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Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, M.A.

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 33 hours

The Master of Arts program in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts offers opportunities for both industry professionals seeking new skills and recent undergraduates desiring to pursue advanced study in electronic media or film theory and criticism. Students interested in the electronic media studies, electronic media management, or electronic media production concentrations should possess a professional or academic background in mass communication. Students interested in the film theory and criticism concentration should have a background in film, mass communication, speech, or literary studies.

Graduate students can complete coursework in formal classroom, seminar, and independent study settings, leading to a concentration in:

  1. electronic media studies,
  2. electronic media management,
  3. film theory and criticism, or
  4. electronic media production.

Classes are taught by a faculty possessing diverse professional and theoretical backgrounds. In addition, many students supplement their studies with offerings from Interpersonal and Public Communication, Political Science, English, and Journalism. One-on-one advising and personalized course study with members of the graduate faculty make the Broadcast and Cinematic Arts M.A. program one of the most attractive in the Midwest.

For an application, catalog, and graduate assistant information contact Michelle Kalisek, BCA Administrative Assistant at kalis1m@cmich.edu (989) 774-3851 or Amy Sindik, Graduate Coordinator, School of Broadcast & Cinematic Arts, 340 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Admission Requirements Snapshot

GPA: 2.7

Entrance Exam: N/A

Interna'tl Application Deadline: July 1 (Fall), Oct. 1 (Spring)

See Admission Requirement Details Below

To receive regular admission to the program, a student must attain an undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. Additional preparatory course work or particular courses may be required. All students applying to the Electronic Media Production concentration in BCA must submit a skills-based resume and a demo reel of their best audio and/or video production work with their application.

International applicants must present a TOEFL score of at least 550 (213 CBT or 79 Internet or IELTS of 6.5).

Program Requirements

Select one of the following concentrations:

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts: Electronic Media Studies

In consultation with the School of BCA graduate advisor, M.A. students may choose Plan A or B. Plan A consists of course work, thesis (6 hours), and oral defense of the thesis. The oral examination may also include subject matter related to course work.

Students on Plan B must satisfactorily complete an independent research project (3 hours) and an oral examination related to the independent research and course work.

Required Courses I (12 hours)

BCA 600Introduction to Electronic Media Research and Writing

3(3-0)

BCA 601Theories of Mass Communication

3(3-0)

BCA 603Qualitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 604Quantitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

Required Courses II (6 hours)

Select two of the following:

BCA 513Media Entrepreneurship

3(3-0)

BCA 611Seminar in Telecommunications Media Policy

3(3-0)

BCA 612Electronic Media Seminar

3(3-0)

BCA 625Film Theory and Criticism

3(3-0)

Required Courses III (3-6 hours)

Select one of the following:

BCA 730Plan B Project Research

3(3-0)

BCA 798Thesis

1-6(Spec)

Electives (9-12 hours)

Select from the following:

BCA 503WICritiquing Mass Media

3(3-0)

BCA 506WISeries Script Writing For Visual Media

3(3-0)

BCA 508WIScreenwriting for Cinematic Narrative

3(3-0)

BCA 510Electronic Media Law

3(3-0)

BCA 511Electronic Media Sales

3(3-0)

BCA 512Electronic Media Promotion

3(3-0)

BCA 513Media Entrepreneurship

3(3-0)

BCA 515Sports Broadcasting

3(2-2)

BCA 516WIElectronic Media Management

3(3-0)

BCA 517Advanced Electronic Media Performance

3(2-2)

BCA 518Electronic News Reporting

3(2-2)

BCA 519Electronic Media Programming

3(3-0)

BCA 520Special Topics in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

BCA 521Advanced Electronic Cinematography

3(2-2)

BCA 522Audio Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 524Producing Television News

3(1-4)

BCA 525Film Genre Study

3-9(Spec)

BCA 527Film Directors

3-9(Spec)

BCA 528History and Analysis of Documentary Film

3(2-2)

BCA 529Internship in Electronic Media-Film

2-6(Spec)

BCA 531Industrial and Educational Video/Media Production

3(2-2)

BCA 532Advanced Video/Multimedia Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 533Advanced Electronic Media Design

3(2-2)

BCA 540WIRecording Industry and Business

3(3-0)

BCA 560Radio Operations I

3(1-4)

BCA 561Radio Operations II

3(1-4)

BCA 611Seminar in Telecommunications Media Policy

3(3-0)

BCA 612Electronic Media Seminar

3(3-0)

BCA 619Continuing Registration for Final Research Project

1(1-0)

BCA 625Film Theory and Criticism

3(3-0)

BCA 720Special Topics in Mass Media

3-9(Spec)

BCA 729Advanced Independent Study in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

Note: Students may take a maximum of 9 hours outside of BCA.

Total: 33 semester hours

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts: Film Theory and Criticism

In consultation with the School of BCA graduate advisor, M.A. students may choose Plan A or B. Plan A consists of course work, thesis (6 hours), and oral defense of the thesis. The oral examination may also include subject matter related to course work.

Students on Plan B must satisfactorily complete an independent research project (3 hours) and an oral examination related to the independent research and course work.

Required Courses I (18 hours)

BCA 528History and Analysis of Documentary Film

3(2-2)

BCA 600Introduction to Electronic Media Research and Writing

3(3-0)

BCA 601Theories of Mass Communication

3(3-0)

BCA 603Qualitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 604Quantitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 625Film Theory and Criticism

3(3-0)

Required Courses II (3-6 hours)

Select one of the following:

BCA 730Plan B Project Research

3(3-0)

BCA 798Thesis

1-6(Spec)

Electives (9-12 hours)

Select hours from the following:

BCA 503WICritiquing Mass Media

3(3-0)

BCA 506WISeries Script Writing For Visual Media

3(3-0)

BCA 508WIScreenwriting for Cinematic Narrative

3(3-0)

BCA 513Media Entrepreneurship

3(3-0)

BCA 520Special Topics in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

BCA 521Advanced Electronic Cinematography

3(2-2)

BCA 522Audio Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 525Film Genre Study

3-9(Spec)

BCA 527Film Directors

3-9(Spec)

BCA 611Seminar in Telecommunications Media Policy

3(3-0)

BCA 612Electronic Media Seminar

3(3-0)

BCA 619Continuing Registration for Final Research Project

1(1-0)

BCA 720Special Topics in Mass Media

3-9(Spec)

BCA 729Advanced Independent Study in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

Note: Students may take a maximum of 9 hours outside of BCA.

Total: 33 semester hours

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts: Electronic Media Management

In consultation with the School of BCA graduate advisor, M.A. students may choose Plan A or B. Plan A consists of course work, thesis (6 hours), and oral defense of the thesis. The oral examination may also include subject matter related to course work.

Students on Plan B must satisfactorily complete an independent research project (3 hours) and an oral examination related to the independent research and course work.

Required Courses I (21 hours)

BCA 513Media Entrepreneurship

3(3-0)

BCA 516WIElectronic Media Management

3(3-0)

BCA 600Introduction to Electronic Media Research and Writing

3(3-0)

BCA 601Theories of Mass Communication

3(3-0)

BCA 603Qualitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 604Quantitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 611Seminar in Telecommunications Media Policy

3(3-0)

Required Courses II (3 hours)

Select one of the following:

BCA 519Electronic Media Programming

3(3-0)

BCA 533Advanced Electronic Media Design

3(2-2)

BCA 540WIRecording Industry and Business

3(3-0)

Required Courses III (3-6 hours)

Select one of the following:

BCA 730Plan B Project Research

3(3-0)

BCA 798Thesis

1-6(Spec)

Electives (3-6 hours)

Select from the following:

BCA 503WICritiquing Mass Media

3(3-0)

BCA 510Electronic Media Law

3(3-0)

BCA 511Electronic Media Sales

3(3-0)

BCA 512Electronic Media Promotion

3(3-0)

BCA 519Electronic Media Programming

3(3-0)

BCA 524Producing Television News

3(1-4)

BCA 529Internship in Electronic Media-Film

2-6(Spec)

BCA 533Advanced Electronic Media Design

3(2-2)

BCA 540WIRecording Industry and Business

3(3-0)

BCA 560Radio Operations I

3(1-4)

BCA 561Radio Operations II

3(1-4)

BCA 612Electronic Media Seminar

3(3-0)

BCA 729Advanced Independent Study in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

Note: BCA 560 and BCA 561 are offered in Summer only.

Total: 33 semester hours

Broadcast and Cinematic Arts: Electronic Media Production

Students on Plan B must satisfactorily complete an independent production project (3 hours) and an oral examination related to the independent research and course work.

Required Courses I (18 hours)

BCA 600Introduction to Electronic Media Research and Writing

3(3-0)

BCA 601Theories of Mass Communication

3(3-0)

BCA 603Qualitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 604Quantitative Mass Communication Research Methods

3(3-0)

BCA 625Film Theory and Criticism

3(3-0)

BCA 729Advanced Independent Study in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

Required Courses II (6 hours)

Select two of the following:

BCA 521Advanced Electronic Cinematography

3(2-2)

BCA 522Audio Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 531Industrial and Educational Video/Media Production

3(2-2)

BCA 532Advanced Video/Multimedia Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 533Advanced Electronic Media Design

3(2-2)

BCA 542Contemporary Recording and Mixing

3(2-2)

Note: BCA 542 is offered in Summer only.

Required Courses III (3 hours)

BCA 730Plan B Project Research

3(3-0)

Electives (6 hours)

BCA 506WISeries Script Writing For Visual Media

3(3-0)

BCA 508WIScreenwriting for Cinematic Narrative

3(3-0)

BCA 515Sports Broadcasting

3(2-2)

BCA 517Advanced Electronic Media Performance

3(2-2)

BCA 518Electronic News Reporting

3(2-2)

BCA 520Special Topics in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

BCA 521Advanced Electronic Cinematography

3(2-2)

BCA 522Audio Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 524Producing Television News

3(1-4)

BCA 525Film Genre Study

3-9(Spec)

BCA 527Film Directors

3-9(Spec)

BCA 528History and Analysis of Documentary Film

3(2-2)

BCA 529Internship in Electronic Media-Film

2-6(Spec)

BCA 531Industrial and Educational Video/Media Production

3(2-2)

BCA 532Advanced Video/Multimedia Post-Production

3(2-2)

BCA 533Advanced Electronic Media Design

3(2-2)

BCA 540WIRecording Industry and Business

3(3-0)

BCA 542Contemporary Recording and Mixing

3(2-2)

BCA 560Radio Operations I

3(1-4)

BCA 561Radio Operations II

3(1-4)

BCA 611Seminar in Telecommunications Media Policy

3(3-0)

BCA 612Electronic Media Seminar

3(3-0)

BCA 513Media Entrepreneurship

3(3-0)

BCA 729Advanced Independent Study in Electronic Media

1-9(Spec)

Notes:

Student may take up to 6 credits of BCA 729 as an elective.

BCA 560 and 561 are offered in Summer only.

Total: 33 semester hours