Course Listing


UM Bulletin
University of Miami

UM Home > Academic Bulletin > Undergraduate Academic Programs > Communication > Motion Pictures

Academic Bulletin

School of Communication - Undergraduate

MOTION PICTURES - Dept. Code: CMP

http://com.miami.edu/MotionPictures

Educational Objectives | Degree Programs | M ajor | Minor | Department Honors

Introduction

The Motion Picture Program offers a complete curriculum for a new generation of media specialists, providing historical context and embracing the moving image creative process from writing and development through production and post-production to all forms of exhibition.

Visual storytelling requires technical skill, historical perspective and the ability to think critically in cinematic terms. The undergraduate Motion Pictures major provides the practical, collaborative and analytical skills required in today’s global and complex media environments.

The accomplished faculty is dedicated to engaging students in the discovery and development of their talents. Students are trained in innovation, creativity, critical thinking, adaptability, and the capacity to integrate theory and practice, technology and art. They are also well-equipped to understand the business and legal environments in which media industries operate.

Facilities in the Motion Picture Program include digital, 16mm and super-16 mm cameras; grip and electrical equipment; a soundstage; digital post-production image and sound facilities; and a digital animation lab. The School also operates the Bill Cosford Cinema, a state-of-the-art theater that exhibits first-run alternative, foreign and classic films. The Cosford Cinema provides an on-campus venue for various film festivals, including the annual Canes Film Festival featuring UM undergraduate and graduate work. A professional showcase screening of the best student work is held annually in Los Angeles.

The Motion Picture Program offers special summer programs in Prague (FAMU), Spain (Centro de Ciudad de la Luz), and Los Angeles (LA Experience)

Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the Motion Picture Program are:

• Proficiency in the practice and process underlying the professional contemporary conception, development, production, completion, marketing and distribution of moving images.

• Proficiency in motion picture production techniques and the use of equipment necessary for entry into professional practice. Students concentrating in motion picture practice will demonstrate the ability to create moving images meeting entry-level world-standard professional expectations.

• Proficiency in story development, professional screenplay format and writing for media. Students concentrating in motion picture screenwriting will demonstrate writing ability at the level required for meeting entry-level professional expectations.

• Understanding of the business side of motion picture production, post-production, distribution and exhibition across a variety of platforms and global media contexts. Students concentrating in motion picture business will demonstrate an understanding of the principles and laws governing the profession, and the various ways of developing a moving image career.

• Understanding and appreciation of the history, aesthetic principles and classical and contemporary theories of moving image media. Students concentrating in motion picture critical studies will demonstrate comprehensive familiarity with major individual works, genres, national cinemas and movements, their diverse institutional, social and cultural contexts, and their significance within the global history of the moving image.

Degree Programs

The Bachelor of Science in Communication is offered in the Motion Pictures Program.

Major

A major is offered in Motion Pictures.

Each candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Communication will complete School of Communication requirements including courses in the Required Areas of Study, the second major, and electives sufficient for a total of 66 credits in the liberal arts and sciences.

A Bachelor of Science student in Motion Pictures will be permitted a maximum of 45 credits in Mass Communication courses toward the 120-credit University degree.

Admission to the Motion Picture major

Before admission as a Motion Pictures (CMP) major, a student must:

A) Achieve sophomore standing;

B) Complete the five Core courses listed below, in residence at the University, all with grades of C or higher (C- is not acceptable).

Students who have obtained the written approval of the Director of the Motion Pictures major to use transfer credit to satisfy one or more requirements of that major may be required to complete additional courses in residence at the University before being admitted to that major.

Upon completion of a student’s first 45 University credits while enrolled in the School of
Communication, all University credits earned toward the major will be used in computing a student’s major cumulative quality point average; only those students with a cumulative average of 2.5 or higher will be admitted to a major.

A student who has completed 45 credits while enrolled in the School of Communication but who has not been admitted to one of the Communication majors may be dismissed from the School. A student who has completed 60 University credits while enrolled in the School but who has not been admitted to one of the Communication majors will be dismissed from the School. See PROBATION AND DISMISSAL.

THE MOTION PICTURES MAJOR

Students majoring in Motion Pictures are required to choose one of the following five areas of concentration: General, Practice, Screenwriting, Business or Critical Studies.

GENERAL MOTION PICTURES CONCENTRATION

CORE COURSES

CMP 103 Survey of Motion Pictures
CMP 151 Introduction to Digital Production
CMP 126 Introduction to Screenwriting
CMP 204 History of International Cinema I
COM 250 Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

CMP 205 History of International Cinema II
CMP 251 Motion Picture Workshop: Storytelling

Select one of the following:

CMP 351 Introduction to Film Production
CMP 326 Intermediate Screenwriting
CMP 364 Business of Motion Pictures

Select three courses (9 credits) of the following:

CMP 329 Writing for Series Television
CMP 353 Post Production Sound Editing and Design
CMP 356 Cinematography
CMP 357 Editing
CMP 359 Motion Graphics, Compositing and Animation
CMP 386 Online Screenwriting
CMP 395 Directing Techniques I
CMP 427 Aspects of Screenwriting
CMP 458 Documentary Production
CMP 462 Motion Picture Marketing and Distribution
CMP 465 Producing the Motion Picture
CMP 469 Legal Aspects of Motion Pictures
CMP 494 Motion Picture Internship
CMP 499 Projects and Directed Research

Select two courses (6 credits) of the following:

CMP 394 Special Topics in Motion Pictures
CMP 401 Nonfiction Film and Digital Media
CMP 403 Film Directors
CMP 404 Aspects of Contemporary Cinema
CMP 406 Genres
CMP 407 National Cinemas
CMP 408 Women, Media and Popular Culture

Two additional Motion Picture electives (6 credits) must be selected.

Electives outside the Motion Picture major (but within the School of Communication) must be approved by the Motion Picture program director.

MOTION PICTURES PRACTICE CONCENTRATION

CORE COURSES

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

CMP 205 History of International Cinema II
CMP 251 Motion Picture Workshop: Storytelling
CMP 351 Introduction to Film Production

Select two courses (6 credits) of the following:

CMP 353 Post Production Sound Editing and Design
CMP 356 Cinematography
CMP 357 Editing
CMP 359 Motion Graphics, Compositing and Animation
CMP 364 Business of Motion Pictures
CMP 395 Directing Techniques I

Select two courses (6 credits) of the following:

CMP 451 Motion Picture Practicum
CMP 456 Advanced Cinematography
CMP 457 Advanced Editing
CMP 458 Documentary Production
CMP 459 Advanced Motion Graphics, Compositing and Animation
CMP 494 Motion Picture Internship
CMP 595 Directing Techniques II

Select one course (3 credits) of the following:

Two additional Motion Picture electives (6 credits) must be selected.

Other elective courses within the School of Communication may be permissible, but only with the approval of the Motion Picture program director.

MOTION PICTURES SCREENWRITING CONCENTRATION

CORE COURSES

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

CMP 205 History of International Cinema II
CMP 251 Motion Picture Workshop: Storytelling
CMP 326 Intermediate Screenwriting

Select four courses (12 credit hours) of the following:

CMP 329 Writing for Series Television
CMP 386 Online Screenwriting
CMP 426 Advanced Screenwriting
CMP 427 Aspects of Screenwriting
CMP 429 Advanced TV Writing
CMP 489 Projects in Screenwriting

Select one course (3 credits) of the following:

Two additional Motion Picture electives (6 credits) must be selected.
Other elective courses within the School of Communication may be permissible, but only with the approval of the Motion Picture program director.

MOTION PICTURES BUSINESS CONCENTRATION

CORE COURSES

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

CMP 205 History of International Cinema II
CMP 251 Motion Picture Workshop: Storytelling
CMP 364 Business of Motion Pictures

Select four courses (12 credits) of the following:

CMP 351 Introduction to Film Production
CMP 462 Motion Picture Marketing and Distribution
CMP 465 Producing the Motion Picture
CMP 469 Legal Aspects of Motion Pictures
CMP 494 Motion Picture Internship
CMP 499 Projects and Directed Research

Select one course (3 credits) of the following:

Two additional Motion Picture electives (6 credits) must be selected.

Other elective courses within the School of Communication may be permissible, but only with the approval of the Motion Picture program director.

MOTION PICTURES CRITICAL STUDIES CONCENTRATION

CORE COURSES

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

CMP 205 History of International Cinema II
CMP 251 Motion Picture Workshop: Storytelling

Select five courses (15 credits) of the following:

Three additional Motion Picture electives (9 credits) must be selected.

Other elective courses within the School of Communication may be permissible, but only with the approval of the Motion Picture program director.

MINOR

A Minor is offered in Motion Pictures.

The minor in Motion Pictures requires a grade of C or better in the following courses:

REQUIRED COURSES

CMP 103 Survey of Motion Pictures

Four additional Motion Picture electives (12 credits) with the approval of the program director must be selected. A minimum of 6 credits at the 300-level or above is required.

Department Honors

School of Communication students may graduate with School Honors in Communication noted upon their diplomas and transcripts. Students should contact the School’s Office of Admissions, Academic & Alumni Services (2037 Wolfson Building) for details. Students may receive recognition as graduates cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude if they meet the requirements set forth under GRADUATION HONORS in this Bulletin.

Send technical feedback.
Request for information.
View Privacy Statement.