editing magazines.

Students learn how to direct for television. Includes blocking, speaking to actors and calling shots. Single and multi-camera shooting discussed.

A look at the most popular movie genre and a review of the classic “boy meets girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl back” theme in film history.

This course will combine theory and practice to examine the impact social media has had on communication in the Web 2.0 world. Students will actively use blogs, RSS feeds, Twitter, YouTube and other Web 2.0 tools to understand the influence of social media on journalism and society.

This course teaches the basic principles of audio production. It offers and overview of modern audio recording techniques for radio broadcast, podcast, film, promotional videos and voiceovers.

This course is an advanced post-production workshop for students to finalize and deliver their short films, and to prepare them for film festivals. This is a hands-on course to walk students through the finishing process: color correction, sound design, scoring, creation of unique titles and lower thirds, generating exhibition copies, and planning for film festivals.

An introduction to the basic techniques of acting for stage and film using scenes and monologues from contemporary and classic American playwrights, and incorporating improvisational theatre exercises. No experience is necessary.

This course focuses on the how prison films have played an integral role in shaping modern cinema during the last 60 years. A special emphasis will be given to how prison films are directed, how they depict prison life and how those depictions have changed from the films of the 40s and 50s through today.

: Students will discover the rules and laws of nature at play in a compelling love story and to master them. The critical features of a love story development will be identifies and every variation of this structure will be explored. The course will draw on classic and modern films to illustrate this point.

This course will probe work by visual artists that examine the photographic archive and create new visual imagery and narrative with archival photograph collections within the historical landscape of media and communication. Through assignments, critiques, discussions, readings, and gallery and archive visits, students will learn about the power of a photograph to suggest and reveal an untold story. The students will explore imagery from family archives to institutional archives to create a final project that presents a creative photography collection that suggests alternative narratives for present times that emphasize visual communication about one or more of the following subject matter: environment, culture, race, identity, gender, and class.

This class provides a "360 view" of acting and filming, allowing students to round out their understanding of performance and directing, and practice the skills to make excellent films. Topics to be covered from the perspective of the filmmaker include: how to talk to actors; "directorial tools" to guide an actor's performance; how best to work with cinematographers and sound recorders to translate performances to the screen. From the actors' side the following issues will be examined: how actors get into character; the internal processes performers go through to bring their best to the stage, screen, and microphone; techniques an actor needs to add layers of emotion and human experience to all types of media.

Lighting is a craft that is an integral part of the video and film production process. It is an important tool that allows cinematic artists to paint with light to produce the image desired. This course focuses on the fundamentals of lighting including equipment, on-set procedures, and the theory and applications of lighting that has come to shape the art of cinematography. Through screenings and analysis, the different styles of lighting will be explored to provide a better understanding of the creative uses of light. The in-class workshop will demonstrate how to effectively light for dramatic films, documentary interviews, and corporate/industrial videos. Hands-on learning will include exercises on lighting portraits, interview lighting, lighting a dramatic scene, car interiors, and night interiors. The use of natural and available will explored as well as the use of grip equipment to shape and control light.

This capstone public relations course is designed to develop and test the student's ability to apply knowledge and skills to solve public relation problems. The course gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the proceeding courses by executing the operative skills of a public relations specialist.

Using the script as a blueprint, the student will be led through specific techniques to translate the word into a visual story. This seminar will address directing the camera for a maximum visual storytelling effect. The nuts and bolts of conceptualization and overall visual design was well as selecting, planning and executing shots and coverage will also be discussed. Classical directorial methods, theory and technique as well as the creative process of directing will be explored by offering students hands-on work with the fundamentals of directing videos.

The seminar course examines the basic principles and theories of political communication with a focus on social movements. Students will understand what a political social movement is, how the media covers them and how this coverage impacts audiences. Students will use critical thinking skills through class discussions, assignments and group activities to explore the relationship between the media and political social movements in the U.S.

An overview of the American media that cover sports and the way sports is covered.

Starting with Metropolis, science fiction films have explored serious themes. Students will view and write about a variety of sci-fi films.

Few motion picture directors have been as influential as the iconic Alfred Hitchcock, whose stylish depictions of anxiety, crime and aberration have reflected film and cultural history. His career spanned the entire history of film, from the silent days of German expressionist film to the widescreen, Technicolor extravaganzas of the late 20th Century. This course will address the arc of Hitchock’s career, with special attention to his technological and thematic innovations. Films studied will include The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, Shadow of a Doubt, Vertigo and Psycho, among others. Additionally, the influence of Hitchcock will be studied by addressing the work of other filmmakers such as Brian DePalma and David Chase.

Fashion journalism has flourished in print and on the web the last few years: from The New York Times T Magazine to style.com and Twitter. Where there's style, people are reporting, critiquing and devouring it voraciously. How does it compare with other cultural writing like art or movie reviews? In this class we identify and learn different types of fashion writing (runway reports, trend pieces, service articles, fashion news writing, the personal fashion essay and the designer profile). Classroom texts consist of various current magazines like The New York Times T Magazine, New York Magazine, Vogue, Wallpaper, Nylon and, in some cases, their web components.

Using the script as a blueprint, the student will be led through specific techniques translate the words into a visual story. This seminar will address directing the camera for maximum visual storytelling effect. The nuts and bolts of conceptualization and overall visual design as well as selecting, planning, and executing shots and coverage will also be discussed. Classical directorial methods, theory and technique as well as the creative process of directing will be explored by offering students hands-on work with the fundamentals of directing video.

An exploration of films that depict New York from 42nd Street to Dog Day Afternoon. Students will be responsible for one major paper.

The Steadicam is one of the biggest advancement in both film and video production, creating an entirely new approach to the way movies, television shows, documentaries, and many other programs are filmed. The course will introduce students to the specialized stabilizing device and provide them with a practical experience that develops the skills and techniques necessary to operate the Steadicam. Students will learn how to design and capture a shot using Steadicam giving them the ability to increase any production’s cinematic experience.

The Western is the truly American genre. With iconic locations and storylines, Westerns were the first American feature films, flowered in a long classic period and grew more incisive and gritty in the last 30 years. Students will write two major papers in the course.