Visual & Media Arts: Sample Courses

Computer Animation I & II

Catalogue Says

"Computer Animation I is the first course in the two-course computer animation sequence, introducing students to the fundamentals of three-dimensional modeling and animation and preparing them for the second course, Computer Animation II. Students learn to model, texture objects, compose and light scenes, animate, and add dynamics. Finally they learn to render their animations into movies and to composite movies, audio, titles, and credits in postproduction."

"Computer Animation II is the second course in the two-course computer animation sequence, introducing students to advanced three-dimensional modeling and animation techniques and preparing them for independent computer animation production work. Students will continue to develop their skills acquired in Computer Animation I including modeling, texturing objects, composing and lighting scenes, animating, dynamics, rendering and postproduction compositing."

Students Say

"Computer Animation with John Craig Freeman is the perfect balance of learning the technical side of the craft, as well as the fundamentals of the art. The course doesn't stop at teaching how to use a specific version of Maya, but illustrates solid concepts that make me a strong storyteller, regardless of the tool set."
– John Seggerson

Writing the Feature Film

Catalogue Says

"Consideration of feature-length narrative film scripts from conception to development of a detailed outline or treatment. Study includes linear and non-linear structure, conflict, character development, dialogue, and the scene."

Students Say

"By far, the coolest class I took at Emerson College was the Feature Film Writing Workshop with Jean Stawarz. The purpose of the class was to write a full-length screenplay. The class worked on a rotational system: each week three new people would present 30 new pages to the class. What was so great about the class was that each person got 45 minutes for each 30 pages they handed out. So every three weeks you would be "workshopping" your own piece of work. The whole class would give you tons of feedback and tell you where you were succeeding and where you needed help. The class was small enough that we all fully got enthralled in each other's screenplays. Jean was an amazing professor who would give real life criticism. She never sugar coated anything. It was as if we were an intensive, real world type workshop in LA. The class is a must for anyone who has a desire to write screenplays."
– Jeanne Leitenberg

Marketing and Promotion for Radio and Audio

Catalogue Says:

"This course explores the techniques, methods, goals, and ethics of successful promotions, including the components of an effective promotions team. The course includes the planning, coordination, and implementation of a promotion campaign."

Students Say:

"My teacher for this course was head of marketing for Univision (Spanish TV) and had worked in many radio stations. He is in the industry, knows what's going on today, and had many insights into the future. Our final exam was a marketing plan for a radio station. We were given the type of station, and I researched and completed every tiny detail. I worked for days to complete the promotion from start to finish. I look back at this exam, which I aced, and know it was the best work I've done at Emerson. I feel confident that I can go into my internship already knowing how things work."
– Lee Tyler

Studio TV Production

Catalogue Says:

"Through lectures and hands-on laboratories, students learn the principles of pre-production, production, and post-production for the studio as well as control room procedures. Students prepare their own productions, from concept to completion. Each project is shot multicamera, live-on-tape, in the studio."

Students Say:

"Studio TV Production was a blast. The studios are loaded with professional grade equipment that could be used by a major news station but instead serves as our classrooms. Instead of reading about equipment in textbooks each day we'd come in and learn by putting up multi-camera television shows. Cooking shows, martial arts demonstrations, sports news, 1970s soap operas, anything was game for content as long as we were demonstrating the necessary technical skills. I directed a mini-sitcom written by a classmate spoofing Harry Potter for my final. This was one of the most satisfying in-class experiences I've had at Emerson."
– Bethany Arazoza