Advising Handbook for Film and Video

A major in Film and Video  prepares students for careers in a variety of film production fields including narrative, documentary, experimental, screenwriting, and animation. The program emphasizes the development of technical and creative components of production, as well as the theoretical and social aspects of the media.

The Film and Video program is part of the Media Arts department. The department includes programs in related fields including Journalism, Graphic Design, Multimedia, and Speech and Communications.

The following MEDA courses count towards the Analysis and Interpretation of Texts core requirement:

  • MEDA 110 Intro to Communication
  • MEDA 120 Film History and Analysis
  • MEDA 201 Interpersonal Communication
  • MEDA 220* Film and Society *2 credit course

The following MEDA courses count towards the Artistic Practice and Creative Practice core requirement:

  • MEDA 250 Foundations of Video Production
  • MEDA 265 Web Design
  • MEDA 302 Documentary: Studies and Practice 
  • MEDA 303 Experimental: Studies and Practice
  • MEDA 304 Contemporary Explorations
  • MEDA 305 Identity Design
  • MEDA 306 Animation: Studies and Practice
  • MEDA 320 Narrative Production: from script to screen
  • MEDA 322 Post-Production
  • MEDA 363 Publication Editing and Design

The Following Computer Science course that is part of the Integrated Media Major fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning core requirement:

  • CS 205    Programming for Multimedia

The Following MEDA courses fulfill the Civic Engagement (CE) core requirement:

  • MEDA 153 Video for Community Engagement
  • MEDA 365 Project Management for Graphic Design
  • MEDA 353 Video for Community Engagement: Mentoring

Requirements of All Majors

Prospective media arts majors should be aware that a majority of the courses in the department are offered on a yearly or every-other year basis and that many courses, as indicated, are to be taken in a sequential manner. Students need to arrange their schedule so they can advance through the sequences as they are offered.

All Media Arts majors require the completion of the two-semester senior capstone. There are four different senior capstone seminars that are specific to the majors in the department, depending on the media in which they choose to conduct their capstone.

Internship Requirements

All students majoring in Media Arts are encouraged to seek out and complete an internship (MEDA 475) in their junior or senior year, however internships are not a degree requirement. The 475 course represents the standard college internship course wherein the student begins and completes a 1-4 credit internship experience within an academic term. All internships must be approved before they begin by the student’s advisor in the department to ensure  that the internship meets the standards and goals of the student’s degree program.

Studying Abroad

Media Arts majors should be advised that they can spend a semester abroad at York St. John University in York, England studying media studies and production. By working with an advisor from the MEDA faculty, they can take courses abroad that directly meet or replace requirements in a MEDA major.

Film & Video Major

Required Courses and Prerequisites

MEDA 120 Film History and Analysis and MEDA 250, Foundations of Video Production, are the pre-requisite for all other film and video production courses (with the exception of MEDA 153). 

Students need to earn a C- or better in MEDA 120 and MEDA 250 to qualify for upper-division courses in the major.

 

Requirements for the Major:

In the fall of 2019, the Media Arts Department revised its majors and minors as part of the College of Arts and Science Major Review Template process. Below are the new requirements for the Film/Video major.

 

It is important that students who want to start the major be advised to take both MEDA 120 Film History and Analysis and MEDA 250 Intro to Video Production in the fall (these courses are only offered in the fall and are pre reqs for most other classes in the major).

 

Note course name changes: 

MEDA 250 (formerly Foundations of Video Production) is now MEDA 250 Intro to Video Production.

MEDA 401 (formerly Narrative Film Theory and Criticism) is now MEDA 401 Advanced Film Analysis.

We have introduced MEDA 300 ST: Alternative Film Production--and this will replace MEDA 304 Experimental and MEDA 306 Animation.

 

 

Film/Video  Major:

Required courses:

Take all of the following (22 credits)

MEDA 120           Film History and Analysis                                       4 credits

MEDA 250          Intro to Video Production                                       4 credits

MEDA 322          Post-Production                                                        4 credits

MEDA 391           Media Arts Junior Seminar                                     2 credits

MEDA 401           Advanced Film Analysis                                           4 credits

MEDA 491           Senior Capstone Film/Video                                   2 credits

MEDA 492          Senior Capstone Film/Video                                   2 credits

 

Electives:

Choose 20 credits from the following. A minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits can count toward major).

Applied/Experiential courses or Internship

MEDA 320          Narrative Production: From Script to Screen       4 credits

MEDA 300          ST: Alternative Film Production:                           4 credits

MEDA 302          Documentary: Studies and Production                 4 credits

MEDA 153/353   Video for Community Engagement                        2 credits

MEDA 332          Screenwriting                                                            4 credits

MEDA 323          Cinematography                                                        2 credits

MEDA 254/354  Event Planning I                                                        2 credits

MEDA 256/356  Event Planning II                                                      2 credits

MEDA 475           Internship/MAPS                                                     1-4 credits

 

Additional Electives

BS 310-Social Media Marketing                                                              4 credits

or

ID 301                  Arts Marketing and Management

MEDA 220          Film and Society                                                        2 credits

MEDA 331           Sundance Film Festival Travel                               2 credits

MEDA 434          Mass Media Law and Ethics                                    4 credits

MEDA 112           Media in Society                                                        4 credits

MEDA 202          Photography and Imaging for Media                     4 credits

MEDA 122           Intro to Digital Media                                               2 credits

MEDA 101           Fundamentals of Speaking                                      4 credits

Applicable study abroad/transfer credits with faculty approval      1-8 credits

 

Total credits: 42

Four-Year Plan

A traditional four-year schedule for a film and video major might look like this:

1st year

MEDA 120 Film History and Analysis | 4 credits

MEDA 250 Intro to Video Production | 4 credits    

Choose 1 or more electives. Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major).

2nd year

MEDA 322 Post Production | 4 credits​

 

Choose 1 or more elective courses. Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major).

3rd Year

MEDA 391                        Media Arts Junior Seminar                                         2 credits

MEDA 401                        Advanced Film Analysis                                              4 credits

Choose 1 or more elective courses. Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major). The fall of Junior year is recommended for Study Abroad

4th year

MEDA 401                        Advanced Film Analysis                                              4 credits (if not offered on 3rd year)

MEDA 491                        Senior Capstone Film/Video                                       2 credits

MEDA 492                        Senior Capstone Film/Video                                       2 credits

Choose 1 or more elective courses. Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major).

Two-Year Plan

Students should consult with Professor Hardacker or Professor Vaisburd on the feasibility of this.

1st year

Fall

MEDA 120, Film History and Analysis

MEDA 250 Foundations of Video Production

Choose 1 or more elective courses. Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major). The fall of Junior year is recommended for Study Abroad

Spring

Required courses if offered

MEDA 322                        Post-Production                                                          4 credits

MEDA 391                        Media Arts Junior Seminar                                         2 credits

MEDA 401                        Advanced Film Analysis                                              4 credits

Choose 1 or more elective courses. Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major). The fall of Junior year is recommended for Study Abroad.

2nd year

All of the required courses not taken the previous year plus the two Capstone courses.

MEDA 322                        Post-Production                                                          4 credits

MEDA 401                        Advanced Film Analysis                                              4 credits

MEDA 491                        Senior Capstone Film/Video                                       2 credits

MEDA 492                        Senior Capstone Film/Video                                       2 credits

Choose 1 or more elective courses Remember that a minimum of 10 credits must be from Applied/Experiential courses or Internship (up to 4 credits of internship can count toward major). The fall of Junior year is recommended for Study Abroad.

Film & Video Production Minor

In the fall of 2019, the Media Arts Department revised its majors and minors as part of the College of Arts and Science Major Review Template process. Below are the new requirements for the Film and Video Production Minor.

Required Course

MEDA 250 Intro to Video Production 4 credit(s)

OR

MEDA 153 - Video for Community Engagement 4 credit(s)

Take a Minimum of 16 Credits from the Following:

MEDA 302 - Documentary: Studies/Practice 4 credit(s)

MEDA 300: ST Alternative Film Production 4 credits

MEDA 320 Narrative Production: Script-Screen 4 credit(s)

MEDA 322 Post Production 4 credit(s)

MEDA 323 Cinematography 2 credit(s)

MEDA 353 Video: Community Engagement Mentor 4 credit(s)

MEDA 332 Screenwriting 4 credit(s)

MEDA 331 Sundance Travel Class 2 credits (s)

Total credits: 20

 

Film & Video Studies Minor

Film Studies MInor

In the fall of 2019, the Media Arts Department revised its majors and minors as part of the College of Arts and Science Major Review Template process. We are excited to offer an interdisciplinary Film and Video Studies Minor.

Below are the new requirements for the Film and Video Studies Minor.

 

Required Courses:

MEDA 120 Film History and Analysis 4 credits

MEDA 401 Advanced Film Analysis 4 credits

 

Take 12 credits of courses from the following:

ANTH 317 - Pop Culture: Cultural Studies 4 credit(s)

ENGL 236 - Postmodernism in Film and Literature 2 credit(s)

ENGL 336 - Postmodernism in Film and Literature II 2 credit(s)

POLS 301 - Politics and The Media 4 credit(s)

SOC 120 - Images, Society, and Identity 4 credit(s)

SPAN 403 - Contemporary Spanish Cinema  4 credits

GER 400 - German Film  4 credits

MEDA 112 Media in Society 4 Credits

MEDA 331 Sundance Travel Class 2 credits

MEDA 220 Film in Society 2 credits

POLS 221 Politics in Literature and Film

Any approved film or literature-related courses offered by other departments including, but not limited to, English, Politics and Government, and World Languages. Please contact the current chair of Media Arts (Professor Enie Vaisburd) to confirm the approval of a course not listed here.

Total credits: 20

 

REV S2020

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Enie Vaisburd