Video/Audio Communication Arts

VACA 1010 Audio and Video Production Engineering

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  4.5 - 0 - 4.5

This course introduces students to audio and video production engineering. Students achieve competence in both audio and video systems and how to interconnect various pieces of equipment at the production or equipment user level. It presents background information allowing students to reason out connection scenarios and make the desired equipment setup functional.

Skill Level


VACA 1020 Audio I

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course is an introduction to the theory and application of the sound production process with emphasis on learning and practicing sound acquisition and recording techniques. It bases assignments off microphone acquisition, basic audio editing, and track mixing and sound for video and/or music.

Skill Level


VACA 1110 Introduction to Scriptwriting

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  4.5 - 0 - 4.5

This course introduces scriptwriting for video production, television, and motion picture film. Using the two-column and screenplay formats, students complete lab exercises and assignments about the structure of concept, treatment, and finished script. It reviews broadcast or corporate examples. Students can use the scripts for projects in Moving Image Lab, Video II, and Video III.

Prerequisites
(1) ENGL 1010

Skill Level


VACA 1130 Video I

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course is an introduction to the video medium. Students learn and practice the basics of operating a video camera, recording quality images and sound, and editing tape. Both studio and location assignments provide practical learning opportunities. NOTE: PHOT 1500 is required for Video majors only.

Prerequisites
(1) PHOT 1500 or EIMA 1100

Skill Level


VACA 2020 Audio II

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course includes learning and practicing additional microphone and recording techniques. It emphasizes computer desktop editing and track mixing, recording, and editing. It bases assignments off sound for video as well as digital media and the Internet.

Prerequisites
(1) VACA 1020

Skill Level


VACA 2030 Audio III

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course includes advanced recording theory and application for use in the professional sound recording environment. It covers sound processing and mastering in depth.

Prerequisites
(1) VACA 2020

Skill Level


VACA 2050 Pro-Tools

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course concentrates on the industry-standard Pro-Tools Digital Audio Workstation software and hardware. Students learn how to use advanced Pro-Tools techniques and concepts in the professional recording and editing environments.

Prerequisites
(1) VACA 2020

Skill Level


VACA 2060 Audio Mixing and Summing

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course is an advanced study of procedures to achieve controlled mixes in the digital and analog mixing environments. It focuses on aspects of digital and analog summing, headroom, gain stages, subgroups, side-chair processing, hardware inserts, delay compensation, clocking, maintaining digital resolution, digital synchronization, A/D D/A conversion, sample rate conversion, dithering, serial order of processing, mid/side processing, and more. Students complete such assignments as signal flow drawings, equipment research, and a final project focusing on subgroup mixing techniques.

Prerequisites
(3) VACA 1020; VACA 2020; and VACA 2050

Skill Level


VACA 2070 Modern Recording Techniques

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course is an in-depth study of recording capture methods. It focuses on the various techniques used to record different instruments, use of specific microphones, mono and stereo microphone techniques, gain staging, preproduction preparation, and more. A final, individual recording capture project corroborates the student's understanding.

Prerequisites
(3) VACA 1020; VACA 2020; and VACA 2050

Skill Level


VACA 2120 Screenwriting Principles

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  4.5 - 0 - 4.5

This course is an overview of writing screenplays for motion picture film. It covers storytelling using the standard three-act screenplay structure and relates fundamental principles including script format, structure, plot points, and character development to sample scripts, films, and exercises.

Prerequisites
(1) VACA 1110

Skill Level


VACA 2130 Video II

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

Camera operation, sound recording, and editing assignments provide an intermediate skill level of learning and practice. It introduces and applies lighting for the studio and on location.

Prerequisites
(1) PHOT 1500

Skill Level


VACA 2131 Video III

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course serves as a practicum for individual student productions. Students are responsible for the conception, production, direction, and post-production of a storytelling media program. Students achieve competence in planning and executing a script to a final product. The course reviews key production elements and critiques at each stage of the production.

Prerequisites
(1) VACA 2130

Skill Level


VACA 2220 Digital Media Editing

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course serves as a practicum for digital production or post-production. Students are responsible for the conception, production, direction, and post-production of a media program directed toward digital delivery. The course reviews key production elements are reviewed and critiques at each stage of the production.

Prerequisites
(1) PHOT 1500

Skill Level


VACA 2230 Video Post-Production

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  3.5 - 3 - 4.5

This course is an introduction to digital applications such as compositing and media compression for computer and Internet delivery. Students achieve basic competence in appropriate software applications as used in industry.

Prerequisites
(1) PHOT 1500

Skill Level


VACA 2540 Video Portfolio Development

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  1 - 6 - 3

Students put the commercial application of the video process into finished form. Instructors advise students and critique their work. Students complete comprehensive portfolios of their work as their final products.

Prerequisites
(1) VACA 2131 or instructor approval

Skill Level


VACA 2900 Special Topics in Video/Audio

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  0 - 0 - 0

This course permits instruction in special content areas not included in other courses of the Video/Audio Communications Arts program.

Prerequisites
(1) Instructor approval

Skill Level


VACA 2940 MetroVision Practicum

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  0 - 9 - 3

This practicum is a studio and field production class. It is a hands-on opportunity for students to gain experience on location, in the studio, and with remote video productions. This course stresses the nature of collaborative work and various stages and processes involved with producing existing regularly scheduled productions. It may also include the development of new programming. Students gain advanced production experience with lighting, shooting, editing, directing, and producing MetroVision programming, which airs on the local cable television channel.

Prerequisites
(1) PHOT 1500

Skill Level


VACA 2981 Internship

Lecture/Lab/Credit Hours  0 - 0 - 0

Through internships, students gain experience working in a professional video workplace performing a variety of functions, including set preparation, video production and post-production, and audio production and post-production. Based on state guidelines, students must complete 40 hours of work for each credit hour.

Skill Level