Programs
The Department of Visual and Media Arts offers a curriculum designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in various media arts, including screenwriting, film, TV, sound design, interactive new media, game design, photography, and others. The department offers two tracks within its Bachelor of Arts (BA) curriculum: Media Arts Production and Media Studies, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Media Arts Production.
Production Track
The undergraduate faculty of Visual and Media Arts is committed to the following learning objectives for the BA in Media Arts Production program.
Students will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history, theory, and practice of visual and media arts.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency in media arts production.
- Create media arts with originality and aesthetic depth.
- Demonstrate their ability to research and analyze media arts.
- Learn to apply ethical principles in the production and analysis of media arts.
Curriculum
Visual and Media Arts Foundations (12 credits)
The Visual and Media Arts Foundations offers students a broad theoretical, historical, and practical introduction to the visual and media arts.
Required Courses
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| VM 100 | History of Media Arts I | 4 |
| VM 101 | History of Media Arts II | 4 |
| VM 120 | Foundations in Visual and Media Arts Production | 4 |
Students are required to attend the Production Safety Workshop, VM 110, while enrolled in VM 120.
Introductory Courses (16 Credits)
Critical Studies (Required)
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| VM 200 | Media Criticism and Theory | 4 |
Introductory Writing and Concept Development
Select at least one of the following courses:
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| VM 202 | Critical Listening | 4 |
| VM 220 | Writing the Short Subject | 4 |
| VM 222 | Writing for Television | 4 |
Introductory Production
Select at least one of the following courses:
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| VM 204 | Topics in Media Arts: Practice | 4 |
| VM 230 | Introduction to Film Production | 4 |
| VM 231 | Intermediate Film Production | 4 |
| VM 241 | Introduction to Studio Television Production | 4 |
| VM 242 | Introduction to Documentary Production | 4 |
| VM 243 | Introduction to Narrative Drama | 4 |
| VM 250 | Introduction to Sound Principles and Audio Production | 4 |
| VM 251 | Location Sound Recording | 4 |
| VM 260 | Introduction to Interactive Media | 4 |
| VM 261 | Computer Animation | 4 |
| VM 263 | Drawing for Character Design | 4 |
| VM 265 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| VM 270 | Introduction to Game Design | 4 |
Students are required to complete at least one additional course from the Introductory Production or Writing and Concept Development areas.
Visual and Media Arts Electives (16 Credits)
Students are required to complete at least two intermediate or advanced production courses numbered VM 320–390, 420–497.
Students are required to complete at least one visual and media studies seminar course from VM 402, 403, 409, or 410.
In addition to the studies seminar, students are required to complete at least one additional advanced studies course numbered 300–315, 400–418, or 500.
The Visual and Media Arts faculty has developed possible plans of study to help students navigate the wide range of course options. The possible plans of study are optional and are meant only to serve as guides for students. A plan of study is a sequence of classes specifically designed to develop expertise in one of the areas listed below:
- Animation and Motion Media
- Cinematography/Videography
- Directing Narrative Fiction
- Documentary Production
- Experimental Media Production
- Filmmaking
- Interactive Media and Games
- Photography
- Post-Production
- Producing
- Sound Design/Audio Post-Production
- Studio TV Production
- Writing for Film and Television
Upper-Level Liberal Arts Requirement
In addition to the Liberal Arts and major requirements, all students are required to complete at least two courses at the 300 or 400 level from the following Liberal Arts areas:
- EC - Economics
- HI - History
- IN - Interdisciplinary Studies
- LI - Literature
- PH - Ethics or Philosophy
- PL - Political Science
- PS - Psychology
- RL - Religion
- SC - Science
- SO - Sociology
- TH 313, 315
- VM 315, 409, 410
BA Production Capstone Project
During a student’s final semesters, the option of working on advanced production projects is available. Students can apply to register for VM 491 Capstone Project, which provides the opportunity for students to realize a one-semester production project, reel, or portfolio in their senior year. The capstone project is optional for the BA degree. Registration for VM 491 requires faculty committee approval. Students seeking to pursue a yearlong course of work on a thesis-level project and a more rigorous course of study may apply to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program. More information about the BFA degree program is provided in the following section.
Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts Production
The undergraduate faculty of Visual and Media Arts is committed to the following learning objectives for the BFA in Media Arts Production program.
Students will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history, theory, and practice of visual and media arts.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency in media arts production.
- Create media arts with originality and aesthetic depth.
- Demonstrate their ability to research and analyze media arts.
- Apply ethical principles in the production and analysis of media arts.
- Create an advanced-level project in their own media specialization.
Students are encouraged to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA), which includes a yearlong, intensive capstone project in the student’s chosen medium. The BFA encourages innovative exploration of voice, form, culture, and genre.
Application
Students are eligible to apply for entry to the BFA program in their junior year. Applications and information about the application process are available through the office of the BFA program director in the Visual and Media Arts Department. Students applying for the BFA should have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and should maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average to continue. Admission to the BFA program is competitive.
Requirements
Thesis Project: Students admitted to the BFA program must complete their thesis project by the end of their last semester at the College on the Boston campus.
Courses
In addition to the requirements listed in the Bachelor of Arts Media Arts Production Track above, an additional 16 credits in media production courses are required for the BFA degree, including two consecutive semesters of VM 470, Advanced new Media Projects, VM 490 BFA Production Workshop, or VM 492, Photo Practicum to be taken during the student’s final two semesters on the Boston campus. All students must submit portfolios, transcripts, and project proposals by the designated deadline for BFA committee review for admission to VM 470, 490 or 492. Admission is by committee approval only.
The remaining 16 credits of media production course requirements must include:
- An advanced-level course in the student’s chosen field of production; and
- An advanced-level production elective that supports development or completion of the final project.
Students should note that the BFA program leaves limited opportunity for electives. Students must consult the BFA program director for detailed information on the required and recommended elective coursework for the BFA degree.
