Course Catalogs

Television, Radio & Film (TRF)

TRF 200  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
TRF 205  Sight, Sound and Motion  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Study and practice of the aesthetic structures and production processes involved in creating effective motion picture, television and sound content.
Prereq: COM 117  
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 210  Topics in Foundational Skills in Production  (1 Credit)  
Public Communications  
Five-week, one-credit workshops focused on fundamental aesthetics and practices involved in creating high quality production values in television and film production.
Repeatable 3 times for 3 credits maximum  
TRF 211  Screenwriting  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Exploring the craft of writing involved in motion picture, television and digital media storytelling through in-depth study and practice.
Prereq: COM 117  
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 235  Principles and Practices: Television-Radio, Film Industries  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Origins and dynamics of corporate structures, revenue models, content, distribution, and regulation in the television, radio, film, and interactive media industries.
Prereq: COM 107  
TRF 270  Experience Credit  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Participation in a discipline or subject related experience. Student must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Permission in advance with the consent of the department chairperson, instructor, and dean. Limited to those in good academic standing.
Repeatable  
TRF 280  International Course  (1-12 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.
Repeatable  
TRF 290  Independent Study  (1-3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Exploration of a problem, or problems, in depth. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor(s) and the department.
Repeatable  
TRF 300  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
TRF 340  Topics in Critical and Historical Perspectives  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 640  
Non-print media as art forms and social, political and cultural forces. Critical analysis of individual products of broadcasting and motion pictures in relation to the systems for which they were created. Additional work required of graduate students
Repeatable 4 times for 12 credits maximum  
Shared Competencies: Civic and Global Responsibility  
TRF 380  International Course  (1-12 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.
Repeatable  
TRF 400  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
TRF 415  Camera Acting for Writers, Producers & Directors  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
This course provides students studying for careers behind the camera with an understanding of the actor¿s process from script to performance and how applying acting techniques can play a crucial role in the student¿s career.
Shared Competencies: Communication Skills  
TRF 420  Topics in Screenwriting  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 620  
Instruction will include new screenwriting theories, maturing conceptual models, and address developing and future trends in screenwriting procedures and best practices. Additional work required of graduate students.
Repeatable 2 times for 6 credits maximum  
Prereq: TRF 211  
TRF 421  Feature Film Writing  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 621  
Study and practice of the craft of feature film writing. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: TRF 211  
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 422  Comedy Writing  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 622  
Study and practice of the craft of comedy writing for television and film. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: TRF 211  
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 423  Writing the One-Hour Drama  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 623  
This course teaches the student the craft of writing for television, focusing on construction of the one-hour drama. Students will pitch, outline and write an original dramatic television pilot and series ¿bible¿. Additional work is required of graduate students.
Prereq: TRF 211  
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 424  Script Development  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 624  
Screenwriting theory and the script development process: writing topics include story structure, genres, character development, dialogue, and script formatting. Business topics include pitching, writing script coverage, supervising development, and breaking into the industry. Additional work is required of graduate students.
Prereq: TRF 211  
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 425  The Writer's Journey  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Students will explore the fundamentals of writing for the screen through lecture and a simulated professional writers¿ room in which students pitch ideas, write scripts and receive feedback from instructors and students.
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 429  Creative Producing  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 629  
Students learn to be creative producers and managers. They form ¿companies¿ and work with writers to rewrite. They provide development notes, create look-books, casting lists and develop other projects as they would in the real world. Additional work is required of graduate students.
TRF 430  Topics in Entertainment Business  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 630  
Instruction will include new entertainment business theories, maturing conceptual models, and address developing and future trends in entertainment business procedures and best practices. Additional work required of graduate students.
Repeatable 2 times for 6 credits maximum  
Prereq: TRF 235  
TRF 441  Visual Effects for Live Action  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 641  
Exploration of fundamental visual effects techniques using 2D compositing software to create fix-it-in-post, invisible, and creative VFX for live-action projects. Students will integrate VFX in pre-production, production, and post-production stages to create a short film. Additional work is required of graduate students.
Prereq: SMC 405 or TRF 205 or VIS 301  
TRF 442  Multicamera Television Production  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 642  
Students write, design, produce, direct, and program projects specifically for television presentation. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 443  The Business of Development, Production and Post-Production  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
A practical exploration into business and creative strategies and responsibilities of a feature film, television and documentary producer including an understanding of creative development, finance and packaging content, physical production/post and marketing/distribution.
TRF 444  Production Management  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 644  
This class delves deep into the world of TV and Film Production Management, laying out the necessary steps and mechanics in pre-production and production which includes scheduling, budgeting, and producing. Additional work is required of graduate students.
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 445  Post-Production Practices  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 645  
Explore and perform both the management and technical aspects of the Post Supervisor role on film and episodic TV projects. Planning, budgeting, and scheduling will be examined. Workflows covered include: dailies, editorial, VFX, color, sound, and deliverables. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: SMC 405 or TRF 205 or VIS 301  
Shared Competencies: Communication Skills; Ethics and Integrity  
TRF 446  Working with Actors  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 646  
Students examine the dynamic interplay between directing and acting for the screen, including script analysis, what to look for in auditions, and what good direction looks and sounds like. Additional work is required of graduate students.
TRF 447  Animation for Film and TV  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 647  
Exploration of fundamental motion graphics and animation techniques for film and TV. Students will create a variety of 2D animation projects, including short films, music videos, explainer videos, personal branding, opening title sequences, and advertisements. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: SMC 405 or TRF 205 or VIS 301  
TRF 448  Audio Storytelling  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 648  
Intermediate study and practice in creating fictional and nonfictional audio content for broadcast and online distribution. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 450  Topics in Production  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 650  
Focus on the evolution of TV and Film production forms, consideration of new theories, maturing of conceptual models and the clarification of procedures. Topics will focus on recent developments in the field. Additional work is required of graduate students.
Repeatable 3 times for 9 credits maximum  
Prereq: TRF 205  
TRF 451  Directing  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 651  
The study and practice of the art of motion picture directing for film and single camera television content. Emphasis is on developing skills necessary to create festival-quality short works with public impact. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: TRF 205  
TRF 453  Short-form Production  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 653  
Techniques of shortform moving image media such as commercials, promos, music videos, show openings, special effects, and high impact packaging. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 454  Music Recording  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 654  
Students produce a recording of a musical performance in a 24-track recording studio. Topics include: Aesthetics of recorded sound, acoustics, psycho-acoustics, the multitrack recording process, mixing, microphone techniques, signal processing. Additional work required of graduate students.
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 456  Sound for Picture  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 656  
Introduction to theory and production of sound for television and film. Includes information processing, aesthetics, perception of sound, sound/picture relationship, analog and digital sound studios, production recording, signal processing, nonlinear editing and mixing. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 457  Music Underscoring  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 657  
The theory and practice of producing music to underscore visual material. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 459  Documentary Production  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 659  
Student teams write, produce, and edit documentary projects. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 461  Entertainment Business Capstone  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 661  
Business of communications industry focusing on management skills and their effective application. Additional work required of graduate students.
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 463  Television, Radio and Film Capstone  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 663  
This advanced course challenges majors to cap their academic experience with a summative project in entertainment media not addressed by specialized tracks of study. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 464  Production Capstone  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 664  
Students develop and produce independent fiction or nonfiction projects to demonstrate mastery of advanced production practices in film, television, sound, music, and short form content creation. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 465  Hollywood: Game Changers  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
In this capstone class, students study the rapidly changing business of Hollywood and explore how these changes affect creative output.
TRF 467  Screenwriting Master Class  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 667  
Advanced practice built around professional workshops, sponsored by the Center for Popular Television, and guest speakers. Students interact with professionals while working on their screenwriting portfolios. Additional work required of graduate students.
Shared Competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking  
TRF 470  Experience Credit  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Participation in a discipline or subject related experience. Student must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Permission in advance with the consent of the department chairperson, instructor, and dean. Limited to those in good academic standing.
Repeatable  
TRF 471  TV Nation  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
TV Nation explores the business and creative process that feeds the media machine. Students will learn how programs are created, developed, pitched, and sold. Students will pitch their original ideas to a panel of industry experts.
TRF 475  Entertainment Industry Practicum  (1-3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 675  
Students work in a professional setting for a minimum of six weeks. Students are responsible for online participation in discussions, selected readings, written exercises, a journal of observations, and a paper. Additional work required of graduate students.
Repeatable 2 times for 6 credits maximum  
TRF 480  International Course  (1-12 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.
Repeatable 2 times for 12 credits maximum  
TRF 490  Independent Study  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
In-depth exploration of a problem or problems. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor or instructors and the department.
Repeatable  
TRF 496  Research for Entertainment Media  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Double-numbered with TRF 696  
This course focuses on research practices in relation to entertainment media questions and problems. Students become critical consumers and evaluators of qualitative- & quantitative-based reports and metrics. Students apply methodological procedures to questions of particular interest. Additional work required of graduate students.
TRF 499  Honors Capstone Project  (1-3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Completion of an Honors Capstone Project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Repeatable 3 times for 3 credits maximum  
TRF 500  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
TRF 510  Specialized Practice  (1 Credit)  
Public Communications  
These four-week mini-courses provide specific areas of study not covered in depth in other courses. Examples: Production Management, Budgeting, Editing, Lighting, Location Sound, Videography, and others based on faculty and student interest.
Repeatable  
TRF 530  Popular Culture Studies  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
In-depth examination of critical issues, aesthetics, genre, and authorship involved in electronic media and cinema. Topics range from television genres to film classics.
Repeatable 4 times for 12 credits maximum  
TRF 545  Television & Radio Performance  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Theory and practice of effective television and radio performance. Closed circuit studio experience planning and presenting educational and commercial material.
TRF 560  Topics in International Perspectives  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
In-depth examination of issues and practices involved in international television and film. Topics alternate from semester to semester. Examples include: Global Communication, Ways of Seeing, Comparative Systems, and British Cinema.
Repeatable 2 times for 6 credits maximum  
TRF 570  Experience Credit  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Participation in a discipline or subject related experience. Student must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Permission in advance with the consent of the department chairperson, instructor, and dean. Limited to those in good academic standing.
Repeatable  
TRF 580  International Course  (1-6 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.
Repeatable  
TRF 592  Film Business  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Economics of the film industry. Financing of films, budgets, sources of funds, contracts. Securing distribution. National and international marketing of films. Film rental. Booking films for television or theater. Exploitation of ancillary markets.
TRF 594  Television Business  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Management principles and practices in electronic media; organizational structures, financial controls, revenue procurement, economic theory, management law, product development, and personnel administration.
TRF 595  Programming and Audience Analysis  (3 Credits)  
Public Communications  
Immersion in the principal programming functions of content development and acquisition, scheduling, and promotion. Survey of scheduling strategies and case studies, hits and misses. Research techniques to understand audience program preferences and choices.