Television, BA

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Television Department Mission Statement

Our mission is to offer an education in Television that balances creativity, technology, and ethics in an environment of collaboration and support for the individual creative voice. We provide industry-oriented opportunities through process and project centered education and are committed to preparing a student for both life and career. Television is the medium that best captures and reflects the culture of our time. Our students contribute to both the local and global communities as they inform, entertain, and inspire us all.

Curricular Structure

The curriculum structure is based on the idea that we instruct both “the head and the hands” simultaneously. That means that in the first two years students are creating television, in a wide variety of production classes at the same time they are learning storytelling and analytical skills. The idea of the core is to give a solid foundation in all aspects of television, both preparing them to proceed onto their concentration and making sure they are ready to succeed at whatever opportunity the industry presents as they set about a career. While students are being challenged by a wide variety of technical, creative, and intellectual work in the core classes, we never lose focus of the foundation of storytelling that is at the heart of television.

The concentrations are built on the broad knowledge of the core and students focus in one of four areas: Writing/Producing, Directing/Production, Post-production/Effects, and Internet and Mobile Media. Each concentration explores in-depth their area, offering the students a wide range of experience, working both individually or on one of the variety of award winning departmental shows. The end results are skills that will be their entrée into the career they want. Ultimately, the student experience in the department is more than an exceptional learning community; it is one of real cooperation and creativity.

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Concentrations

Internet and Mobile Media

The Internet and Mobile Media concentration emphasizes the writing, producing and production of varied forms of episodic and standalone content for emerging media platforms including branded entertainment, webisodes, interactive and YouTube video. Students in this concentration produce both individually directed and collaborative projects, which are distributed through web and mobile devices.

Program Requirements

Post-Production and Effects

Post-production is the creative stage where visuals, audio, graphics and effects are combined and polished. Post-production completes the process of bringing the creative vision to the screen. In this concentration, students are expected to learn advanced editing, motion graphics and visual effects. Students work in a wide variety of editing genres, on individual productions and on programs produced for broadcast television, internet and mobile.

Program Requirements

Production and Direction

The Production and Directing concentration teaches students a wide variety of techniques for studio and location production for both single and multiple camera shoots. Students produce work in multiple environments including the studios, remote truck and in the field. Directors are expected to learn to block scripts, direct actors and performance all with an eye towards crafting a compelling visual presentation.

Program Requirements

Writing and Producing

Television is known as the writer’s medium. The writer/producer is the person-in-charge who creates new programs, develops new series, and oversees all aspects of production from the idea stage through marketing and distribution. Students in this concentration should be able to write and produce effectively across genres including comedy, drama, documentary and performance.

Program Requirements