Media Arts Major

Media Arts Major Academic Requirements

Mission

True creativity begins with knowledge. The media arts major is therefore a synthesis of the communication, studio art, and liberal arts curricula that gives rise to an intellectually creative skill set that moves far beyond the merely technical. The media arts major seeks to provide students with the conceptual and technical tools necessary to succeed in a variety of creative media industries. In this way our graduates will be enabled to participate in and thereby influence the shaping of American culture. With this firmly in mind, our students are challenged to discover ways in which they might bring a Christian sensibility to all that they undertake.

Program Learning Outcomes

The media arts major seeks to produce graduates who:

• Can demonstrate proficiency with an appropriate variety of media and technologies.
• Can demonstrate familiarity with the theoretical and historical underpinnings of their chosen field of study.
• Can demonstrate the ability to approach visual communication challenges with creativity and insight, producing work that is consistently original and meaningful.
• Can demonstrate effective and professional written, verbal, and visual communication skills.
• Can demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others.

Acceptance into the Major

Each student is required to formally apply for admittance into the media arts major. This is typically done during the spring semester of the sophomore year. It is imperative that all prospective media arts majors partner with an advisor from the Media Arts Department.

A Media Arts Application Form may be obtained from any media arts faculty or downloaded from the media arts section of the college website. In order to gain admittance to, and to graduate with, the media arts major, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all pre-major and major coursework (see below).

Junior Review

At the end of the junior year, the transcript of each student will be examined by their advisor to ensure adequate progress is being made toward degree completion. At this point, admittance to the major may be rescinded.

Pre-Major Requirements

Studio Foundations (choose one):

• ARTS102 2D Design
• ARTS110 Drawing I
• ARTS113 Photography I and Lab
• ARTS114 Painting I
• ARTS202 3D Design

Production Foundations (choose one):

• MART295 Introduction to Broadcast Media
• MART297 Audio/Video Production

Additional required courses:

• ARTS230 Graphic Design I:Tools, Methodology, and Vocabulary
• ARTS290 Professional Practices Seminar
• COMM240 Introduction to Mass Media
• ENGL312 Reading as Writers Across Media

Historical Perspective (choose two):

• ARTS107 Art History III Impressionism to Contemporary
• ARTS344 American Art History
• ARTS452 Contemporary Issues in Art
• COMM365 Images on Film

Theoretical and Critical Analysis (9 credits)

• COMM385 Law and Ethics in Media
• Plus two of:
  • ARTS450 Art Theory and Criticism
  • COMM325 Processes of Criticism
  • COMM475 Media Ecology
  • ENGL350 Literary Theory
  • MART475 Avant Garde/Experimental Film

Capstone/Senior Project (two courses):

• MART496 Media Arts Capstone I
• MART497 Media Arts Capstone II – Exhibition

Area of Emphasis

Choose between Motion Graphics and Animation or Video Arts and Broadcasting

Motion Graphics and Animation

Both of:

• ARTS330 Graphic Design II: Graphic Design Studio
• MART397 Advanced Audio/Video Production

Three of:

• ARTS312 Introduction to Illustration
• ARTS332 Graphic Design IV: Design for Multimedia
• ARTS336 Graphic Design III: Introduction to Web Design
• ARTS432 Digital Painting/Concept Art
• COMM360 Visual Communication
• MART290 Introduction to Animation
• MART330 Motion Graphics Design
• MART435 Motion Graphics 2

Video Arts and Broadcasting

One course:

• MART397 Advanced Audio/Video Production

Four of:

• ARTS330 Graphic Design II: Graphic Design Studio
• COMM333 Screenwriting
• COMM360 Visual Communication
• MART290 Introduction to Animation
• MART330 Motion Graphics Design
• MART465 Editing for Film and Video

Optional Internship

• MART499 Media Arts Internship

Optional Coursework

Additional curricular suggestions and electives for the media arts student:

• ARTS213 Photography II and Lab
• BUSN101 Introduction to Business
• COMM389 Intercultural Communication
• COMS103 Intro to Programming I
• MUSC102 Music Appreciation
• THTR101 Introduction to Theatre
• THTR320 Scene Design
• THTR360 Lighting Design
• THTR380 Sound Design