Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Digital Media Arts (DMA)

DMA 195.  Special Topics in Music.  (1-3 Units)  

Offered As needed

DMA 300.  Digital Technology, Culture and the Arts.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: HUM 200 or consent of instructor. Survey of the impact of digital technology on culture and the arts including but not limited to the visual arts, music, dance, video, film, literature, and theatre.

Offered Fall

DMA 310.  Tools and Techniques in Digital Media Production.  (3 Units)  

Introduction and examination of the fundamental software and hardware tools used in the production of media for digital delivery. Emphasis on creative production techniques and the development of skills required in the digital media industry.

Offered Fall, Spring

DMA 320.  TV Directing I.  (3 Units)  

Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in DMA 323. Fundamental techniques in producing and directing multi-camera television productions in the studio, and single-camera, film-style programs on location. Emphasis on producer/director skills for performance-based productions in the studio and on location. Six hours of activity per week. 

Offered Fall

DMA 322.  TV Directing II.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 320 and concurrent enrollment in DMA 323. Advanced techniques in producing and directing multi-camera television productions and single-camera, film-style programs in the studio and on location. Emphasis on producer/director skills for drama-based productions. Six hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 323.  TV Crew Production.  (3 Units)  

Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in DMA 328 and either DMA 320 or DMA 322. Participation in a variety of crew assignments on production projects in the studio and on location. Repeatable for credit. Six hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DMA 324.  TV Titling and Animation.  (3 Units)  

Introduction to computer-generated titles and basic, two-dimensional animation for television production. Students will explore the aesthetics of graphic design elements for the screen and related software programs. Six hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 325.  EFP Videography.  (3 Units)  

Application of professional-format videotape recording techniques used in location shooting. Emphasis on using portable lighting systems, reflectors, and location sound recording techniques. Experience in technical aspects of equipment setup, system trouble shooting, and preventative maintenance. Six hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 326.  TV Sound Design.  (3 Units)  

Use of synthesizers, samplers, and MIDI for music scoring, sound effects drop-ins, ADR, and foley in television and stage productions. Six hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 327.  Independent TV Production.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 322 and DMA 323. Aspects of producing television features on an independent-producer basis. Practice in pre-production coordination, location shooting, directing, and editing techniques in the production of a broadcast-quality feature segment for public airing on the University cable TV channel. Repeatable for credit. Six hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 328.  DSLR Video Production.  (3 Units)  

Co-requisites: DMA 320 and DMA 323 are required. Introduction to the theory and practice of using DSLR photo cameras for video production. Students will learn fundamental techniques for lighting, proper exposure, camera movement, audio recording, and video editing.

Offered Fall

DMA 330.  Audio Recording.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. Theory and practice of sound recording. Acoustics, psychacoustics, microphones and microphone techniques, consoles, mixers, signal processing and multi-track recording techniques.

Offered Fall

DMA 331.  Audio Recording Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: Previous or concurrent enrollment in DMA 330. Hands-on experience in studio recording using Pro Tools HD. Live mix to stereo techniques and fundamentals of studio flow path. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Fall

DMA 335.  Music Synthesis.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. Production techniques, equipment, theory, and history of electro-acoustic music with an emphasis on MIDI. Psychoacoustics and a conceptual approach to electronic music production using a variety of MIDI-based software.

Offered Fall

DMA 336.  Music Synthesis Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: Previous or concurrent enrollment in DMA 335. Hands-on experience in production using hardware and software synthesizers and MIDI in conjunction with Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Reason, and various sequencers for a variety of musical styles. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Fall

DMA 346.  Digital Media Prod Workshop.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Investigation of a single topic, chosen in consultation with a faculty member, culminating in a paper, presentation, or creative project. Repeatable for credit for up to six units.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

DMA 400.  Strategies for Digital Media Delivery.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 310. Advanced exploration into the methods and mechanics of informational and entertainment design and delivery. Evaluation of media production strategies including linear and non-linear scripting, conditional branching, and virtual reality via online, optical disc, and hybrid formats

Offered Fall, Spring

DMA 410.  Media Arts Projects.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites; DMA 320 required. Experience in producing client-based projects for a variety of campus, corporate, or community organizations. Students participate in a variety of activities ranging from video coverage and live sound reinforcement of campus events to writing, filming, recording and editing client-based projects.

Offered Spring

DMA 430.  Advanced Audio Recording.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 330 and consent of instructor. A continuation of DMA 330 incorporating digital audio workstations and associated peripheral equipment, signal processing and mastering for optical disc and web delivery, console automation, 5.1 surround mixing techniques, and DVD audio.

Offered Spring

DMA 431.  Advanced Audio Recording Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: Previous or concurrent enrollment in DMA 430 and consent of instructor. Practical multi-track session work featuring increased access to studio facilities for individual and group recording projects using Pro Tools HD in conjunction with analog console and Digidesign Command 8 control surface. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 432.  Recording Studio Maintenance.  (2 Units)  

Prerequisites: PHY 331 and concurrent enrollment in DMA 433 is recommended. Installation, maintenance, trouble shooting, and repair of professional audio equipment in a studio environment. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

DMA 433.  Recording Studio Maintenance Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisites: PHY 331 and previous or concurrent enrollment in DMA 432. Installation, maintenance, trouble shooting, and repair of professional audio equipment in a studio environment. Repeatable course. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DMA 435.  Advanced Music Synthesis.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 335 and consent of instructor. A continuation of DMA 335. Synthesizer and sampler sound design using a variety of synthesis strategies and concepts. Direct software and hardware sound synthesis theory using software synthesizers such as Tassman and Reason, modular synthesizers and MIDI.

Offered Spring

DMA 436.  Advanced Music Synthesis Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: Previous or concurrent enrollment in DMA 435 and consent of instructor. Experience in programming a variety of digital synthesizers including Tassman, Reason, FN-7, and Motu software synthesizers. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Spring

DMA 438.  Music Production.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 430 and consent of instructor. Analysis of recordings in music production. Spatial and timbral ear-training techniques for recording engineers and producers. Access to Pro Tools HD 5.1 surround system and a variety of engineering and production topics which include surround mixing techniques, advanced microphone techniques, DVD Audio specifications, and DVD authoring.

Offered Fall, Summer

DMA 439.  Music Production Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: Previous or concurrent enrollment in DMA 438 and consent of instructor. Practice in the production of studio recordings. Responsibility for music composition and arrangements, rehearsal, performance, studio and musician bookings, artist promotion, engineering assistance and artistic direction and management. Interdisciplinary projects involving video or theatre are also possible. Repeatable course. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Fall, Summer

DMA 447.  Audio Projects Lab.  (1 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 331 and DMA 431. Advanced studio session work culminating in passing the Audio Recording Proficiency Exam

Offered Infrequent

DMA 450.  Computer Music.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 435 and consent of instructor. Advanced studies in computer applications in music. Course concentrates on CSOUND and new technologies. Topics will vary with new innovations in the field. Students will have access to Pro Tools LE workstations for individual projects. A-C/NC grading.

Offered Summer

DMA 452.  Audio Production.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 430 and DMA 431 are required. Advanced skills in integrating audio production components of voice over, music, and sound effects with graphics, motion graphics and video on multi-media projects that include proposal, interactive design, audio recording, music mixing, mastering, and encoding and authoring to optical disc.

Offered Fall

DMA 456.  Mixing and Mastering.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: DMA 438 and DMA 439 are required. Theory and practice in various styles of mixing and mastering popular music. Application of panning, equalization, dynamics processing, spatial effects, modulation effects, automation, song sequencing and methods for final delivery. Hardware-based instruction. ITB digital methods and hybrid workflows.

Offered Spring

DMA 460.  Digital Audio Workstation Concepts.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: DMA 435 and DMA 436 are required. Theory and practice of operating a Digital Audio Workstation using a variety of software programs. Experience in recording session set-ups, grouping, touting techniques, MIDI composition and editing, song structuring, an editing and mixing scenarios for outputting stereo stem mixes.

Offered Fall

DMA 490.  Senior Seminar.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: DMA 331 and DMA 431. Research projects, chosen in consultation with the instructor, culminating in a paper, presentation, or creative project.

Offered Infrequent

DMA 494.  Independent Study.  (1-3 Units)  

Traditional and modern approaches to the study of language. Fundamentals of phonology and grammar.

Offered Fall, Spring

DMA 495.  Special Topics in DMA.  (3 Units)  

Study of a single topic or contemporary issue in the entertainment industry of television, film, music, or digital media to be determined by the instructor. Repeatable for credit. Repeatable 3 times for a maximum of 9 units.

Offered Infrequent

DMA 496.  Internship in the Media.  (1-3 Units)  

Directed work experience in the television, film, music, or digital media industry under the supervision of a professionally-qualified mentor. CR/NC grading only. Repeatable for credit. Ten hours of work experience per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

DMA 499.  Senior Proj Digital Media.  (2 Units)  

Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of instructor. A capstone course culminating in the production of a final, collaborative project in conjunction with students from other program options in Digital Media Arts. Selected in consultation with and evaluated by a faculty panel.

Offered Fall, Spring