Ethnography is the anthropological study of human development and practices. Media has become an important means used to record and understand our world. Similar to what was learned in documentary filmmaking, Ethnography and Media uses techniques to observe and assess behaviour. At the end of this outcome, students will create projects that they both shoot and collect to generate ideas about behaviour related to the practice of ethnography. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX.

Students create a project based on their personal focus at the end of their degree. This calling-card media represents their skills and interests to potential employers. Students apply what they have studied to develop fifteen minutes of media screen-time (or related project for non-time-based interests), a producer’s pitch deck, and written/graphic visualizations of the project. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX Application required Graduate-Level Courses

Media creation is a team-activity that requires organized workflow to manage people to complete projects. Advanced Project Management for Media takes students through a series of workshops to appreciate what needs to be done to produce media, organize people, and manage deliverables. Students demonstrate their project management skills as they produce projects that require effective attention to schedules, creativity, quality assurance, and workflow. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX.

A representation-of and influence-on culture, media shapes how people understand theology. Media as Culture; The Theology of Making reflects how media influences modern culturebefore exploring the theological implication of creativity. Students analyze contemporary topics where media is used to shape public theological thought, while creating corresponding content that demonstrates constructive ways that media develops theology and spiritual contemplation. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX.

The MEDA internship is a 120-hour practical experience, giving students the opportunity to work with and for a professional organization. Such work can include, but is not limited to, different forms of media, broadcast, and social media production based on the student’s interests and strengths. Potential clients include corporate, non-profit, or ministry organizations. Students work with faculty to determine an appropriate placement and are supervised by the employer, who will contribute an assessment for the student’s final mark. The internship may be paid or unpaid. (Students may not work for their church or family members.) Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX. Permission required.

Initially meant to show the process of thought on screen, experimental media has pushed the boundaries of what media can achieve and represent in both narrative and reality-based film and design. The History and Practice of Experimental Media explores media art, taking students through exercises that mimic techniques as they create projects that push original ideas and possibilities with experimental media approaches. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX.

As a business, media producers must understand financial and cash flow management. Expanding on Introduction to Business Skills for Media, students develop the knowledge to manage money and operate the finances involved in running a media business. Exercises, real-world scenarios, and challenges related to their mock business gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to manage the finances of a media business. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX.

Filmmakers have always used film as a vehicle to explore and express beliefs. Christians have used film as a means to evangelize and confirm Biblical and theological perspectives. Film as Christian Witness; Apologetics analyzes narrative and documentary films to recognize apologetic approaches in films. Students assess Christian themes and meaning behind films, comparing aesthetic approaches and effectiveness as apologetic art that reveals truth. Prerequisites: MEDA 111 or 113, and 3 credit hours in MEDA 3XX.

Asserting their focus on media and professional craft, students connect with an organization, charity, or ministry outside the program to create, help tell their stories and provide services and expertise to help the organization with their media needs. Graduate students only.

Producers initiate media projects through leadership, research and creativity, developing media ‘properties’ that combine a creative vision, entrepreneurship, and human resources. Producing as Leadership enables students to develop viable media content as they prepare their thesis and projects after graduation. Graduate students only.

Every artist has a unique voice and approach to creating media. All artists are challenged to find topics, themes, and styles to represent their ideas and particular art. The Artist’s Voice explores the means by which media artists can discover what matters to them, find engaging content, and use their voice to tell stories through their chosen craft while considering the broader story of the Gospel. Graduate students only.

With the ubiquitous need for media, corporations search for people who can provide quality content, creating a vacuum for media entrepreneurs. Producers need to have a business vision to service global demands for media. This knowledge and practice include business skills, leadership, and knowledge of needs, demands, and markets. Entrepreneurship Leadership in Media prepares students to respond to needs with their unique media interests, a business plan, and a content strategy for a potential business venture. Graduate students only.

Media is the expression of 21st century philosophical ideas and is an expression of the artist’s religious values. This course mentors students to reflect on their faith to discover what it means to be creative, learning from global voices, philosophical perspectives, and theological insights that connect our work in media to Creation. Theology of Creativity gives students the opportunity to dig into their research, readings, viewings, and assignments to create media that explores expressions of faith as creative action. Graduate students only.

Narrative, documentary, and poetic media require perspective. To tell meaningful stories that stands out to audiences, producers must enhance their technical and artistic skills with media tools. Media Production turns storytelling knowledge into compelling media, preparing producers for future employment, with the ability to effectively communicate through forms of media, and develop creative content with aesthetic and technical proficiency. Graduate students only.

Media starts with ideas, formed into words to communicate and capture the reader’s imagination. Great media comes from meaningful stories that create cathartic experiences for an audience. Storytelling mentors students to develop thoughtful stories from page to pitches for projects related to their field of media-interest. Graduate students only.

The thesis is a significant media project related to the student’s craft. Thesis projects reflect what students have learned and how they have developed through their degree, demonstrating their competency in media specializations. Length and amount of work in the thesis will be determined by mentors based on media, content, and vision of the student. The thesis is done in collaboration and guidance with an appropriate mentor who has experience in the student’s craft. Graduate students only.