School of Media Arts & Design Courses

SMAD 101. Introduction to Media Arts and Design.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the historical evolution of today’s media industries and career paths. Emphasis on contemporary issues affecting those industries and careers. Consideration given to emerging media, their required skills and social impacts. Prerequisite: Formal declaration for admission to the SMAD major.

SMAD 201. Fundamental Skills in Media Arts and Design I.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of basic computer operating systems and the principles and practices of graphic production for digital and interactive media. Focus on tools and techniques used to create graphic content for diverse media delivery systems. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major.

SMAD 202. Fundamentals Skills in Media Arts and Design II.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the aesthetic principles and practices of audio and video production for digital media. Focus on the technological requirements of producing audio and video for different delivery systems such as television, interactive CD/DVD and the Web. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major. Prerequisite or corequisite: SMAD 201.

SMAD 210. News Writing.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
The study of the fundamentals of news writing, including news gathering techniques and modern news style. Emphasis on day-to-day coverage of meetings, events and breaking news stories. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 220. News Editing.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
The study of editorial functions in the modern newsroom. Consideration of problems in news judgment, news style and the laws of libel. Emphasis upon layout and headline writing. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 225. Photojournalism.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
The study of visual information gathering for print media including photojournalism. Emphasis on photographic techniques and print media layout. Consideration of new visual technologies including the use of computers for electronic photo editing and design. Students must provide their own cameras. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major and SMAD 201 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 231. Writing for New Media. (Formerly "Multimedia Writing")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the principles and practices of writing for multimedia applications. Emphasis on the nature of interactivity and the relationship between text and image, sound and video. Attention to the development of multimedia presentations designed to inform, persuade and entertain. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 241. Corporate Media Writing.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study and practice of the forms and techniques used in corporate media writing. Emphasis on writing and editing skills necessary for print, broadcast and Web-based media. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 250. Scriptwriting.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
The study of the principles and practices of writing scripts for commercial, non-commercial and corporate media applications. Emphasis on preparing dramatic and informational forms for broadcast or recording. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 251. Screenwriting.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Introductory study of the principles and practices of screenwriting. Emphasis is placed on the basic narrative structures underlying cinematic story-telling and the development of a short film script. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 256. Principles of Advertising.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the principles and practices of advertising, including the process, planning, production and placement of commercial messages. Students will learn of the social impact, creative strategy, consumer use, message production and media placement strategies of advertising. Students get practical experience applying an integrated communication strategy. Prerequisites: SMAD 202 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 295. Practicum in Media Arts and Design.
1 credit, repeatable to 3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
First year students and sophomores participating in co-curricular media activities may receive one hour of credit for fieldwork at The Breeze, WMRA-FM, the Madison Video Productions or other university-related media outlets. Students are limited to one practicum per semester. Application procedures will be available from the school prior to registration. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

SMAD 301. The Media Arts: Culture by Design.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of how mediated communication molds perception and influences cultural change. Emphasis on how language and imagery, sound and music are combined in current media to create meaning. Consideration of emerging media and their implications for cultural design. Prerequisites: SMAD 201 and SMAD 202 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 302. HD Video Production. (Formerly "Videography")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Principles and practices of video field production. Focus on visual composition, lighting and sound, production, planning, and operation of portable video recording equipment. Emphasis on shooting and editing for broadcast, non-broadcast and multimedia applications. Prerequisites: SMAD 202 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 303. HD Post Production. (Formerly "Digital Post-Production")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Principles and practices of digital video post-production. Focus on aesthetic considerations, technologies and strategies used to edit video and audio for a variety of program forms and contexts. Prerequisite SMAD 302 or permission of instructor.

SMAD 304. Audio Production. (Formerly "Advanced Digital Audio Production")
3 credits. Offered periodically.
Study of digital sound production, digital music production and digital sound-for-picture production. Emphasis on advanced theories and applications. Prerequisites: SMAD 302 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 305. Topics in Media Arts and Design.
3 credits, repeatable to 6 credits. Offered periodically.
The study of current topics and issues in media arts and design. Emphasis on contemporary themes of immediate concern. Prerequisite: Admission to the SMAD major or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 306. HD Studio Production.
3 credits, Offered fall or spring.
The study of principles and practices of high definition television studio production. Focus on visual composition, audio, lighting and communication in a studio environment. Emphasis on technical and aesthetic demands of high definition video. Prerequisites: SMAD 302 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 307. Interactive Design for the Web I. (Formerly "Multimedia for the Web")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the principles of creating effective communication for the World Wide Web. Emphasis on the techniques used to design and integrate diverse media elements. Focus on the creation and manipulation of text, graphics, audio and video for the Web. Consideration of interface design and Web delivery issues. Prerequisites: SMAD 202, Prerequisite or corequisite: SMAD 231, or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 308. Interactive Design for the Web II. (Formerly "Interactive Multimedia Authoring")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the principles and practices for creating effective interactive multimedia and animation. Emphasis on the tools and techniques used to design and integrate diverse media elements. Focus on interactive multimedia authoring, effective user interface design and computer animation for CD-ROM/ DVD-ROM delivery. Prerequisite: SMAD 307 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 310. Advanced News Writing.
3 credits. Offered periodically.
Advanced study and practice of news writing and news gathering techniques. Emphasis on in-depth and investigative stories. Prerequisite: SMAD 210, SMAD 241 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 311. Feature Writing.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
The study and practice of advanced techniques in planning and writing feature stories. Emphasis on individual performance through criticism of student work in conference with the instructor. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: SMAD 210, SMAD 241 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD/GRPH 312. Web Design. (Formerly SMAD 339)
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Introduction to Web design through theory and practical application. Assignments will focus on the unique form, content and structures associated with designing for the World Wide Web. Special emphasis on the creative process and the graphic presentation of ideas. Prerequisites: SMAD majors: SMAD 202; GRPH emphasis: GRPH 243 and GRPH 250 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 321. Feature Magazine Production.
3 credits. Offered spring.
A practical course in which students produce a feature magazine published regularly by the journalism area. Each student is assigned a specific staff position. Students learn to use the latest computer pagination technology in the design and production of a magazine. Prerequisite: SMAD 311 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 322. Newspaper Production.
3 credits. Offered fall.
Advanced study in the knowledge and skills required to produce a newspaper. Areas of study include story generation, writing, editing, picture editing, page design, layout, on-screen pagination, production and management. Consideration given to the journalistic responsibilities and problems of serving a diverse audience. Prerequisite: SMAD 210, SMAD 220, SMAD 241 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 330. New Media Law. (Formerly "Multimedia Law")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
An in-depth investigation of business and legal aspects of multimedia production, publication and distribution. Examination of legal issues affecting the multimedia industry including: intellectual property laws, torts, contracts and licensing. Discussion of current policies and practices affecting multimedia development and review of pertinent legal reference materials. Prerequisites: Admission to the SMAD major and junior standing or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 332. Print Communication Design. (Formerly SMAD 432)
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
An introduction to the theories and methods of design for print communication. Students will learn various techniques needed to produce the design materials that go into print publications. Prerequisite: SMAD 201 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 340. Advanced Screenplay Writing.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
Advanced study of the principles of screenplay writing for feature films and television movies. Emphasis is placed on the structure of the full-length narrative film. Prerequisite: SMAD 251; for non-majors: ENG 381; or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 341. Web Communication.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the design and development of the World Wide Web as a corporate communications tool. Emphasis on project planning and research, Web site design and management. Focus on the lexicon of the Web, the tools and techniques of e-commerce, and Web site promotion. Attention to research and Web communication management principles. Prerequisites: SMAD 202 and SMAD 241 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 356. Telecommunication Policy and Regulation.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
An overview of the regulatory issues encountered in the telecommunication industry. Emphasizes post 1982-FCC changes deregulating telephone, CATV and broadcast industries. Includes regulation of emerging services and technologies, First Amendment issues, ownership and distribution of new information forms, and limitations and uses of technology. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 370. Mass Communication Law.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Principles and case studies in communication law, constitutional guarantees, libel, privacy, contempt, copyright and governmental regulatory agencies. Emphasis on recent cases and their effects on mass communication. Prerequisites: Admission to the SMAD major and junior standing or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 371. Narrative Media Studies.
3 credits. Offered spring.
Study of media theories that focus on the functions and effects of storytelling in cinema and television. Emphasis on how such theories explain the cultural impact and personal utility of narrative contents in everyday life. Consideration of critical methods and research techniques underpinning these diverse explanations of media influence. Prerequisite or corequisite: SMAD 301 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 372. Media History.
3 credits. Offered spring.
The study of the history of the media in relation to American politics and society. Emphasis on key periods in the development of journalism and the mass media and the role of the journalist in society. Prerequisites: Admission to the SMAD major and junior standing or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 373. Media Analysis and Criticism.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
The study and practice of journalistic and scholarly criticism of the mass media. Emphasis on interpretive writing about television, film and popular music. Consideration of contemporary analytical methods for researching mass-mediated culture. Prerequisite: SMAD 301; for non-majors: admission to the interdisciplinary minor in creative writing; or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 390. Directed Projects in Media Arts and Design.
2 credits, repeatable to 4 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Supervised projects related to the study of any of the communication media. Credit given for original individual or group programs beyond the school’s usual co-curricular activities. A suitable completed project or report is required before credit can be awarded. Prerequisite: Permission of the school director.

SMAD 395. Advanced Practicum in Media Arts and Design.
1 credit, repeatable to 3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Juniors and seniors participating in co-curricular media activities may receive one hour of credit for fieldwork at The Breeze, Curio, WMRA-FM, the Madison Video Productions or other university-related media outlets. Students are limited to one practicum per semester. Application procedures will be available from the school prior to registration. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

SMAD 400. Senior Assessment in Media Arts and Design.
0 credits. Offered spring.
Students participate in testing, interviews, project reviews and other assessment activities as approved by the School of Media Arts and Design. Grades will be assigned on a credit/no-credit basis. Prerequisites: SMAD 301 and senior standing or permission of the school director.

SMAD 402. HD Compositing and Special Effects. (Formerly "Advanced Video Post-Production")
3 credits. Offered spring.
Study and application of digital compositing with non-linear video editing systems. Focus on creating dynamic media elements for traditional and multimedia video applications. Emphasis on changing nature of video post production and the roles and responsibilities of video editors. Attention to client relations, and project and facilities management. Prerequisites: SMAD 303 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 404. Advanced Interactive Design. (Formerly "Advanced Multimedia")
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
This course provides opportunities for students to increase their understanding of advanced multimedia topics and to further develop their interactive media production skills. Students will produce multimedia projects that incorporate various types of digital media and are suitable for publishing on the Web or CD-ROM/DVD-ROM. Prerequisites: SMAD 307 and SMAD 308 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 405. Directing Video and Cinema. (Formerly "Video Producing and Directing")
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the principles and practices of producing and directing programs for video and television. Emphasis on the creative development and production of programs designed to inform, entertain and persuade. Consideration of the impact of digital technology on program production and distribution. Attention to the collaborative nature of production management. Prerequisites: SMAD 302 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 406. Electronic News Gathering and Producing.
3 credits. Offered fall.
Study of the processes and responsibilities of producing news for electronic distribution. Students will research, write and produce stories for distribution over-the-air, on cable and over the Internet. Emphasis on legal and ethical issues in news coverage. Prerequisites: SMAD 302 or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 407. Business and Management of Digital Media.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of the principles and practices of managing digital media production. Emphasis on financial and personnel management, client relationships, and the structures and practices of digital media industries. Consideration of new trends in production and distribution. Attention to career preparation and development. Prerequisites: Senior standing and SMAD 302 (for DVC Concentrators), SMAD 308 (for Interactive Media Concentrators), or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 441. Corporate Communication Management.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
Study of principles and practices of managing corporate communication. Emphasis on evaluation and management of messages, channels, and appropriate media. Attention given to critical analysis and strategic planning. Focus on legal, ethical, financial, personnel issues and career development. Analysis of case studies and current issues. Prerequisites: Senior standing, SMAD 241 and SMAD 341, or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 460. Movies and Society.
3 credits. Offered fall.
The study of the cultural impact of the film industry as an institution of mass communication. Emphasis on the interrelationship among social, economic and technological factors influencing the creation and consumption of motion pictures. Consideration of particular films as indicators of cultural change. Prerequisites: SMAD 301; for non-majors: admission to the interdisciplinary minor in film studies; or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 461. Movies as Art.
3 credits. Offered spring.
Advanced study of how movies tell their stories in visual terms. Emphasis on the historical evolution and design of the moving image. Consideration of the latest imaging technologies affecting film narrative. Prerequisites: SMAD 301; for non-majors: ENG 381; or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 462. Documentary in Film and Television.
3 credits. Offered spring.
The study of content, style, technique and effect of representative samples of the documentary form. Consideration given to informational and persuasive elements. Prerequisites: SMAD 301; for non-majors: ENG 381; or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 463. Film Adaptations.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
The study of the process of adapting literature into feature films. Consideration is given to the original literary work, as well as to the changes undergone in its adaptation to film. Prerequisite: SMAD 301; for non-majors: ENG 381 or admission to the interdisciplinary minor in creative writing; or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 470. New Media and Society.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
Study of the key issues arising from the role of information and information technology in organizations and society. Emphasis on the spheres of social life in which new media technologies play a role: politics, community, economics, culture, personal and global contexts. Focus on a wide range of perspectives and on both theoretical and empirical research to examine new media's role in social capital and community. Prerequisites: SMAD 202 and junior standing, or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 471. Media Ethics.
3 credits. Offered fall.
The study of ethical principles and how they apply in a variety of media situations, including entertainment programming news and advertising. Emphasis on case studies as examples of ethical decision-making. Prerequisites: Admission to the SMAD major and junior standing or permission of the instructor.

SMAD/SCOM/POSC 472. Media and Politics.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
A study of the media’s role in political campaigns, concentrating on past/present election, the media’s role in covering political parties and coverage of the governing process. Discussion of electronic and print will occur. Topics to be examined include campaign videos, CSPAN, political ads, editorial cartoons, TV debates, convention coverage and radio talk show commentary.

SMAD 490. Special Studies in Media Arts and Design.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
An independent study for students to pursue individual research under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Prerequisites: Senior SMAD majors in good standing and permission of the school director.

SMAD 495. Internship in Media Arts and Design.
2 credits, repeatable to 4 credits. Offered fall and spring.
An off-campus program prepared and monitored on an individual student basis. Internships are designed to provide practical experience in journalism, electronic media, corporate media or visual communication. Prerequisites: Permission of the school director and the media facility involved. Students must meet criteria and application procedures established in each concentration.

SMAD 498. Senior Seminar in Media Arts and Design.
3 credits. Offered fall and spring.
The study and research in the history and philosophy of the function of mass communication in society. Consideration of topics relating to problems of communication systems, technological freedoms, and press freedom and responsibilities. Prerequisites: SMAD 301 and senior standing or permission of the instructor.

SMAD 499. Honors in Media Arts and Design.
6 credits. Offered fall and spring.