Ithaca College

Roy H. Park School of Communications

Interdisciplinary Programs

B.A. in Documentary Studies and Production

The Roy H. Park School of Communications offers an interdisciplinary B.A. in documentary studies and production, which is a four-year curriculum designed to prepare students to become documentary filmmakers as well as to understand the growing and complex world of documentaries, drawing on existing courses in television-radio, journalism, and cinema and photography. This is a broad, liberal arts-based, curriculum. Requirements are divided into two areas: studies courses and production courses. Open electives enable students to tailor their own programs.

Academic Policies

Majors, including freshmen, are required to maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50. All majors must complete a minimum of 60 credits outside communications, which includes the minor requirement, and a minimum of 75 percent of their credits (normally 90 credits) in courses designated as liberal arts (LA). Transfer students applying to the B.A. in documentary studies and production must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher to have their application considered; however, this minimum does not guarantee acceptance to the degree program. This policy applies to all applicants to the degree program, including students transferring from another major in the Park School or at Ithaca College and those applying from other academic institutions.

B.A. in Documentary Studies and Production

Requirements for the Major

*Denotes a liberal arts course

Communications course requirements
JOUR 11100 Introduction to Journalism* 4

JOUR 11200

Journalism Research*

4

TVR 12100

Introduction to Mass Media*

3
TVR 13400 Developing Story Narratives* 3

CNPH 14100

Introduction to Photography*

4

TVR 29900

Nonfiction Production

4
CNPH 30100 Nonfiction Film Theory* 3
TVR 31200 Government and Media* 3
TVR 39900 Documentary Workshop 4

Choose one course of the following:

CNPH 10100 Introduction to Film Aesthetics and Analysis* 3

TVR 12200

Introduction to Media Aesthetics and Analysis*

3

Choose one course of the following:

CNPH 11100 Cinema Production I 4

TVR 11500

Introduction to Field Production

4

Choose two courses of the following:

JOUR 21300 Ethical Issues in Mass Communications* 3

CNPH 24000

History of Photography*

3
TVR 25100 Critical Thinking in Mass Communication* 3

Choose one course of the following:

CNPH 32200 Advanced Cinema Production: Nonfiction 4

CNPH 30402

Special Topics in Cinema Production: Photojournalism

4
CNPH 30404 Special Topics in Cinema Production: Documentary Photography 4

Choose one course of the following:

TVR 49100 Video Workshop 4

CNPH 42000

Thesis Cinema Production

4
CNPH 44300 Photo Workshop 4
Total, communications course requirements 53
Minor requirement

Documentary studies and production majors are required to choose a minor outside the Roy H. Park School of Communications. Documentary studies and production majors may not have a minor in business, accounting, finance, marketing, or management without undertaking additional liberal arts courses. Total credits in the minor must be 18 to 25 and may not include courses offered within the Roy H. Park School of Communications, except for the Park School courses required for the minor in culture and communication.

Summary
Major requirements 53

Minor requirement

18-25
Electives 32-42
Total, B.A. in documentary studies and production 120