FILM & BROADCASTING

Film & Broadcasting majors receive the necessary support to master the technical aspects of the major in accordance with their individual needs and goals and to exercise the aesthetic and creative knowledge of their crafts.

ABOUT THE FILM & BROADCASTING PROGRAM

The mission of the Film and Broadcasting Department reflects Tusculum College’s commitment to the instillation of factual knowledge, the cultivation of habits of practical wisdom, and development of skills related to reflective thinking, all necessary for personal success in a democratic society. From the first radio class taught in 1947 and the first television programming originating from Tusculum College in the early 1950s to the formation of the Mass Media Department in 1982 and its evolution into the Film and Broadcasting Department in 2007, Tusculum College has a long standing commitment to integrating technological advancements and its mission.

The Film and Broadcasting Department celebrates the everchanging nature of film and electronic media production; yet it remains firmly grounded in tried and true methods of pedagogy utilizing hands-on training for equipment and software within an active learning environment and close mentorship with department faculty. Students receive the necessary support to master the technical aspects of the major in accordance with their individual needs and goals and to exercise the aesthetic and creative knowledge of their crafts. In addition, students must demonstrate an understanding of the power of the media and the ethical consequences of their use of media upon society.

The Film and Broadcasting Department is committed to Tusculum College’s Civic Arts mission, reflecting its commitment both to integrity and to the development of strong citizenship. To that goal, the department welcomes the cultural and intellectual diversity of its students, faculty and staff and understands that this community emulates a microcosm of society as a whole. The department continually seeks to capitalize pedagogically on how the varied opinions, perspectives and foci from human interaction provide the skills necessary for active and engaged participation in a democratic society.

The Film and Broadcasting Department promotes a high standard of education, endorsing a balance between a liberal arts education and professional preparation. The Film and Broadcasting curriculum honors the College’s civic republican tradition of developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service, and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. The Department acknowledges the trans-disciplinary nature of mass communications, deriving its strength from the knowledge bases and methods of inquiry of the social sciences, humanities, and visual arts. The synergic cooperation with these diverse and long-standing intellectual traditions enables our majors to create and disseminate mass media messages as well as evaluate the consequences of their content. Students learn to treat their diverse, geographically dispersed audiences as human beings — people to value rather than as things to manipulate.

The Film and Broadcasting Department embraces the concept that learning is motivated by a person’s desire to understand and assume effective roles in society. The department encourages the freedom of inquiry and expression of all Film and Broadcasting students. This principle is fostered as a source of personal strength and enrichment to support students as they develop to their full potential.

ADMISSION STANDARD POLICY

The Film and Broadcasting Department has set a standard of academic excellence, requiring students to demonstrate significant accomplishment for admission to the major. Students interested in pursuing a degree in the Film and Broadcasting Department must complete 32 hours of coursework before being considered for admission into the program. Students who want to enter the program must apply to the department after finishing the following:

Successful completion of ENGL 111, MASS 231 and passage of an English Grammar test.
Successful completion of MASS 221 with a “C” or better.
Successful completion of MASS 210 with a “C” or better.
Submission of an application with examples of representative work.
Completion of a work performance evaluation, determined by either work-study performance, performance in MASS 101 or by volunteer work done in the department.
Achievement of a cumulative grade point average of 2.25, major G.P.A. 2.5.

Students enrolled in the honors program are exempt from taking the English Grammar test, but they must complete all other requirements to enter the major. The Film and Broadcasting faculty will evaluate the student’s performance. If the faculty deems the student worthy, an invitation to join the major will be issued. Students will enroll in MASS 201, Career Options in Film and Broadcasting, and begin selecting a course of study that relates to their intended career goals. Students will then begin to chart their future scholarship experiences based on their intended objective.

Once a student has joined the major, he/she will be required to maintain a 2.25 overall G.P.A. and a major G.P.A. of 2.50. Once a student has gone below a 2.25 overall G.P.A. or a major G.P.A. of 2.50, the student will receive a warning that he/she will be dropped from the major. At that point, the student will have one semester to bring up his/her G.P.A. to the required level or be dropped from the major.

In addition, students who do not continue to show proficient work as evaluated by the Film and Broadcasting faculty will be given one semester to improve their work performance or be dropped from the major. Exceptions to these policies may be made at the discretion of the Film and Broadcasting Department.

ACADEMICS

FILM & BROADCASTING

ABOUT THE FILM & BROADCASTING PROGRAM

ADMISSION STANDARD POLICY