Possible Careers:
• Directors
• Producers
• Film editors
• Cinematographers
• Production assistants
Estimated Starting Salary:
• $40,000 - $50,000
Source: Zippia.com
Source: Zippia.com
Digital storytelling is the foundation for the world of media. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Storytelling prepares students for a career in a media-focused world and provides them with the tools and techniques needed for creative, entrepreneurial and analytical processes and production. Graduates are prepared for a multitude of career paths -- film, television, corporate communications, digital advertising, new media—anything that involves using sound and image to entertain, inform and/or educate. The digital storytelling major has an interdisciplinary focus with courses from Communication Arts and Science, Film Studies, Journalism, and Media and Information.
The program of study encompasses a common core with foundational and supplementary courses. Students must choose one of the following 12-credit transcriptable concentrations or a 15-credit minor:
The Animation Concentration focuses on the production and theory of animated works in storytelling. Students completing this concentration will be prepared for understanding and producing stories via animation. Students will gain a background in the theoretical and practical uses of the animated form.
The Audio Storytelling Concentration is focused on storytelling through the art and science of production through audio. Students gain hands-on experience producing stories through sound for audio-based models such as terrestrial broadcast radio, satellite radio and web-based distribution and podcasts. Students will learn the fundamentals of audio technology, delivery and presentation, sound design and theory, and industry organization and business concepts.
The Filmmaking Concentration focuses on filmmaking – both fiction and non-fiction in focus. Students learn pre-production, production, and post-production techniques and design principles involved in documentary and fiction film. Students also gain experience in producing, directing, and managing media projects for distribution on multiple platforms including broadcast, cable, mobile networks, and the Internet.
The Multicam Production Concentration focuses on media production using industry multi-camera approaches. Students will learn hands-on multicam techniques for broadcast television and related fields. This concentration emphasizes theory and execution of live directing and production of multicam broadcasts. Students will establish an understanding of production techniques for media distribution including traditional broadcast, mobile networks and web formats.
The Minor in Documentary Production introduces undergraduates to the history, theory, and production of documentary media. Documentary production focuses on issues of media, representation, and reality. It engages directly with the fundamental understanding of how the world is presented, represented, distorted, structured, and shaped. Interpretation and representation of reality constitutes a central axis of inquiry and debate. By integrating production and analysis, students in this minor produce theoretically informed work and develop a cutting-edge understanding of the challenges inherent in representing reality.
The Minor in Fiction Filmmaking educates students in the history, theory, and production of fiction film. Students who enroll in this minor combine practical skills in production with conceptual training in film studies to produce theoretically informed work while developing an understanding of the challenges of creating high-quality films.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Storytelling
a. | All of the following core courses with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 (12 credits): | |||||||||||||||
CAS | 112 | Story, Sound and Motion | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 103 | Media History | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 113 | Story, Sound and Motion II | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 108 | The World of Media | 3 | |||||||||||||
b. | Complete a concentration or minor (12 to 15 credits): | |||||||||||||||
Animation | ||||||||||||||||
1. | Complete the following courses (9 credits): | |||||||||||||||
JRN | 212 | 2D Animation Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 312 | Stop Motion Animation Storytelling (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 413 | 3D Animation Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
2. | One of the following courses (3 credits): | |||||||||||||||
JRN | 412 | Scoring for Moving Pictures | 3 | |||||||||||||
MI | 337 | Compositing and Special Effects | 3 | |||||||||||||
Audio Storytelling | ||||||||||||||||
1. | Complete three of the following courses (9 credits): | |||||||||||||||
DS | 243 | Audio Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 343 | Podcasting | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 344 | Sound Design for Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 412 | Scoring for Moving Pictures | 3 | |||||||||||||
2. | Complete the following course (3 credits): | |||||||||||||||
DS | 443 | Advanced Audio Design (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
Filmmaking | ||||||||||||||||
1. | Complete the following courses (9 credits): | |||||||||||||||
DS | 241 | Filmmaking I: Basics of Film Production | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 341 | Filmmaking II: Creating Short Films | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 441 | Filmmaking III: Advanced Filmmaking Capstone (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
2. | One of the following courses (3 credits): | |||||||||||||||
DS | 311 | Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 351 | Producing for Cinema and Television | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 409 | Advanced Lighting and Camera Techniques | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 440 | Advanced Video Editing | 3 | |||||||||||||
FLM | 334 | Introduction to Screenwriting (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
Multicam Production | ||||||||||||||||
1. | Both of the following courses (6 credits): | |||||||||||||||
DS | 242 | Multicam Production I | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 342 | Multicam Production II | 3 | |||||||||||||
2. | Two of the following courses, one of which must be DS 442A, DS 442B, or DS 442C: | |||||||||||||||
DS | 442A | Multicam Production for Arts (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 442B | Multicam Production for Sports (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 442C | Multicam Production for News (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
THR | 411 | Stage Lighting Design | 3 | |||||||||||||
THR | 416 | Stage Sound Design | 3 | |||||||||||||
Students may choose to complete one of the following minors (15 credits): | ||||||||||||||||
Documentary Production or Fiction Filmmaking. Students should consult the Academic Programs catalog statement in the department that administers the minor to learn the requirements. | ||||||||||||||||
c. | Complete a minimum of 12 elective credits of courses from the following: | |||||||||||||||
DS | 202 | Writing for Digital Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 211 | Documentary Film History and Theory | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 241 | Filmmaking: Basics of Film Production | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 242 | Multicam Production I | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 243 | Audio Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 311 | Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 341 | Filmmaking: Creating Short Films II | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 342 | Multicam Production II | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 343 | Podcasting | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 344 | Sound Design for Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 351 | Producing for Cinema and Television | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 409 | Advanced Lighting and Camera Techniques | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 411A | Advanced Documentary Filmmaking I (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 411B | Advanced Documentary Filmmaking II (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 435A | Creating the Fiction Film I | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 435B | Creating the Fiction Film II (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 440 | Advanced Video Editing | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 481 | Indian Film and Media Production | 8 to 12 | |||||||||||||
DS | 492 | Digital Storytelling Special Topics | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 492A | Digital Storytelling Special Topics in Animation | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 492B | Digital Audio Storytelling Special Topics | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 492C | Special Topics in Filmmaking | 3 | |||||||||||||
DS | 492D | Special Topics in Multicam Production | 3 | |||||||||||||
FLM | 301 | History of Film after Midcentury | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 206 | Video Storytelling with Phones | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 212 | 2D Animation Storytelling | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 310 | Photojournalism | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 312 | Stop Motion Animation Storytelling (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 412 | Scoring for Moving pictures | 3 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 483 | Photo Communication in Europe | 6 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 486 | British and Irish Mass Media Education Abroad | 6 | |||||||||||||
JRN | 487 | Creative Journey Education Abroad | 6 | |||||||||||||
MI | 337 | Compositing and Special Effects | 3 | |||||||||||||
Courses chosen to complete this requirement may not be used to fulfill the requirements of a concentration or minor. | ||||||||||||||||
d. | Digital Storytelling majors must complete a minimum of 72 credits in courses outside of the School of Journalism, and mass communication. Digital Storytelling majors may complete up to 48 credits in digital storytelling, journalism, and mass communication areas of study. |
Source: Michigan State University - Information listed is intended for educational purposes only, degree requirements are property of Michigan State University.