Course Descriptions
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 100 | COM INTRODUCTORY SEMINAR | 1 (1-0) |
This course presents the Communications and Media Arts program at DCC, transfer options, and career planning strategies, including contemporary trends in mass communication and characteristics for success in the communications and media arts field.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 101 | INTRO TO MEDIA COMMUNICATION | 3 (2-2) |
COM 101 is a foundation course in the Communications and Media Arts Program. It has a strong theoretical component that asks students to examine and critically analyze the visual, auditory and narrative components of audio-visual media. In the lab sections of this course, students apply the concepts from the lectures as they learn the basic techniques of studio television production and design an appropriate lighting and shooting style for an original short piece that evolves from the students’ personal experiences. In the audio module of this course, students use sound objects to create narrative soundscapes. COM 101 provides an introduction to media aesthetics, which empowers students to become both conscious content creators of media and active, literate viewers of media.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 103 | THE ART AND CRAFT OF EDITING | 3 (2-2) |
This course is an introduction to the basic principles, aesthetics, and techniques of film and video editing. Students will work with a non-linear computer-based video editing program to create a variety of short projects that illustrate different editing techniques.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 110 | SHORT FILM PRODUCTION | 3 (2-2) |
The course is an introduction to digital media production that familiarizes students with the basic principles, theories and techniques in film production. Students will construct storyboards, write scripts, direct actors, and edit digital short film projects using equipment provided by the College. Prerequisites: COM 101 with a grade of C or better and COM 103.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 120 | MEDIA WRITING | 3 (3-0) |
Com 120 is an introductory course that familiarizes students with the basic principles and techniques of writing for the media. Students will practice informative, persuasive and creative writing, for print media, television, social media, and film. Prerequisite: ENG 101.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 140 | MEDIA AND MASS COMMUNICATION | 3 (3-0) |
This course is designed to present students with a comprehensive history of world mass communication. The course will present the impact of media technology on culture, how media industries influence content, and how new media influence and alter the dissemination of information. Prerequisite: ENG 101
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 210 | VISUAL EFFECTS - MOVING IMAGE | 4 (3-2) |
This course offers an introduction to the theory and techniques of visual effects. Emphasis is placed on constructing visual stories. Basic principles and techniques of visual effects production, animated sequences, opening sequences and titles for film, television, and the internet are explored. Students are introduced to the creative process of developing digital visual effects using compositing programs from storyboard to final video. Prerequisites: COM 110 with a grade of C or better AND ART 110 OR ART 112 OR ART 150 OR ART 157
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 211 | DIGITAL FILMMAKING | 4 (3-3) |
In this course in media production and visual effects, students collaborate to cast, film, edit and design visual effects for a short digital film. The course will challenge students to use media production and media compositing skills on an original project. Prerequisites: COM 210 and COM 120
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 221 | MEDIA STRATGS FOR PUBL RELATNS | 4 (3-2) |
This second year concentration course introduces students to concepts and theories in public relations and its connective relationship to journalism. Students will begin applying some of the media skills that they have developed in the COM Program to support public relations efforts for publicizing events on and off campus. Lectures will focus on the relationship between journalism and public relations, public relations planning, media writing for PR and journalism, standards and practices in the PR industry and traditional media, persuasion theory, organization and structure of media networks and effective message distribution in the media, including the utilization of weblogs, YouTube, and other Internet outlets. Pre-requisites: COM 120
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 222 | SOCIAL MEDIA | 4 (3-2) |
In this course, students will learn how to utilize online social media for the purpose of publicity and public relations. Students will analyze major social media platforms, write and design content for social media, and use social media as a platform for communication. Prerequisite: COM 120
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 233 | SOUND DESIGN FOR MEDIA | 4 (3-2) |
The course offers an introduction to sound recording in the context of media production, through an examination of the behavior of sound, basic room acoustics, the design and use of microphones, recording technologies, and sound editing/production systems. Lab projects involve recording wild sound and sound effects, recording of dialogue and voice, and combining various sound elements to create sonic structures used in film, television, radio and games. Prerequisite: COM 101 or MUS 104 or MUS 115
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 234 | BASIC MUSIC PRODUCTION | 4 (3-3) |
The course covers the principles of studio and field music recording using stereo and multi-track techniques. It includes editing, mixing, recording to CD and the use of MIDI instruments. Note: This course covers some advanced technical concepts. Prerequisite: COM 101 or MUS 104 or MUS 115
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 249 | TELEVISION PRODUCTION | 4 (4-0) |
Students are introduced to concepts and techniques for multi-camera and single-camera television production including: screenwriting, story boarding, casting, directing on-camera talent, camera angles, framing, lighting, editing, composing music, adding sound effects and creating titles. Students are required to work on productions inside and outside of class times. Prerequisite: COM 110 and pre- or corequisite of COM 120
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 250 | DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION | 4 (4-0) |
This course in digital media production emphasizes visual storytelling, client relations, active listening, problem solving and entrepreneurship. As part of this course, students meet with local non-profit organizations and design a media project to address a communication problem. Students work in small groups to script, film and edit these projects. Students will also complete individual assignments including a budget, a contract, a term paper, an oral report and an internet portfolio of their media work. Prerequisite: COM 110 and pre- or corequisite of COM 120
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 261 | COMM & MEDIA ARTS INTRNSHIP | 3 (1-8) |
This course enables students to complete an internship in the media or communications industry. The internship may be completed in any aspect of radio, film production, newspaper journalism, public relations, advertising, or other related areas. Prerequisites: COM 110 and COM 120
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 262 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION I | 4 (3-3) |
In this course, students work collaboratively to develop documentary projects. Lectures will address advanced techniques in videography, lighting, logging tapes, editing, and production of graphics appropriate for documentary film. Pre-requisites: COM 110
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 263 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION II | 4 (3-3) |
In this course in documentary production, students work collaboratively to complete a half-hour documentary. This course provides an advanced learning experience, where students apply the skills they have gained in the COM Program in audio and video production, visual effects, broadcast journalism and public relations in the creation of one ambitious project. Lectures will focus on advanced techniques in production, direction, and production management for broadcast journalism. Prerequisite: COM 262.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 271 | SPECIAL STUDY PROJECT I | 1 (1-0) |
A special learning experience designed by one or more students with the cooperation and approval of a faculty member. Proposed study plans require departmental approval. Projects may be based on reading, research, community service, or work experience in the field of communications media. The student's time commitment to the project will be approximately 35-50 hours.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 272 | SPECIAL STUDY PROJECT II | 2 (2-0) |
Similar to COM 271, except that the student's time commitment to the project will be approximately 70-90 hours.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 273 | SPECIAL STUDY PROJECT III | 3 (3-0) |
Similar to COM 271, except that the student's time commitment to the project will be approximately 105-135 hours.
| Prefix | Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 280 | OVERSEAS DOCUMENTARY PRODCTN | 3 (2-2) |
This hands–on course familiarizes students with the basic principles and techniques of overseas documentary production. Students will research the culture and location for the documentary project, then they will develop skills in camerawork, lighting, sound recording, scriptwriting, directing shoots and logging and digitizing footage as they shoot in another country. When students return to Dutchess, they will begin post-production, create graphics and titles and complete a half-hour documentary to be screened at DCC and aired on local cable channels. The focus and subject of the documentary projects and the international locations will vary. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.