2013-2014 University Catalog

Film and Video Studies, BA

Banner Code: AR-BA-FAVS

Performing Arts Building, Room A407
Phone: 703-993-5158
Web: favs.gmu.edu

Faculty

Clayton Austin, Theater; Thomas Britt, Film and Video Studies; Jiyoung Cha, Film and Video Studies; Julie Christensen, Modern and Classical Languages; Mark Cooley, Art and Visual Technology; Lynne Constantine, Art and Visual Technology; Ken Elston, Theater; Edgar Endress, Art and Visual Technology; Peggy Feerick, Art and Visual Technology; Cynthia Fuchs, English; Edward Gero, Theater; Timothy Gibson, Communication; Carma Hinton, Robinson Professor; Seth Hudson, Computer Game Design; Richard Kamenitzer, Arts Management; Howard Kurtz, Theater; Alison Landsberg, History and Art History; Carla Marcantonio, English; Scott Martin, Computer Game Design; Heather McDonald, Theater; David Miller, Communication; Kristina Olsen, Modern and Classical Languages; Paula Petrik, History and Art History; Janine Ricouart, Modern and Classical Languages; Mark Sample, English; Jessica Scarlata, English; Benjamin Steger, Film and Video Studies; Gail Scott White, Art and Visual Technology; Martin Winkler, Modern and Classical Languages; Sue Wrbican, Art and Visual Technology

Course Work

The Film and Video Studies Program offers all course work designated FAVS in the Courses section of this catalog.

Program

The Film and Video Studies Program offers a 120-credit multidisciplinary BA degree, which spans many units including Art and Visual Technology, Communication, Computer Game Design, English, History and Art History, Modern and Classical Languages, New Century College, and Theater. Students study film and video production, theory, criticism, ethics, screenwriting, and business.

The vocabulary of film (broadly defined) pervades the intellectual, cultural, political, and social landscape. The tools the filmmaker wields apply to an ever-widening range of tasks across the fields of human endeavor, from traditional narrative and documentary productions to academic research and pedagogical applications to projects of personal expression. Emerging technology makes the means of production available to anyone with access to a moderate level of computing power. This combination of factors makes film an important subject for academic inquiry and training.

Portfolio Requirement

All students are admitted to the Film and Video Studies (FAVS) program of study separately from their admission to the university and only by portfolio review. Admission to the university is determined by the Admissions Office.

New students at Mason may apply to the BA program upon admission to the university through a portfolio review. Information about the portfolio process, including dates and portfolio requirements, can be found on the FAVS web page, favs.gmu.edu or by calling 703-993-5158. The portfolio must be submitted to favs@gmu.edu for assessment prior to scheduling an appointment for the portfolio review.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated “writing intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students seeking a BA in film and video studies fulfill this requirement by completing FAVS 470 or THR 482.

Upper-Level Credits

All undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division courses at the 300-499 level.

Academic Policies

Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts for college academic policies.

Degree Requirements

General Education (37 credits)

Foundation Requirements

Oral communication Credits: 3
Information technology Credits: 3
Quantitative reasoning Credits: 3

ENGH 101 - Composition Credits: 3
ENGH 302 - Advanced Composition Credits: 3
Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGH 100 for ENGH 101. Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGH 100 or 101, as well as 302, to fulfill degree requirements.

Core Requirements

Literature Credits: 3
Arts Credits: 3
Natural science (including one laboratory science) Credits: 7
Western civilization Credits: 3
Global understanding Credits: 3
Social and behavioral sciences Credits: 3
Foreign language, minor, double major or double degree (see College of Visual and Performing Arts for foreign language requirements)

Notes:

FAVS majors may not double-count courses toward both the FAVS major and university general education requirements with the exception of the synthesis requirement, listed below as part of the FAVS core requirements.

Major (50 credits)

Film and Video Studies Core Requirements (29 credits)

Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all core courses.

AVT 204 - Visual Thinking Credits: 3
COMM 355 - Video Principles and Practices Credits: 3
COMM 454 - Free Speech and Ethics Credits: 3 or
FAVS 352 - Ethics of Film and Video
Credits: 3 (either course also satisfies the university general education synthesis requirement)
ENGH 319 - Popular Culture Credits: 3 (Film and Video Forms section only)
FAVS 100 - Film and Video Studies Colloquium Credits: 1 (Must be taken for a total of 2 credits)
FAVS 355 - Film Business Practices Credits: 3
FAVS 450 - Internship in Film and Video Studies Credits: 3
FAVS 498 - Creative Producing and Development Credits: 3
FAVS 499 - Senior Project Credits: 3
FAVS 470 - Film and Video Screenwriting
Credits: 3 or THR 482 - Advanced Screenplay Workshop Credits: 3

Analysis, History, Theory (6 credits)

Take 6 credits from the following:

CHIN 320 - Contemporary Chinese Film Credits: 3
COMM 365 - Gender, Race, and Class in the Media Credits: 3
COMM 380 - Media Criticism Credits: 3
COMM 399 - Special Topics in Communication Credits: 1-3 (Must be approved by Program Director)
ENGH 202 - Texts and Contexts Credits: 3 (Must be approved by Program Director. Cannot also be used for general education.)
ENGH 319 - Popular Culture Credits: 3 (Cannot be the same topic as required FAVS core course)
ENGH 370 - Introduction to Documentary Credits: 3
ENGH 372 - Introduction to Film Credits: 3
ENGH 470 - Topics in Film/Media History Credits: 3
ENGH 472 - Topics in Film/Media Theory Credits: 3
ENGH 474 - Topics in Film/Media Studies Credits: 3
FAVS 225 - The History of World Cinema Credits: 3
FAVS 399 - Special Topics in Film and Video Studies Credits: 1-3 (Must be approved by Program Director)
FREN 470 - French and Francophone Cinema Credits: 3
HIST 389 - Topics in U.S. History Credits: 3 (Must be approved by Program Director)
HIST 393 - Topics in Film and History Credits: 3
JAPA 320 - Japanese Cinema Credits: 3
MUSI 301 - Music in Motion Pictures Credits: 3
NCLC 347 - Gender Representation in Popular Culture Credits: 3-6
RUSS 470 - Topics in (Post) Soviet Film Credits: 3
WMST 300 - Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies Credits: 1-6
Or other courses as approved by Program Director

Concentration (15 credits)

Students choose one of the following concentrations:

▲ Concentration in Business (BUS)

The following three required courses:
AMGT 405 - Seminar in Arts Management Credits: 3
COMM 375 - Mass Communication Advertising and Promotions Credits: 3
FAVS 356 - Film Marketing Credits: 3
and 6 credits of electives chosen from the following:
AMGT 471 - Introduction to Grant Writing Credits: 1
COMM 320 - Business and Professional Communication Credits: 3
COMM 330 - Principles of Public Relations Credits: 3
COMM 359 - Media Management Credits: 3
FAVS 399 - Special Topics in Film and Video Studies Credits: 1-3 (Topic focus in business)
GAME 399 - Special Topics Credits: 1-4 (Topic: Focus in Business)
MSOM 300 - Managing Financial Resources Credits: 3
MSOM 301 - Managing People and Organizations Credits: 3
MSOM 302 - Managing Information in a Global Environment Credits: 3
MSOM 303 - Marketing in a Global Economy Credits: 3
MSOM 304 - Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing a New Enterprise Credits: 3
MSOM 305 - Managing in a Global Economy Credits: 3
MSOM 306 - Managing Projects and Operations Credits: 3
Or other courses as approved by Program Director

Note:

MSOM electives in concentration area may not also be used for MSOM minor.

▲ Concentration in Screenwriting (SCWR)

The following three required courses:
ENGH 396 - Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
FAVS 483 - Feature-Length Scriptwriting Credits: 3
GAME 332 - Story Design for Computer Games Credits: 3
and 6 credits of electives chosen from the following:
COMM 303 - Writing across the Media Credits: 3
ENGH 377 - Digital Creative Writing Credits: 3
ENGH 386 - Editing for Audience, Style, and Voice Credits: 3
ENGH 398 - Fiction Writing Credits: 3
ENGH 399 - Creative Nonfiction Writing Credits: 3
ENGH 492 - Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop Credits: 3
ENGH 497 - Topics in Creative Writing Credits: 3
FAVS 399 - Special Topics in Film and Video Studies Credits: 1-3 (Topic focus in screenwriting/scriptwriting)
GAME 399 - Special Topics Credits: 1-4 (Topic focus in screenwriting/scriptwriting)
THR 380 - Playwriting I Credits: 3
THR 381 - Playwriting II Credits: 3
THR 382 - Screenplay Workshop Credits: 3
THR 480 - Advanced Playwriting Credits: 3
Or other courses as approved by Program Director

▲ Concentration in Video Production (VPRO)

The following three required courses:
COMM 360 - Video Editing Credits: 3
FAVS 335 - Sound and Lighting for Film and Video Credits: 3
FAVS 365 - Documentary Filmmaking I Credits: 3 or FAVS 375 - Fiction Film Directing Credits: 3
and 6 credits of electives chosen from the following:
AVT 354 - Digital Photo Techniques Credits: 4
AVT 356 - Photo Studio Techniques Credits: 4
AVT 374 - Sound Art I Credits: 4
AVT 382 - 2D Experimental Animation Credits: 4
AVT 383 - 3D Experimental Animation Credits: 4
AVT 390 - Video Art Credits: 4
AVT 482 - Advanced Image Making Credits: 4
AVT 487 - Advanced Topics: New Media Art Credits: 4
COMM 358 - Video Producing and Directing Credits: 3
COMM 364 - Videography Credits: 3
COMM 366 - Visual Communication Credits: 3
COMM 399 - Special Topics in Communication Credits: 1-3 (Topic focus in production)
FAVS 365 - Documentary Filmmaking I Credits: 3 (Cannot be taken if used as required concentration course)
FAVS 399 - Special Topics in Film and Video Studies Credits: 1-3 (Topic focus in production)
FAVS 460 - Advanced Video Editing Credits: 3
THR 423 - Audition Techniques: Stage and Camera Credits: 3
Or other courses as approved by Program Director

General Electives (33)

Students must use general electives to complete a minor, double major or second degree outside the major field of study, or demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language.

Total: 120 credits

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