Winter Quarter 2025

This course is a lab production class designed to teach proper recording, editing, and studio mastering of vocals, piano, guitar, bass and percussion. Learn about mic placement, gain staging, proper studio equalization, effects processing, mixing, and mastering.

Fictional narrative, that human invention that trips so naturally from the tongues of children and grandparents alike, appears simple, even inevitable. Such appearances can be deceiving, however. Any narrative worthy of the name—one employing richly drawn characters and tensile plotting, and set down in lucid and evocative language—functions as a highly complex artistic organism. This course brings students to notice trademarks of excellent and lasting prose fiction, and to engage critically with prominent works so as to discern accurately between a masterpiece and a piece of pulp masquerading as well-hewn literature.

This course is an introductory-level course for students. Its intent is to give an in-depth understanding of the differences between—and similarities of—leadership and management. The course focuses on the major traits of leaders and managers, and augments these with examples of great historic leaders, including George Custer and Jesus Christ. The course also studies the many leadership traits of Abraham Lincoln and looks at how these can be applied in modern business to improve management techniques. As part of the learning process, students give summaries of Lincoln’s leadership lessons, using short, Power Point presentations.

Advanced Distribution and Marketing Strategies is a forward-looking, upper-level course that prepares students with a knowledge of historic and existing strategies for the marketing and distribution of media products in particular as a way to understand the marketing and distribution of all products more generally. The course prepares students to appreciate the rapidly developing opportunities presented by new media, and to devise new marketing and distribution strategies which take advantage of those opportunities.

This course provides advanced skills for playing Shakespeare. While building on the scansion skills introduced in Playing Shakespeare I, this course will develop those skills and introduce the more subjective aspects of performing Shakespeare.

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

This course studies a wide variety of global cultures by listening to indigenous voices expressing themselves in cultural products that include novels, films, music, poetry, essays, speeches, and journalism.

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

This course studies a wide variety of global cultures by listening to indigenous voices expressing themselves in cultural products that include novels, films, music, poetry, essays, speeches, and journalism.

Covers the nature of human resource development and utilization in organizations; government programs and policies, labor force statistics, organizational personnel departments, personnel planning, forecasting, selection, training, development, and integration of government and organizational human resource programs.

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.

The purpose of this course is the introduction to Stanislavski terminology and technique, developing character from self, beginning rehearsal techniques, and performance analysis. Meisner exercises are used to develop emotional honesty and reliance on impulse.

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

This course serves as an introduction to the art of short story writing, providing students with the opportunity to engage in their own original work with foundational aspects of prose fiction.  Class discussions focus on the work of established masters of the short story form, and regular workshop sessions provide opportunities to explore and critique the stories of classmates, and to build a supportive community of writers in the process.

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.

This course is an exploration of building and performing characters that fall outside the student’s physical/ vocal type. The emphasis will be on creating characters based on the recognition of the student’s internal emotional life, demonstrating characters based on the establishment of external vocal/physical adjustments, and interpreting characters based on script analysis.

While younger writers naturally place great emphasis on inspiration, this course provides students with a focused engagement on another critically important but often neglected aspect of masterful writing: revision.  In the process of putting key principles of revision into effect so as to improve their own creative pieces, students will also learn the fine (and also often neglected) art of editing, which benefits even students not interested in editorial work by making them more astute and discriminating readers.

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.

The course builds on “Introduction to Performing Techniques” with advanced explorations of the voice and speech techniques of Linklater, Berry and Skinner.

Comprehensive introduction to the various components of 3D animation technology including modeling, animating, rendering, and lighting.

This course builds on the storytelling fundamentals learned in Story, Genre and Structure, with specific application to writing for the screen. The student will learn the basics of scriptwriting and will combine this with previously acquired writing and storytelling skills to write a spec script for an existing half-hour or hour-long television series. Students will hone their presentation skills to pitch their television story. Class time will be dedicated to covering beginning and intermediate topics including breaking stories, scene writing, dialogue, subtext, direction, giving and receiving notes in a writers’ group, and script format. Students will critique one another’s work in small groups, with instructor guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write outside of class. Students will read and respond to the required texts as well as assigned episodic television scripts.

Students develop fundamental skills to effectively perform musical theatre songs. Students work toward producing a free sound without constriction by focusing on singing basics like resonance, diction, clear tone, and the release of physical constrictions. An introduction is made to the three main styles of vocal production: head register, chest register, and the mixed voice. Individual assessments help establish vocal range and reinforce a healthy voice and breath management. Students develop aural skills and directly apply them to sightsinging. Interval and rhythm recognition are the initial focus, with an introduction to the Moveable Do Solfege and numerical sightsinging methods. Melodic and rhythmic dictation is also explored. Individual private training will focus on each individual student's acquired foundation and develop more refined and nuanced vocal skills, including breath control, expanded vocal range, purity in vowels, projection, vocal dynamics, and techniques for singing a variety of musical genres.

This course focuses on how persuasion is effectively used in the world of media to influence viewers. Focusing primarily on its use in the world of advertising, students will identify the commercial advertising requirements of potential clients, and effectively produce television commercials to achieve identified goals. Students will also evaluate client needs, identify a target audience, craft a message promoting unique benefits and importance to customers, pitch a concept, and present the finished product to a simulated client for approval and feedback.

This course provides students with concepts and strategies related to practical financial and personal decision-making. Taking a holistic approach, students will be given the tools to manage not just their personal finances, but their investments in time, service, etc. Topics will include budgeting, spending, saving, borrowing, investing, time management, tithing, and giving.

The purpose of this course is the introduction to Stanislavski terminology and technique, developing character from self, beginning rehearsal techniques, and performance analysis. Meisner exercises are used to develop emotional honesty and reliance on impulse.

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.

This course will emphasize the use of correct grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics. Students will be required to apply these skills to writing assignments.

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.

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. This class will introduce students to industry standard animation software.

This course is an exploration of building and performing characters that fall outside the student’s physical/ vocal type. The emphasis will be on creating characters based on the recognition of the student’s internal emotional life, demonstrating characters based on the establishment of external vocal/physical adjustments, and interpreting characters based on script analysis.

This course will offer an overview of some of the main themes, questions, and figures of existentialist thought. Topics studied may include freedom, authenticity, subjectivity, individualism, purpose, angst, being, and God.  Figures studied may include Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, Gabriel Marcel, Jacques Maritain, and others.

Students will continue their study of screenwriting begun in Writing for the Screen I. They will complete the first draft of a feature length screenplay and plan and complete a second draft of that screenplay, and they will register their finished work with the WGA. Class time will be dedicated to covering intermediate and advanced topics including rewriting, working with producers, directors and agents, types of professional meetings and how to make the most of them, how to seek buyers for scripted material, and the articulation of a well-developed personal code of ethics in entertainment. Students will critique one another's work in small groups, with instructor supervision and guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write. Students will read and respond to the required texts as well as to feature screenplays and episodic television scripts.

The course builds on “Introduction to Performing Techniques” with advanced explorations of the voice and speech techniques of Linklater, Berry and Skinner.

Fictional narrative, that human invention that trips so naturally from the tongues of children and grandparents alike, appears simple, even inevitable. Such appearances can be deceiving, however. Any narrative worthy of the name—one employing richly drawn characters and tensile plotting, and set down in lucid and evocative language—functions as a highly complex artistic organism. This course brings students to notice trademarks of excellent and lasting prose fiction, and to engage critically with prominent works so as to discern accurately between a masterpiece and a piece of pulp masquerading as well-hewn literature.

Study of fundamental drawing techniques used to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane and lay a strong foundation for all other drawing and design courses.

This course is a deep-dive into Adobe After effects. Students will learn various advanced animation techniques used in the motion graphics industry, including character rigging and animation. Students will ultimately learn foundational techniques that will give them the technical ability to work on any professional motion graphics project.

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.

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 II is the production phase. Instructor approval is required to take this class.

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

This course examines how media and business shape the attitudes, practices and beliefs of individuals and groups, and develops in students a rich understanding of the subtle and powerful cultural currents swirling around them, so that they can make valuable contributions to the development of future cultures. Students will consider critically how media and business shape them, learning to recognize the attitudes, assumptions, arguments and ideas promoted by media and business enterprises and products. They will develop a full, thoughtful and practical understanding of what cultures are and how they grow, and of the university’s mission to Impact Culture for Christ. They will gain an understanding of how Christians are perceived by the cultures around them, and appreciate how one gains the privilege of participation in the shaping of cultures. Finally, students will learn to articulate what of value they have to offer the cultures around them, and how they hope to make that contribution over the course of their lives and careers.

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

Study of fundamental drawing techniques used to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane and lay a strong foundation for all other drawing and design courses.

This class expands on the “12-Principles.” Through a combination of lecture and lab, the class will produce two (2) short 30-second animated Pencil Test movies (no color) using a soundtrack provided from the teacher. Each movie project will include creating Thumbnail Storyboards, drawing Key Poses, preparing Exposure Sheets, creating in-betweens, and compositing a final Quicktime Movie.

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

This course will provide hands-on experience building effective and accurate spreadsheet models. The course reviews and strengthens the student’s understanding of applied mathematical concepts relevant to solving problems in accounting and finance. Students will learn basic and advanced functions, and how to practically apply them to business problems.

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.

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.

Whether with Christian intent or not, artists of the Western European tradition have for centuries contended fiercely over questions of form, composition, representation, and relationship to tradition. This survey of the heritage and high-water marks of Western visual art brings students to view and analyze individual works, and larger artistic movements, with the wide-angle lens that allows for the best possible appreciation of beauty. Thus, students will build for themselves the foundation they need for artistic engagement with a culture not exactly known for its historical self-awareness.

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.

This course provides advanced skills for playing Shakespeare. While building on the scansion skills introduced in Playing Shakespeare I, this course will develop those skills and introduce the more subjective aspects of performing Shakespeare.

What is it to believe? Is it merely intellectual assent, or something more? Building out from the first part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this course systematically unpacks the rich and challenging Catholic doctrines contained in the early creeds of the Church, presenting students with a faith that invites assent of all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Drawing from draped models with props and controlled lighting. Students examine the rendering of draped, multi-textured fabric; pattern repeats in textile art; structural fit and accessories as they apply to the human figure. Manipulation of composition, light, shadow, value, color, proportion, and scale are explored to achieve mood, gesture, drama, and attitudes related to human reactions, situations and character.

A senior-level illustration capstone experience. In this course, students create portfolio content and further develop a professional visual art portfolio. Topics covered include various techniques determined by the unique challenges of each project. Significant class time will be spent discussing and working on the needs of the projects.

The third in a sequence of three 3-unit classes offered to upperclassmen, generally seniors. In this course, the team will continue to refine their financial forecast model and develop their marketing and funding plans, as well as putting their legal structure in place. The goal is a product or service ready for market with a team in place to deliver and support it, with a complete business plan, which includes a refined financial forecast model.

This course is part of the feature film program. Students actively participate in the creative development and pre-produciton process on an independent feature film. Students assess the challenges and opportunities associated with a slate of film projects and help determine which film is ultimately greenlit for production. Once a project is greenlit, students collaborate to produce the film by crafting a budget, schedule, and marketing strategy. Students who participate in Feature Film Producing I & Feature Film Producing II are eligible to earn an associate producer credit on the film.

This course provides students with concepts and strategies related to practical financial and personal decision-making. Taking a holistic approach, students will be given the tools to manage not just their personal finances, but their investments in time, service, etc. Topics will include budgeting, spending, saving, borrowing, investing, time management, tithing, and giving.

A mixed lecture-lab in which students will learn songwriting fundamentals and take part in productive workshops to develop skills in music composition, notation, performance practice, and creative expression.

What is it to believe? Is it merely intellectual assent, or something more? Building out from the first part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this course systematically unpacks the rich and challenging Catholic doctrines contained in the early creeds of the Church, presenting students with a faith that invites assent of all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

A course designed for the entrepreneur, focusing on strategies to develop long-term business relationships. Students apply a proven process to increase sales and are prepared for likely selling scenarios and learn the most effective methods to handle them. Students learn different sales strategies and can determine which method works most effectively for him/her.

What is it to believe? Is it merely intellectual assent, or something more? Building out from the first part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this course systematically unpacks the rich and challenging Catholic doctrines contained in the early creeds of the Church, presenting students with a faith that invites assent of all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

This course enables students to better learn and explain Catholic teachings that occasionally give rise to controversy or misunderstanding, particularly during discussions with others not in full communion with the Catholic Church.  Among other possible topics, emphasis will be laid on doctrines pertaining to justification, Scripture, the Church, the papacy, the Eucharist, the Communion of Saints, and Mary.

Students will learn how to successfully execute a small project, gaining understanding of the key steps in project planning and execution. They will play a key role in a real project by planning, executing and debriefing. By experiencing being a part of a team and having to learn from team members, they will apply their lessons learned in class and eventually in their own businesses.

Students will continue developing realistic and stylized texture and light schemes to produce depth and meaning in interactive 3D scenes. Students will explore into various advanced PBR texturing and lighting techniques, while generating texture assets for interactive objects and environments.

This course will explore numerous topics within bioethics and will focus primarily on life issues, healthcare ethics, and biomedical technologies. It will provide students with an understanding of the ethical principles, theories, concepts, and values underlying bioethics. It will also explore Catholic teachings on bioethical issues and the rationale behind these teachings. Topics will include the dignity of the human person, cloning, abortion, euthanasia, palliative care, NFP, contraception, IVF, physician-assisted suicide, sex reassignment surgery, medical research, and the right to health care.

This course gives an in-depth introduction to the major concepts of business macroeconomics, exposing them to the issues faced by companies competing in global markets. This course is devoted to the fundamental principles of macroeconomics, with particular attention paid to how these principles shape the structure and performance of nations and governments. The course provides conceptual tools for analyzing how governments and social institutions inter-relate, and how their policies influence economic competition on national and global scales. They learn how national systems have affected production, inflation, unemployment, as well as the quality of life in their respective countries.

In this interdisciplinary foundational design course, students explore the history of graphic design from the earliest communication technologies to the present, with a focus on the Modern era. This course will also examine changes in style and technology within the field and consider the relationship between graphic design and its cultural, political and social contexts.

This course provides advanced skills for playing Shakespeare. While building on the scansion skills introduced in Playing Shakespeare I, this course will develop those skills and introduce the more subjective aspects of performing Shakespeare.

Students will attend the Sundance Film Festival under the guidance of faculty, where they will participate in the Windrider Forum, an immersive educational experience with the idea that the Sundance Film Festival could provide a dynamic learning laboratory for students, as Christians, to engage in a cultural dialogue as it takes shape. The class will attend screenings and discussions on dramatic and documentary features and short films, series and episodic content; network with filmmakers; and witness emerging media in the form of multimedia installations, performances, and films.

This course is a comprehensive examination of the fundamentals of music and music notation. Notes, keys, chords and harmonic progression, as well as ear training, intervals, and basic keyboard layout will be discussed.

A senior-level graphic design capstone experience. This course provides hands-on and practical experience managing “real-world” graphic design projects and interactions with local businesses and/or non-profit clients. Students will be designing creative content for businesses and organizations throughout the quarter. Additionally, students will be creating design content to further build out their creative portfolio and resume.

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.

After providing an overview of the basic principles of the Philosophy of Nature, this course examines the nature of the human being, beginning from the Epic of Gilgamesh, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the Renaissance via Blaise Pascal, and concluding in the modern period in Nietzsche, Freud and T. S. Eliot. 

Students will learn the fundamentals of the Python programing language. Students will learn best practices and become familiar with this language which is often used in scientific, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and business applications.

After providing an overview of the basic principles of the Philosophy of Nature, this course examines the nature of the human being, beginning from the Epic of Gilgamesh, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the Renaissance via Blaise Pascal, and concluding in the modern period in Nietzsche, Freud and T. S. Eliot. 

Building upon previous philosophy courses, this class examines the causes of human knowledge. Specifically, students will be introduced to philosophical solutions to questions relating to the nature of knowledge, the object of knowledge, the role of the internal and external senses, and the concepts of truth and certainty. After thoroughly examining the sophisticated understandings of the nature of truth and certainty found in Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, we will closely examine the skepticism of the modern period through the writings of Hume, and the systematization of the structure of the mind in Kantian idealism, concluding in the 20th Century attempt to fuse idealism and realism in Martin Heidegger.