UC SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS
STUDENTS DECLARED PRIOR TO FALL 2015
Major Code: VA27
With a visual arts foundation, the program is designed for students who want to become creative videomakers, filmmakers, photographers, and computer artists, encouraging the hybridity of media. The curriculum combines hands-on experience of making art with practical and theoretical criticism, provides historical, social and aesthetic backgrounds for the understanding of modern media, and emphasizes creativity, versatility, and intelligence over technical specializations. It should allow students to go on to more specialized graduate programs in the media arts, to seek careers in film, television, computing, or photography, or to develop as independent artists. All media majors should see the departmental advisor upon entrance into
UCSD.
LOWER DIVISION
UPPER DIVISION
6 courses / 26 units
14 / 56 units
TOTAL COURSES REQUIRED 20 courses / 82 units
ALL COURSES TAKEN FOR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE , AND ONLY GRADES OF C- OR
BETTER WILL BE ACCEPTED. REFER TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR ENFORCED PREREQUISITES.
NOTE: Enrollment in production courses is limited to two per quarter. Production courses are numbered VIS 109, 131, 132, 140, 145A, 145B,
147A - B, 164-184.

Indicates Production Course
LOWER DIVISION
FOUNDATION LEVEL
VIS 1 or 2 or 3
VIS 22
VIS 84
VIS 40
(6 courses/26 units)
Introduction to Art Making
Formations of Modern Art
History of Film
Introduction to Computing in the Arts
Photography Emphasis
VIS 164  Photographic Strategies
VIS 165

Camera Techniques: Analog Futures
VIS 158 Histories of Photography
PLUS
VIS____

From Computing or Video and Digital
VIS 60 Introduction to Digital Photography
VIS 70N Introduction to Media
NOTE: VIS 70N is prerequisite for use of the Media Center facilities; no
Cinema Emphasis
VIS____

From Computing or Video and Digital
Cinema Emphasis
VIS ____ History and Theory** further production courses may be taken until VIS 70N is completed .
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (2 courses/8 units)
VIS 111
VIS 174

Structure of Art
Media Sketchbook
NOTE: Students should take VIS 111 by junior year. VIS 174 is a prerequisite for all production classes.
UPPER DIVISION
VIS ____ History and Theory**
Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis
Choose three of the following:
VIS 171

Digital Cinema: Theory and Production
VIS 175

Editing: Theory and Production
VIS 176

16mm Filmmaking
VIS 177

Scripting Strategies
VIS 178

Sound: Theory and Production
PLUS
VIS ____

From Computing or Photography Emphasis EMPHASIS (7 courses/28 units)
Choose one emphasis:
Computing Emphasis
VIS 140

VIS 145A 
VIS 147A

Digital Imaging: Image and Interactivity
Time & Process Digital Media I
Electronic Technologies for Art I
VIS ____
VIS ____
VIS ____
History and Theory**
History and Theory**
History and Theory**
Photography Emphasis Choose Three

ADVANCED LEVEL (2 OR 3 courses/8-12 units)
Computing Emphasis Choose Two
VIS 159
VIS _____

History of Art and Technology
PLUS
From Photography or Video and Digital
Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis Choose Three
VIS 180A

Documentary Evidence & the Construction of Authenticity in
VIS _____
VIS _____
Cinema Emphasis
History and Theory**
History and Theory**
Current Media Practices
VIS 180B

Fiction & Allegory in Current Media Practices
VIS 183A

Strategies of Self
VIS 183B

Strategies of Alterity
NOTE: The A and B portion of VIS 180 and VIS 183 cannot be taken concurrently. Additional 180 and 183 courses may be used to fulfill the
Advanced Elective requirement, once the amount required for the Advanced
Level requirement has been met.
(rev. 16 June 2015)

UC SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS
ADVANCED ELECTIVES (2 OR 3 courses/8-12 units)
Computing Emphasis Choose Any Three
Photography Emphasis Choose Any Two
Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis Choose Any Two
VIS 145B

Time and Process Based Digital Media II
VIS 147B

Electronic Technologies for Art II
Seminar in Contemporary Computer Topics VIS 149
VIS 167
 
VIS 168 
VIS 181

VIS 182

VIS 184

Social Engagement in Photography
Pictorialism and Constructed Reality
Sound and Lighting
Advanced Editing
Advanced Scripting
Other
Students must have senior standing AND instructor approval before enrolling in any of the following Elective courses
VIS 109

VIS 130

VIS 131

VIS 132

Advanced Projects in Media
Special Projects in Visual Arts
Special Projects in Media
Installation Production and Studio
VIS 185
VIS 197
VIS 198
VIS 199
AIP 197
Senior Media Projects
Media Honors Thesis
Directed Group Study
Special Studies
Academic Internship Program
NOTE: Only one course between VIS 197, VIS 198, VIS 199 or AIP 197 may count towards an Advanced Elective. Media majors may take any course above to fulfill the Advanced Elective requirement, but are responsible for any prerequisites a course may have.
**HISTORY AND THEORY
Computing Emphasis Choose Two
Photography Emphasis Choose Two
Video and Digital Cinema Emphasis Choose Three
Any Upper Division Art History Course VIS 120-129
Any Upper Division Film Studies Course VIS 150-159, 194S
Note: All Computing Emphases must take VIS 159. All Photography
Emphases must take VIS 158. These courses cannot be used to satisfy the
Emphasis and the History and Theory requirement. These students will need to take an additional course.
(rev. 16 June 2015)

UC SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS
Name: _________________________________
E-Mail: ________________________________
PID: ___________________
Phone: _________________
FOUNDATION LEVEL (6 courses required) Quarter
VIS 1 or 2 or 3 ______ Introduction to Art-Making _______________
VIS 22
VIS 84
VIS 40
VIS 60
Formations of Modern Art
History of Film
Introduction to Computing in the Arts
Introduction to Digital Photography
VIS 70N Introduction to Media
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL & EMPHASIS (9 courses required)
VIS 111
VIS 174

VIS 164
 
VIS 165

VIS 158
VIS ______

VIS ______

VIS ______
VIS ______

Structure of Art
Media Sketchbook
Photographic Strategies
Camera Techniques
Histories of Photography
Intermediate Computing or Video/D. Cinema
Intermediate Computing or Video/D. Cinema
History/Criticism/Theory Choice
History/Criticism/Theory Choice
ADVANCED LEVEL (3 courses required)
VIS 180A/B, 183A/B 
VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

__________
__________
__________
ADVANCED ELECTIVES (2 courses required)
VIS ______

VIS ______

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
= Production Course
Either VIS 199 or AIP 197 can count as an Advanced Elective but not BOTH
(rev. June 17, 2014)

UC SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS
Name: _________________________________
E-Mail: ________________________________
PID: ___________________
Phone: _________________
FOUNDATION LEVEL (6 courses required) Quarter
VIS 1 or 2 or 3 ______ Introduction to Art-Making _______________
VIS 22
VIS 84
VIS 40
VIS 60
VIS 70N
Formations of Modern Art
History of Film
Introduction to Computing in the Arts
Introduction to Digital Photography
Introduction to Media
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL & EMPHASIS (9 courses required)
VIS 111
VIS 174

VIS ______

VIS ______

VIS ______

VIS ______

VIS ______
Structure of Art
Media Sketchbook
Intermediate Video/Digital Cinema
Intermediate Video/Digital Cinema
Intermediate Video/Digital Cinema
Intermediate Computing or Photography
History/Criticism/Theory Choice
VIS ______
VIS ______
History/Criticism/Theory Choice
History/Criticism/Theory Choice
ADVANCED LEVEL (3 courses required)
VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

__________
__________
__________
ADVANCED ELECTIVES (2 courses required)
VIS ______ 
VIS ______

_______________
_______________
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_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________

= Production Course
Either VIS 199 or AIP 197 can count as an Advanced Elective but not BOTH
(rev. June 17, 2014)

UC SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS
Name: _________________________________
E-Mail: ________________________________
FOUNDATION LEVEL (6 courses required)
VIS 1 or 2 or 3 ______ Introduction to Art-Making
PID: ___________________
Phone: _________________
VIS 22
VIS 84
VIS 40
VIS 60
VIS 70N
Formations of Modern Art
History of Film
Introduction to Computing in the Arts
Introduction to Digital Photography
Introduction to Media
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL & EMPHASIS (9 courses required)
VIS 111
VIS 174

Structure of Art
VIS 147A

Media Sketchbook
VIS 140
 
Digital Imaging: Image and Interactivity
VIS 145A

Digital Media I: Time, Movement, Sound
Electronic Technologies for Art I
VIS 159
VIS ______

VIS ______
History of Art and Technology
Intermediate Photo or Video/Digital Cinema
History/Criticism/Theory Choice
VIS ______ History/Criticism/Theory Choice
ADVANCED LEVEL (2 courses required)
VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

VIS 180A/B, 183A/B

__________
__________
ADVANCED ELECTIVES (3 courses required)
VIS ______

VIS ______

VIS ______

Quarter
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_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________

= Production Course
Either VIS 199 or AIP 197 can count as an Advanced Elective but not BOTH
(rev. June 17, 2014)