College of Communication and Fine Arts

Department of Art

Department of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Department of Journalism

School of Music

Department of Speech Communication and Dramatic Arts

Undergraduate Programs of Study

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts (BCA)

For information, please contact 
Peter B. Orlik, Chairperson, 774-3851, 340 Moore Hall

College of Communication and Fine Arts Website
Department Website

Why Study Broadcast and Cinematic Arts?
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts at CMU
Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major - B.F.A.
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major - B.S. in Ed.
Vocational Technical Teaching Certification
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Minor
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts - B.S. in B.A.
The Faculty
BCA Course Descriptions

Why Study Broadcast and Cinematic Arts? 
Through classroom, laboratory and cocurricular experiences, the study of broadcast and cinematic arts offers students the opportunity to investigate the electronic and filmic mass media which so widely impact their professional and private lives. In addition to imparting career training, BCA classes provide the background and analytical skills needed by all educated people to understand the aesthetic and cultural impact on society of traditional and evolving media.

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts at CMU 
The Department of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts offers both theoretical and applied courses in electronic media production, performance, advertising, programming, sales, promotion, management, electronic journalism, and film criticism. These classes prepare students for a wide variety of challenging and stimulating careers in telecommunications companies, advertising or public relations agencies, Internet enterprises, and related mass media industries. A separate curricular track is available to prepare students to teach media studies at the secondary school level. 

As early as possible, a student seeking to major or minor in the department should consult the chairperson in order to be assigned a faculty advisor who will aid in curricular planning and authorization. Specific program requirements are listed below. It is expected that each BCA major and minor will be involved every semester in one or more of the departmental cocurricular activities. These include WMHW-FM, Moore Hall TV, M2D2 (Moore Media Digital Design), News Central, and The Film Society. Students are also encouraged to participate in BCA chapters of the National Broadcasting Society and the Radio and Television News Directors Association.
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Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards
In order to sign a major or minor in the Department of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, a student must first meet with an assigned advisor and provide written evidence that the following requirements have been met. 

I. Grade Point Average (GPA): 

1. Prior to applying for admission as a major or minor, a student must have completed 42 semester hours of university work with an overall GPA of 2.30. These 42 hours must include BCA 210 with a minimum grade of C. 
2. BCA majors and minors are required to earn a minimum grade of C in each BCA core curriculum course both before and after signing the major or minor. 
3. A minimum 2.7 GPA must be achieved in the BCA teaching major. 

II. Written English Competency: 
Any student wishing to major or minor in BCA must attain a minimum grade of B in ENG 101. Students not attaining a minimum grade of B in ENG 101 must earn a minimum grade of B in ENG 201. This requirement can also be fulfilled by receiving ENG 101 equivalency on the university-administered Written English Competency Examination (CLEP).

Students transferring English competency or English composition course credits from another institution will be expected to meet the same standards required of CMU students. 

III. Oral English Competency: 
Any student wishing to major or minor in BCA must attain a minimum grade of B in SDA 101 or one of its accepted substitutes (SDA 302, IPC 267, IPC 269, IPC 357, TAI 170). 

Students granted competency by successfully completing the Oral English Competency Examination are further required to take one of the accepted substitutes for SDA 101 and achieve a grade of at least B in order to meet BCA competency.

Integrative Public Relations Major (Interdisciplinary)
In order to sign a major in Integrative Public Relations, a student must first complete IPR 101 with a grade of C or higher.
Grade Point Average: 1) IPR majors are required to earn a minimum of a C in all required and elective courses in the major. 2) A minimum 2.5 GPA in the major is required.
Internship Requirements: 1) To complete the program, IPR majors must satisfactorily complete a 6 credit hour internship with a grade of C or higher. 2) Any student enrolling in internship hours must have completed all of the required courses except for 500 level courses, earned a C or higher in all courses taken in the major including electives and be junior/senior status.

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major (B.F.A.)
BCA students who possess a significant background in one or more of the fine arts may be eligible to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Interested students must present a portfolio demonstrating past fine arts success to the department's B.F.A. faculty advisor in order to apply for admission to this program. 

The minimum requirement for the B.F.A. major is 70 hours. BCA 288 and 300 do not count toward this minimum. A grade of C or better must be earned in each of the required core classes. At least 15 hours of BCA courses must be taken at CMU. Courses taken for credit/no credit do not count toward the major except for BCA 329.

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major
(Program for Speech Teaching Certification)
The minimum requirement for this major is 44 hours. BCA 288 and 300 do not count toward this minimum. A grade of C or better must be earned in each of the required core classes. At least 15 hours of BCA courses must be taken at CMU. Only six hours of intern credit can count toward the major and toward graduation. Courses taken for credit/no credit do not count toward the major except for BCA 329. The student must complete at least 33 hours of the major, including SDA 492 and SDA 493, prior to student teaching.
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Majors

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major 
B.A., B.A.A., and B.S. degrees 

Required Core Courses (23 hours): 
BCA 210 (4) Survey of the Mass Media 
BCA 222 (3) Audio Production 
BCA 223 (3) Video Production 
BCA 310 (3) Broadcast History and New Media Technology 
BCA 311 (3) Broadcast and Cable Copywriting 
BCA 499 (1) Senior Seminar 
BCA 503 (3) Critiquing Mass Media 
BCA 510 (3) Broadcast and Cable Law 

*Electives (12 hours): 
12 additional hours of BCA course work to be selected in consultation with an advisor.* Six of these 12 hours must be at the 400 or 500 level. BCA 490 and 529 do not fulfill this 400-500 requirement. 

Students following the B.A.A. degree: Three hours of electives from ART or MUS are also required and these three hours can not be used to satisfy University Program requirements.

Total: 35 semester hours 

Notes: The minimum requirement for a major is 35 hours. BCA 288 and 300 do not count toward this minimum. All BCA majors and minors must to earn a minimum grade of C in each core course required in the curriculum. At least 15 hours of coursework in the major must be taken at CMU. Only six hours of intern credit may count toward a major and toward graduation. Courses taken for credit/no credit do not count toward the major except for BCA 329. 

*A list of various career course sequences is available in the department office.
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Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major 
B.F.A. degree 

(See Admission, Retention, Termination Standards above)

Required Core Courses (26 hours): 
BCA 210 (4) Survey of the Mass Media 
BCA 222 (3) Audio Production 
BCA 223 (3) Video Production 
BCA 310 (3) Broadcast History and New Media Technology 
BCA 311 (3) Broadcast and Cable Copywriting 
BCA 317 (3) Radio and TV Performance 
BCA 499 (1) Senior Seminar 
BCA 503 (3) Critiquing Mass Media 
BCA 510 (3) Broadcast and Cable Law

Integrative Experience (7 hours): 
Any combination of the following: 
BCA 329 (1-4) Practicum in Electronic Media 
BCA 529 (2-6) Internship in Radio-TV-Film

Departmental Electives (12 hours): 
Chosen from the following: 
BCA 421 (3) Advanced Audio Production 
BCA 422 (3) Intermediate Video Production 
BCA 505 (3) Advanced Electronic Media Writing 
BCA 512 (3) Broadcast and Cable Promotion
BCA 517 (3) Advanced Audio and Video Performance 
BCA 519 (3) Electronic Media Programming
BCA 520 (1-3) Special Topics in Mass Media 
BCA 521 (3) Electronic Cinematography 
BCA 525 (3) Film Genre Study
BCA 522 (3) Multimedia Audio Postproduction
BCA 527 (3) Film Directors
BCA 532 (3) Advanced Video/Multimedia Postproduction
BCA 566 (1) Hockey's Cinematic Depictions

Fine Arts Concentration (25 hours): 
At least 25 hours in non-BCA fine arts courses which have been specified as fine arts by the appropriate academic departments. See the BCA Bachelor of Fine Arts advisor for details.

Total: 70 semester hours
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Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Major 
Program for Speech Teaching Certification with broadcasting focus (B.S. in Ed. degree). 

The following is offered in cooperation with the Department of Speech Communication and Dramatic Arts, and is advised by BCA faculty. 

Required Core Courses (20 hours): 
BCA 210 (4) Survey of the Mass Media 
BCA 222 (3) Audio Production 
BCA 223 (3) Video Production 
BCA 311 (3) Broadcast and Cable Copywriting 
BCA 499 (1) Senior Seminar 
BCA 503 (3) Critiquing Mass Media 
BCA 510 (3) Broadcast and Cable Law 

Other Required Communication Courses (17-18 hours) 
IPC 251 (3) Foundations of Communication Theory 
IPC 267 (3) Introduction to Debate 
TAI 182 (3) Acting I 
SDA 492 (4) Speech Methods in Secondary School 
SDA 493 (1) Field Experience in Speech Education 
Plus one of the following: 
TAI 170 (3) Fundamentals of Interpretive Reading 
TAI 177 (4) Stagecraft and Lighting 
IPC 353 (3) Communication in Small Groups

Departmental Electives (7 hours)
Three of these seven hours must be at the 400 or 500 level.  BCA 490 and BCA 529 do not fulfill this requirement.

Total : 44-45 semester hours 

(See Admission, Retention and Termination Standards Above)
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Vocational Technical Teaching Certification: 

Vocational Certification in Radio and Television Production is available to BCA majors and minors wishing to teach. See the department chair for details.

Integrative Public Relations Major 

This is an interdisciplinary major. Please check the Interdepartmental and Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors section.

Minors

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Minor 
B.A., B.A.A., B.F.A., B.S. degrees

Required Core Courses (17 hours): 
BCA 210 (4) Survey of the Mass Media 
BCA 222 (3) Audio Production 
BCA 223 (3) Video Production 
BCA 311 (3) Broadcast and Cable Copywriting 
BCA 329 (1) Practicum in Electronic Media 
BCA 503 (3) Critiquing Mass Media

Electives (5 hours): 
Minimum of 5 additional hours of BCA coursework to be selected in consultation with an advisor. BCA 288 and 300 do not count toward this minimum.

Notes: At least 9 hours of coursework in the minor must be taken at CMU. Only three hours of intern credit may count toward the minor. Courses taken for credit/no credit do not count toward the minor, except for BCA 329.

Total: 22 semester hours
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Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Minor
Available on B.S. in B.A. degree only

Required Core Courses (20 hours): 
BCA 210 (4) Survey of the Mass Media 
BCA 222 (3) Audio Production 
BCA 223 (3) Video Production 
BCA 329 (1) Practicum in Electronic Media 
BCA 510 (3) Broadcast and Cable Law 
BCA 516 (3) Broadcast and Cable Management
  OR BCA 519 (3) Electronic Media Programming 
IPC 264 (3) Organizational Communication
  OR IPC 353 (3) Communication in Small Groups

Electives (2 hours): 
Minimum of two additional hours of BCA coursework to be selected in consultation with an advisor. BCA 288 and 300 do not count toward this minimum.

Notes: At least 9 hours of coursework in the minor must be taken at CMU. Only three hours of intern credit may count toward the minor. Courses taken for credit/no credit do not count toward the minor, except for BCA 329.

Total: 22 semester hours
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The faculty: William Anderson, Rene Blatté, Jeffrey Blevins, Kevin Campbell, Kevin Corbett, J. Robert Craig, Greg Delauro, Jerome Henderson, Kenneth Jurkiewicz, Peter Orlik, W. Lawrence Patrick, Mark Poindexter, Heather Polinsky, William Rugg, B.R. Smith, William R. Sykes, Patricia Williamson.
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