Department of Visual & Media Arts

There are no limits to what graduates of the Department of Visual and Media can achieve. Art and design students are offered the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a broad arena of visual mediums together with professional artisans.

The Art program offers Bachelor of Art Degrees in Art Education (grades K-12), Graphic Design, and Studio Art. A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is also offered.

The Gaming and Interactive Design program gives students a professional quality experience in 3D and 2D media elements as part of a Bachelor of Art Degree.

The Bachelor of Art in Sports Broadcasting program prepares students to become outstanding on-camera communicators and behind-the-camera production experts.

The Digital Storytelling Bachelor of Art program prepares students for strategic, narrative and non-fictional storytelling, employing the use of industry standard digital tools through of a variety of transmedia content.

Cinema Arts students are guided and mentored by faculty who have achieved the highest levels of accomplishment in their fields, inclusive of productions at the Cannes Film Festival, casting directors on prime-time television, and film production on HBO. Each year, students actively participate in its Annual Film Festival held at the AMC Theater, as well as other pursuits that expand their experience and knowledge with in the discipline. Students are able to pursue Bachelor of Art degrees or Bachelor of Fine Art degrees in Cinema Arts.

Faculty

Professor

Tim Eichner, M.F.A.
Thomas Parham, III, Ph.D.
Don Piper, M.A.
David Pounds, M.F.A.
Antonio Zarro, M.A.

Assistant Professor

Heather Couch, M.F.A.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Department of Art and Design is to develop articulate artists whose creative expression combines critical perception and artistic integrity with Christian character. Graduates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of historical and cultural perspectives, critical thinking skills, and technical proficiency in the use of traditional and/or digital tools. The successful student combines these competencies to prepare and present art in a professional manner.

Art Programs of Study

The department offers a major in art with a studio art emphasis, two majors with a graphic art emphasis, an art education emphasis, as well as studio art and graphic art minors. In addition, individual art courses serve the interests of students who are majoring or minoring in art.

The major in art with a studio emphasis is designed to develop the student’s abilities as a generalist in art while also affording him or her some opportunity to specialize in one or more studio areas (e.g. ceramics, drawing, painting, crafts, etc.). Upon completion of the program, the student may choose to practice one or more of the visual arts as a career choice, or he or she might seek a professional position wherein artistic competencies are regularly utilized. With a broad education in the visual arts and a liberal arts education to support him or her, the student may choose to pursue graduate-level education in the arts or more specialized art training at some other institution of higher education.

The major in art with a graphic design emphasis is offered in two degree plans. The first, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design, is structured to allow a student to study an additional area of interest, such as a double-major or minor in a non-graphic design subject, which provides an opportunity to experience a wide variety of other subjects through a generous number of elective classes. The second degree plan, a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design, is a professional degree program, with the goal of post-graduation employment as its core guiding principle. This program provides a much more robust and comprehensive course of study, providing greater breadth and depth of information and experiences, but with less opportunity to study non-graphic design subject matter.

The major in art with an emphasis in art education is shared with the Department of Education and provides the opportunity for students to develop not only artistic sensitivities and abilities, but also the skills of teaching art in an educational curriculum.

Admission Requirements

Admission to programs of study in art is through evaluation by the faculty of a prospective student’s portfolio. Portfolios (electronic or otherwise) are submitted through the Admissions Department to the Chair of the Department of Visual & Media Art. An interview may also be required. Students admitted must maintain a 2.75 GPA for all classes within the major.

All art majors will have their progress reviewed annually, and must maintain a 2.75 grade point average in all art courses attempted at Palm Beach Atlantic University in order to continue in good standing. Admission to upper level study is determined on the basis of the student’s cumulative GPA in art courses completed by the end of the fourth semester, and the recommendation of the student’s advisor. The art faculty reserves the right to dismiss any student from a major or minor in art if he or she fails to meet departmental standards. Decisions to dismiss a student will be reviewed automatically by the executive committee of the College of the Arts, and a student may appeal to the Dean. Every attempt will be made to counsel a student into a more suitable major in the event that he or she is unable to meet the standards of the department.

Acceptance of transfer students or current PBA students wishing to declare an art major after their freshman year is based on an entrance interview, preferably supported by a portfolio of previous art work. Acceptance may be full or provisional. If provisional, appropriate recommendations will be made, and opportunities for developmental work may be offered. Upon satisfactory completion of any recommendations, full acceptance will be granted. Such students must maintain a 2.75 GPA for all classes within the major. Classes taken to satisfy minor or general education requirements are not counted towards the minimum necessary GPA. If during either of the first two semesters after being accepted into the program a student does not maintain the minimum necessary GPA their progress will be reviewed by the art faculty to determine if they will be allowed to continue in the program. If there is insufficient evidence to suggest that they will be successful they will be required to change majors.

Residency Requirement

Art and Design Majors may not use transient study to fulfill courses in the Art and Design Core or Major Requirements and Electives.

Semester Abroad

Art and Design students considering a semester abroad should consult with their advisor no later than the middle of their sophomore year. Because courses are not offered every semester careful academic planning is necessary to minimize the negative impact of missing required art classes during the semester abroad. Participation in a semester abroad program may delay graduation.

Graduation Requirements

To obtain employment in an art-related position or to gain entrance into a program of advanced study in art, students are normally required to submit a portfolio of their work. Each student is required to compile a portfolio of his or her best work from each course and make his or her selections in consultation with the instructor of the course. In addition, the Department of Art requires that each art major participate in a senior art exhibit as a prerequisite for graduation.

Display of Student Work

The university reserves the right to permanently retain copies of digitally created art and design from each student for the purposes of display and promotion. The university further retains the right to use photographic reproductions of traditionally created (non-digital) artwork for display or promotion, without exception or time limit. The art faculty may retain one (1) work of traditionally created art work from each student in each class for a period of one year. The art faculty will decide the disposition of these works.

Cinema Arts

The Cinema Arts program of study offers a superb training from a Christian perspective in the art of effective, dynamic, and redemptive storytelling through motion pictures and television.

Given the enormous power of the mass media to define public debate, impact cultural and social change, and influence personal behavior, our vision is to empower aspiring Christian media professionals to make a positive contribution to society. In the area of the entertainment media, our program of study equips students to communicate redemptive messages, particularly through storytelling in parables. This preparation will allow graduates to pursue careers in the television and feature film sectors of the entertainment industry, as well as in audio-visual production in corporate, governmental, civic, church, and para-church organizations.

Admission Requirements

In addition to University application procedures, prospective students seeking to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Cinema Arts must file an application with the School of Communication and Media. All applicants must submit a personal statement of approximately 750 words, the first two-thirds of which should state in detail why the candidate believes he or she is called to a career in the entertainment industry. The applicant should use the final third of the personal statement to outline his/her history of creative accomplishments.

The Cinema Arts faculty requires candidates for admission to the program to submit a portfolio of their creative film or video work. Candidates who do not have a body of previously completed film or video work may submit an alternative portfolio of creative material, including such items as screenplays, stage plays, photographic work, etc. However, depending upon the strength of the alternative portfolio, such candidates may receive provisional admittance to the Cinema Arts program.

Applications are available in the Office of the Associate Dean of the School of Communication, Art and Media.

Most students are admitted into the Cinema Arts program at the beginning of their freshman year. Students already studying at Palm Beach Atlantic University, either in another program of study or as an undeclared major, may not gain acceptance into the Cinema Arts program with only a Change of Major form. Rather, such students must follow the process outlined above for admittance into the major.

Students in the Cinema Arts major who later withdraw from PBA or after suspension or dismissal from the University must apply for readmission to the program of study.

Software

The Cinema Arts major requires all script submissions to conform to professional formatting standards. Therefore, students in the program are required to use the latest version of Final Draft screenwriting software that will produce scripts in the proper format. Students may obtain a list of acceptable software brands from their academic advisor.

Review of Satisfactory Progress

All students in the Cinema Arts major will have their progress in all work within the program of study reviewed at the end of the second semester of their sophomore and senior years. This review will include both in-class scholarship and performance on productions. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all courses in their major in order to continue in good standing. Admission to upper-level study is determined on the basis of the student’s cumulative GPA in Cinema Arts courses completed by the end of the fourth semester, the recommendation of the student’s advisor, and the satisfactory completion of an interview with the program faculty. The faculty reserves the right to dismiss any student from a major if he or she fails to meet program standards. An executive committee of the School of Communication and Media will automatically review a decision to dismiss a student from a major, and a student may make an appeal to the Dean. Cinema Arts faculty will make every attempt to counsel a student into a more suitable major in the event he or she is unable to meet the standards of the program.

Residency Requirement

Students changing majors or those transferring into Palm Beach Atlantic University should be advised that the sequence of courses for the program requires a minimum of five semesters of study to complete. Students admitted to the Cinema Arts major after the start of the first semester of their sophomore year may encounter difficulties with the sequencing of courses in the major. The Cinema Arts major is a rigorous program of study designed to progress students to a high level of professional competency. The students must matriculate through the program of study in a specific order to produce increasing technical complexity and sophistication of professional skills. Faculty will not waive prerequisites or course sequencing to accommodate students admitted to the program after the first semester of their sophomore year. All majors must complete the final five semesters in full-time residence at PBA, including their senior year. Students may not use transient study to fulfill courses in the Cinema Arts core or major requirements.

Cinema Arts Production Lab

All Cinema Arts majors must enroll in and successfully complete CIN 3002 - Cinema Lab in each semester their freshman year through their junior year. Students admitted to the Cinema Arts major after the start of the first semester of their freshman year must enroll in and successfully complete this lab in each subsequent semester upon declaration of their major through their junior year. This lab may be repeated for a total of 16 credit hours.

Culminating Project

The Cinema Arts major has a set of capstone courses in which all majors will create a culminating project. Graduating from the Cinema Arts major is contingent upon the successful completion of this culminating project in CIN 4483 - Advanced Film Production.

Digital Storytelling

Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the Digital Storytelling program of study exists to equip aspiring media professionals with digital production-related knowledge and skills from a Christian perspective in the art of effective, dynamic, and redemptive storytelling.

The impact of convergent digital media technology, including social media, on civic, commercial, not-for-profit, and religious institutions is enormous. Its power to define public debate and impact cultural, political, economic, and social change cannot be underestimated. Our vision is, therefore, to empower aspiring Christian media professionals to make a positive contribution to society within the context of digital media communication. Our program of study equips students to communicate redemptively through storytelling in both fictional and factual forms. This preparation will allow graduates to pursue careers in digital media and audio-visual production in corporate, governmental, civic, church, and para-church organizations.

The required coursework for the Digital Storytelling, B.A. major is available entirely in an online format.

Sports Broadcasting

The mission of the Sports Broadcasting program of study is to prepare students for a career in the sports broadcast industry, either as sports journalists or as sports media production professionals.

Grounded in a broad liberal arts education, the Sports Broadcasting program challenges students to approach the sports broadcast industry critically within the framework of a Christian worldview. In addition to the general education requirements of the university, the program of study addresses topics such as sports media and society, historical development of the sports media industry, and ethical issues within the sports media industry.

The major also includes extensive coursework in cross-platform media production techniques, covering such areas as writing and reporting for sports, video and audio production techniques, and on-air announcing and play-by-play. Students will learn how to successfully function in multiple roles within the industry.

Review of Satisfactory Progress

All students pursuing a bachelor of arts in Sports Broadcasting will have their progress in all work within the program of study reviewed at the end of the second semester of their sophomore and senior years. This review will include both in-class scholarship and performance on productions. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all courses in their major in order to continue in good standing with the program. Admission to upper-level study is determined on the basis of the student’s cumulative GPA in Sports Broadcasting courses completed by the end of the fourth semester, the recommendation of the student’s advisor, and the satisfactory completion of an interview with the program faculty. The faculty reserves the right to dismiss any student from the major if he or she fails to meet program standards. An executive committee of the School of Communication, Art and Media will automatically review a decision to dismiss a student from a major, and a student may make an appeal to the Dean. Sports Broadcasting faculty will make every attempt to counsel a student into a more suitable major in the event he or she is unable to meet the standards of the program.

Residency Requirement

Students changing majors or those transferring into Palm Beach Atlantic University should be advised that the sequence of courses for the Sports Broadcasting major presupposes a fall semester entry of the freshman year. Successful completion of the program requires a minimum of six semesters to complete. Students admitted to the Sports Broadcasting major after the start of the first semester of their sophomore year may encounter difficulties with the sequencing of courses in the major. The B.A. in Sports Broadcasting is a rigorous program of study designed to progress students to a high level of professional competency. Students must matriculate through the program of study in a specific order to master increasing technical complexity and sophistication of professional skills. Faculty will not waive prerequisites or course sequencing to accommodate students admitted to the program after the first semester of their sophomore year. All majors must complete the final five semesters in full-time residence at PBA, including their senior year. Students may not use transient study to fulfill course requirements within the Sports Broadcasting major.