Communication and Film/Media Courses
The Community College offers a variety of Communication and Film/Media courses, ranging from theory to performance to production.
COMM 1000 Foundations in Video and Audio Production - (4 credits)
This introductory, hands-on course is designed for students who have little or no
experience in video/sound production. They learn the basics of image and sound creation
necessary for subsequent courses. Topics include camera and microphone operation,
video and audio capture, camera supports, editing, adding foley and sound tracks,
titling, effects and color correction. Students also learn how to compress and encode
video so that it is optimized for current platforms. (Prerequisites: Eligible for ENGL 1005 or higher and ENGL 0850 or higher or permission
of instructor) Lecture: 4 hours.
COMM 1005 Careers in Communication and Film/Media - (1 credit)
This course is designed to give students an overview of the Communication and Film
industries and related careers. Students will explore personal values and academic
goals through individual projects, class exercises and group interaction as they learn
the educational requirements of specific career degrees and develop the baseline skills
necessary for working in Communication or Film, including ethical reasoning, effective
communication and self-directed lifelong learning. This course is required for all
students in the Communication and Film degree and should be taken during the student’s
first semester in the program. Lecture: 1 hour.
COMM 1010 Communication Fundamentals - (3 credits)
This course examines fundamental concepts related to communicating across a variety
of contexts and cultures while emphasizing practical application to everyday life.
Through multiple methods (readings, lectures, discussions, activities, research, written
and speaking assignments), this course presents predominant theories of and guided
experiences with interpersonal, group, and public communication. Focus is on analyzing
audiences, identifying/evaluating communication styles, researching effectively/ethically,
and presenting sound arguments. The real-world skills that students develop help them
maintain healthy relationships, increase understanding of others, and voice ideas
and concerns in public forums. (Prerequisites: Eligible for ENGL 1005 or higher and ENGL 0850 or higher or permission
of instructor). Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 1050 Mass Media Foundations - (3 credits)
This introductory course surveys how media influences individuals, cultures, and societies.
Topics include entertainment media, digital media, the Internet, books, newspapers,
magazines, recordings, advertising, and other relevant issues. In addition, media
ethics and responsibility, government regulation, legal issues, politics, and corporate
media will be examined. Lecture: 3 hours. Completes the following requirement(s): humanities requirement (HUMN).
COMM 1100 Public Speaking - (3 credits)
This one-semester basic course in speech is designed to develop each student's ability
to communicate effectively in his or her academic, business, and social life. The
major emphasis is on the preparation and delivery of formal speeches, but many areas
of the communication process are explored. (Prerequisites: Eligible for ENGL 1005 or higher and ENGL 0850 or higher or permission
of instructor) Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 1110 Voice and Articulation - (3 credits)
Designed for those people with speech habits resulting in problems of being heard
and understood, this course emphasizes voice development and improvement in articulation
for clearer and more effective speech. Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 1180 Oral Interpretation - (3 credits)
This course is designed for students with experience speaking who are planning careers
that require them to read aloud, to be dramatic and to tell stories, possibly to children.
The student will learn to interpret prose and poetry orally for the entertainment
and edification of small or large audiences. Admission is by approval of the instructor.
Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 1400 Social Media Communication - (3 credits)
This course will explore the history, rise, and growth of social media as a 21st century communication practice. Students will study the advances that led to the
creation of social media and just as importantly examine how the use of social media
fed its growth. Students will develop social media communication plans and practice
digital communication using online tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Kickstarter,
YouTube, Flickr, Digg, and Tumblr. Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 2000 Media Writing - (3 credits)
This course provides instruction in writing for print, broadcast, video, and new media.
Students will practice skills including form and content required for various media.
Writing objectively, considering legal and ethical issues, developing ideas and stories,
gathering information, and interviewing are some concepts covered by this course.
Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 2050 Media and Broadcast History - (3 credits)
Media and Broadcast History is an overview of the institutional, technological, and
social history of media and broadcasting. Starting with media of early civilization,
students will study developments and trends throughout history that will culminate
with media of the present. This course will reveal the major models of print, radio,
television and the Web that have provided the foundation for communication in industry
and society. The historical roles of content producers, broadcasters, and government
regulators will be explored to provide students with a greater understanding of media
today. Lecture: 3 hours. Completes the following requirement(s): humanities requirement (HUMN).
COMM 2100 Studio Production - (3 credits)
This 3-credit introductory course familiarizes students with video production in a
studio environment. They will acquire the skills to produce basic video productions
for television and the Web. Students will learn to communicate effectively by making
class presentations, writing production proposals, and producing videos. (Prerequisite: COMM 1000) Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 hour.
COMM 2200 Field Production - (3 credits)
This course builds on basic video production principles learned in COMM 1000 and COMM
2100 and incorporates field production techniques. Students will use both analog and
digital technology. Lectures, screenings, and hands-on labs provide an in-depth understanding
of video production and related business topics. Also included are technical aspects
of scripting, lighting, camera operation, continuity, post-production editing, logistics,
and preparing a production budget. (Prerequisite: COMM 1000) Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 hour.
COMM 2221 Multimedia Reporting - (3 credits)
In this course, students will learn the latest technologies to write, produce, and
distribute media stories for a variety of formats. Building on writing skills, students
will become proficient in using still cameras, video cameras, and audio-recording
devices to support a news story. Students will use still cameras, video cameras, and
audio-recording devices to deliver a news story. In essence, this course exposes students
to skills needed by contemporary media journalists. Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 hour.
COMM 2300 Video and Media Editing - (3 credits)
This course provides the student with an in-depth study of the history, techniques
and technology of video and media editor. Students will study the principles and practices
of editing by analyzing examples from classic and contemporary film and video as they
learn how to build and strengthen a story and engage an audience. Using the latest
industry non-linear software tools, students will work on advanced editing exercises
that provide opportunities to master the editing process. An overview of the editing
process, techniques, in-depth procedures, and skills will be reviewed. At the end
of the course, the student will have learned the skills necessary to prepare for professional
certification. (Prerequisite: COMM 1000) Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 hour.
COMM 2350 Motion Graphics for Media Communication - (3 credits)
This course teaches students the syntax of motion graphics so that they understand
the how and why of incorporating effects in a video sequence. Students become familiar
with industry standard tools in order to make video productions communicate more effectively,
much like writers use parts of speech and punctuation to craft their messages. (Prerequisite: COMM 1000) Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 hour.
COMM 2400 Production and Distribution Fundamentals - (2 credits)
Students in this course will gain a practical understanding of the planning and distribution
of media productions and film projects. This course incorporates budget, networking,
and marketing media strategies. In addition to learning through lectures, screenings,
and labs to gain an in-depth understanding and working knowledge of the business side
of media, students will use digital technology to optimize media for broadcast, web,
commercial, and social media outlets across various devices. Digital methods will
include media streaming, DVD authoring, television, and podcasting. Special attention
will be given to providing students with practical experience in preparing their own
media portfolio for presentation to prospective employers, clients, and college or
university admission. (Prerequisite: COMM 1000) Lecture: 3 hours.
COMM 2490 Field Placement - (2 credits)
In this course, students will work off-site at a company in the concentration and
interest area that they are studying, under the direction and supervision of faculty
within their program. Students will be matched with an opportunity that allows them
to apply their skills learned in the classroom, and that provides a real-world experience
in Communication and Film/Media. (Taken in the last semester with permission of instructor) Lecture: 2 hours, Site
placement: 6 hours.
COMM 2500 Portfolio - (2 credits)
In this course, students will create a professional portfolio of representative work
that demonstrates their skills and ability in media creation. Through a series of
short exercises and assignments, students will assemble a body of work from their
course assignments and independent projects to create this comprehensive online portfolio.
The course is taken in the last semester of the program sequence. (Taken in the last semester with permission of instructor) Lecture: 2 hours, Lab: 1 hour.
FILM 2204 History of Film I - (3 credits)
This course is designed as an overview of significant national and international trends
in the history of film from approximately 1950 until the present day. The emphasis
will be on significant cinematic movements, the key players and films within those
movements, and the larger social and historical context in which these movements occurred.
Through screenings, readings, and class discussions, students will develop an appreciation
for and critical insight into the history, politics, aesthetics, and philosophical
debates that shaped these cinematic traditions. Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 Hour.
FILM 2205 History of Film II - (3 credits)
This course studies the history of motion pictures, beginning with the invention of
the moving image in the 1880s through the middle of the twentieth century.The industrial
and social history of cinema in the United States including the studio system, the
star system, and content regulation are explored.The international cinema of Germany,
France, Soviet Union, and other countries are also studied. Historical events and
their effects are also investigated, including world wars, cultural transformations,
racial diversity and global influences. Technical invention of key visual and audio
recording devices is reviewed, as well as key narrative developments in structure,
genre, pacing and editing. Significant films will be screened for analysis and discussion. Lecture: 3 hours, Lab: 1 Hour.
ENGL 1210 Introduction to Film - (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the tools of film analysis by examining how
narrative, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound create meaning in film.
Film is also examined for its social, cultural, and ideological significance. Introduction
to Film provides students with the background for further film studies. (Meets literature and English concentration requirements; Prerequisite: None is required,
though a general introductory literature course, such as Introduction to Literature
[ENGL 1200] or World Literature [ENGL 1040 and ENGL 2040] is recommended.) Lab Fee:
$20.00 Completes the following requirement(s): humanities requirement (HUMN) literature
requirement (LITR).
ENGL 2210 - Special Topics in Film (3 Credits)
This course is meant to enable students who have achieved the basic understandings
of film study and interpretation in Film as Literature I to continue their examination
of the medium. They will pay special attention to various film genres, to the work
of particular directors and to aspects of film theory. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1210 or permission of instructor, Lecture: 2 hours) Completes
the following requirement(s): humanities requirement (HUMN) literature requirement
(LITR).
ENGL 2310 - Introduction to Screenwriting (3 Credits)
This course introduces students to techniques that the screenwriter uses to develop
characters, construct scenes, structure plot, and follow screenplay format. Students
will analyze films and screenplays, write original scenes, and work on an original
screenplay. Lecture: 3 hours. Completes the following requirement(s): humanities requirement (HUMN).
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