Major Code: VA27

VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT

MEDIA MAJOR

 

With a visual arts foundation, the program is designed for students who want to become creative videomakers, filmmakers, photographers, and computer artists, encouraging the hybridity of media.  The curriculum combines hands-on experience of making art with practical and theoretical criticism, provides historical, social and aesthetic backgrounds for the understanding of modern media, and emphasizes creativity, versatility, and intelligence over technical specializations.  It should allow students to go on to more specialized graduate programs in the media arts, to seek careers in film, television, computing, or photography, or to develop as independent artists.  All media majors should see the departmental advisor upon entrance into UCSD.

 

LOWER DIVISION                                                 6

UPPER DIVISION                                                 14

TOTAL COURSES REQUIRED                         20

 

ALL COURSES TAKEN FOR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE, AND ONLY GRADES OF C- OR BETTER WILL BE ACCEPTED. REFER TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR ENFORCED PREREQUISITES.

 

NOTE:  Enrollment in production courses is limited to two per quarter.  Production courses are numbered VIS 109, 131, 132, 140/ICAM 101,  145A/ICAM 102, 145B, 147A - B, 164-184.

 

* Indicates Seminar Course                                     wIndicates Production Course

 

LOWER DIVISION

 

FOUNDATION LEVEL  (6 Courses Required)

 

VIS 1 or 2 or 3                Introduction. to Art Making

VIS 22                             Formations of Modern Art

VIS 84                             History of Film

VIS 40/ ICAM 40           Introduction. to Computing in the Arts

VIS 60                             Introduction. to  Digital Photography

VIS 70N                          Introduction to Media

 

NOTE: VIS 70N is prerequisite for use of the Media Center facilities; no further production courses may be taken until VIS 70N is completed.

 

UPPER DIVISION

 

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (2 Courses Required)

 

VIS 111                           Structure of Art

VIS 174 w                       Media Sketchbook

 

NOTE: Students should take VIS 111 by junior year. VIS 174 is a prerequisite for all production classes.

 

EMPHASIS (7 Courses Required)

 

Choose one emphasis:

 

Computing Emphasis

 

VIS 140/ ICAM 101w     Digital Imaging: Image and Interactivity

VIS 145A/ ICAM 102w Digital Media I: Time, Movement, Sound

VIS 147Aw                      Electronic Technologies for Art I

VIS 159/ICAM 150        History of Art and Technology

 

PLUS

 

VIS _____ w                    From Photography or Video and Digital

                                                Cinema (Intermediate)

VIS _____                       History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

VIS _____                       History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

 

 

 

 

Photography Emphasis

 

VIS 164w         Photographic Strategies

VIS 165w         Camera Techniques

VIS 158           Histories of Photography

 

PLUS

 

VIS____w        From Computing or Video and Digital

                                Cinema (Intermediate)

VIS____w        From Computing or Video and Digital

                                Cinema (Intermediate)

VIS ____         History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

VIS ____         History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

 

Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis

 

Choose three of the following:

 

VIS 171w         Digital Cinema

VIS 175w         Editing-Theory and Production

VIS 176w         16mm Filmmaking

VIS 177w         Scripting Strategies

VIS 178w         Sound-Theory and Production

PLUS

VIS ____w       From Computing or Photography (Intermediate)

VIS ____         History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

VIS ____         History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

VIS ____         History/Criticism/Theory Choice**

 

ADVANCED LEVEL (2 OR 3 Courses Required)

 

Computing Emphasis Choose Two

Photography Emphasis Choose Three

Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis Choose Three

 

VIS 180Aw      Documentary Evidence & the Construction of Authenticity in Current Media Practices

VIS 180Bw      Fiction & Allegory in Current Media Practices

VIS 183Aw      Strategies of Self

VIS 183Bw Strategies of Alterity

 

NOTE: The A and B portion of VIS 180 and VIS 183 cannot be taken concurrently. Additional 180 and 183 courses may be used to fulfill elective requirements, once the amount required for advanced level in your emphasis has been met.

ELECTIVES (2 OR 3 Courses Required)

 

Computing Emphasis Choose Three

Photography Emphasis Choose Two

Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis Choose Two

 

Computing Electives

 

VIS 145Bw                    Time and Process Based Digital Media II

VIS 147Bw                    Electronic Technologies for Art II

VIS 149/ICAM 130w   Seminar in Contemporary Computer Topics

 

Photography Electives

 

VIS 166w                      Advanced Camera Techniques

VIS 168w                      Color Techniques in Photography

Video and Digital Cinema Electives

 

VIS 181w                      Sound and Lighting

VIS 182w      Advanced Editing

VIS 184 w      Advanced Scripting

 

Students must have senior standing AND instructor approval before enrolling in any of the following four courses

 

VIS 109w                      Advanced Projects in Media

VIS 131w                      Special Projects in Media

VIS 132w                      Installation Production and Studio

VIS 197                         Media Honors Thesis

 

NOTE: Below is a list of courses from which students can choose to fulfill the History/Criticism/Theory requirement. Any upper-division Art History distribution courses may be taken to fulfill the History/Criticism/Theory requirement. Please note specific courses that may be required for your emphasis.

 

**History, Criticism and Theory Choices

All Computing Emphases must take VIS 159/ICAM 150.

All Photography Emphases must take VIS 158.

 

VIS 150                         History Silent Cinema

VIS 151                         History of Experimental Film

VIS 152                         Film in Social Context

VIS 153                         The Genre Series

VIS 154                         Hard Look at the Movies

VIS 155                         The Director Series

VIS 156N                      Special Problems in Film History  and Theory

VIS 157                         Video History and Criticism

VIS 158                         Histories of Photography

VIS 159/                        History of Art and Technology

ICAM 150       

VIS 194                         Fantasy in Film