DCS-Digital Community Stud Courses

DCS 101. Media, Culture and Society. 3 Hours.

This course offers an introduction to the study of the media industries and their impact on society. Aimed at consumers of media of any form, this course examines the technology, aesthetics, and rhetoric of the media through history and encourages a critical analysis about media's influence on our understanding of social reality. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with flags in Global and Multicultural Perspectives and Service Learning, Community-Based Learning.

DCS 150. Introduction to Film and History. 3 Hours.

This course will examine fiction and non-fiction films as socially significant documents. Students will receive an introduction to the techniques of film analysis in the class.

DCS 201. History of Documentary Film. 3 Hours.

This course will provide a history of the documentary tradition by studying the major stylistic movements, works, and filmmakers of non-fiction film and photography in the 20th century.

DCS 208. Women in Film. 3 Hours.

This course will provide a history of women in film, focusing on both women working in the film industry and the representation of women on screen. The course will focus on American film history, 1930's Hollywood to the present.

DCS 291. Community Ethnography and Public History. 3 Hours.

This experiential course addresses how to investigate and represent local community history and stories through the methodologies of service learning, participant observation, ethnographic research and oral history. This class addresses the concepts of human memory, nostalgia, folklore, storytelling and public history. Students will learn how to use new media technologies, such as digital video, podcasting and website production, as a way to represent community history and culture for the public.

DCS 309. American Independent Film. 3 Hours.

This course will provide a history of the American Independent filmmaking tradition by studying the major stylistic movements, works, and filmmakers of the 1970s-the present.

DCS 391. Digital Storytelling. 3 Hours.

In this non-fiction video production course, students will learn how to use new media technologies, such as digital video, digital audio, music, graphics, and still photography, as a way to represent community history, personal narratives, and local culture for the public.

DCS 401. Ethnographic Filmmaking/SL. 6 Hours.

This course is an interdisciplinary course in which students pair up to produce a short documentary film which represents a community in the Birmingham area. The course contains four key elements: 1) community outreach, 2) intro to social science theory and methods, 3) film theory and the aesthetics of filmmaking, and 4) technical aspects of camera work and digital video editing. This is a designated service-learning course intergrating academic learning, civic learning and meaningful service to the community. Preq: Permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: DCS 101 [Min Grade: C] and DCS 201 [Min Grade: C]

DCS 455. Professional Producing. 3 Hours.

This course offers students the practical application of producing skills and techniques to prepare them for professional work in the media and film industry. The course includes project development, budgeting, grant and pitch preparation, professional reel and website development. Emphasis is on non-fiction media.
Prerequisites: DCS 401 [Min Grade: C]

DCS 460. Independent Media Studies. 3-6 Hours.

This course will provide an opportunity for advanced students to pursue individual projects in multimedia studies. Prerequisites: Permission of the Instructor.
Prerequisites: DCS 401 [Min Grade: C]

DCS 470. Internship in Media Studies. 3-6 Hours.

Internships will provide students with the opportunity for hands-on experience with digital technology in workplace setting. This course is a designated capstone experience. Permission of the Instructor.
Prerequisites: DCS 401 [Min Grade: C]

DCS 490. Special Topics in Media. 3 Hours.

Study of thematic topics throughout media studies. This course is a designated capstone experience.

DCS 499. Special Topics in Media Studies. 3 Hours.

Study of thematic topics throughout media studies.