MC 210 CCTS: Speech, Persuasion, and New Media (Back to Top)
In order to effect change in the world, individuals and organizations must convince others
of the need to change. In this course, students will be introduced to persuasive
communication. Methods of evaluating and responding to arguments will be covered.
Students will learn the fundamentals of effective speech and presentations, including the
use of multimedia and new media technologies. Exemplary speeches from diverse topics
and time periods will be examined, from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” to
modern TED Talks. The course will culminate with students giving a presentation to an
audience or engaging in a moderated debate. Lab fee: $40 (4 credits) Prerequisites: STC
108, taken during students' first semester
MC 250 The Power of the Word: Information and Inspiration for Action and Achievement (Back to Top)
All writing relies on the power of the word to inform, stimulate and inspire. Each word
has its own unique quality; when used in conjunction with other words and images,
powerful messages are created that are used to influence the audience in many different
ways. It is important for a writer to understand the power of words to communicate the
most fundamental human experience, the experience of the Self and different states of
consciousness. Language is the tool by which knowledge is passed on to others. The
course encourages the use of language to communicate experience and knowledge in a
clear and coherent form. The writer also needs to learn the craft of using words and
language to shape a message for the media they are working in. The course starts with an
investigation of how sound emerges from silence. From here we then study the
relationship between sound and form; how language is used to describe the different
elements, moods, understanding and emotions that each of us experience. The course
then progresses to a study of the power of words as used in narrative, both fiction and
non-fiction, journalism, audio-visual communication and advertising, with particular
focus on new media. The course will draw on the rich pool of literary talent associated
with the Fairfield community, with visiting lectures and online webinars with successful
professionals from all areas of writing and publishing. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 260 Digital Arts for Sustainable Living: Harnessing the Power of Creativity and Digital Media to Build a Better World (Back to Top)
Students focus on principles of design and foundational digital media technology skills
that can be useful to sustainable living students, or to anyone. Students develop their
skills by exploring fundamentals of digital photography, digital imaging and graphic
design, presentation software, digital video, and Web design. They apply their skills in
real-world media projects related to sustainable living, to create presentations, posters,
newspaper ads, simple Web sites, and digital video for DVD and for the Web. Lab fee:
$40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: basic computer skills (word processing, e-mail, Web
surfing)
MC 270 Social Media Marketing: Connecting in the Global Village (Back to Top)
The course introduces students to the most recent and up-to-date social media marketing
concepts and tools. Students will learn how to strategically utilize social media tools such
as blogs, microblogs (Twitter), podcasts, vodcasts, video, e-mail and networking sites to
engage with a desired audience. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisites: basic computer
skills
MC 282 Video Production: Understanding and Applying the Aesthetics of Motion Pictures and the Technologies of Digital Video to Transform the World with a Vision of Unbounded Possibilities (Back to Top)
Students learn the basic skills of video production by participating in the production of a
variety of different scenes and subjects. They will learn to handle and care for production
apparatus including lights, cameras, and sound equipment, and will learn the different
roles to be played in the process of shooting a video, including director, director of
photography, gaffer, grip, electrician, art department, assistant directors, and production
assistants. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 284 Video Editing: Utilizing Digital Tools for Capturing, Cutting, Sequencing, and Compositing Sound and Image to Create Artistic Wholeness (Back to Top)
Video editing requires the student to be able to synthesize all the different elements of
their video into a greater whole. The emphasis of this course is on exploring the craft of
editing and the techniques used to maximize the emotional impact of the story. Students
will study examples of work by accomplished editors and discover ways to build
momentum and render the cut ‘invisible’. Topics include: the language of the cut, the 180
degree system, and Murch's Rule of Six. Students will become expert in utilizing nonlinear
editing tools through daily editing assignments. Using the latest version of Final
Cut Pro X, students will learn keyboard shortcuts and advanced trimming tools,
transitions, filters, titles, keyframes, compositing tools, audio mixing, color correction,
capturing and outputting. Towards the end of the course some production time will be
allotted so that students may edit a final piece of their own. Students may also bring in
footage that was shot previously for their final project. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
Prerequisite: MC 282
MC 285 Advanced Video Production: Developing Advanced Teamwork and Technical Skills to Produce Creative Visual Expressions (Back to Top)
Building on the experiences from MC 282 Video Production, this course is a further
exploration of team dynamics and technical skills in the film industry. Returning to the
production studio, students study shot composition, camera use, lighting effects, green
screen and special effects, fight choreography and stunts, as well as practice the essential
skills of Directing, Art Department, Grip and Electric, and Sound. Lab fee: $40. (4
credits) Prerequisite: MC 282
MC 286 Stop Motion Animation: Capturing Expressions Of Consciousness With The Digital Lens (Back to Top)
Students in this course will gain knowledge and technical skills to produce a short stop
motion film. They will learn cinematic processes and techniques used to makes static
objects appear as if they are moving. Students will practice the fundamentals in all three
stages of creating a film: preproduction (storyboarding, timing, sets and characters),
production (camera setup, software, lighting, and animation techniques), and
postproduction (importing footage, adjusting timing, and removing unwanted frames).
Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 290 The Big E: Unbounded Frontiers of Electronic Publishing (Back to Top)
New frontiers in digital technology are generating new mediums and distribution formats
for entertainment and information resources. In this course, we will examine the new emedia
formats for fiction writing, and what they mean for the professional career. In
particular, we will focus on the practical skills: how to structure, create, sell, and market,
your writing in the new world of the e-book. In doing so, we will look at the economics
of the publishing world, past, present and future, and what they mean in practical terms
for our own work. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 300 Narrative 1: Unifying and Unfolding the Full Range of Human Experience (Back to Top)
This course examines the essential role of narrative in the creation of all forms of media.
From the very beginnings of human records, whether it is mythology, scripture, literature,
or the earliest cave paintings, the creators of these works have always told their audience
a story or imparted a message by the use of narrative. In order to work in any creative
medium, understanding the various ways in which narrative is used is a great advantage.
This course will examine the range of narrative forms and narrative devices that have
been used since the dawn of time right up until the modern day. We will discover that
although the forms and types of media used might have changed as technology has
advanced, in fact, most of the essential forms of narrative used in creative works have
been with us for ages. Understanding why will reveal how narrative reflects both the
universal and unique aspects of the experience of human life. As part of the course
students will be required to undertake projects that aid the development of their own
narrative skills. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 309 3-D Animation for Video and Game Design: Creativity in Motion (Back to Top)
Student in this class will explore the art and technology of 3-D animation. They will use
the free 3-D content creation suite Blender to build and render 3-D animations for video
and to create interactive 3-D games. Topics include: story-telling; mesh modeling;
landscape generation; materials and textures; character creation and rigging; keyframe
animation; lights and shadows; fluids and particles; hair and cloth simulations; force
fields; game logic with sensors, controllers, and actuators; compositing; and video
sequence editing. Lab fee: $40. (variable credits)
MC 313 Documentary Filmmaking: Developing the Means to Explore Human Life in All its Diversity and Underlying Unity (Back to Top)
Documentary films have their basis in the real world. They are made for a variety of
purposes but fundamentally they explore the entire range of human experience. This
course will examine the role of documentary filmmaking and all the various forms of the
documentary. It will be a fascinating journey that will take students all over the globe and
throughout history dealing with a wide range of issues both past and present. In this
course, students will also examine how to make a documentary. It is therefore very
practical in its focus. The first requirement to any documentary is knowing what the story
is and what kind of story makes a good documentary. Having chosen a story, there is then
the realization of it. This course will teach students the process of securing a commission
from a TV channel or potential funder. Students will learn what is required to make the
all-important pitch. They will then choose some stories and make short documentaries
about them. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisites: MC 300, MC 282, and MC 284
MC 316 Creative Filmmaking: Connecting to Deeper Values of Life through the Power of Integrated Images, Sound, and Composition (Back to Top)
This course explores a more intuitive and experimental approach to filmmaking. In MC
300 Narrative 1 and MC 313 Documentary Filmmaking, a more structured narrativebased
approach to filmmaking is the emphasis. But all forms of media rely to a greater or
lesser degree on purely aesthetic or artistic elements in order to give the final product a
certain feel, look, or style. For this reason, regardless of the type of filmmaking one
wants to ultimately focus on, it is a good idea to explore the power of images, sound and
composition. A feature of the course is looking at the work of various video artists and
film directors. By seeing examples of their work we can grow in our appreciation of how
images and sound can be put together in a way that induces powerful responses in an
audience. Most artists and filmmakers find important sources of inspiration for their own
work by examining the work of the masters in the field. We will also examine creative
forms of film, animation and other media that are narrative and non-narrative based.
Students will also work on their own creative filmmaking project. Various media can be
incorporated into this project, such as video, still images, animation and music. It is
through experimenting with various media that a director of films or other media finds a
method of working or an aesthetic that will enhance their future work. Lab fee: $80. (8
credits) Prerequisites: MC 300, MC 282, and MC 284
MC 323 Advanced Video Editing: Compositing, Animating and Color (Back to Top)
This is an advanced level course that focuses on color grading, compositing (layering
multiple images), animating (changing these layers so they fly, grow or fade over time),
and all of the finishing touches that will make your video projects appear both polished
and visually exciting. After in-class tutorials, students will apply these tools to any
previous video project or new creative project of their conceiving. Projects might include,
for example, creating a film look for your video with color grading, creating an animated
opening credits sequence, creating customized Lower Thirds, or creating your own 3-D
environment. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: MC 284
MC 330 Radio and Web Broadcasting: Informing, Educating, and Transforming the World with a Vision of Unbounded Possibilities (Back to Top)
This is a practical course, emphasizing hands-on production for radio and Web
broadcasting. Student will research, write, record, produce and edit original radio
projects. Students may work on journalistic or creative projects with a commercial or
non-commercial orientation. They will develop on-air skills such as presenting, reporting,
and interviewing. Sound is a powerful form of expression; through sound alone we can
tell a story which moves an audience or takes them to another world by stimulating their
imagination. The creative power as well as the story telling power of radio will therefore
be fully explored in this course. A unique feature of this course is that it offers students
the opportunity of broadcasting their radio projects on KRUU-FM. Lab fee $40. (4
credits)
MC 335 Digital Photography 1: Unlocking the Power of Light (Back to Top)
Digital photography helps strengthen the connection between the photographer’s vision
and the resulting images by providing nearly instant feedback and furnishing ever-subtler
tools for self-expression. In this course, students learn foundational principles that
underlie commercial digital photography, while using principles of consciousness to
consolidate both the experience and understanding of digital photography. Topics
include: mastering the digital camera, managing a digital workflow, color management in
theory and practice, visualizing light and how to control it in the digital darkroom. Lab
fee: $40. (1–4 credits)
MC 336 Travel Photography and Video in Ecuador (Back to Top)
In this photography course, students will be able to explore Ecuador's most beautiful
diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures, and spectacular wildlife. Students will spend one
week at Maharishi University of Management learning or refining their knowledge of
travel photography and videography. They will learn the fundamentals of technical,
social, and physical skills that are necessary for a photography travel assignment. Then
they will travel for two weeks to Ecuador to develop their photography skills. Using their
digital lens, they will learn to capture the swirl of colors of Andean markets and the
amazingly approachable animals of the Galapagos Islands. In the final week of postproduction
at Maharishi University of Management, students will create a showcase of
their work as a preparation for a public presentation. Estimated additional cost: $2000. (2
or 4 credits. Non-full-time students may take the travel portion of the course for 2 credits.
Full-time students are required to take the 4 credit course.)
MC 341 Social Entrepreneurship (Back to Top)
This project-based class challenges students to employ every ounce of their creativity and
apply their knowledge to finding solutions to the world’s most challenging problems,
whether local or global, in the area of environmental sustainability, education,
communications, or business. Each week we will connect with and learn from social
entrepreneurs from around the world working in education, mobile technology,
community development and so forth, and draw inspiration from their relentless vision
and determination. Through the study of innovations in the social sector, we will develop
an understanding of core principles and tactics of social change as well as the necessary
leadership qualities of social entrepreneurs. Students will work individually or in groups
to conceive of a social intervention of their own design. Students will present their plans,
models and media to a committee to evaluate the potential of their work to create social
change. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 345 Creative Process: Curving Back Onto My Own Nature, I Create Again and Again (Back to Top)
In Creative Process, students study their own creative process as well as what artists,
writers, and filmmakers have shared about creative inspiration. The purpose of this class
is to break boundaries and rediscover an easy relationship with the inner Muse. The
primary textbook is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. The Syllabus Reader contains
material by a wide range of authors such as Annie Dillard, Jorge Luis Borges, Eudora
Welty, Ann Patchett, Patricia Hampl, William Saroyan, John Ciardi, Frank Conroy,
Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner, Earnest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, William
Stafford, Rainer Maria Rilke, Lu Chi, Mark Strand, Jane Hirshfield, Billy Collins,
Elizabeth Gilbert, plus interviews with great authors by Bill Moyers and material from
creativity experts Anne Lamott and Natalie Goldberg. A variety of guest lecturers
working in different media will come to the class to discuss their work, career paths, and
creative process. Students will keep a daily journal and engage in various creative
projects during the course. As a final project, students produce a portfolio and can choose
to participate in a group installation/exhibit on creativity. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 347 New Media: From Blogs to Books (Back to Top)
The last decade has seen a revolution in communication technology. This “new media”
provides multiple channels for communication from the short Tweets and Facebook
entries, through blogs, to online articles and electronic books. These new forms of
electronic communication are easily available to everyone and have instant outreach to a
worldwide audience. This course begins by investigating the transition from the “old
media” outlets such as newspapers, magazines and printed books to the new opportunities
for professional writers offered by the Internet and electronic media. The course provides
an overview of how to maximize the message through each form of electronic media with
an emphasis on maintaining grammatically correct and coherent communication
throughout. Students will also learn how content can be used in many different ways and
how short Tweets and blog entries can be accumulated and developed into articles that
can then form the basis for full-length books. This is intended to be a practical course in
which students submit their work at each stage of development by creating their own
blogs, submitting articles to magazines and pitching their own book ideas to publishers.
A chance to publish work through a local publisher will be offered for the best work
produced by students. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 363 Web Design Studio: The Convergence of All Media Into a Unified Digital Format (Back to Top)
Students undertake in-depth application of HTML and Cascading Style Sheets along with
principles of design for dynamic media in the creation of a portfolio of beautiful, highly
functional, standards-compliant, and highly usable Web pages. Topics include: creative
approaches to Web design; XHTML syntax, tags, attributes, entities, DTDs and
validation; HTML5 and CSS3; creating layers of meaning with color, type, and imagery;
principles of usability for interactive media; using a visual lexicon for designer-client
communication; examples of outstanding Web design studios; homesteading the
noosphere. Lab fee: $40. (variable credits) Prerequisite: one of the following courses:
MC 260, FA 361, or equivalent experience
MC 365 Next Generation Web Design: Integrating Graphics, Animation, Video, and Audio to Create Illuminating User Experiences (Back to Top)
Students learn to use powerful tools for Web design, Web animation and video to build
richly interactive Web sites that inspire the viewer. Topics include: conceptualizing new
user experiences; creating innovative Web sites in HTML 5 with Web site builders; Web
animation and creative user interface construction with Adobe Flash or with JavaScript
libraries; choosing, building and using WordPress templates. Lab fee: $40. (variable
credits) Prerequisite: basic computer skills
MC 366 Graphic Design for Media and Communications: Integrating Medium and Message (Back to Top)
This course provides students with the basic practical knowledge and skills needed to
create effective visual design using current and critical tools and techniques. Students
focus on developing their graphic design skills for personal and professional usage using
Photoshop and InDesign. Topics include: digital imaging and page layout tools;
principles and elements of visual design; color theory, layout design; basic principles and
history of typography; brand design; use of digital photography; and copyright law. Lab
fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: basic computer skills
MC 368 Graphic Design for the Web: Fast Path to Instantaneous Global Communication (Back to Top)
Students learn a process that allows graphic designers to create Web sites without writing
HTML code. This course focuses on understanding the graphic design process of
converting Photoshop files into working Web pages. Students learn how to create graphic
design web templates and easily turn them into highly functional Web pages using Adobe
Muse software. Topics include: layering imagery; the ingredients of interaction; creating
elegant, highly interactive Web site content without writing code; video and audio for the
Web; defining features; budgets, pricing and the Web design marketplace; how to hire a
programmer to add additional features to your Web site; communicating with clients and
programmers; competitions, awards, promotion, and findability. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
Prerequisite: basic computer skills
MC 369 Typography and Dynamic Typography: Integration of Form and Meaning (Back to Top)
In this class, students will develop a command of the basics of visual communication by
exploring the expressive potential of letterforms in a variety of projects dealing with
typographic design for print, Web and video. Students will work on projects that combine
typography, color, music, and motion. The first part of the course will investigate the
history and development of typography within print and Web media. Students will learn
how to create effective typography as an integral part of design within their media
projects, and come to understand how type is an art form that not only relays information
but key creative expression. In the last part of the course, students will explore motion
graphics for video; dynamic typography in video will allow students to construct another
powerful layer in this medium. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: basic computer
skills
MC 370 Interactive Graphic Design for Online Publishing: Connecting Every Part to the Whole (Back to Top)
Students develop graphic design skills for online publishing usage. Learn about electronic
publishing and the various viewing devices and publishing formats including ebooks and
Folios for iPads. Students will create a digital magazine for iPads using Adobe InDesign
and Digital Publishing Suite software. The course will explore DPS’s creative tools and
design techniques. Students also learn how to create and professionally use Interactive
PDFs with hyperlinks, article threads, and video. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
MC 380 Media Projects: Making the Imagination Manifest (Back to Top)
This is a capstone course in which individuals who have taken the courses in Media and
Communications come together to envisage and then realize a set of core projects across
a range of media. These projects are formulated among the student group with the aid of
faculty members. The first stage of the course will be the generation of the project ideas,
which can include ideas that utilize a range of media or ideas that are focused on a
particular medium. The central goal of the course is for students to apply everything they
have learned to these projects. It is a cooperative venture, so students will be involved in
a variety of projects playing different roles on each one. You may be a director on a
documentary, an actor in a drama feature, or a producer on a Web-based animation series.
There is a wide range of possibilities. You imagine it and we will make it happen as a
team. The idea is to produce great projects that get noticed. In addition, students
undertake a research project in an area of their interest that culminates in a presentation to
the class and a short essay on their research with properly cited sources. Lab fee: $40.
(variable credits — may be repeated for credit) Prerequisites: MGT 200, MC 250, MC
300, and 12 credits in one of the four concentrations, or consent of instructor
MC 385 Advanced Media Projects: Communicating from the Deepest Level (Back to Top)
In this course, students have a chance to further develop their skills, their understanding,
and their portfolio by completing advanced media projects in video, Web design, graphic
design, music and/or professional writing. Students may also work on a research essay in
the field of their study in order to further develop their critical thinking and research
skills. Lab fee: $40. (2–4 credits — may be repeated for credit) Prerequisite: MC 380 or
consent of Media and Communications faculty
MC 398 Internship in Media and Communications: Integration of Knowledge and Action for Achievement and Fulfillment (Back to Top)
Students gain practical experience working for a commercial or nonprofit organization in
a communications or media related field, such as video production, film production, radio
broadcasting, Web design, graphic design, advertising, public relations, or journalism.
Students document their growth in understanding and experience in journals. Fieldwork
must be completed at least two months before graduation. (variable credits)
Prerequisites: major in Media and Communications and consent of the Media and
Communications faculty
(variable credits) Prerequisite: consent of the Media and Communications faculty.
MC 410 Narrative 2: The Quest for the Essential Truths of Human Existence (Back to Top)
This course will go deeper into some of the key aspects of narrative. It will also be more
like a writer’s workshop. This means there will be time to develop ideas, novels or scripts
that a writer is working on or wants to begin during the course. We will be having
lectures from writers and other speakers in the business who will share their expertise
with us. The course will also introduce the element of performance. Those students who
wish to can learn how to perform their work or the work of others. This helps with
understanding how the written word becomes a performance. The performance part of the
course is optional for students. Key aspects that we will go deeper into are: developing
characters, style, plot development, genre, symbolism, and improving our chances of
being published. The profound connection between writing and development of
consciousness will also be explored. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: MC 300
MC 421 Feature Film Production I: Preparation for Action (Back to Top)
In this class, students join the key production team during the pre-production phase of a
feature-length film. They help design and create sets, costumes and props, or assist in the
essential organization of location scouting, scheduling and budget management. Lab fee:
$40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: invitation by faculty
MC 422 Feature Film Production II: Skill in Action (Back to Top)
Students join the crew of a feature-length film in production. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
Prerequisite: invitation by faculty
MC 423 Feature Film Production III: Creating Unity from Diversity (Back to Top)
In this class, students assist in video editing, sound mixing, scoring, special effects, and
colorization as a member of the post-production team of a feature-length film. Lab fee:
$40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: invitation by faculty
MC 431 Cinematography with the RED ONE Camera: Realizing Your Vision From the Deepest Level (Back to Top)
In this course, students will learn to use the RED ONE camera, a digital camera with
image resolution high enough to be used for shooting cinema release feature films.
Students who complete this course at a high level of achievement will receive a RED
ONE certificate that means it is possible for them to use the camera in designated RED
ONE production classes and projects. There are high standards for this class, and students
will need to demonstrate competence and reliability in order to get this certificate.
Students will also learn how to shoot with a professional digital camera. This means
learning how to compose shots. What are the different ways filmographers can shoot a
dramatic scene? What is the best way to shoot a documentary? Students will learn all the
different types of shots. The class will also look at the work of different directors and see
how they go about filming their subjects. This course and its certification will be a boon
for students when applying for jobs or advancing their careers. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits)
Prerequisites: MC 282 and MC 285, or consent of the Media and Communications
faculty
MC 432 Lighting and the RED ONE Camera: Illuminating Scenes with Meaning and Subtle Nuance (Back to Top)
Students in this class deepen their skills using the RED ONE camera with a particular
emphasis on using lighting and exposure to enhance the expressive power and subtlety of
each scene. The class will center around video production projects that include in-depth
exploration of the qualities of light, placement and filtering of light sources, 3-point
lighting, and other lighting strategies. Students who complete this course at a very high
level of achievement will receive an additional certificate marking their achievement with
the RED ONE camera. Lab fee: $40. (4 credits) Prerequisite: MC 287, or consent of the
Media and Communications faculty
MC 433 RED ONE Camera Projects: Expressing the Deepest Values of Life (Back to Top)
This is a capstone course in which students work in teams or individually on media
projects that use the RED ONE camera and that contribute significantly to their portfolio.
The central goal of the course is for students to apply everything they have learned to
these projects. This can be a cooperative venture, so students can be involved in a variety
of projects playing different roles on each one. The idea is to produce great projects that
get noticed. In addition students undertake a research project in an area of their interest
that culminates in an essay on their research with properly cited sources, and a
presentation to the class. Students who complete this course at a very high level of
achievement will receive an additional certificate marking their achievement with the
RED ONE camera. This course can substitute for MC 380 in fulfilling requirements for
the BA in Media and Communications. Lab fee: $40. (variable credits) Prerequisite:
consent of the Media and Communications faculty