The Video Arts and Technology Program provides a dynamic education in video, audio and television production. The program will prepare you for positions in the entertainment industry, electronic journalism, audiovisual production companies, broadcast and cable networks, and corporate communications departments. There is a combination of extensive hands-on experience with theoretical coursework in a comprehensive academic program.
Video Arts and Technology students work in a digital environment in BMCC’s state of the art television studios, audio studio, and post-production laboratories. You will learn the entire process for creating professional video and audio programs from writing a script and creating a budget, to shooting a scene and editing a final cut. All Video Arts and Technology students do an internship at a professional media facility.
Upon successful completion of the requirements listed below, you will earn an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree. Most courses in the Video Arts and Technology program (VAT courses) are restricted to students enrolled in the program.
Explore Careers
BMCC is committed to students’ long-term success and will help you explore professional opportunities. Undecided? No problem. The college offers Career Coach for salary and employment information, job postings and a self-discovery assessment to help students find their academic and career paths. Visit Career Express to make an appointment with an advisor, search for jobs or sign-up for professional development activities with the Center for Career Development. Students can also visit the Office of Internships and Experiential Learning to gain real world experience in preparation for a four-year degree and beyond. These opportunities are available to help BMCC students build a foundation for future success.
These suggested careers may require bachelor's or higher degrees.
Make an appointment at the Academic Advisement and Transfer Center.
Required Common Core
| English Composition | 6 |
| Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Life and Physical Sciences1 | 3 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED COMMON CORE | 12 |
Flexible Core2
| Creative Expression | 6 |
| Individual and Society | 3 |
| Scientific World3 | 3 |
| U.S. Experience in Its Diversity | 3 |
| World Cultures and Global Issues | 3 |
| TOTAL FLEXIBLE COMMON CORE | 18 |
| TOTAL COMMON CORE | 30 |
Curriculum Requirements
- This course introduces students to varied applications of contemporary media in business, entertainment, and the public sector. Students study the processes of media production, the systems for media distribution, and the roles of media professionals. The course surveys the history of modern communications and the terminology of the media industry. Students examine the complex connections between technology, content, style, and audience response in the creation of media productions.
- This course explains how video technology works and how that technology is put into practice to create video content. It covers the fundamentals of contemporary media technology including understanding video image formation, data compression, as well as picture and sound generation and manipulation. Lab exercises introduce students to the operations of cameras, video-recording systems, lighting instruments, microphones and the uses of SMPTE Time Code. Students also learn basic practical and aesthetic concepts of filmmaking by pre-producing and filming in-class exercises.
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General Elective4
Production Courses: Choose 4 courses from:
- This course is an introduction to all aspects of basic studio television production. Students produce multi-camera TV programs in a fully equipped TV studio. Students learn to perform the functions of a director, floor manager, camera operator, audio engineer, lighting director, and technical director.
Prerequisite: VAT 100 and MES 153
Corequisite: MES 152 - This course is an introduction to the use of audio technology in theatre, television, motion pictures and multimedia. Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of acoustics and sound recording. Tools, such as various mixing boards, microphones and recorders, will be introduced in the context of theatrical and television production. Sound design for live venues and multimedia presentations will be introduced as well. Assignments will include practical exercises. Lab assignments are required.
Prerequisite: VAT100 and MES 153
Corequisite: MES 152 - This course teaches students how to conceptualize, shoot and edit a video project. The use of digital cameras as well as lighting and audio instruments on location will be covered. Students will learn pre-production planning, crew protocols and directing skills as they shoot an original project. The fundamentals of post production techniques, from basic editing to final mastering, are taught in a state-of-the-art digital editing lab.
Prerequisite: VAT 100 and MES 153
Corequisite: MES 152 - This course builds upon VAT 161 and focuses on the skills needed to successfully plan and complete a multi-camera professional studio production. Classes are conducted in a state-of-the-art, fully equipped TV studio. Students master the techniques and workflow required to produce programming according to industry standards and practices. Student work is screened, discussed and critiqued to deepen understanding of the art and craft of television. Prerequisite: VAT 161 or permission of the department
- This course concentrates on the post-production aspects of audio production. Sound effects editing, Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR), Foley editing and music replacement will be covered in the context of television and motion picture post-production. Mastering of recordings for distribution will also be covered. Students will be expected to work on projects using media server technology, allowing for simultaneous picture and sound editing. Collaborative projects will also be included. Lab assignments are required.
Pre-Requisite: VAT165 and MMP100 - This course builds upon VAT 171. It reinforces the skills needed to successfully plan, shoot, edit, and refine remote video productions. The course includes advanced techniques in digital cinematography, digital editing and audio and visual effects.
Pre-Requisite: VAT171 or DEPT. PERMIT
Program Elective: Choose 1 course from:
- This course offers an introduction to designing two-dimensional computer generated video graphics. Students create graphics to television productions, such as opening titles for programs to be used in live studio situations and for integration in post-production editing. Students are introduced to motion graphics in 2D and 2+D digital graphic applications. Prerequisite: VAT 161 or VAT 171 or MMP 250
- Budgeting is one of the first steps in the audiovisual production process. This course teaches students how to prepare a production budget for audiovisual projects. Students learn how to manage a strict budget to insure compliance with independent producers, commercial and not-for-profit clients. Prerequisite: VAT 152
- This course will cover the fundamentals of lighting for television. Students will learn the principals of lighting techniques and study the various types of instruments and peripherals used. Besides lectures, there will be hands-on demonstrations both in the studio and on location. Pre-Requisite: VAT161 or VAT171
- This course teaches students about the art and techniques of digital cinematography. Topics are: the use of studio and remote digital video cameras; lighting for digital cinematography; camera movement, camera angles, continuity, and composition; interpreting a director's vision; and digital workflow. Throughout the course, the history and art of cinematography is explored through screenings, text and other analyses. Prerequisite: VAT 161 or VAT 171
- Teleconferencing offers an immediate, reliable and cost efficient method of creating virtual meetings using video technology. The course acquaints students with teleconferencing methods and applications. Utilizing the BMCC videoconferencing room, students will research and write original projects and conduct actual teleconferences using ISDN and IP telephony, a metropolitan fiber optic LAN, and orbital satellite technology. Prerequisite: VAT 161 or VAT 172
Experiential Learning: Choose 1 course from MEA 201 or MEA 371:
- In this course students are instructed in industry appropriate methods to creatively plan their careers. Students learn about self-assessment, career exploration, and practical job search skills. In this course, students will identify the techniques used to identify target markets, negotiate with clients, apply sound business management principles, and successfully self-promote. The course includes the following topics: how to identify and classify your career needs, interests, values, and skills; researching occupational and organizational alternatives; job search techniques and resources for employment; resume and cover letter preparation; portfolio presentation; job interviewing and follow-up. Prerequisite: ANI 401 or two MMA 200-level courses or higher or two MMP 200-level courses or higher or two courses from VAT 161, VAT 165, VAT 171, VAT 261, VAT 265 or VAT 271.
- The objective of the internship is to allow the student to put classroom theory in her/his major into practice in order to gain work experience. Each student-intern is assigned to a coordinator who is knowledgeable about the studenta??s field. The coordinator helps the student secure internship placement in a work site related to the studenta??s major, or assists the student to a??reconstructa?? her/his present position as an internship, or develop a?? by special arrangement a?? an internship with her/his present employer, and serves as the studenta??s instructor and advisor during the field experience. Over a semester the Media Arts and Technology Internship requires a total of 150 hours, including but not limited to, hours at the internship site. In this course MEA students are expected to: intern approximately 10 hours a week, complete a term project assigned by the coordinator, and be evaluated by the work site supervisor. Students to be placed are expected to arrange their schedules so that they are free mornings or afternoons, Monday a?? Friday, or two to three full days per week. Prerequisite: Departmental Approval
Advised Electives – Choose 3 credits from:
- Students will learn to construct 3D motion graphics for video, film, game, multimedia and internet applications. Students will use an advanced CGI program to make original animations in a three-coordinate spae. Students will learn to model three-dimensional objects and to choreograph scenes, controlling character movement, lighting, sound, and camera directions.
Prerequisite: MMP 100 or MMA 100 - This course covers the total structure and character of modern business from initial organization through grouping of essential functions into operating departments. Management and the decision-making process, financing, operations, and marketing considerations are studied, with actual cases used to illustrate problems in small and big businesses.
Course Syllabus - The focus of this course is to provide an understanding of the influence and impact on our lives and society by the mass media. The course examines the history, law, technology, economics and politics of the mass media through independent study, field trips, etc. Students are encouraged to be aware of techniques of influence used by the mass media to influence and determine social and political values. In addition, students learn to develop tools for critical analysis of and standards for discriminating consumption of the mass media.
Prerequisite: SPE 100 or permission of department - This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the psychological, physical, and social understanding of the stress response. The course will explore the divergent ranges of the human stress response, while emphasizing the use of positive stress in an academic setting. Opportunities will be provided for students to learn concrete scientific measures, gain practical insights, and adapt viable stress management techniques. The purpose of the course is not to advocate any one particular technique, but rather to enable students to make informed decisions about stress management approaches toward enhancing health.
- In this hands-on course, students will learn how to create physical interfaces for interacting with technology. Students will be introduced to digital fabrication techniques. They will learn how to program microcontrollers and how to build simple circuits. An emphasis will be placed on building and revising prototypes. Prerequisites: MMA 100 and MMP 100
- MEA 300 will focus on a specific theme, concept, technology or methodology to be announced in advance. Topics for the following semester will be made available by the Media Arts and Technology Department during registration. Each section of the course will cover in depth a single special topic related to media arts and technology, such as one of the following: User Experience Design, Physical Computing, 3D and Laser Printing, Game Design, Documentary Film Production, Experimental Film, Journalism, Media Production, Project Management, Interactive Media, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Television News Production. Prerequisite: Any 200-level or above MMP, MMA, VAT or ANI course
- This image-based course will introduce graphic design as the foundation upon which effective visual communication is built. Investigation of the elements and principles of graphic design will lead to specific design problems and their solution. The development of ideas and the ability to communicate them effectively will be covered. Discussion of both vector and bitmap-based digital graphic platforms will begin progress toward industry-standard computer proficiency.
- This course introduces game design principles and video game production practices. Game history, theory and design principles will be covered through lecture, discussion and readings. Readings in the form of texts, videos and games will be assigned for written analysis and discussion. The course will review game production historically and current practices for game development including software, environments and production process. Students will learn topics such as character design, setting and level design, interaction programming, sound design, user testing design and analysis, presenting ideas, giving and interpreting critique and feedback. Production assignments include asset creation of graphics, animation and sound, programming game interactions, creating user testing forms and concept presentations. Students will work individually and/or in groups to develop and complete a video game throughout the semester. Game production environments such as Web/JavaScript, Unity, Unreal Engine, Game Maker, Godot Engine or others could be used. Asset creation will be done with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, Piskel, cfxr, Audacity, Audio Tool and others.
Prerequisite: MMP 100 - This course will introduce students to the basics of using a computer for music: musical notation technology, MIDI technology, digital audio technology and recording studio techniques.
Prerequisite: MUS 105 or instructor's approval - Basic acting skills, a method of approaching a role, a working vocabulary, and the responsibilities of the actor will be studied through improvisations, theatre games, and performance of scenes or monologues from plays and other dramatic material studied in class.
30
Total Curriculum Requirements
60
Total Program Requirements
Note
This program has received a waiver to specify particular courses students must take in some areas of the Common Core. If students take different courses in these areas, they will be certified as having completed the Common Core areas, but it may not be possible for them to finish their degree program within the regular number of credits.
Please note, these requirements are effective the 2020-2021 catalog year. Please check your DegreeWorks account for your specific degree requirements as of when you began at BMCC will determine your program requirements.
Footnotes
- Students are required to take PHY110, or PHY400.
- No more than two courses in any discipline or interdisciplinary field can be used to satisfy Flexible Core requirements.
- Students are required to take MMP 100.
- These credits can be satisfied by taking STEM variants in the Common Core.
