For the Bachelor of Arts in Media Production, students will first complete foundational courses in theory and practice and then take advanced courses in media production and critical studies.

Students from within or outside the College of Media, Communication and Information (CMCI) can pursue coursework within the Department of Critical Media Practices (DCMP), provided they meet course prerequisites, though seating priority is given to declared majors.

Program Tracks

Once the basic requirements are completed, students in this major may elect to focus on one of five areas of concentration:

  • Integrative media 
  • Documentary 
  • Sound practices 
  • Performance media 
  • Immersive media 

Requirements

General Requirements

Students will take the foundational courses in theory and practice, CMDP 1400 and CMDP 2500, before proceeding to advanced courses in media production. Critical studies courses require that students take CMDP 1400.

In addition to the basic requirements, students in this major may elect to focus on a specific area of concentration (Documentary, Sound Practices, Immersive Media or Performance Media). Students may also elect to follow a comprehensive approach to media production (Integrative Media Practices) provided by a 9-credit-hour elective structure. Students from within or outside the college may pursue coursework within CMDP, provided they meet course prerequisites, though seating priority is given to declared majors. With advisor and faculty guidance, CMDP majors may elect to design a 12-credit-hour concentration derived from areas within the college.

All students will be required to take the capstone course Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media (CMDP 4900) in their final year. Students are encouraged to take the capstone course during their final semester. 

Required Courses and Credits

Required Studio Courses
CMDP 2500Introduction to Media Practices3
CMDP 3600Creative Media Making3
CMDP 4900Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media3
Studio Electives Courses (Rotating Electives)
Select 6 credit hours of Studio Elective Coursework (in addition to concentration requirements)6
Critical Media Practices Workshop I
Exploring Culture and Gender Through Film
CMDP 2860
CMDP 2870
Critical Media Practices Workshop II
Contemporary Image Making Practices
Images and Stories
Digital Photographic Practices
Audio/Vision 360
Multimedia Composition
Media Production Methods and Ideas
3D for Extended Realities: Animation
Introduction to Extended Realities
Documentary Media Poetics
Engaged Documentary Media Practices
Performance Media Practices
Advanced Performance Media Workshop
Sound Practices
Sonic Arts I
Hearing Image, Seeing Sound
Media Production Topics
Media Professional Seminar
Small Screen Storytelling
Media Environments
Introduction to Computational Media
Multimedia Sound
Collaborative Performance Media Making
Dance for Camera
Projection Practices
Installation and Performance Media
Digital Art and Emergent Technologies
Advanced Virtual Reality
Topics in Immersive Media
Advanced Documentary Practices
Ethnographic Media
Undergraduate Independent Study
Sonic Arts II
Sound and Technology
Internship
Required Media Production Critical Studies Courses
CMDP 1400Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures4
CMDP 2100Approaches to Historical Media Practices3
CMDP 3400Media Aesthetics3
Media Production Critical Studies Electives (Rotating Electives)
Select 3 credit hours from the following or a CMDP concentration:3
Information, Media and Technology
Electronic Arts Survey
Sonic Histories
Interactive Digital Cultures
Performance Media Cultures
Modes of Documentary Media History
Critical Perspectives in Media Practices
Cultures of Digital Sound
Digital Archives in Media Practices
Screen Culture and Globalization
Media Engagement in Digital Diasporas
Topics in Contemporary Media Technologies
Topics in Contemporary Media Technologies
Concentration Courses
Select a 9 credit hour concentration (descriptions below)9
Total Credit Hours37

Concentration Areas

Integrative Media Practices Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements, but also select 9 credit hours of studio elective courses (in addition to the required core studio elective courses).

Documentary Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and complete 9 credit hours of coursework within CMDP focusing on documentary storytelling. For this concentration students take the gateway course CMDP 3800 Documentary Media Poetics, followed by 6 credit hours of coursework selected from the following options:

Sound Practices Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and complete 9 credit hours of coursework within CMDP focusing on Music Technology. For this concentration students take the gateway course CMDP 3840 Sound Practices, followed by 6 credit hours of coursework selected from the following options:

Performance Media Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and complete 9 credit hours of coursework within CMDP focusing on Performance Practice. For this concentration students take the gateway course CMDP 3820 Performance Media Practices, followed by 6 credit hours of coursework selected from the following options:

Immersive Media Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements, but instead of taking electives they complete 9 credit hours of coursework within CMDP focusing on Immersive Media Practices such as virtual and augmented reality. For this concentration students take the gateway course CMDP 3750 Introduction to Extended Realities, followed by six credit hours of coursework selected from the following options:

Secondary Area of Study

In addition to coursework required for the major, all students in MDPD must complete a secondary area of study outside of MDPD. This secondary area of study can be met by any of the following: a minor, a second major within CMCI, a double degree or any credit-based certificate program of at least 12 credit hours.

Sample Four-Year Plans of Study

Integrative Media Practices Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and select 9 credit hours of studio elective courses (in addition to the core studio elective courses).

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 4
CMDP 1400 Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures 4
Quantitative Thinking 3
Lower Division Writing 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring Semester
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Elective (3) 3
CMDP 2100 Approaches to Historical Media Practices 3
CMDP 2500 Introduction to Media Practices 3
CMCI Core Computing 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
CMDP 3400 Media Aesthetics 3
Concentration Studio Elective Course 3
CMCI Core (Natural World) 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Concentration Studio Elective 3
Critical Studies Elective 3
CMCI Core (Natural World w/Lab) 4
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
CMDP 3600 Creative Media Making 3
Concentration Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 7
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 9
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
CMDP 4900 Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media 3
CMCI Core or electives (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 8
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120

Documentary Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and complete 9 credit hours coursework within CMDP focusing on documentary storytelling. They also take CMDP 3800 Documentary Media Poetics and 6 credit hours of concentration electives.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 4
CMDP 1400 Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures 4
Quantitative Thinking 3
Lower Division Writing 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring Semester
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 3
CMDP 2100 Approaches to Historical Media Practices 3
CMDP 2500 Introduction to Media Practices 3
CMCI Core Computing 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
CMDP 3400 Media Aesthetics 3
CMDP 3800 Documentary Media Poetics 3
CMCI Core (Natural World) 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Concentration Studio Elective 3
Critical Studies Elective 3
CMCI Core (Natural World w/Lab) 4
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
CMDP 3600 Creative Media Making 3
Concentration Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or electives (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 7
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 9
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
CMDP 4900 Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media 3
CMCI Core and elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 8
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120

Sound Practices Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and complete 9 credit hours of coursework within CMDP focusing on music technology. Students take CMDP 3840 Sound Practices and 6 credit hours of concentration electives.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 4
CMDP 1400 Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures 4
Quantitative Thinking 3
Lower Division Writing 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring Semester
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 3
CMDP 2100 Approaches to Historical Media Practices 3
CMDP 2500 Introduction to Media Practices 3
CMCI Core Computing 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
CMDP 3400 Media Aesthetics 3
CMDP 3840 Sound Practices 3
CMCI Core (Natural World) 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Concentration Studio Elective 3
Critical Studies Elective 3
CMCI Core (Natural World w/Lab) 4
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
CMDP 3600 Creative Media Making 3
Concentration Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 7
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 9
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
CMDP 4900 Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 8
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120

Performance Media Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and complete 9 credit hours of coursework within CMDP focusing on performance media. Students take CMDP 3820 Performance Media Practices and 6 credit hours of concentration electives.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 4
CMDP 1400 Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures 4
Quantitative Thinking 3
Lower Division Writing 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring Semester
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 3
CMDP 2100 Approaches to Historical Media Practices 3
CMDP 2500 Introduction to Media Practices 3
CMCI Core Computing 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
CMDP 3400 Media Aesthetics 3
CMDP 3820 Performance Media Practices 3
CMCI Core (Natural World) 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Concentration Studio Elective 3
Critical Studies elective 3
CMCI Core (Natural World w/Lab) 4
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
CMDP 3600 Creative Media Making 3
Concentration Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 7
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 9
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
CMDP 4900 Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 8
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120

Immersive Media Concentration

Students follow the basic major requirements and take 9 credit hours of CMDP coursework focusing on immersive media practices such as virtual and augmented reality. Students take CMDP 3750 Introduction to Extended Realities and 6 credit hours of concentration electives.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 4
CMDP 1400 Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures 4
Quantitative Thinking 3
Lower Division Writing 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring Semester
CMDP 2100 Approaches to Historical Media Practices 3
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) 3
CMDP 2500 Introduction to Media Practices 3
CMCI Core Computing 3
CMCI Core or electives (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
CMDP 3400 Media Aesthetics 3
CMDP 3750 Introduction to Extended Realities 3
CMCI Core (Natural World) 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Concentration Studio Elective 3
Critical Studies Elective 3
CMCI Core (Natural World w/Lab) 4
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
CMDP 3600 Creative Media Making 3
Concentration Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 7
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 9
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
Core Studio Elective 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
CMDP 4900 Concepts and Practices of Contemporary Media 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 8
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120

Learning Outcomes 

Upon completing the program, students will have:

  • Knowledge of, and the ability to use, the creative process as a way of knowing.
  • Understanding of how to critically engage media making as experience, cognition and world-making.
  • The ability to self-reflect on their roles within communication networks.
  • The ability to collaborate on the conception and production of innovative works.
  • Appreciation of their role as they engage with their communities, carefully considering how their work shapes society and culture.
  • The ability to initiate conversations about pressing issues that transcend cultural and national divides, and communicate with diverse audiences to bring about systemic change through media, communication and information.