Fall Quarter 2023

Exploration of the history of electronic game technology, game genres, major hardware gaming platforms, major software game engines, various game developers, game publisher, and the work of leading exponents of game/animation design to broaden students’ vision, understanding, and appreciation of game art & design evolution.

This course provides a framework to develop greater emotional resilience and lower stress and anxiety through prayer and meditation. Compassion training develops the strength to be with the suffering, the courage to take compassionate action, and the resilience to prevent compassion fatigue. Actors are strongly encouraged to take this class to prepare for the demands of accessing authentic emotions in their work

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In this class students get a “big picture” look at the ingredients of a start-up firm and the process of creating one. The class details those ingredients, discusses the stories (good & bad) of people who have done it, and learn the process by going through it with a self-select team. Students learn: the business planning process, which maps how to move from an idea to an actual enterprise offering an actual product/service/apostolate; How to craft a compelling and clear business story that captures the true essence of your business; and finally acquire inquisitiveness as to how the world of business really works. The class deliverable is a complete Business Plan created by student teams along with a presentation of the plan.

This course consists of rehearsal of scenes from classic and contemporary American playwrights including Miller, Williams, Shepard, Foote and others. 

This course is a survey and analysis of the elements of music and primary musical periods of Western European music history. Students will acquaint themselves with musical terms, major composers and repertoire.

In this class students get a “big picture” look at the ingredients of a start-up firm and the process of creating one. The class details those ingredients, discusses the stories (good & bad) of people who have done it, and learn the process by going through it with a self-select team. Students learn: the business planning process, which maps how to move from an idea to an actual enterprise offering an actual product/service/apostolate; How to craft a compelling and clear business story that captures the true essence of your business; and finally acquire inquisitiveness as to how the world of business really works. The class deliverable is a complete Business Plan created by student teams along with a presentation of the plan.

This class will focus on the basic fundamentals of post-production, which includes picture and sound editing, media management, media capture and the various editing techniques available to editors to communicate ideas. The class will cover the history of cinematic editing and the impact it has had on visual storytelling, as well as the various styles of editing that make up the language of cinema. Students will learn and use editing software to edit various projects and assignments.

A combined screening, lecture and workshop series. In this guided workshop course, students develop an understanding of the science fiction genre and undergo creative development, writing, and re-writing to craft a high quality screenplay in that genre. The class will explore shaping a story through speculation and world-building. Screenings and class readings will analyze popular sub-genres in science fiction (e.g., post-apocalyptic stories, space opera, near-future and “hard science” vs. science fantasy), with an eye toward acquainting students with the conventions and cliches of their chosen arena.

This course will provide an analysis of music and sound as they relate to the construction of feature films, television, and video games.

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This class will focus on the basic fundamentals of post-production, which includes picture and sound editing, media management, media capture and the various editing techniques available to editors to communicate ideas. The class will cover the history of cinematic editing and the impact it has had on visual storytelling, as well as the various styles of editing that make up the language of cinema. Students will learn and use editing software to edit various projects and assignments.

In this class we will focus on the development of contemporary dance as an expressive medium, with emphasis on developing technical skills at the Beginning level.  It is an opportunity to explore how the body moves in both functional and expressive ways. This course encourages you to think about the studio space as a laboratory – it’s a place to experiment, to explore new ways of moving. It's a place for observing and developing a physical listening. There will be written assignments, class discussions, a lot of dancing and a final collaborative project.

This course offers a comprehensive study of the nature of being and its characteristics. After examining the subject and scope of this branch of philosophy, the course will cover topics such as the problem of the one and the many, the analogous nature of being, the attributes and divisions of being as well as the causes of being. The course also provides a basic introduction to natural theology, that is, what can be known about God through reason apart from divine revelation. Texts used begin with Plato’s Timaeus, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the end of Scholasticism in Ockham, the Renaissance via Hume and Kant, and concluding in the 20th Century in Martin Heidegger.

This class will approach the fundamentals of acting, structured for students outside the acting emphasis. Tools learned in class can be applied to directors, screenwriters, and storytellers of various genres.

Hollywood spends hundreds of millions of dollars making Christian movies every year… they just don’t know it yet, and neither do most audiences. Many writers aspire to write stories with deep faith and spiritual themes, that will speak to a wide audience. Very few, however, succeed at doing more than preaching to the choir, if their films ever get made at all. This course is meant for students who wish to write faith-based stories that will speak to — and get made by — people who wouldn’t be caught dead anywhere near a “Christian movie.”  This course will offer tips for the aspiring Christian screenwriter, not only for how to craft such stories, but how to survive as a Christian in an industry that seems completely unfriendly to them.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

This class is designed to provide students with the opportunity to further their drawing skills. Students will draw architectural structures, landscape and people on location from direct observation.

This course will provide the foundational knowledge and skills related to the production of visual narrative art. Students will explore the relationship between story and character development and learn how to sequentially compose and arrange images to present a coherent and emotionally effective story.

This course outlines fundamental differences among developed and developing countries, starting briefly with broad historical differences and moving on to specific issues such as the protection of property rights, corruption and the effects of political institutions. Particular attention will be given to China’s influence on global markets and its economic ties to the United States. The role of international institutions such as the IMF and World Trade Organization also are discussed. Public policies and institutions that shape competitive outcomes are examined through cases and analytical readings on different companies and industries operating in both developed and emerging markets.

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

Students learn to analyze and exploration directorial approaches used in film and television, looking particularly at the creative use of cameras, sound, composition, and communication with those in front of and behind the camera. They explore, from a directorial perspective, the expressive potential of the image within. They learn methodologies, which stimulate visual creativity and positioning the image as the fundamental element of cinematic expression. They engage in exercises in the analysis of script and for purpose of directing actors to obtain the best possible performance.

From first reading through to performance, students rehearse and perform a play from a classic or contemporary writer. Students must audition to register for this class. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

In this course students identify their specialized interest and value within the media industry, and through the creation of a comprehensive career strategy, use specialized knowledge, skills and experience to prepare themselves to be hired by media companies and promote themselves within the media industry. The class will also look at the unique world of freelancing and give students the tools necessary to venture into self-employment.

This course will prepare you to act both strategically and tactically - utilizing social media tools like blogs, microblogs (Twitter), vodcasts, video, and networking sites to engage with your audience and sell your products and services.

Building on game design concepts learned in Fundamentals of Game Design, this course focuses on creating digital prototypes in order to test and evaluate gameplay mechanics, aesthetics, and control schemes. Prototyping for specific audiences such as investors, publishers, and churches will also be explored.

Building upon what had been discussed in THEO313, this course is a broad study of general Church teaching on social questions, with strong emphasis on the papal encyclicals and other Church documents. Special attention is paid to the principles of the dignity of the human person, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity. Major issues explored include the role of the State, poverty, war, structures of sin, the duties of employers and employees, and challenges to building a culture of life.

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Using the simplicity of basic 2D animation, students will become familiar with some of the basic “Disney: 12 Principles of Animation.” Through lectures and projects, students will create several short animation projects that include: Key Pose Animation, Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Arcs, and Action Timing. Whether 2D, CG, or stop motion animation, these principles are the backbone for all character animation projects.

This course builds on the work completed in Fundamentals of Story Development. Students will at a minimum write the first two acts of a screenplay. They will read classic and modern screenplays. Class time will be dedicated to covering intermediate topics including scene transitions, writing with subtext, visual writing, and further developing skills in scene and dialogue writing and script formatting, and finding solutions to writer's block. Students will critique one another's work in small groups, with instructor supervision and guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write.

This class will help students develop advanced figure-drawing skills through various exercises drawing the human body in various shapes and positions. This class is an art study into major anatomical structures of human body.

The purpose of this class is to review current information about companies and business trends, to learn important lessons regarding the products they are selling and the markets they are serving. Students will use real-world and timely experience from a variety of businesses by reading the Wall Street Journal. Students will also become proficient in brief Power Point presentations.

This course teaches students to meet and resolve objections and conflicts that result from written and oral proposals and pitches. Emphasis is on resolving customer obstacles before addressing your own. Topics covered include: Wants vs. Needs, Win-Win Strategies, Best Alternatives to Agreement, Schedule vs. Quality vs. Cost, Progress vs. Perfection. The class progresses through carefully structured, progressively more complex negotiation exercises. Students learn how external and internal negotiation has become a way of life for effective managers in a constantly changing business environment.

This class will study some of the most important films in American cinema to understand the cultural context in which they were created, the role of the director in the filmmaking process, and the lasting legacy that the various films enjoy.

Explore and familiarize yourself with the principles, equipment, and technology involved in the process of live audio reinforcement. Learn to set up, operate, and troubleshoot typical sound system equipment, and study acoustics and live recording techniques, materials and physics.

This class will help students develop advanced figure-drawing skills through various exercises drawing the human body in various shapes and positions. This class is an art study into major anatomical structures of human body.

Creating skeletal structures for humanoid characters. Mastery of a wide range of rigging techniques such as reversed foot lock, wrist control, spline IK, facial controls, and weight painting.

The senior project is a series of courses (up to three) in which students will work either individually or as part of a team and create or contribute to a significant media project that spotlights their area of emphasis. Class I is the pre-production phase. Instructor approval is required to take this class.

This course enables focused study of a specific author, era, or literary movement. Focus will be on significant literary texts with additional attention to critical literature, historical context, and cultural influence as needed. Repeatable for credit with different topics.

A symposium for performance practice and refinement of musical performance skills. Piano, voice, and instrumental performances will be critiqued and improved through technical feedback and master classes, culminating in a concert performance for the entire student body.

This course is a detailed study in the various understandings of nature, beginning from the mythology of the Enuma Elish as a primitive attempt at grasping the world, to the classical understanding found in Aristotle’s Physics and Parts of Animals and their Medieval development in Thomas Aquinas’s The Principles of Nature, to foundational texts in modern natural sciences such as those of Descartes, Galileo and Newton, to discussions of evolution found in Darwin, and finally to near-contemporary physicists such as Heisenberg. The contrast between the classical stress on substantial form and formal causality and the modern method of material causality and mathematical law will be brought to the forefront, as will the emphasis on technology as a mastery of nature in modern science and the question of teleology, whether nature acts for a purpose.

This course covers the tools and techniques of digital painting in Photoshop, emphasizing the fundamentals of color, light, perspective, and depth to create stylized and realistic pieces for illustration, matte painting, and/or concept art.

Students taking this course will write creatively in a variety of literary genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, horror, romance, western, and/or historical fiction. Assignments will aim to improve students' ability to better understand these genres and to write publishable fiction in various modes, and further to better grasp universal components and principles of fiction writing that apply regardless of whether a story's horse has a saddle, fangs, mounted lasers, or wings.

Introduction to Advertising is designed to develop an overall perspective of the advertising process. The course will include the history of advertising, advertising agencies, and their current role in the ad world, tools and methods used to communicate a unified message, the use of media and creativity, ethics and legal issues in advertising, advertising as: a means of communication; an economic and social institution; and an influence on consumer-buying decisions and behavior. The impact of advertising within culture through a Catholic lens will be explored as well.

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This course provides students with a fundamental approach to playing Shakespeare. Particular emphasis will be placed on a rhetorical approach to text and punctuation utilizing Shakespeare's First Folio as the key to unlocking the text in a presentational actor/audience experience.

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

In today’s world there is a need for strategic thinking and business vision based on a different paradigm. Competition is not only between products and services, but also between business models. Students will learn about innovation-driven business strategies and methodologies to develop business designs to successfully compete in the new economy.

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This class will address the impact that the use of color has on a visual screen image. The course will cover color theory, its impact on an audience and the use of color grading in a post-production environment. Students will take various projects from an edited sequence into a color grading program and manipulate its appearance to achieve a desired effect.

From first reading through to performance, students rehearse and perform a play from a classic or contemporary writer. Students must audition to register for this class. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

In today’s world there is a need for strategic thinking and business vision based on a different paradigm. Competition is not only between products and services, but also between business models. Students will learn about innovation-driven business strategies and methodologies to develop business designs to successfully compete in the new economy.

This course focuses on the anatomy and form, context, and motion of typography as a powerful communication tool across a variety of physical and digital media.

This class expands on many of the skills learned in the Fundamentals of Production class. Students will learn intermediate camera and lighting techniques and how to use these specific tools to communicate a story visually. Specific emphasis will be on image composition, lens characteristics, codecs and formats, camera settings, specific lighting styles and instruments, and how the camera and lights complement and support the storytelling experience.

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

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This course teaches the principles of project management that are commonly used to plan and measure projects in industry. It presents the project management mind-set, tools, and skills for successfully defining, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and reporting a project. Topics covered include: the project life cycle, fundamental PM processes, development of the project plan, interpersonal management skills, and managing changes during project execution. Case studies are from technology and media applications.

This class revolves around creation and application of realistic and stylized textures and light schemes to produce depth and meaning in 3D computer generated scenes. Students will explore into various texturing techniques, while generating diffuse, specular, bump, and normal maps.

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Introduction to the elements and principles of design, composition design, color theory, color psychology, and basic typography. Practical guidance in color mixing and the visual impact of specific color combinations to support traditional and digital design work.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

The second in a sequence of three 3-unit classes offered to upperclassmen, generally seniors. This course works towards creating a product or service prototype, which allows for an assessment of customer reaction to your value proposition. The team will seek to build relationships with external collaborators, develop a market entry strategy, and develop a clear awareness of the challenges of delivering your product or services idea to the market.

This course is an introduction to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Students will learn techniques for photo enhancement, image compositing, and logo creation through several projects.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of pre-production and production, and the roles and responsibilities of all personnel and positions that are essential to its success. Students will become familiarized with the detailed preparation required for the shoot and the interdependence of the script, budget, schedule, and breakdown. Students will also learn how a digital video camera works, the characteristics of lenses, how to record clean sound, and how to use lighting to illuminate and shape an image.

This course is a detailed study in the various understandings of nature, beginning from the mythology of the Enuma Elish as a primitive attempt at grasping the world, to the classical understanding found in Aristotle’s Physics and Parts of Animals and their Medieval development in Thomas Aquinas’s The Principles of Nature, to foundational texts in modern natural sciences such as those of Descartes, Galileo and Newton, to discussions of evolution found in Darwin, and finally to near-contemporary physicists such as Heisenberg. The contrast between the classical stress on substantial form and formal causality and the modern method of material causality and mathematical law will be brought to the forefront, as will the emphasis on technology as a mastery of nature in modern science and the question of teleology, whether nature acts for a purpose.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

This class focuses primarily on the role of the cinematographer. Students will learn how to visually communicate an idea through extensive use of the camera and lights. Areas of emphasis will include composition, camera techniques, camera placement and movement, lens characteristics, color, depth of field, lighting techniques, the qualities of light and color temperature.

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This course will provide students access to a firsthand, in depth look at the entertainment industry through the experience of entertainment industry professionals. Each session may include site visits, presentations, panel discussions, and practical training with people who play a role in the creation of content for film, television, and new media.