Beginning this summer, SMAD is combining the existing Digital Video (DV) and Cinema Studies (CS) concentrations into a new concentration called Digital Video and Cinema (DVC). This affects both newly admitted students and those currently in either DV or CS. The new concentration accomplishes the following:

* Allows former CS students to take at least one production class, SMAD 302.

* Provides more flexibility in choosing classes.

* Provides a new class called HD Studio Production.

* Renames some classes to better reflect course content.

* Drops the designations of PP (post-production), PD (producing and directing), BJ (broadcast journalism) and SW (scriptwriting). All students are now simply DVC.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions:

* I'm currently a sophomore, junior or senior in DV, how does this affect me?
There is very little impact on your requirements. You can now take your choice of SMAD 250 or SMAD 251 as your writing class. You can still take either SMAD 330 or SMAD 370 as your law class. SMAD 407 (Business & Management) is still required. You are still required to take SMAD 302 (which will cover both videography and editing), but SMAD 303 is now in a "choose from" list. The rest is all about flexibility.

* I'm currently a sophomore, junior or senior in CS, how does this affect me?
There is potentially a bigger change for you. First, although SMAD 302 is now a required class, this may or may not be desirable for you. Some students entered CS because they were solely interested in studying films, not producing them. All newly admitted students (offered admission in March 2008) will be required to take SMAD 302, but those already in the major will be allowed to continue under the former CS curriculum. Therefore, SMAD 302 is not a required class for current students in CS, but those who choose not to take it will substitute one additional non-production course for 302. .

* I am currently a post-production (PP) student (or PD, BJ or SW). What happens now that this distinction has been eliminated?
Let's take the example of a student who is DV-PP. In the past, we had a "choose one" listing that included a class specifically for you, SMAD 402. Under the new curriculum, SMAD 402 is part of a much larger listing where you can choose from among a number of classes. Now, you can enroll for any of those classes and if SMAD 402 is full, you'll either have to wait until another semester, or choose another class or classes from the list.

* What does this new curriculum look like, beyond the core requirements?