2024-2025 Undergraduate Course Catalog 
    
    Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Course Catalog

Television, Radio and Film, BS


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Contact:

Michael Schoonmaker, Chair
318 Newhouse 3, 315-443-9240

Faculty

Douglas Barrett, Richard L. Breyer, Molle DeBartolo, Imraan Farukhi, Benjamin Frahm, Keith Giglio, Tula Goenka, J. Christopher Hamilton, Shaina Holmes, Jordan Kligerman, Taylor Vaughn Lasley, Kelly Leahy, Melissa Martinez, Michelle Santosuosso, Michael Schoonmaker, Olivia Stomski, Robert J. Thompson, William Werde

The Television, Radio and Film Department provides students with a collaborative, multidisciplinary center for the pursuit of intellectual, creative, and professional practice in the study and area of visual and aural storytelling for entertainment media.

The TRF curriculum prepares students for careers in creative storytelling across the entertainment media spectrum;  including animation, digital, documentary, film, gaming, music, podcasting, radio, sports and television. Students learn and excel in a wide array of creative and business practices that lay the foundation for careers in areas such as:

  • Agents
  • Cinematographers
  • Directors
  • Entertainment Attorneys
  • Executives
  • Innovators
  • Media Scholars
  • Music Producers and Scoring Artists
  • Producers
  • Production Designers
  • Screenwriters
  • Sound Designers
  • Visual Effects Artists and Supervisors

TRF majors complete an extensive core of school and department requirements over their first two years.  At end of their sophomore year students work with their faculty advisor to choose the track of advanced study best suited to their goals and interests:

Cinematography Track - Students focus on coursework and experience in cinematography practices.

Entertainment Business Track - Students focus on coursework and experience in entertainment business practices.

Media Innovation Track - Students focus on coursework and experience in innovation and entrepreneurship practices.

Production Track - Students focus on coursework and experience in their area of interest within production practices: Audio, Directing, Editing, Management, Music, Producing, Production VFX, etc.

Screenwriting Track - Students focus on coursework and experience in screenwriting topics.

Sports Media & Communications Track - Students focus on coursework and experience in sports media & communications practices.

TRF General Track- Students select interdisciplinary courses that meet their independent educational and professional goals from more than 50 course topics.

The TRF department offers a number of popular culture courses in association with the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, http://tvcenter.syr.edu/.

Students are encouraged to participate in our Semester in Los Angeles (http://lasemester.syr.edu/), NYC (https://newhouse.syr.edu/nyc),or other study abroad opportunities (http://suabroad.syr.edu/). All of these abroad opportunities are synergistic elements of the TRF curriculum and overall student experience.

Student Learning Outcomes


In addition to the comprehensive Newhouse School learning outcomes listed in the School’s Educational Mission  students in the Television, Radio and Film major are expected to achieve the following additional learning outcome:

  • Demonstrate entry-level proficiency in a particular aspect of television, radio or film industry practices by synthesizing the best practices and current theories of the field.

Major Requirements


This is a 42-credit major. Students majoring in Television, Radio and Film must fulfill the following requirements:

Grammar Competency Requirement


Students must complete a grammar competency as part of their degree requirements. There will be two ways students can satisfy this competency:

  • First, by passing a grammar competency exam during their first semester on campus. The exam will be given twice - once before the end of the first week of classes and a second time prior to registration the next semester.  A passing grade on the exam will fulfill the competency requirement.
  • Secondly, by passing COM 101, a 0-credit grammar course which will be mandatory for students who fail the grammar competency exam.  This course can be repeated until a passing grade is earned and the competency is met.

 Students must meet the grammar competency to receive a degree.

Tracks (18 credits)


Students will choose one of the tracks listed below.

Cinematography


Critical Thinking Course (3 credits)

Experiential Courses (3 credits)

Students choose three credits from the following courses:

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Students choose one course from the following courses:

Entertainment Business


Critical Thinking Course (3 credits)

Students will choose one of the following courses:

Experiential Course (9 credits)

Students will choose nine credits from the following courses:

Elective Course Options (3 credits)

Students will choose three credits of Newhouse entertainment media electives 300 level or higher, in consultation with advisor.

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Students will choose one of the following courses:

Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship


Critical Thinking Course (3 credits)

Students choose one course from the following courses:

Experiential Course-Required (3 credits)

Elective Course Options (6 credits)

Students will choose six credits of Newhouse entertainment media electives 300 level or higher, in consultation with advisor.

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Students will choose one of the following courses:

Production


Critical Thinking Course (3 credits)

Experiential Course-Required (3 credits)

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Screenwriting


Experiential Courses (6 credits)

Elective Course Options (6 credits)

Students will choose six credits of Newhouse entertainment media electives 300 level or higher, in consultation with advisor.

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Sports Media & Communications


Critical Thinking Course (3 credits)

Students will choose one of the following courses: 

Experiential Courses-Required (9 credits)

Experiential Courses-Electives (3 credits)

General


Additional Requirements


Global Experience Requirement


The Global Experience requirement may be fulfilled by studying abroad or taking an approved class. A list of courses that fulfill this requirement can be found in the Newhouse Guide Book. If a student chooses to take a Newhouse class to fulfill this requirement, the additional Newhouse hours will be added to the 122 credits needed for graduation if the student has reached the Newhouse credit maximum.

Ethics Requirement


Total: 42 Newhouse credits required


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