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