Department of Visual & Media Arts
Documentary Production (BA, BFA)
This specialization is designed for students interested in telling stories from “real” life. In addition to learning how to produce documentary work/films, students in this specialization will also gain important perspectives on the history of documentary, the business of making documentary productions, and the debates concerning the legal, ethical, and theoretical questions related to representing others.
Credits: 44 for BA, 60 for BFA (both degrees also include 8 additional upper-level liberal arts credits)
I. Visual and Media Arts Foundations (12 credits)
The Visual and Media Arts Foundations offer students a broad theoretical, historical, and practical introduction to the visual and media arts.
Required Courses
| VM 100 | History of Media Arts I |
| VM 101 | History of Media Arts II |
one of the Following:
| VM 102 | Dimensions of Creativity |
| VM 120 | Foundations in Visual and Media Arts Production |
II. Introduction to Disciplines (16 credits minimum)
At the Introduction to Disciplines level, students explore one or more of the department’s main discipline areas.
Required Courses
| VM 200 | Media Criticism and Theory |
At least one of the following:
| VM 202 | Critical Listening |
| VM 220 | Writing the Short Subject |
| VM 221 | Writing the Feature Film |
| VM 222 | Writing for Television |
At least two of the following:
| VM 204 | Topics in Media Arts: Practice |
| VM 230 | Introduction to Film Production |
| VM 231 | Intermediate Film Production |
| VM 240 | Introduction to Video Field Production |
| VM 241 | Introduction to Studio Television Production |
| VM 250 | Introduction to Sound Principles and Audio Production |
| VM 251 | Location Recording |
| VM 260 | Introduction to Interactive Media |
| VM 261 | Computer Animation |
| VM 331 | Topics in Visual and Media Arts: Practice |
III. Specializations
Required Courses
| VM 304 | History of Documentary |
| VM 370 | Business Concepts for Modern Media |
At least one of the following:
| VM 377 | Documentary Production Workshop |
| VM 465 | Documentary Photography |
At least one of the following:
| VM 402 | Seminar in Media Arts Topics |
| VM 409 | Seminar in Western Art |
| VM 410 | Seminar in Non-Western Art |
In addition to the General Education and major requirements, all students are required to complete at least two courses at the 300 or 400 level from the following Liberal Arts areas:
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Recommended Electives
| VM 251 | Location Sound Recording |
| VM 375 | Advanced Interactive Media |
| VM 477 | Producing for Television and Non-Broadcast Media |
Advanced Visual and Media Arts Workshop
Students may apply to take the Advanced Visual and Media Arts Workshop. Two semesters are mandatory for BFA. Optional for BA.
For specific course prerequisites, please consult the Undergraduate Catalogue.
It’s a story about the post-genocide generation in Cambodia. For her documentary project Angkor’s Children, Visual and Media Arts Associate Professor Lauren Shaw followed young Cambodians as they worked to support their country and better its future. After recently receiving the LEF Foundation grant, Shaw can return to Cambodia and resume work.
It may have been her first public art commission, but it certainly had meaning. Emerson Visual and Media Arts Associate Professor Claire Andrade-Watkins recently installed a graphic panel on the Providence Harbor Walk at Fox Point, depicting the history of Fox Point Cape Verdeans.
Equipment Distribution Center
The Equipment Distribution Center's State-of-the-Art Equipment
The Emerson College Equipment Distribution Center (EDC) loans professional, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to faculty and students to fulfill class assignments. Professional staff and student employees are available to provide technical support when needed. It includes the Film Equipment Center and the Video, Audio, New Media Equipment Centers.
