COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Undergraduate Courses | Graduate Courses - Masters of Fine Arts in Film

Undergraduate RTVF Courses

RTVF 111. Introduction to Mass Communications. 3 crs. Explores the world of mass communication in its entirety and all critical efforts that affect this area.

RTVF 211. Communications Research. 3 crs. Designed to introduce students to the theories and methodologies of research in the field of communications. Emphasis will be placed on developing research models, planning and managing investigations and surveys, as well as on the impact of the research on society. Prereq.: Sophomore standing and RTVF 111.

RTVF 213. History of Broadcasting and Film. 3 crs. The political, social and economic history of broadcasting and film in the United States. Emphasis placed on technological, institutional and programmatic development, and their mutual influence. project in each medium with projects governed by the aesthetic principles of that medium. Prereq.: Sophomore standing and RTVF 111.

RTVF 215. Communications Policy. 3 crs. A survey of the new communications technology and systems, focusing on their effect on the formulation of communications policy. Emphasis placed on information reproduction, retrieval, storage and distribution. Prereq.: Sophomore standing and RTVF 111.

RTVF 231 Introduction to Media Production. 3 crs. Designed to give students a technical and operational foundation in radio, video and film. Requires that each student produce a short projects in each medium with projects governed by the aesthetic principles of that medium. Prereq.: Sophomore standing and RTVF 111.

RTVF 232. Basic Television and Film Production. 3 crs. Theory and practice of the basic prindples governing the disdplines of video and film. The primary concern of the course will be to understand photo-optics, the photo-chemical process and the television studio through exposing students to a variety of problem-solving exerdses. Prereq.: RTVF 231.

RTVF 312. Contemporary Topics in Mass Communications. 3 crs. Discussion of the problems of mass media and sodety based on readings on the subject. Prereq.: RTVF 111.

RTVF 322. Radio Production. 3 crs. Lecture-laboratory course in writing, research, and persuasive communication tech- niques in radio production. Prereq.: RTVF 231.

RTVF 324. Broadcast Performance. 3 crs. Laboratory course dealing with the basic prindples of broadcast announdng and interviewing. Prereq.: RTVF 231.

RTVF 326. Videography. 3 crs. An intermediate course in video, studio and field production, operations and techniques, editing and mixing. Prereq.: RTVF 231.

RTVF 331. TV Directing and Lab. 3 crs. Advanced television production course focusing on the role of the television di- rector in a variety of productions. Prereq.: RTVF 326.

RTVF 334. Scriptwriting. 3 crs. Introduction to the fundamentals of film, radio, and television script writing. Prereq.: RTVF 231.

RTVF 335. African Americans in Music Industry. 3 crs. A critical survey of the use and misuse of AFRO American music (blues, jazz, gospel, contemporary) by the commercial re- cording industry in the U.S.

RTVF 337. Television Documentary. 3 crs. Theory and practice in planning and executing public affairs, informational, and cultural documentary programs.

RTVF 338. TV Tech Operations. 3 crs. Students learn the different skills necessary to operate the technical areas of a television station. Classes are taught in WHUT-TV, the University-owned television station.

RTVF 342. Cinematography I. 3 crs. Study of the basic principles governing the discipline of cinematography and the development of technical skills. Fall only. Prereq.: RTVF 232.

RTVF 345. Third World Cinema. 3 crs. Treats the alternative cinema of the Third World, with a view towards film as a reflection of ideological superstructures. Fall semester only. Prereq.: RTVF 232.

RTVF 346. Blacks in Film. 3 crs. Historical survey and critical social analysis of black films and blacks in film. Spring semester only.

RTVF 351. Telecommunications Ownership and Finance. 3 crs. Treats the principles of marketing and development of buying habits among purchasers through the mass me- dia. Prereq.: RTVF 213.

RTVF 352. Telecommunications Advertising and Sales. 3 crs. Introduction to the theories and practices of sales and advertising departments of radio and television stations. Prereq.: RTVF 213.

RTVF 353. Media Programming. 3 crs. Survey ohadio and televi- sion programs and on-the-air presentations, using advanced techniques in psychological and sociological principles of programming. Prereq.: RTVF 213.

RTVF 354. WHBC/WHUR Lab. O cr. Organized broadcast ac- tivity designed to expose students to all aspects of broad- casting. Students operate independently in all job positions.

RTVF 366. African Americans in the Mass Media. 3 crs. Pro- vides a historical and critical analysis linking the changing images of African Americans in the media to concurrent social, economic, cultural and political trends.

RTVF 419. Directed Study. 3 crs. Independent research or study, designed to help students pursue interests not served in formal courses. Prereq.: Junior or senior standing.

RTVF 423. Advanced Radio Production. 3 crs. Project course focusing on documentary and dramatic solutions to problems in education and public affairs programming. Prereq: RlVF 322.

RTVF 424. International Telecommunications. 3 crs. Comparative study of international communications systems, pro- gram policy, economics, organization, and control, with emphasis on Third World broadcasting. Spring semester only. Prereq.: Junior or senior standing.

RTVF 431. Advanced Television Production. 3 crs. Independent study of advanced production techniques and principles, during which student produces a major video product or studio production. Prereq.: RTVF 331.

RTVF 432. TV Practicum. 1 cr. Continued ongoing work within the student's chosen TV area, generally involving placement in a professional setting. Prereq.: RTVF 326 and minimum 3.0 GPA in all major courses.

RTVF 433. Audio Practicum.1 cr. Continued ongoing work within the student's chosen audio area, generally involving placement in a professional setting. Prereq.: Senior standing and minimum 3.0 GPA in all major courses.

RTVF 434. Film Practicum. 1 cr. Continued ongoing work within the student's chosen film area, generally involving placement in a professional setting. Prereq.: Senior standing and minimum 3.0 GPA in all major courses.

RTVF 435. Management Practicum. 1 cr. Continued ongoing work within the student's chosen management/policy area, generally involving placement in a professional setting. Prereq.: Senior standing and minimum 3.0 GPA in all major courses.

RTVF 441. Documentary Film. 3 crs. Surveys history of the documentary film, concentrating on the documentary as a film with a purpose. Prereq.: RTVF 342.

RTVF 443. Film Directing. 3 crs. Teaches the principles of directing: methods and techniques, styles and interpretation of role acting, and stage blocking. Fall semester only. Prereq.: RTVF 342.

RTVF 451. Broadcast Management. 3 crs. Functions of various radio and television stations in relation to the community and market. Prereq.: RTVF 215.

Graduate Courses - Masters of Fine Arts in Film

380-501. Script Writing II. 3 crs. Intense script writing workshops for advanced candidates with close attention to the continuity in structure, form, rhythm, characterization, action, dialogue, and subject matter

380-502. Film Editing. 3 crs. Designed to introduce the student to a variety of established theoretical concepts of film editing while encouraging them to explore and discover innovative approaches to the use of film language.

380-503. Cinematography II. 3 crs. Designed as a group approach to sharpen professional skills of cinematography and expose the students to a more professional atmosphere.

380-504. Third World Films and Social Change. 3 crs. The purpose of this course is to benefit communicators; sharpen their skill as well as their responsibility by developing knowledge of the past, present and future roles of film in the historical development of Third World society.

380-505. Film Analysis. 3 crs. A course designed to provide the student with the techniques and aesthetics for conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses of the entertainment film.

380-600. Advanced Film History. 3 crs. Gives critical emphasis to the creative trends in the history of film. For example, realism, neo-realism, new wave, expressionism, etc.

380-602. Cinematography III. 6 crs. Limited to the degree candidates who have received approval for their projects and have progressed to the production stage.

380-603. Film Directing. 3 crs. Covers the rudiments of film directing, the mechanics of film directing, the mechanics and techniques of staging and coordinating the camera, as well as the artistic process required in the creation of the visual product.

380-604. Cinema Sound. 3 crs. Introduces the student to the fundamental building blocks of "controlled creative sound," and its relationship to cultural and psychological factors which determine the effectiveness of a motion picture sound track.

380-700. African American Cinema. 3 crs. A historical survey and critical social analysis of African Americans and black films from the first black that participated in the film of Thomas Alva Edison to the present.

380-701. Script Writing III. 3 crs. Seminars. Critical evaluation of completed and established motion picture or television scripts to further the student's understanding of style, theme, techniques, structure, subject matter and world view.

380-702. Film Practicum. 3 crs. Project. Ongoing work in advanced production, generally involving placement of student in professional setting.

380-703. Advanced Film Directing. 6 crs. Seminars and workshops in advanced film directing to further illustrate the role of the director.

380-704. Advanced Film Criticism. 3 crs. Advanced readings in major texts of film theory. Application of theory and criticism in looking at varied topics such as violence in film, and propaganda in film, and women in film.

380-800. African Cinema. 3 crs. Primarily a course dealing with film industries in Africa from a historical perspective to social, political and cultural perspectives. This course will cover films done by African filmmakers and topics about Africa.

380-801. Production, Distribution and Exhibition. 3 crs. Provides the student with a working knowledge of the management skills necessary in the business of motion picture production. This information is presented from the perspective of the film industry.

380-802. Thesis. 6 crs. Thesis in motion picture is evaluated in each phase application to motion picture, i.e., preproduction, production, and post-production. This requirement can be satisfied by submitting a written thesis, or a full-length screen play, or a completed film.

380-803. Script Writing IV. 3 crs. Advanced seminars, lectures and workshops designed to develop and advance major full-length writing projects with closer individual attention to each work.