Communication Major with a Concentration in Cinema / Digital Media
The concentration in Cinema and Digital Media has two areas of emphasis that students can choose to pursue: Production and Screenwriting.
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Click here for a sample four-year plan for Cinema/Digital Media majors. Click here to download a list of the coursework required for Cinema majors.
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Note: All Communication majors or any student enrolled in 6 or more units of communication will be assessed the $126 Communication ACCESS fee each semester.
Cinema/Digital Media Concentration Core Requirements (31 units)
COMM 220 Visual Storytelling 3 units
COMM 227 Introduction to Cinema 3 units
COMM 258 Christianity/Artistic Culture 3 units
COMM 273 Visual Technology 3 units
COMM 290 Interpersonal Communication 3 units
COMM 305 Communication Theory and Research 3 units
COMM 329 Digital Audio and Video Principles 4 units
COMM 450 Internship 3 units
COMM 464C Media Criticism 3 units
COMM 495 Senior Project (A, B, or D) 3 units
Cinema/Digital Media Application Courses (24 units)
Students must choose 24 Communication Application units for graduation. Areas of emphasis are a guideline to help students narrow their field.
Production Emphasis: (Choose 24 units)
MUSC 136 Music Theory I-3 units
MUSC 220 Intro to Midi-1 unit
COMM 222 Photography-4 units
COMM 309 Graphic Design-4 units
BUSN 316 Legal Aspects of the Business Practice-3 units
COMM 317 Creative Process-3 units
COMM 326 History of International Cinema-3 units
COMM 327 Directing for Film and Digital Media-3 units
COMM 331 Television Advertising-3 units
COMM 336 Screenwriting Principles-3 units
COMM 339 Producing for TV and Film-3 units
COMM 350 The Network (repeatable)-2 units
COMM 351 Documentary/Ethnographic Film Production-4 units
COMM 353 Cinematography-4 units
COMM 354 News, Sports, Media Broadcasting-4 units
COMM 358 Writing the Short Screenplay-3 units
MRKT 360 Principles of Marketing-3 units
MRKT 362 Advertising and Promotion-3 units
COMM 365 Sound Design-4 units
COMM 377 Animation-4 units
COMM 441 Special Effects in Production-4 units
COMM 442 Nonlinear Editing for Motion Pictures-4 units
COMM 451 Motion Graphic Design-4 units
COMM 457 Game Design and Development-4 units
COMM 459 Film Production-4 units
COMM 462 High Definition Production-4 units
COMM 470 Special Topic-3 units
COMM 478 Filmmaker Series (repeatable)-3 units
COMM 483 Recording Studio in Production-4 units
Screenwriting Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 317 Creative Process-3 units
COMM 326 History of International Cinema-3 units
COMM 331 Television Advertising-3 units
COMM 336 Screenwriting Principles-3 units
COMM 350 The Network (repeatable)-2 units
COMM 351 Documentary/Ethnographic Film Produciton-4 units
COMM 358 Writing the Short Screenplay-3 units
ENGL 360 Dramatic Literature: Script Analysis-3 units
ENGL 438 Creative Writing Workshop-3 units
COMM 457 Game Design and Development-4 units
COMM 459 Film Production-4 units
COMM 478 Filmmakers Series (repeatable)-3 units
Cinema/Digital Media Courses
COMM 220 • Visual Storytelling (3 units)
An introduction to story structure, this course focuses on envisioning story ideas and developing those ideas into written formats for the screen.
COMM 222 • Photography (4 units)
The science of film’s physical and compositional structure, the zone system, the measurement of light,experimentation with filters and exposure; all explored in depth with the still film camera. Lab Fee.
COMM 227 • Introduction to Cinema (3 units)
An introduction to the origination and development of motion picture images, this course offers a historical timeline approach to significant contributions in cinema style and artistic aesthetic.
COMM 258 • Christianity/Artistic Culture (3 units)
Combines film screening, critical analysis and theory to enable students to examine morality, ethics and screen portrayals pertaining to Christianity, gender, and ethnicity. The aim is to motivate students toward personal accountability and responsibility, as well as creative refinement and sophistication when producing media content.
COMM 273 • Visual Technology (3 units)
An introduction to the technological necessities of the Communication major. This course equips the student for future communication classes regardless of concentration or emphasis. Lab Fee.
COMM 309 • Graphic Design (4 units)
Students will learn industry standard graphics programs to create and develop visual invigorating work. Project management, presentational design, web design are elements of crucial engagement for this course.
COMM 317 • Creative Process—Theory and Practice (3 units)
This course will consider the theory and practice of creative communication. It will focus on creative problem solving strategies and on sharpening communication skills to stimulate higher levels of creativity.
COMM 326 • History of International Cinema (3 units)
An introduction to diverse talents of cinema in many different cultures, particularly major Japanese,Russian, German, Indian, Swedish, French, Italian and Latin American contributions to the world of film over the last century.
COMM 327 • Directing for Film and Digital Media (3 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. An in-depth study of the professional craft of directing. This course offers insight into the development of an actor’s vocabulary, script analysis, handling pressure on-set, conflict management,communicating a vision, and trusting your filmmaking intuition.
COMM 329 • Digital Audio and Video Principles (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 220 and COMM 273. Basic principles of digital video production in narrative and documentary filmmaking. An exploration of story, single camera operation, basic non-linear editing, sound design and film theory. This class includes lectures, screenings and hands-on assignments. Lab Fee.
COMM 336 • Screenwriting Principles (3 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 220. This course will focus on screenwriting fundamentals. Students are introduced to the craft, taught basic screenplay format and over the course of the semester, students write the first act of a feature screenplay.
COMM 339 • Producing for Television and Film (3 units)
Exploration of the role of the independent producer and how a concept is taken through the steps of development, financing, scheduling, production, marketing, and distribution.
COMM 350 • The Network (2 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. Through the lens of traditional network programming, students learn the development, testing, production and advertising needed to create successful programming in the online technological frontier.
COMM 351 • Documentary / Ethnographic Film Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. An introduction to the history of documentary filmmaking, an emphasis on camera frame choices, the interview process, choosing subjects wisely and the gender, historical and cultural significance of creating ethnographic film.
COMM 353 • Cinematography (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 222 and COMM 329. Hands-on intensive training and experimentation with 8mm and 16mm motion picture camera and film stocks, with an emphasis on set production roles and lighting techniques. Lab Fee.
COMM 354 • News, Sports, and Media Broadcasting (4 units)
Prerequisites: COMM 329. Students will gain performance, writing and producing skills in news anchoring, reporting, interviewing in the sports and broadcast media arena. Important events in broadcasting history, industry terminology and networking in the broadcasting arena will be seen via actual footage analyzed and discussed. Assignments include conducting talk shows, hosting, news team anchoring, and live video broadcast. Lab Fee.
COMM 358 • Writing the Short Screenplay (3 units)
Prerequisites: COMM 329 and COMM 336. Students will learn to economize and tell a story within a very restrictive set of parameters. Students will pitch their screenplays and one will be chosen to be made into a 16mm short in Film Production.
COMM 365 • Sound Design (4 units)
Prerequisites: COMM 329. This course is an exploration into the orchestration of the diagetic and non-diagetic sound elements created for a film.
COMM 377 • Animation (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. The history, technique and creation of animation, this course includes flip book, clay, collage, drawing workshops, traditional cell animation, flash animation and an introduction to 3-D. Students do not have to "know how to draw" in order to take this course. Lab Fee.
COMM 441 • Special Effects in Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329 . The history, theory and technique of special effects for motion pictures and digital media. Students will learn the process of optical illusions, compositing video material, working with mattes, rotoscoping, motion tracking, color matching, using models and miniatures, and keying techniques for special effects in films and digital media. Lab fee.
COMM 442 • Non-Linear Editing for Motion Pictures (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. This course offers a comprehensive approach to the theory and practice of editing motion pictures. The course will begin with the basic fundamentals of editing technique, progress through the foundations of the industry standard programs Final Cut Pro and Avid, and offer advanced digital solutions by the end of the semester. Lab Fee.
COMM 450 • Internship (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: Must have consent of instructor and Department chair. Must be in junior or senior standing. Students may seek a position which relates to their major with a cooperating business in the communication industry. Students are required to work fifty hours for each academic unit hour received. A weekly report to the supervising professor is required. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.
COMM 451 • Motion Graphic Design (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. This advanced course introduces students to title and motion graphic design for film, High Definition, and digital media. Techniques include layer-based compositing, interactive menu design and special effects.
COMM 455 • Communication Teaching Internship (1-6 units)
Prerequisite: Open to juniors or seniors with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or above. Must have the consent of the instructor and the Department chair. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. The teaching intern helps an instructor in planning and conducting a course and/or research session. This course may be taken for 1-3 units per semester. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.
COMM 457 • Game Design and Development (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. An introduction to game design and development with a focus on 3D content creation, programming, and asset production. This course also focuses on the skills, mechanics and ethical aspects of mind/game play.
COMM 459 • Film Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. This course is an in-depth practical application of story development, the pitch process, fundraising, producing, cinematography, non-linear editing for film, sound design, and scoring in order to create one 16mm color film where each class member serves a particular crew position. Lab Fee.
COMM 462 • High-Definition Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. An in-depth exploration of 24p and High Definition digital video technologies, cameras, and editing processes introducing students to a professional workflow for film and commercial projects. Lab Fee.
COMM 470 • Special Topic (1-4 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Study of a special topic in the areas of Communication Studies and TV and Film. May be repeated for credit. May include a lab requirement and lab fee.
COMM 478 • Filmmakers Series (3 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. A forum and guest lecture series featuring important directors, producers, screenwriters and artists who have created a lasting artistic, ethical, social, or cultural impact on the industry. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 units.
COMM 480 • Individual Studies (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and Department chair. May be repeated for credit.
COMM 483 • The Recording Studio in Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 329. Hands-on-training in recording studio operation and production technique for film and digital media.
COMM 495A • Senior Project: Film
Prerequisite: Senior standing and approval of professor. The student writes, directs, or serves in a production role (cinematographer, editor, production sound, sound designer), on a faculty approved film, video, documentary,animated film, or commercial project bringing it to final form for festival distribution. Lab fee.
COMM 495B • Senior Project: Reel
Prerequisite: Senior standing. The student refines and finished the extent of their production experience on DVD as a business card for the professional world. Lab fee.
COMM 495D • Senior Project: Script or Publication
Prerequisite: Senior standing and approval of professor. The student creates a three-act polished screenplay or publication for distribution. Lab fee.