Course Requirements
Students take a total of six courses.
MCS 231
INTRODUCTION TO DOCUMENTARY STUDIES
This course examines the rise and growth of documentary forms, including audio, film, television, photography, literary journalism and ethnography. Students will study representative works from each documentary approach and learn to analyze the techniques of observation and representation at use in these pieces. Students will become familiar with major theoretical constructions of documentary and be able to use these analytical tools to critique documentary forms. Lab for film viewing required.
MCS 383
TALKNG ABOUT FILM: THEORY & CRITICISM
This course is to familiarize students with a wide range of disciplines (film, art history, philosophy, psychology, etc.) and how these ideas both inflected the development of classical film theories as well as the evolution of cinema. Moreover, the scope of the course seeks to examine the overall process whereby theoretical discourse develops historically. Lab for film viewing required.
MCS 373
AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
This course uses hands-on projects so that students can explore the steps in the process of creating an audio documentary. Through practical application students consider questions that surround the interpretation of cultural experience. Additionally, students analyze a variety of approaches to audio documentary in an effort to understand better this significant form of storytelling.
MCS 331
TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY STUDIES
A rotating topics course that could focus on specific historical era or specific group of texts or documentarians from across film, television, audio, writing, and photography.
MCS 389
TOPICS IN MEDIA PRODUCTION
This course is a rotating topic course in areas of media production and may include classes such as Podcasting, Advanced Radio Production, Advanced Audio Documentary, Radio News, Multimedia Production, etc. There may be a lab fee for the course.
DC 371
DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION
This course covers all phases of documentary filmmaking including interview techniques, storytelling with interviews and B roll, and documentary cinematography. For the final project each student will produce a completed documentary film. This course has an additional fee. PREREQUISITE(S): DC 210, DC 220
ART 377
PHOTOJOURNALISM [CROSS-LISTED AS JOUR 276]
Introduction to the theoretical and technical foundations of photography with exploration of the medium's aesthetic, documentary and narrative purposes within the context of photojournalism. Cross-listed as JOUR 276.
JOUR 377
SPECIAL TOPICS IN JOURNALISM
Focuses on a specific topic related to the field of journalism. Included might be such topics as sports reporting, Chicago journalism, tabloid journalism, and Front Page news. See schedule for description of current topic.
Prerequisites:
JOUR 275 is a prerequisite for this class.
ART 291
MURAL PAINTING
This class has a central focus on the art of mural making. Students will have a hands on experience as they design and execute a mural at a predetermined site. The students will also learn the strategy and design factors of planning a mural piece of their own. This piece will be at a real venue, executed as a small scale illustration brd. piece. This will be done in the classroom in the last part of the qtr. The class functions as a studio class as it meets for 6 hrs. weekly. A minimum of 25 service hours is required. And having either drawing or painting experience on the collegiate level is recommended highly for this class. This class is certified for cbSL and JYEL credit.
ART 328
DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY
Exploration of photographic concepts and techniques used in artistic, journalistic and sociological documentation. Materials Fee.
Prerequisites:
ART 225 is a prerequisite for this class.
LST 300
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
MUS 208
COMMUNITY AUDIO ART PRODUCTION
This Experiential Learning course involves collaborative art production, electro-acoustic and computer music, experimental sound techniques, radio art, political music, socially engaged audio documentary, soundscape design, field recordings, sound installation, conceptual art, public service announcements, and interdisciplinary art. In addition to a historical survey of works in this genre, students will complete one group project and one solo project. This course may only be used as a free elective for students in the School of Music. Junio Year Experiential Learning.
SOC 417
ETHNOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY FILM PRODUCTION
This course imparts the art, craft, and discipline behind the making of sociological ethnographic documentary films. Throughout the course students learn ethnographic concepts and methods, develop film criticism faculties, and build a film production skill set.
SOC 418
DOCUMENTARY FILMS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
This course critically examines the history of documentary filmmaking and criticism in the social sciences and humanities. Students analyze documentary films created by social scientists and non-social scientists over the past 100 years.
CMN 394
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP
This course is for communication majors and minors who meet eligibility requirements. Students will learn career planning skills, explore the organizations in which they work, gain an understanding of how they contributed to their organizations, and discuss societal and world issues, as they affect their workplaces. Students are required to work 10 hours per week while enrolled in the course. Students must cmplete the Communication Internship orientation workshop. Students registering for a hybrid section must also attend five 2-hour class meetings.