Courses

This seminar focuses on key filmmakers who have been highly influential in the development and expression of thought-provoking narrative and non-narrative cinema, including documentary and animation. As such, it focuses on a broad array of filmmakers, styles, and genres as students explore the way cinematic structure, stylistics, aesthetics, and techniques creates a deeper understanding of life. Filmmakers studied include masters from Hollywood, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Advanced study and practice of the technologies pertaining to professional digital recording.

This course introduces students to the history, theory, and craft of digital film directing. As a workshop, it involves critical, and applied components. Topics include the multiple roles of the director, scene, and script analysis, creating potent production concepts, creative cinematics and techniques, auditioning, and working with actors. Key components of the course include shooting monologues, scenes, and making a short film.

An advanced course that focuses on the style and technique of writing for public relations and corporate communication. Students discover the dynamics of strategic and persuasive writing while creating key pieces such as brochures, ads, newsletters, and press releases. Opportunity is given to create a communications package for a public relations client.

Building on skills developed in MCOM 251 or 261, students study the best in magazine and newspaper feature writing and produce several pieces of their own with the intent of publishing their work.

Building on skills introduced in MCOM 251, 261, or 452, students learn the art of editing for magazines and newspapers. Students study examples of published magazines and newspapers (both print and online), write and edit a piece of their own with the intent to publish their work, and apply their knowledge to pieces submitted for publication in a student publication to be created around this course.

Explore the world of travel journalism and adventure writing. In this senior workshop course, students will critique each other’s work and read, discuss, and analyze travel literature to understand its roots and conventions. Students need not be world travelers to write their own travel-based essays: their unique observations, voice, and writing ability all contribute to make a good story, even in their own backyards. Builds on storytelling techniques, critical theory, and application of aesthetic principles acquired in introductory and intermediate courses in narrative nonfiction.

Serves as opportunity for students to bring diverse learning and skills from across their program in order to research, write and/or carry out a senior creative thesis, portfolio, or publishing project in literary journalism or narrative nonfiction. Students gain skills in curation, editing, project management, aesthetic research methodology, and integrative and performative thinking. Students will gain deeper scholarly and professional understanding of aesthetic research methodology, and integrative and performative thinking. Students will gain deeper scholarly and professional understanding of aesthetic considerations in communication, forge professional and academic contacts, and demonstrate mastery of relevant theory, principles, and writing strategies. The course concludes with a public performance to peers, faculty, and professional leaders.

This course investigates the art, science, and practice of persuasive communication in its many forms and contexts. It examines theories and research in human influence and how language, images, and non-verbal cues can mold people's attitudes and actions. There is opportunity to carry out a social science project in interpersonal or mediated persuasion, and to seriously consider the ethical implications of one's persuasive efforts.