Broadcasting

BMC

050(I)

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Credit hours to be arranged

See Independent Study Program, Section II.

BMC

070

INTERNSHIP

Credit hours to be arranged

Required of all broadcasting majors.

Practical experience in any area of broadcasting. See Internship Program, Section II.

BMC

107F

FILM AND CULTURE

Three credit hours

An analysis of television and the motion picture as an art form and a medium of cultural communication from their beginnings to the present day. A variety of examples showing significant artistic development will be viewed and discussed in order to establish criteria for evaluating and setting of standards for these two media.

BMC

108IF

INTERNATIONAL CINEMA AND AESTHETICS

Three credit hours

An analysis of the motion picture as an art form and a medium of cultural communication. A variety of international examples showing specific cultural trends are examined.

BMC

126

INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION

Three credit hours

Required of all broadcasting majors.

An introduction to mass communication from Gutenberg to the Internet. Subjects to be covered are history, development, functions, philosophy, media interrelationships, and their social and commercial basis.

BMC

161

RADIO PRODUCTION AND AIR STUDIO MANAGEMENT

Two credit hour

Registration with the Director of Broadcasting or instructor's approval only.

This experiential learning opportunity includes broadcast training at WBWC. At the successful completion of the class, students may earn their FCC Radio Operators License for an additional fee.

BMC

162

DJ FORMAT SHIFT

Two credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 161, FCC License and registration with instructor's approval.

This experiential learning opportunity includes one semester as a staff disc jockey at WBWC.

BMC

163

PARTICIPATION IN WBWC

One or two credit hours

Prerequisite: Registration with instructor's approval only.

Students may work at WBWC for credit by working in the music department, in broadcasting news, or in other station activities as approved by the station management and the instructor. This course is graded.

BMC

164

PARTICIPATION IN BW-TV

One or two credit hours

Prerequisite: Registration with instructor's approval only.

Students may work at BW-TV for credit by working as photographers, reporters, directors, producers, etc. as approved by the station management and the instructor. This course is graded.

BMC

220F

FILM HISTORY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 107F, or registration with instructor's approval only.

A study of the history of cinema from its beginnings to the present day. Topics will include the business, politics, and development of film as an art form. Representative films will be shown in class.

BMC

226

WRITING FOR THE MEDIA

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 126 or instructor’s approval.

A study of the principles of writing news and information for radio, TV, and the Internet. News articles and events are analyzed and practice in newswriting is stressed. Attention also is given to story development, research, interviewing, and follow-up.

BMC

227

AUDIO FOR MEDIA

Two credit hours

The study of audio production principles and practices for a variety of venues. Complex and multileveled production board operations will be combined with computer applications. The course focuses on directing, producing, editing, and critical evaluation of programming elements and styles.

BMC

228F

LIGHTING FOR FILM

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 107F, or registration with instructor's approval only.

A lighting design course specifically designed to introduce the student to the equipment and techniques of grips and gaffers. Composition, color theory, and qualities of light will be discussed  how they relate to the photography (still, motion, digital, and chemical).

BMC

263F

SEMINAR

Two to four credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 226

This seminar studies current topics of concern in broadcasting and mass communication. May be repeated more than once, provided the subject or topic is different.

BMC

277D

MEDIA AND DIVERSITY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 126 or LAS 150

This course will critically examine the role of the media in facilitating and challenging the social constructions of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation in our culture. It will take an interdisciplinary approach and will consider the mass media to be one among many other social institutions such as family, education, and religion, which strongly influence our conceptions of race, class, gender and sexual orientation. The course will address a variety of entertainment and news content in chemical, print and electronic media.

BMC

324F

FILM GENRES

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 107F or registration with instructor's approval only

An examination of various genres in film that contribute to the greater appreciation of film as an art form. Each term the course is offered, one of the major cycles of motion picture production will be highlighted including international films, musicals, horror, war, westerns, etc. Several full-length films illustrating historically important phases of that film form will be shown in the laboratory period. Course may be repeated as genre changes.

BMC

326

RADIO & TV ANNOUNCING

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 226 and BMC 227

A study of the principles of radio and TV announcing. Individual practice in voice production for radio and TV is stressed. Venues for radio and television announcing are examined.

BMC

327

TELEVISION PRODUCTION AND DIRECTION

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 227

The exploration of elementary video production principles, practices, and operations. Emphasis is placed on laboratory elements of scripting, lighting, audio, camera, switching, editing, character generator, and chromakey. Practical experience in producing video projects. Offered in alternate years.

BMC

377

MASS COMMUNICATION THEORY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 126 and Junior or Senior status

This course is an overview of the disciplinary traditions and research interests of mass communication theory. In it we will investigate the techniques and values of mass communication research and contemporary mass media. Our resources will include, but not be limited to, authors such as John Fiske, Denis McQuail, and Marshall McLuhan.

BMC

424F

FILM MAKERS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 107F, or registration with instructor's approval only

This course will examine the creative contributions of various filmmakers. The filmmaker's personal vision, time in history and artistic sensibilities will be examined through the context of his or her work. The Auteur Theory, history, and criticism will be emphasized as well as the literature and practical techniques of criticism. Course may be repeated as the filmmaker changes.

BMC

426

BROADCAST PROGRAMMING

Two credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 126 and Junior or Senior status

This course examines current television and radio programming principles, practices and strategies including examination of multidimensional and bimodal appeals, scheduling tactics and rationales, and program evaluation and restraints. New trends and developments in the industry also are given attention. Offered in alternate years.

BMC

428

BROADCAST LAW AND ETHICS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 126 and Junior or Senior status

An exploration of broadcast regulations, law, and ethics with emphasis given to their evolution and their impact on broadcasting and society over time. Current issues including First Amendment law, libel, slander, obscenity, copyright, etc. are also analyzed. Offered in alternate years.

BMC

461F

SCREENWRITING

Three credit hours

Prerequisites: BMC 107F, Junior or Senior status, Film Majors only or registration with instructor's approval only

This course covers the most critical elements of screenwriting. Among them are development of plots and subplots through the inciting incident, backstory, turning points, image systems, beats and scenes units, and set-ups and pay-offs. This course will also examine the mechanics of the teleplay, a more restricted form of screenplay.

BMC

463

SEMINAR

Two to four credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 126 or with instructor’s approval

An advanced current topic in broadcasting. May be repeated, provided that the topic is different.

BMC

474F

AUDIO FOR FILM

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: BMC 227 or with instructor’s approval

The study of audio production principles and practices as they specifically relate to film production and post production. Topics will include on location acquisition as well as post production manipulation, and mixing of sound and audio. Foley and ADR projects will be included. The course focuses on the use of sound to compliment the image.

BMC

475F

FILM PRODUCTION AND DIRECTION

Three credit hours

Prerequisites: BMC 226, 227, 327 or 461F or instructor’s approval

Film aesthetics and practices will utilize Digital Video Technologies. Topics will include image acquisition, image manipulation, image composition and non-linear editing.

BMC

476

CAPSTONE

Two credit hours

Junior/Senior status only

To demonstrate their expertise and experience, Broadcasting students must prepare a resume and portfolio of their media experiences, including a "demo reel." In addition, students must write, research, plan and record a special project (program or production) to demonstrate their proficiencies. The Capstone coordinator must approve topics for projects.