Available on the Master of Arts degree. The program is administered by the Department
of Radio-Television-Film.
The Graduate Program in Media Arts represents
a progressive, integrated approach to the study of media as an art in an
industry of communication. The graduate program seeks to develop
literate scholar-professionals who are well-rounded consumers and practitioners
of media. Specifically, the Media Arts masters program produces graduates who
have: (1) advanced knowledge about the structure and practices of the media industries;
(2) increased skills and sophistication about the production of content;
and (3) the analytic ability to communicate how media represent and influence
social, cultural, aesthetic, and historical contexts. The program benefits those
who will start/continue their professional careers, those interested in expanding
their knowledge base about the role, function, and responsibility of the media,
and those who will seek to educate others as teachers and media scholars.
Combined Bachelor's and Master's Program. A combined
Bachelors and Masters program in Media Arts is available allowing a student the
opportunity to obtain both a Bachelors degree in Radio-Television-Film and a Master
of Arts degree in only five years. Degree plans and suggested courses to take
each year are available on request. Students may apply to the MEDA program at
any time before the second semester of their junior year. Academic progress is
evaluated after the first semester of their junior year. Students admitted to
the Media Arts program will begin taking MEDA courses their senior year. At the
end of their senior year, students will have completed the 124 hours for their
undergraduate degree with up to 20 hours going toward their Master of Arts degree.
They will complete the M.A. in their academic fifth year. Students must meet all
other requirements for admission into the program. Gwendolyn P. Tandy Memorial Film Library. A primary research
resource is the Gwendolyn P. Tandy Memorial Film Library, housed in the Department
of Radio-Television-Film. Rapidly becoming one of the outstanding collections
of its kind in the nation, the library is comprised of over 7,000 films and television
programs in all formats (video, DVD, laserdisc, 16 MM), representing virtually
every major national cinema and narrative genre. Excellent facilities for close
analysis of these texts, including an auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art
video and film projection systems, are available for graduate student research.
In addition, the library contains basic reference works in film and television
history, theory and criticism and a collection of master scene scripts. The library
also subscribes to over 100 academic and professional journals. Graduate Assistantships. The Graduate Program in Media
Arts has a number of graduate assistantships available. These awards, which provide
remission for tuition or remission for tuition plus a stipend, are typically made
for a full academic year. Prerequisites. In addition to the minimum requirements
for admission as established by the University, the Graduate Program in Media
Arts requires completion of an undergraduate degree in Radio-Television-Film or
a media-related program. The Department of Radio-TV-Film will consider applications
from qualified students who have a Bachelor's degree in other areas and possess
substantial professional experience in media as determined by the Media Arts graduate
faculty. An applicant who does not meet the admission requirements will have to
take up to 24 semester hours of undergraduate courses in the Department of Radio-TV-Film
that will not count toward the graduate degree. The number of hours and specific
courses needed to make up deficiencies will be determined by the MEDA graduate
faculty. All applicants must present a writing sample, portfolio, or example of
creative work, satisfactory GRE scores, three letters of recommendation from individuals
who can attest to their potential for success in graduate work, and a statement
of purpose outlining why they want to pursue graduate work in Media Arts. Graduate Program. The Master of Arts degree requires
40 hours, including MEDA 60143 and 60513, 18 additional hours of Media Arts courses
(6 hours each in the emphasis areas of "industry", "production", and "analysis"),
6 hours of approved graduate courses from other academic units of the University,
6 hours of thesis/project, and 4 one-hour graduate seminars. Students must complete
a thesis paper or a production project as approved by a three-member graduate
faculty committee. A student electing the thesis option must successfully complete
a paper that demonstrates advanced research skills. The student must also satisfactorily
pass an oral defense of the thesis. The project will be a creative capstone experience,
such as the production of a feature-length screenplay, a documentary, or other
project that requires extensive preparation and execution. The following is a complete list of courses offered by this department. Go
to Class Search on the Registrar's Page to see which courses are being taught
this semester. Courses
of Instruction
Core
60143 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MEDIA LITERACY. Historical and theoretical development
of media literacy as a practice of educating the public about the process,
techniques, and impact of various media. Focuses on the knowledge base needed
to continuously interact with media through understanding of how media work, how
they produce meaning, and how they construct reality.
60513 RESEARCH METHODS IN MEDIA. Introduction to the various methods of media
research. Focus on quantitative and qualitative approaches, including surveys,
experiments, naturalistic inquiry, critical/cultural studies, historical, and
legal research. Industry
50113 PRODUCING FOR FILM AND VIDEO. In-depth examination of the role of the
producer in the film and video industry. All phases of production are examined,
including budgeting, financing, rights acquisition, and managing the production.
60443 GLOBALIZATION OF THE MEDIA INDUSTRIES. Examines the increasingly international
nature of the media industries. Investigates how films, television programs, music,
and interactive media are distributed and marketed globally. Examines the perception
that "globalization" equals "Americanization."
60523 ADVANCED MEDIA MANAGEMENT. In-depth analysis of four important aspects
of media management theory and practice: (1) operations management, (2) decision-making
processes, (3) objective evaluation techniques, and (4) communication, language,
and persuasive speech.
60903 ADVANCED TOPICS IN MEDIA INDUSTRY STUDIES. Seminars offering the opportunity
to study various media industries in depth. Production
50223 ADVANCED VIDEOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY. Examines theory and practice
of cinematography and videography. Students explore advanced methods in image
control with opportunities to enhance skills with hands-on experience.
50333 ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN POST-PRODUCTION. Examines both hardware and software
considerations in the post-production environment, including emerging technologies
in the production industry. Includes advanced non-linear editing, and work with
Avid systems (including Adobe After Effects).
50553 THE FULL-LENGTH SCREENPLAY. Students develop, write, and revise a full-length
original script. Includes theoretical models of scriptwriting, development of
rough scenarios, beat outlines, first drafts, and revisions.
50613 DIRECTING. Explores advanced video and film directing. All phases of
the directing process are examined including, selecting a script, rehearsal, principal
photography, and post-production.
60923 ADVANCED TOPICS IN PRODUCTION. Seminars
offering the opportunity to study various significant production topics in depth.
Analysis
60433 TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE. Analysis of the ways media technologies affect
and represent their socio-cultural contexts. Emphasizes the relationship between
technological development and ideology.
60503 SCRIPT ANALYSIS. Incorporates theory and criticism to dissect and critique
scripts written for the visual media. Students develop the ability to analyze
the basic structure of screenplay plots and their relation to character, thought,
language, sound, and spectacle.
60803 MEDIA INDUSTRIES AND THE PRODUCTION OF CULTURE. Explores the function
of media institutions in the generation and circulation of meanings in society.
Addresses general theoretical issues relating to the production of culture, professional
ideologies and work practices within media industries, and interaction of media
institutions with the socio-political environments. Includes case studies of various
media.
60913 ADVANCED TOPICS IN MEDIA AND CULTURE. Seminars offering the opportunity
for in-depth study of various significant aspects of the relationship between
media and culture.
70001 GRADUATE SEMINAR. One-hour credit during
four semesters. Consists of weekly one-hour seminars that analyze and discuss
significant issues and developments in media and communication. Includes faculty
and student presentations, and interactions with leading media scholars and
professionals.
70980 THESIS
70990 THESIS