Biola UniversityCourses | B.A. in Cinema and Media Arts
Summary
Below are some of the courses you’ll have an opportunity to take as a student in this program. Note: This list is intended to give you a quick glimpse into the program’s academic offerings, and should not be used as a guide for course selection or academic advising. For official program requirements see catalog for details.
Course Overview
The following documents outline a suggested course schedule.
Concentrations
Production
A production concentration offers students a thorough grounding in the creation of film, television or audio and new media. Students are encouraged to develop their technical skills, training for positions as director, cinematographer, gaffer, editor, sound designer, recording engineer, new media creation and/or production designer. Whether pursuing careers in the entertainment industry or media ministry, students discover a spirit of cooperation and collaboration is essential.
| CNMA 101 | The Art of Storytelling |
| Giving filmmakers an introduction to the building blocks of storytelling: character, setting and plot. Students will read and study the steps of the Hero's Journey as used in current Hollywood films. They will analyze story structure, write short stories based on real and imagined events and create film ideas and short screenplays. Special emphasis will be given to the history, art and aesthetics of storytelling. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 102 | Visual Aesthetics |
| Through an introduction to the building blocks of visual storytelling, students will learn to use film grammar to tell their stories effectively. Special emphasis will be given to lighting, color, shape, line, and space. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 104 | History of Cinema |
| Creating historians via a survey of the development of the motion picture including the evolution of motion pictures as an art form, classic Hollywood narrative structure, technological developments, communication medium, and industry. Films screened in the course will be analyzed from perspectives of auteur theory, genre theory and thematic criticism. Special emphasis will be given to cultural criticism locating films in their unique time and place. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 251 | Sound Recording |
| An introduction to the theory and practice of storytelling with sound. Topics include physics, acoustics and psychoacoustics of sound, field and studio sound recording, multi-track mixing and editing, and sound effects as applied to film, television, recording arts and other media. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 262 | Directing for TV and Film |
| Covers all aspects of directing for motion pictures and television. Includes emphasis on the director's role and responsibility in the following stages: script, casting, actors, pre-production, camera, post-production. Also covers the director's spiritual preparation and integration into the craft. Students complete one short film. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 301 | Transmedia |
| Transmedia introduces the techniques of telling a story across multiple technology platforms and formats. Topics include: web design, media streaming, small screen production and apps for pads or smartphones, graphic design, interactive, virtual reality, audio and video formats for new media; computer hardware, operating systems, networking and server systems. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 302 | Production Management |
| Covers the budgeting and scheduling necessary for media production. Students learn the parameters considered in making decisions to balance the creative goals and logistical demands of production. Matters of insurance; deal negotiation; contracts; union rules (including SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE) copyright and clearance issues; management of crew; liaison difficulties with studios, clients and outside publics; and other issues will be covered. Evaluation of students' understanding will be based on a budget and schedule for a one hour single camera drama they will be required to complete, as well as pertinent test and quizzes. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 303 | Cinematography |
| Explores the aesthetics of the film image. Students gain the ability to talk and write about the aesthetics of an image and the practical business of image capture. Students will understand basic composition, lighting and exposure and what makes an image attractive to the human eye. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 315 | Editing for Film and Television |
| Instruction and application in the art of digital editing with emphasis on Final Cut Pro HD. An intense study of the craft and role of the editor as storyteller. Covers various genres and formats (e.g., features, documentaries, short films, trailers). Emphasis on the editor's role in other aspects of post-production, including audio, music, color correction, digital effects, DVD authoring. Several individual projects allow hands-on practical learning. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 353 | Media Literacy |
| This course will cover the effect of visual media on society and the noticeable absence of learning the grammar of visual language within the educational process. Instead of relegating the study of media to a simple inoculation against negative images, this course seeks to understand and celebrate the quite human process of media creation and consumption with the hope of restoring agency to the audience and accountability to the creator. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production |
| The first course of a three-course sequence (358, 359, 452) in which a dramatic film will be produced. This course emphasizes the essential pre-production aspects including script development, budgeting, casting, set construction, location surveys, and develops skills in using production equipment. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production |
| Principal photography will be done for the film project begun in 358. Emphasizes lighting, camera operation, sound recording and directing. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship |
| A real-world learning experience beyond the university classroom. The focus is working in a media-related organization such as a production company, network, studio or media ministry. This course will test students' commitment, aptitude and stamina for work within the entertainment industry. Includes on-campus sessions designed to strengthen and expand professional skills. Notes: Sixty hours of internship is required for each academic credit. May be taken multiple times for a maximum of 6 credits. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 452 | Motion Picture Post-Production |
| The final course in a three-course film production sequence (358, 359, 452). Emphasizes editing, music, sound effects, mixing, laboratory coordination, and distribution. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Media Project |
| Student produces a 'calling card' project with advice and guidance from faculty. The project will represent the student's highest achievement in media production. Projects can include scripts, audio recordings, video, motion pictures, and other emerging media. Grade Mode: A. | |
Writing for Film and Television
The Writing for Film and Television concentration covers the fundamental elements of storytelling—from conception (the pitch and the outline), to execution (the script), to the all-important rewriting and polishing process.
| CNMA 101 | The Art of Storytelling |
| Giving filmmakers an introduction to the building blocks of storytelling: character, setting and plot. Students will read and study the steps of the Hero's Journey as used in current Hollywood films. They will analyze story structure, write short stories based on real and imagined events and create film ideas and short screenplays. Special emphasis will be given to the history, art and aesthetics of storytelling. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 102 | Visual Aesthetics |
| Through an introduction to the building blocks of visual storytelling, students will learn to use film grammar to tell their stories effectively. Special emphasis will be given to lighting, color, shape, line, and space. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 104 | History of Cinema |
| Creating historians via a survey of the development of the motion picture including the evolution of motion pictures as an art form, classic Hollywood narrative structure, technological developments, communication medium, and industry. Films screened in the course will be analyzed from perspectives of auteur theory, genre theory and thematic criticism. Special emphasis will be given to cultural criticism locating films in their unique time and place. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 203 | Screenwriting I |
| An introductory course to the art of writing for film and television. Includes emphasis on structure, especially the hero's journey, archetypes, genre and story outline. Students will develop a detailed treatment before creating a feature screenplay. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 204 | The Entertainment Business |
| A survey of current industry practices and careers in film, television, music and emerging technologies. Students will learn to research and analyze the career and business choices of current professionals in the industry and create long-term strategies for entering into and succeeding in the entertainment business. Special emphasis will be given to the unique ethical questions and biblical applications that arise within the Hollywood context. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 312 | Screenwriting II |
| Advanced work in writing an original feature-length screenplay. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 351 | Writing the Scene |
| This course will take students through the study of story premise, outline, treatment and draft as it pertains to both feature motion pictures and television plays. Students will write each of these various elements in the process of screenplay development. There will be thirteen writing assignments during the semester. Each student's material will be reviewed and critiqued by the instructor and the students in the class one week later. Several of the assignments will be rewritten after notes have been given. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 352 | Character Development and Dialogue |
| An exploration of characters and dialogue in film and television formats. Scenes and sequences will be written by students during the course. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 353 | Media Literacy |
| This course will cover the effect of visual media on society and the noticeable absence of learning the grammar of visual language within the educational process. Instead of relegating the study of media to a simple inoculation against negative images, this course seeks to understand and celebrate the quite human process of media creation and consumption with the hope of restoring agency to the audience and accountability to the creator. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 354 | The TV Writer's Room |
| Re-creating the format and method of the television 'writer's room', students will collaborate to pitch, develop, outline, and as a group, write (and then re-write) episodes of an existing television show. TV story structure, scene writing, note-taking, and collaboration will all be addressed. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 405 | Understanding Representation |
| This course will involve learning the importance of representation for the writer, how to get representation, and how to develop this relationship to one's best advantage, learning basic contracts that professionals in the industry will need in order to do business in their areas. In addition, this will include packaging and pitching of projects, which students will learn to reduce ideas to basic components enhancing verbal presentation skills. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 420 | Coverages and Rewrites |
| A course in learning to perform coverage of scripts and in rewriting and polishing dramatic scripts for television and motion pictures. An emphasis will be placed on critical analysis of story structure from classic films to contemporary works. Includes identification of key story concepts and elements of three-act structure. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship |
| A real-world learning experience beyond the university classroom. The focus is working in a media-related organization such as a production company, network, studio or media ministry. This course will test students' commitment, aptitude and stamina for work within the entertainment industry. Includes on-campus sessions designed to strengthen and expand professional skills. Notes: Sixty hours of internship is required for each academic credit. May be taken multiple times for a maximum of 6 credits. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 453 | Beauty as Truth |
| This course will explore the idea of how to get one's worldview into the story without ruining the story. It will study how story works to impact an audience, and how the filmmaker uses the many aspects of film apart from just dialogue to tell the story and shape the message. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Media Project |
| Student produces a 'calling card' project with advice and guidance from faculty. The project will represent the student's highest achievement in media production. Projects can include scripts, audio recordings, video, motion pictures, and other emerging media. Grade Mode: A. | |
| ENGL 344 | Creative Writing: Fiction |
| Fiction workshop. Students will read and critique each other's work, study selected modern and contemporary short stories and investigate the creative writing process. Grade Mode: A. | |
Media Management
| BUSN 211 | Principles of Accounting I |
| Financial accounting concepts and techniques essential for all business majors and those seeking to learn the language of business; analyzing and recording transactions; preparation of financial statements; valuation and allocation procedures. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 212 | Principles of Accounting II |
| Financial accounting for corporations; analysis of financial statements; international accounting issues; introduction to managerial accounting; product costing and cost allocation procedures; budgetary control and responsibility accounting; analysis and techniques for planning and managerial decision making. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 230 | Introduction to Marketing |
| Introduction to the basic elements of modern marketing including the study of the marketing environment framework, target market, market segmentation, marketing ethics, and the marketing mix variables of product, promotion, price, public relations, and place/distribution. Notes: This course is intended for students that do not have marketing or marketing management as a concentration. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 101 | The Art of Storytelling |
| Giving filmmakers an introduction to the building blocks of storytelling: character, setting and plot. Students will read and study the steps of the Hero's Journey as used in current Hollywood films. They will analyze story structure, write short stories based on real and imagined events and create film ideas and short screenplays. Special emphasis will be given to the history, art and aesthetics of storytelling. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 204 | The Entertainment Business |
| A survey of current industry practices and careers in film, television, music and emerging technologies. Students will learn to research and analyze the career and business choices of current professionals in the industry and create long-term strategies for entering into and succeeding in the entertainment business. Special emphasis will be given to the unique ethical questions and biblical applications that arise within the Hollywood context. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 301 | Transmedia |
| Transmedia introduces the techniques of telling a story across multiple technology platforms and formats. Topics include: web design, media streaming, small screen production and apps for pads or smartphones, graphic design, interactive, virtual reality, audio and video formats for new media; computer hardware, operating systems, networking and server systems. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 302 | Production Management |
| Covers the budgeting and scheduling necessary for media production. Students learn the parameters considered in making decisions to balance the creative goals and logistical demands of production. Matters of insurance; deal negotiation; contracts; union rules (including SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE) copyright and clearance issues; management of crew; liaison difficulties with studios, clients and outside publics; and other issues will be covered. Evaluation of students' understanding will be based on a budget and schedule for a one hour single camera drama they will be required to complete, as well as pertinent test and quizzes. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 353 | Media Literacy |
| This course will cover the effect of visual media on society and the noticeable absence of learning the grammar of visual language within the educational process. Instead of relegating the study of media to a simple inoculation against negative images, this course seeks to understand and celebrate the quite human process of media creation and consumption with the hope of restoring agency to the audience and accountability to the creator. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 355 | History of Television Programming |
| A study of the history of the television business from a programming perspective. Students learn how programming of each season reflects the socioeconomic trends of the times. A variety of sitcoms, dramas and variety shows are viewed and students learn to look at how current programming has developed from formats that were successful in the 1950s through the present. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production |
| The first course of a three-course sequence (358, 359, 452) in which a dramatic film will be produced. This course emphasizes the essential pre-production aspects including script development, budgeting, casting, set construction, location surveys, and develops skills in using production equipment. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production |
| Principal photography will be done for the film project begun in 358. Emphasizes lighting, camera operation, sound recording and directing. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 392 | Principles of Advertising |
| Advertising principles and techniques. The study of effective and ineffective forms of advertising. Applications linked to public relations, media events, marketing, and communication encounters. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 433 | Mass Media Law and Ethics |
| Study of theoretical approaches to the First Amendment as well as specific areas of concern to professional journalists such as defamation, privacy, fair trial, obscenity, copyright, shield laws, sunshine laws, etc. Exploration of applied professional ethics and contemporary professional issues of ethics for media professionals. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship |
| A real-world learning experience beyond the university classroom. The focus is working in a media-related organization such as a production company, network, studio or media ministry. This course will test students' commitment, aptitude and stamina for work within the entertainment industry. Includes on-campus sessions designed to strengthen and expand professional skills. Notes: Sixty hours of internship is required for each academic credit. May be taken multiple times for a maximum of 6 credits. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 449 | The Role of the Producer |
| Producers make film and television happen. This course covers what a producer does to create a budget, to find financing, to manage the production process, and to market and distribute a film or television project. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 452 | Motion Picture Post-Production |
| The final course in a three-course film production sequence (358, 359, 452). Emphasizes editing, music, sound effects, mixing, laboratory coordination, and distribution. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 455 | Media Management |
| Covers management strategies as applied to media companies, including television stations, cable systems, motion picture production companies, companies in the emerging technologies and ministry media. In addition, students will receive guidance geared toward final preparation for entering into executive positions in the entertainment industry. Projects include resumes, cover letters, interview and meeting techniques, reader coverage, and concludes with students pitching projects to current entertainment executives. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Media Project |
| Student produces a 'calling card' project with advice and guidance from faculty. The project will represent the student's highest achievement in media production. Projects can include scripts, audio recordings, video, motion pictures, and other emerging media. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 458 | Mass Communication Research |
| Methodology for mass communication research, including sampling, questionnaire design and introduction to statistics. Students conduct an audience analysis, focus groups and research project. A major goal is to become adept at reading and evaluating research reports. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 470 | Cinema and Media Arts Seminar |
| A rotating variety of topics and production experiences often employing special guests from within the media industries. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, Fund Raising, Event Planning, Visual Effects, Audio Recording, Cinematography, Production Design, the Sundance Film Festival, the City of the Angels Film Festival, the Biola Media Conference. Notes: May be taken multiple times. Grade Mode: A. | |
| COMM 387 | Organizational Communication |
| The dynamics of organizational communication centering in systems, structures and patterns of work/workplace communication; the role of communication in organizational development. Grade Mode: A. | |
Game Design and Interactive Media
| ARTS 111 | 3-D Design |
| A foundational course devoted to examining, exploring, and applying three-dimensional design concepts, construction and composition. Notes: Approved for Core Curriculum Fine Arts credit. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 101 | The Art of Storytelling |
| Giving filmmakers an introduction to the building blocks of storytelling: character, setting and plot. Students will read and study the steps of the Hero's Journey as used in current Hollywood films. They will analyze story structure, write short stories based on real and imagined events and create film ideas and short screenplays. Special emphasis will be given to the history, art and aesthetics of storytelling. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 102 | Visual Aesthetics |
| Through an introduction to the building blocks of visual storytelling, students will learn to use film grammar to tell their stories effectively. Special emphasis will be given to lighting, color, shape, line, and space. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 215 | Game Design Fundamentals |
A comprehensive introduction to the basic tools and principles of game design, including mechanics, system dynamics, dramatic elements, and level design. Students design and playtest several original game ideas through iterative physical prototypes. | |
| CNMA 301 | Transmedia |
| Transmedia introduces the techniques of telling a story across multiple technology platforms and formats. Topics include: web design, media streaming, small screen production and apps for pads or smartphones, graphic design, interactive, virtual reality, audio and video formats for new media; computer hardware, operating systems, networking and server systems. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 310 | Visual Effects |
| An introduction to digital visual effects for film and television. The class covers basic 2-D, 3-D and motion graphics. Participants should have extensive computer experience. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 325 | Designing Game Narratives |
An exploration in telling emotionally-resonant stories using the medium of digital games. Relevant story-driven games will be analyzed, and techniques such as branching narratives, procedural stories and environmental storytelling will be discussed. Students will create a design document for a game that tells a story. | |
| CNMA 327 | Game Engines |
A hands-on workshop in creating interactive game environments in industry-standard game engine software. Topics include materials, lighting, cut-scenes, animation, visual effects, level building and programming to respond to player actions. | |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship |
| A real-world learning experience beyond the university classroom. The focus is working in a media-related organization such as a production company, network, studio or media ministry. This course will test students' commitment, aptitude and stamina for work within the entertainment industry. Includes on-campus sessions designed to strengthen and expand professional skills. Notes: Sixty hours of internship is required for each academic credit. May be taken multiple times for a maximum of 6 credits. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Media Project |
| Student produces a 'calling card' project with advice and guidance from faculty. The project will represent the student's highest achievement in media production. Projects can include scripts, audio recordings, video, motion pictures, and other emerging media. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CNMA 470 | Cinema and Media Arts Seminar |
| A rotating variety of topics and production experiences often employing special guests from within the media industries. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, Fund Raising, Event Planning, Visual Effects, Audio Recording, Cinematography, Production Design, the Sundance Film Festival, the City of the Angels Film Festival, the Biola Media Conference. Notes: May be taken multiple times. Grade Mode: A. | |
| CSCI 105 | Introduction to Computer Science |
| Introduction to computer hardware and software. Problem solving methods. Elementary concepts of algorithm development. C++ programming. Lecture/Lab Hours: Three hours lecture, one hour lab. Grade Mode: A. | |
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