Program in Documentary Studies
Director
Gerald Zahavi, Ph.D., Professor (History, Documentary Studies)
Syracuse University
Associate Director
Sheila Curran Bernard, M.F.A., Assistant Professor (History, Documentary Studies)
Goddard College
Special Projects Coordinator
Susan L. McCormick, M.A. Adjunct Faculty (History, Documentary Studies)
University at Albany
Professors
Phyllis Galembo, M.F.A. (Art)
University of Wisconsin at Madison
Teresa M. Harrison, Ph.D. (Communication)
Bowling Green State University
Associate Professors
Daniel S. Goodwin, M.F.A. (Art)
Hunter College
Vivien Ng, Ph.D. (Women's Studies)
University of Hawaii
Amy Murrell Taylor, Ph.D. (History)
University of Virginia
Assistant Professors
Adam Frelin, M.F.A. (Art)
University of California, San Diego
Robert Gluck, M.H.L., M.S.W., M.F.A. (Music)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Visiting Assistant Professor
William Husson, Ph.D. (Communication)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Program Associate
Paul A. Miller, B.A. (UAlbany TV); Director of Programming & Production
Roosevelt University
Curriculum
This interdisciplinary program offers students an opportunity to explore diverse approaches to documentary work in video/film, radio, hypermedia/multimedia, photography, and nonfiction writing and print journalism. The curriculum combines a solid grounding in the academic and theoretical literature of documentary media with intensive research and fieldwork, arming students not only with production skills but also the ability to critically analyze media in terms of both content and craft. The minor in documentary studies permits interested students to combine a course of study in a traditional major in the sciences, social sciences, or humanities with a sub-concentration in documentary studies. The Honors curriculum allows students to take on a program that is especially intellectually rigorous and that yields a final project more substantial than that required of non-Honors students.
Careers for Documentary Studies Majors
An understanding of documentary media in its many forms prepares students to more effectively engage in the media-infused global marketplace as citizens, consumers, educators, scholars, and practitioners. The major prepares students for employment in fields that require research and writing skills, including historical and archival research; the ability to analyze, critique, and produce visual and aural communications, such as for entertainment, education, or advocacy; and a broad understanding of fact-based communication that can be applied in a range of corporate, educational, service, or government settings. The major also prepares students for advanced study in journalism, history, media production, global studies, and education.
Degree Requirements for the Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Documentary Studies
General Program B.A.: A minimum of 36 credits, distributed in the following way:
Required Core Course
A DOC 251 (= A HIS 251) Introduction to Documentary Studies (3 credits). Should be among the first courses taken if students are considering or have declared the major or minor.
Theory and Foundation Courses
Two courses, chosen from the following (6 credits). Most of the courses listed below are offered every year.
A JRL 363 Visual Culture
A ARH 265 History of Photography
A COM 238 Introduction to Mass Communication
A COM 370 Theories of Mass Media
A COM 378 Topics Course: Introduction to Semiotics (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
A COM 465 Studies Course: Studies in Communication Theory (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
A JRL 475 Topics in Journalism: Topics Course in Documentary Film: History and Criticism/A History of the Visual Documentary (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
Documentary Studies Fieldwork Seminar
(4 credits; Honors students should also enroll in A DOC 451 for an extra credit):
A DOC 450 Documentary Studies Seminar and Fieldwork Practicum. To be taken as students near completion of the major or minor.
A DOC 451 Honors Seminar and Practicum in Documentary Studies
Concentrations
Students must select two courses total within each of two concentrations (12 credits). Note that some courses are listed under more than one category. Most courses are offered every year.
Nonfiction Writing and Print Journalism
A ENG 300W Expository Writing
A JRL 200Z Introduction to Reporting and News Writing
A JRL 308Z (= A ENG 308Z) Narrative Journalism
A JRL 475 Topics Course: Documentary Script Writing (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
Photography
A ART 244 Beginning Photography and Digital Imaging
A ARH 265 History of Photography
A JRL 380 Photojournalism
Nonfiction Film/Video
A ART 346 Introductory Film Production
A COM 378 Studies Course in Persuasion and Film
A DOC 405 (= A HIS 405) History and Theory of the Documentary Film
A DOC 406 (= A HIS 406) Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking
* Additional nonfiction film courses are offered from time to time in various University at Albany departments. These may also be taken, with permission, to fulfill the concentration requirements.
Radio/Audio
A COM 378 Topics Course: Radio and the Public Imagination (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
A DOC 404 (= A HIS 404) Readings and Practicum in Aural History and Audio Documentary Production
A HIS 394 Workshop in Readings and Practicum in Oral and Video History
A MUS 325 Introduction to Electronic Music & Media
A MUS 426/526 Studio Work in Electronic Music and Media (cross-listed with Art and Theatre)
A MUS 428/528 Sound Design and Multimedia (cross-listed with Art and Theatre)
Multimedia/Hypermedia
A ART 250 Introduction to Digital Imaging
A ART 350 Intermediate Digital Imaging
A ART 450 Advanced Digital Imaging
A COM 465 Studies Course: Communicating on the Internet
A DOC 407 (= A HIS 407) Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia
A DOC 442 (= A WSS 442) Transmedia Storytelling
A JRL 390 Digital Media Workshop I: Web Publishing
A JRL 392 Digital Media Workshop II: Desk-top Publishing
A JRL 490Z Digital Publication
A MUS 428/528 Sound Design and Multimedia (cross-listed with Art and Theatre)
Electives
Four courses taken from any of those listed below (12 credits). Courses should not repeat any taken to fulfill the two core concentration requirements above. One independent study course relevant to the student’s area(s) of concentration may be substituted for one of the electives (12 credits). Most of these courses are offered yearly; some, bi-annually. Other courses not listed here may be included with the approval of the Director. (Note that some courses may be listed twice if cross-listed.)
Art
A ART 244 Beginning Photography and Digital Imaging
A ART 250 Introduction to Digital Imaging
A ART 344 Intermediate Photography and Digital Imaging
A ART 346 Introductory Film Production
A ART 348 Color Photography
A ART 350 Intermediate Digital Imaging
A ART 444 Advanced Photography and Digital Imaging
A ART 446 Topics in Photography
A ART 447 Advanced Film Production
A ART 450 Advanced Digital Imaging
Art History
A ARH 261 Independent Cinema
A ARH 265 History of Photography
A ARH 266 Photography 1970 to the Present
Communication Courses
A COM 238 Introduction to Mass Communication
A COM 345Z Argumentative Methods
A COM 370 Theories of Mass Media
A COM 378 Topics Course: Introduction to Semiotics (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
A COM 465 Topics Course: Politics of Media (or when content is relevant and approved by Program Director)
A COM 465 Studies Course: Communicating on the Internet
Documentary Studies
A DOC 376/376Z (= A HIS 376/376Z) A Cultural History of American Photography
A DOC 390: Topics Courses: May be repeated if content varies, contact Program Director
A DOC 404 (= A HIS 404) Readings and Practicum in Aural History and Audio Documentary Production
A DOC 405 (= A HIS 405) History and Theory of the Documentary Film
A DOC 406 (= A HIS 406) Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking
A DOC 407 (= A HIS 407) Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia
A DOC 442 (= A WSS 442) Transmedia Storytelling
History
A HIS 294Y (= A DOC 294Y) Field Research in Oral and Visual History
A HIS 376/376Z (= A DOC 376/376Z) A Cultural History of American Photography
A HIS 394 Workshop in Oral History
A HIS 404 (= A DOC 404) Readings and Practicum in Aural History and Audio Documentary Production
A HIS 405 (= A DOC 405) History and Theory of the Documentary Film
A HIS 406 (= A DOC 406) Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking
A HIS 407 (= A DOC 407) Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia
A HIS 499 Special Projects Course in History and Media
Journalism
A JRL 308Z Narrative Journalism
A JRL 380 Photojournalism
A JRL 385 Broadcast Journalism
A JRL 390 Digital Media Workshop I: Web Publishing
A JRL 392 Digital Media Workshop II: Desk-Top Publishing
A JRL 468 Literary Journalism
A JRL 475 Topics in Journalism: If content is relevant and approved by Program Director
A JRL 490Z Digital Publication
A JRL 495 Internship in Journalism
A JRL 497 Independent Study in Journalism
Additional courses offered intermittently (often as A JRL 475) may be very appropriate for documentary work and will be counted towards the major or minor if so determined by the Director or Associate Director of the Documentary Studies Program.
Music
A MUS 325 Introduction to Electronic Music
A MUS 426/526 Studio Work in Electronic Music and Media (cross-listed with Art and Theatre)
A MUS 428/528 Sound Design and Multimedia (cross-listed with Art and Theatre)
Women's Studies
A WSS 442 (= A DOC 442) Transmedia Storytelling
Supporting Topical Academic Courses
Students are strongly encouraged to select minors and supplementary courses supportive of their topical or subject areas of documentary interest. Those students who are attracted to international documentary work should consider history, foreign language, anthropology, globalization, political science, and sociology courses. Those interested in science and technology as a subject area of future documentary work should take science and technology courses supportive of this concentration. Those drawn to biography and humanities topics should look at the offerings of the English and History departments. All students should discuss their topical interests with their advisors and build a substantive base in one or more disciplines.
Degree Requirements for the Honors Curriculum in Documentary Studies
The Honors Curriculum in Documentary Studies allows students to take on a program that is especially rigorous and that yields a final project more substantial than that required of non-Honors students. Special 1-credit supplementary sections provide students in the Honors Program with deeper, broader, and more challenging opportunities to probe the diverse approaches to documentary production—in this country and abroad. They encourage a high level of student-faculty interaction and the cultivation of an honors community.
Requirements
Completion of the core 36-credit requirement of the Faculty-Initiated Major in Documentary Studies and an additional 4 credits as outlined below for a total of 40 credits. Twelve (12) credits of honors work, usually fulfilled by A DOC 450 and A DOC 451, and taking two 3-credit upper division courses in conjunction with A DOC 400 (Honors Tutorial in Documentary Studies), a course that may be repeated for credit. Honors students enrolled in any of the 300-level courses or above outlined under Documentary Studies “Theory and Foundation” or “Elective” courses (listed earlier)—and also enrolled for A DOC 400 will be expected to complete the same assignments as those enrolled in the 300-level courses. However, they will earn an additional credit through the A DOC 400 tutorial. The tutorial will permit Honors students to work one-on-one with the instructors teaching these courses and will normally include extra reading, writing, and project assignments.
Maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. For graduation with an “Honors in Documentary Studies,” students must also have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or above in their major.
All students enrolled in the Honors Program will take (in addition to the required A DOC 251 and A DOC 450) A DOC 451, Honors Seminar and Practicum in Documentary Studies (1 credit).
Students in the Honors Curriculum in Documentary Studies will be expected to produce a more substantial final project in A DOC 450 than non-Honors students enrolled in that course. A DOC 451, the supplementary 1-credit course paralleling A DOC 450, will provide them with the opportunity and guidance to expand their projects accordingly.
Honors students must present their final projects at a public seminar.
Honors Curriculum Admission
Majors should discuss admission to the Honors Curriculum in Documentary Studies with the Documentary Studies Director at any time during their first or second year or at the beginning of their third year. Transfer students should apply upon their admission to the University. The requirements for admission include:
Overall cumulative grade point average of 3.25.
Completion of at least 12 credits required for the Documentary Studies major.
A grade point average of 3.50 in courses required for the Documentary Studies major.
Advisement
The Director of the Faculty-Initiated Major and Minor in Documentary Studies is the initial and primary advisor for enrolled students. The Director will help students identify faculty members in the participating departments closest to their documentary area(s) of interest for more intensive and focused advisement. A list of key contact faculty and their various documentary sub-field concentrations will be generated during the first year of the program; it will be periodically updated.
