Media

Department Chair - Foreman-Wernet

Professors - Bruning, Foreman-Wernet

Assistant Professor - Renkar

Instructor - Gjerstad

We are all storytellers and producers of media content. The mission of the Media Department is to prepare students for careers or graduate study in media and related fields. Students develop their skills and knowledge in the classroom as well as through hands-on projects, immersion courses, internships, and pre-professional activities.

The media department offers three major programs:

Emerging Media
Film and Media Production
Public Relations

And the following minors:

Digital Storytelling
Emerging Media
Film and Media Production
Public Relations

Media Program Learning Outcomes

The department’s curricula are structured around Program Learning Outcomes that are delivered through majors, minors, foundational courses, and co-curricular experiences. By the end of their studies in the Media Department, we expect our students to have achieved the following outcomes as the culmination of their various courses and activities.

Media (i.e., Emerging Media, Film and Media Production and Public Relations) students will be able to:

Describe the historical, functional, and theoretical foundations of the discipline.
Critically analyze and synthesize information and events from multiple perspectives (e.g. social, cultural, aesthetic).
Assess the legal and ethical implications of their work.
Communicate effectively in a variety of formats (e.g. orally, in writing, mediated, virtually) and to a variety of audiences (e.g. clients, supervisors, subordinates, group/team members).
Create artifacts that demonstrate contextually appropriate technique, aesthetic, storytelling, and business knowledge (e.g. audience, legality, distribution).
Engage in culturally responsible ways with individuals, groups, and society.

Emerging Media Program

Faculty members in Capital’s emerging media program are committed to the belief that students should be prepared for lives of leadership and service by becoming knowledgeable, critical thinkers. The emerging media major integrates the traditional disciplines of business, digital design, film and media production, professional writing, and public relations into one major by combining extensive study in emerging media with a broad background in the liberal arts. As a result, emerging media majors develop both a historical understanding and contemporary skills needed to be successful in an increasingly diverse society. Those pursuing a degree in emerging media will develop theoretical and functional competencies as well as adaptability and self-awareness. The emerging media program is an excellent choice for students whose interests are wide-ranging or who want to work with an integrated-communications agency or other organization where a broad base of skills and knowledge is beneficial.

Film and Media Production Program

Media industries employ the talents of writers, performers, videographers, editors, film reviewers, arts administrators, archivists and technicians. This is a population distinguished by its creativity, its currency of knowledge, and its commitment to excellence. Visually and aurally acute, media professionals understand the power of the media to educate and entertain. As responsible citizens, they recognize the power of the media to fuel opinions and decisions that will shape society’s future. Capital’s FMP program prepares students to handle these responsibilities ethically and critically through course offerings encompassing video production, audio, motion graphics and screen writing, along with critical thinking, analysis, and management.

FMP emphasizes experiential and immersive learning through pre-professional experiences managed by students and professional staff, such as WXCU Radio, our campus radio station, CapTV, our student-led television show, and Filmmakers, which focuses on creating short narrative films. Each of these experiential activities are designed to provide hands-on production opportunities for students each semester of their Capital experience. Students also are encouraged to participate in our extensive internship program or immersion courses, gaining experience of media outlets, including broadcast facilities, film studios, and agencies, production houses, and working with clients.

Public Relations Program

The Public Relations major is anchored by a core of four courses and a capstone experience, recognized as essential by national professional and academic organizations. The core is supplemented by additional skills and perspective courses in communication and media production. This combination prepares students for entry into the professional world of public relations. Students are encouraged to join and participate in the student chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which serves as a link to the professional community and where pre-professional activities are available.

Qualified students participate in internships with public relations firms and advertising agencies, corporations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.