Courses | B.A. in Cinema and Media Arts
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include 51蹤獲's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, .
General Requirements
Every year, all Cinema and Media Arts majors participate in faculty advisor reviews to evaluate their progress in the department. Student portfolios being built semester to semester are assessed using a variety of criteria, such as a sophisticated usage of technology, proficiency in storytelling, team communication that speaks the truth in love, requisite hours on set or in post production, creative ability to problem solve.
All CMA majors who entered as Production students but who wish to declare an area of concentration (i.e., directing, cinematography, editing, etc.), must do so before earning the requisite 56 units and before registering for the intermediate course in the designated area of concentration.
All Cinema and Media Arts majors must achieve a minimum grade of C in all major courses taken at 51蹤獲. Anyone receiving a lower grade must repeat the course and receive a C or better.
CMA students may be required to purchase computer equipment and/or software as may be applicable for their respective degrees. While we understand the financial strains of such equipment expenditures, we also recognize that these technologically driven majors involve costs well beyond the textbooks that serve as the essential tools for many other undergraduate departments. Contact the department for specific equipment recommendations.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 | |
| Visual Aesthetics | 3 | |
| History of Cinema 1, 2 | 3 | |
| or | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| Screenwriting I | 3 | |
| Internship Seminar | 1 | |
| Production I: Directing in Narrative, Documentary and Short Form | 3 | |
| Production II: Media Lab | 3 | |
| The Power of Media | 2 | |
| Production Management | 3 | |
| Cinema and Media Arts Internship | 1 | |
| Senior Portfolio | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
- 1
In the Sound Design concentration only, students may take in place of or .
- 2
In the Visual Effects and 3D Animation concentration only, students may take in place of or .
Concentrations
The production concentrations below offer students a thorough grounding in, and overview of, the key creative components of film, television, audio and digital media. Students are encouraged to develop their creative and technical skills, training for positions as directors, cinematographers, gaffers, editors, sound designers, recording engineers, production designers and many others.
All production concentrations generally take the same courses during the first two years and then developing a comprehensive specialization in a profession in the last two years of study. The production concentrations are cinematography, directing, editing, production, and visual effects. While the focus is professional, it is combined with a strong liberal arts background through 51蹤獲s core curriculum and courses from other schools' programs in critical studies, writing, producing, and interactive media.
Cinematography
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Intermediate Cinematography | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Production | 3 | |
| Advanced Cinematography | 3 | |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See for details.
Directing
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Intermediate Directing Techniques | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Production | 3 | |
| Advanced Directing for Film & TV | 3 | |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See for details.
Editing
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Intermediate Editing | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Production | 3 | |
| Advanced Editing | 3 | |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See for details.
Sound Design
As of Fall 2024 this concentration is in teach-out phase; it is not open to new or readmit students.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 29 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Sound Design | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Production | 3 | |
| Sound Mixing | 3 | |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
- 1
See for details.
Production
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 12 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 | |
| Motion Picture Production | 3 | |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See for details.
Visual Effects and 3D Animation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Digital 3D Modeling | 3 | |
| Visual Effects and Motion Graphics | 3 | |
| Character Modeling and Animation | 3 | |
| Virtual Production Fundamentals | 3 | |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See for details.
Entertainment Business
The Entertainment Business concentration is designed to prepare students for careers as producers and executives of film, television, and new media. The curriculum places emphasis on both the creative and managerial, to enhance and develop artistic skills and judgment while providing a sound background in business essentials. The producing courses are continually updated to ensure that the Entertainment Business concentration remains responsive to the ever-changing film, television, and new media landscape, and prepare students for careers as creative decision-makers in those fields. By combining classes in mass media and business, students are equipped to serve as producers or as development and marketing executives, en route to corporate management.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 | |
| History of Cinema | 3 | |
| or | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| Screenwriting I | 3 | |
| Entertainment Business | 3 | |
| Internship Seminar | 1 | |
| Production Management | 3 | |
| Film Financing | 3 | |
| Principles of Advertising | 3 | |
| Mass Media Law and Ethics | 3 | |
| Cinema and Media Arts Internship | 1 | |
| Senior Portfolio | 3 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 | |
| Television Programming and Content Strategy | 3 | |
| Coverage and Development for Film and Television | 3 | |
| Select 8 credits of elective courses from the following (3 credits must be upper-division) | 8 | |
| Introduction to Marketing 1 | ||
| Global Marketing Management | ||
| Entrepreneurship and New Venture Formation | ||
| Financing the Entrepreneurial Venture | ||
| The Power of Media | ||
| Advanced Studies in Media Production | ||
or | Cinema and Media Arts Practicum | |
or | Cinema and Media Arts Seminar | |
| The Role of the Producer | ||
| Program & Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 2 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
The prerequisite for is or .
- 2
See for details.
Creative Producing
The Creative Producing concentration (formerly Entertainment Producing) introduces students to the business principles that drive the entertainment industry. Media managers make strategic decisions regarding what films get produced and what TV shows get broadcast. By combining classes in mass media and business, students are equipped to serve as producers or development and marketing executives, en route to corporate management.
Because producers are creative and entrepreneurial filmmakers, the required courses in the creative producing concentration are varied from courses in Cinema and Business. A total of 46 credits is required to complete the concentration.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 | |
| History of Cinema | 3 | |
| or | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| Screenwriting I | 3 | |
| Entertainment Business | 3 | |
| Internship Seminar | 1 | |
| The Power of Media | 2 | |
| Production Management | 3 | |
| Film Financing | 3 | |
| Principles of Advertising | 3 | |
| Mass Media Law and Ethics | 3 | |
| Cinema and Media Arts Internship | 1 | |
| Senior Portfolio | 3 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 | |
| Coverage and Development for Film and Television | 3 | |
| The Role of the Producer | 3 | |
| Program & Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See for details.