Bachelors (BA) in Cinematic Arts
Overview
The Cinematic Arts major offers a 45-48-semester-hour course of study that combines the liberal arts emphasis of communication arts with hands-on experiences in video, film, digital media production, animation, interactive media, and video game design. An extensive selection of electives allows the student to design a program that fits individual needs or interests.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a BA in cinematic arts will:
- Students will be able to discuss and evaluate the history, fundamental professional practices, and standards of contemporary visual media arts.
- Students will create cinematic arts projects, including writing and storytelling for media.
- Students will critique and analyze contemporary visual media productions, practices, and impacts.
- Students will have a greater appreciation for the various ways in which faith issues can be integrated within the cinematic arts.
- Students will comprehend and employ communication theories, perspectives, principles, concepts, and techniques in everyday life in relation to their discipline.
Major Requirements
Core requirements (21 credit hours)
Complete the following:
An historical examination of the moving image, including television programming and film in the United States. Employs contextual and ethical methods for illuminating the relationship of these media artifacts to modern culture, both secular and religious.
Film is a truly an international medium, stretching across borders, decades, and cultures. Students will study international films in terms of the historical, cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped them.
An introduction to film as a narrative and visual medium, emphasizing the terms, methods and techniques of film analysis, as well as prominent critical theoretical approaches to understanding film.
Complete the following:
Students work collaboratively to explore story and script essentials, the technical, creative, and aesthetic elements of the video production process. Course includes professional script formatting, basic lighting, sound, camera operation, composition, and design of visual elements, producing and directing basics through lecture, classroom and supervised laboratory experiences.
Professional techniques and artistry of writing for the screen. Students create story premises, write scripts for short films, original and spec television series and feature films. This course examines plot structure, characterization, dialogue, action, genre, and the business aspects, including agents, script sales, and the Hollywood system. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound.
Students explore different means of producing visual effects using digital computer imaging, blue-screens, compositing, and old-fashioned movie magic. Students will also learn how to create animated text sequences and video graphics. Additional course fee required.
An internship experience designed to give students an opportunity to practice video and film techniques and principles in an off-campus, professional setting. Students choose from a variety of options - cable, broadcast, corporate, medical, or commercial production facilities - based on the student's goals and interests. Up to 6 hours may apply to the cinematic arts major. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
This class helps prepare students for entry into the professional realm by developing networking and marketing strategies, and by preparing a professional reel of their best work, which will be critiqued by members of the local media industry. Prerequisite: senior status. Additional course fee required.
Concentrations (24 -27 credit hours) - choose one
Students in the animation concentration study techniques for producing 2D, 3D and stop motion animation and visual effects using a combination of creativity, aesthetics, and computer software.
Complete the following:
A course offering an introduction to industry-standard design software and applications, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, and other applications tailored to the instructor's expertise. Students can access the Creative Suite on campus computers in Lemmons. Students not accessing on-campus computers should anticipate purchasing the Creative Suite for a personal device. Additional course fee is required.
A course offering students an expansive understanding of drawing as both an artistic act and a part of the daily creative process. Through skill-building exercises, sketchbook work, concept-driven projects, and critique sessions, students explore the history, techniques, and impact of mark-making. Students develop foundational skills of observational drawing, as well as being introduced to drawing practice's other facets. Additional course fee is required.
This is the study of pre-production and previsualization techniques used in animation. Topics include developing story, storyboarding, concept design, and editing animatics. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and ARTS 111 Drawing I or instructor's permission.
This is an introduction to the fundamentals of animation production, from traditional hand drawn techniques to stop motion animation. In this hands-on workshop, students will produce short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
This is an introduction to 2D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Students will create character animations and short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and CINE 212 Introduction to Animation or instructor’s permission.
This is an introduction to 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on modeling texturing, lighting and rendering. Students will create original 3D artwork. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite.
Explore the timeless art of stop motion animation in this hands-on course, located just miles from Portland, Oregon—renowned as the stop motion capital of the world. Students will learn the fundamentals of frame-by-frame animation, from character design to set construction and lighting, while honing their skills in storytelling through motion. Through practical projects, participants will bring inanimate objects to life, discovering the intricacies and creative potential of this unique animation form. Additional course fee is required.
In this intensive hands-on production course, students will draw on all their filmmaking skills to produce 10- to 30-minute shorts - narrative, documentary, or animated - for their portfolios and film festivals. This semester focuses on preproduction and production, including script breakdown, casting, and actual filming. Prerequisite: one of the following: CINE 310 Intermediate Directing, CINE 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting, CINE 333 Camera & Lighting, CINE 350 Editing Video, CINE 430 Producing & Directing Video, or instructor's permission. Admission to the class is a competitive process based on the student's proposal and script. Additional course fee is required.
Suggested Electives (not required)
Introduction to the materials, methods, and techniques used in photography. Additional course fee is required.
This course explores the various camera and lighting techniques used in film and digital video production. Students will focus on applying lighting techniques and camera movement to create specific visual effects. Students will apply the ideas discussed in the text and lectures to a series of in-class explorations, in addition to scenes filmed outside of class. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission. Additional course fee required.
An internship experience designed to give students an opportunity to practice video and film techniques and principles in an off-campus, professional setting. Students choose from a variety of options - cable, broadcast, corporate, medical, or commercial production facilities - based on the student's goals and interests. Up to 6 hours may apply to the cinematic arts major. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
This course continues the project started in Advanced Production Workshop I into postproduction, including editing, sound design, color correction, and DVD authoring. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CINE 481 Advanced Production Workshop I or instructor's permission.
An advanced seminar offered on an occasional basis addressing a current topic in the field that is of special interest to students and current faculty. Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission. Additional course fee may be required.
The study of the moving image incorporates cinema history, media criticism and elements of hands-on film production.
Complete the following:
Working with classmates as crew, students take turns directing scenes from Hollywood movies in this hands-on directing workshop. Beyond storyboarding and shot planning, this class focuses on working with actors, working with crew, and other skills required for balancing the technical and the artistic aspects of directing. Prerequisites: CINE 230 Cinematic Foundations and CINE 333 Camera and Lighting; or instructor's permission.
This course explores the various camera and lighting techniques used in film and digital video production. Students will focus on applying lighting techniques and camera movement to create specific visual effects. Students will apply the ideas discussed in the text and lectures to a series of in-class explorations, in addition to scenes filmed outside of class. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission. Additional course fee required.
This project-based course delves into the core elements of post-production, combining picture editing, sound design, and color grading. Students will learn to shape and refine visual narratives, enhance storytelling through creative soundscapes, and apply color techniques to bring cinematic visions to life. Through hands-on projects, participants will develop technical skills and artistic strategies for crafting polished, cohesive films. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Cinematic Foundations or instructor’s permission. Additional course fee is required.
In this intensive hands-on production course, students will draw on all their filmmaking skills to produce 10- to 30-minute shorts - narrative, documentary, or animated - for their portfolios and film festivals. This semester focuses on preproduction and production, including script breakdown, casting, and actual filming. Prerequisite: one of the following: CINE 310 Intermediate Directing, CINE 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting, CINE 333 Camera & Lighting, CINE 350 Editing Video, CINE 430 Producing & Directing Video, or instructor's permission. Admission to the class is a competitive process based on the student's proposal and script. Additional course fee is required.
Choose 12 credit hours of the following:
This is the study of pre-production and previsualization techniques used in animation. Topics include developing story, storyboarding, concept design, and editing animatics. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and ARTS 111 Drawing I or instructor's permission.
This is an introduction to the fundamentals of animation production, from traditional hand drawn techniques to stop motion animation. In this hands-on workshop, students will produce short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
This is an introduction to 2D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Students will create character animations and short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and CINE 212 Introduction to Animation or instructor’s permission.
Working with classmates as crew, students take turns directing scenes from Hollywood movies in this hands-on directing workshop. Beyond storyboarding and shot planning, this class focuses on working with actors, working with crew, and other skills required for balancing the technical and the artistic aspects of directing. Prerequisites: CINE 230 Cinematic Foundations and CINE 333 Camera and Lighting; or instructor's permission.
This is an introduction to 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on modeling texturing, lighting and rendering. Students will create original 3D artwork. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite.
The documentary filmmaker must juggle a multitude of skills while maintaining a relationship with their subject in an ethical manner. Students will explore the historical, critical, and ethical aspects of the documentary while studying the steps taken during preproduction. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound.
This course continues the documentary experience started in Documentary Production I. Students will apply their understanding of documentary filmmaking while exploring the aspects of production and post-production. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CINE 371 Documentary Production I.
This is an advanced course in 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on rigging and character animation. Students will create short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: CINE 212 Introduction to Animation and CINE 312 3D Computer Animation I
An advanced course in video directing and producing. Students explore the preproduction, production, and postproduction of original short feature videos for the Fox Film Festival. Prerequisite: CINE 350 Editing Video. Additional course fee required.
An advanced seminar offered on an occasional basis addressing a current topic in the field that is of special interest to students and current faculty. Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission. Additional course fee may be required.
Students will learn basic techniques of songwriting, including lyrics and song structure. Students will write their own songs, which they will then produce and record. Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or MUSI 180 Introduction to Music Technology or THEA 130 Stagecraft or by instructor’s permission.
OR
Up to 15 semester hours of course work at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center.
Complete the following:
A course offering an introduction to industry-standard design software and applications, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, and other applications tailored to the instructor's expertise. Students can access the Creative Suite on campus computers in Lemmons. Students not accessing on-campus computers should anticipate purchasing the Creative Suite for a personal device. Additional course fee is required.
A course offering students an expansive understanding of drawing as both an artistic act and a part of the daily creative process. Through skill-building exercises, sketchbook work, concept-driven projects, and critique sessions, students explore the history, techniques, and impact of mark-making. Students develop foundational skills of observational drawing, as well as being introduced to drawing practice's other facets. Additional course fee is required.
This is an introduction to the fundamentals of animation production, from traditional hand drawn techniques to stop motion animation. In this hands-on workshop, students will produce short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
This is an introduction to 2D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Students will create character animations and short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and CINE 212 Introduction to Animation or instructor’s permission.
This is an introduction to 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on modeling texturing, lighting and rendering. Students will create original 3D artwork. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite.
In this intensive hands-on production course, students will produce 3 fully functional prototype video games in 3D and 2D mediums. This semester focuses on the artistic side of game production, including concept work, art, and animation. Through this course, students will also experience production workflows using an array of industry-standard software to accomplish these project goals. Students will create their own games over the semester. Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite, CINE 212 Introduction to Animation, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.
A course for learning the essentials of programming for video games using an industry-standard video game engine. This course will cover the requisite high-level programming languages, object-oriented programming, event-driven programming, as well as fundamental features and concepts in game development. The course will be centered on project-based learning, and students will create their own games over the semester. Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and CSIS 202 Introduction to Computer Science II, or instructor's permission.
A foundational course for the study of computer science and information systems. The course covers an overview of programming methodology and gives the student an ability to write computer programs using standard style and structure. Programming projects are completed in one or more high-level languages. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: High school algebra or equivalent.
A foundational course for the study of computer science and information systems. The course covers an overview of programming methodology and gives the student an ability to write computer programs using standard style and structure. Programming projects are completed in one or more high-level languages. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CSIS 201 Introduction to Computer Science I or ENGR 152 Engineering Principles II.
Suggested Electives (not required)
A course offering an introduction to typography including type history, typefaces, type selection and layout, the use of type in effective designs, and creative approaches to using type. Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Digital Tools. Additional course fee is required.
A course focusing on the design of interactive objects and experiences, with a focus on user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. Key topics include navigation, information architecture, kinetic design, and the development of intuitive and effective interfaces. Students also explore research methods central to UI/UX design, gaining the skills necessary to craft seamless and engaging digital experiences. Prerequisite: ARTD 210 Typography. Additional course fee is required.
This is the study of pre-production and previsualization techniques used in animation. Topics include developing story, storyboarding, concept design, and editing animatics. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and ARTS 111 Drawing I or instructor's permission.
An advanced seminar offered on an occasional basis addressing a current topic in the field that is of special interest to students and current faculty. Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission. Additional course fee may be required.
An introduction to the concepts of information organization and manipulation. The course covers basic sequential structures such as array-backed lists, singly- and doubly-linked lists, stacks, and queues, and moves on to more complex data structures such as trees, graphs, priority queues, and dictionaries. Programming projects are completed in one or more high-level languages. Prerequisite: CSIS 202 Introduction to Computer Science II. Additional course fee is required.
An introduction to the formal processes and industry-standard tools used in producing quality software. The entire life cycle of software development is presented and utilized. Students work in teams to specify, design, implement, test, release, and maintain a non-trivial software project using a modern software development methodology. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: CSIS 202 Introduction to Computer Science II.
An introduction to the principles and methods used to design effective interfaces for users. A basic precept of human-computer interactions (HCI) is that users should be enabled to focus on achieving their goals, rather than forced to deal with the intricacies of complex software and features. The course provides an overview of human perception and cognition with respect to hardware and software interfaces, and emphasizes a human-centered design approach to crafting goal-oriented interfaces based on detailed personae development, comprehensive user stories, storyboarding, design sketches, and low- and high-fidelity functional prototypes. Students will apply principles learned in the course to design, construct, and evaluate various types of interfaces. The course provides a balance of theoretical and applied knowledge in an oft-neglected aspect of software development, giving students experience not typically provided by other courses in computer science. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CSIS 201 Introduction to Computer Science I.
A study of the fundamental concepts of object-oriented programming, including data abstraction and typing, encapsulation, single and multiple inheritance, substitutability, static and dynamic polymorphism, generics, interfaces, and design patterns. Object-oriented solutions will be designed using UML class and sequence diagrams and implemented in one or more high-level languages. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CSIS 310 Data Structures.
An introduction to the design and analysis of algorithms. The course covers the fundamentals of analyzing algorithms for correctness and time and space bounds. Topics include advanced sorting and searching methods, graph algorithms, geometric algorithms, matrix manipulations, string and pattern matching, set algorithms, and polynomial computations. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CSIS 310 Data Structures.
An introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge representation, reasoning and problem solving, AI search techniques, and moral and ethical considerations related to the use of AI-based systems. AI solutions will be developed in an appropriate AI language. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: CSIS 310 Data Structures. (CSIS 430 Analysis of Algorithms preferred.)