American Literature
GH104 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Students read, discuss, and analyze respected works of American fiction from short stories to novels with an emphasis on understanding how to story was developed and told. A class through which students who want to be cinematic storytellers can understand the very basis of storytelling in the current culture.
Art History: Classical
GH130 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Introductory survey of the history and development of the art of the Western world from the Ancient through the Medieval and Renaissance worlds. Includes Neoclassicism, and Romanticism.
Art History: Contemporary
GH131 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An in-depth look at the world of contemporary art including painting, photography, sculpting and a host of new art forms. Students attend exhibitions at Los Angeles galleries as well as learning about new directions and movements.
Art History: Photography
GH124 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An in-depth look at the development of an art form that has become intrinsic to the dissemination of information and communication as well as the basis for the cinematic arts. This course will explore photography from its origins and challenge the students to determine what the aesthetic criteria are for the medium.
Art History: World
GH132 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
A survey of world art, focusing on folk and traditional cultures from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. Through reproductions, videos, music, writing and drawing exercises, and a field trip, this course explores the major traditions in the visual arts outside of mainstream Western culture.
Astronomy
GN101 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to the basic concepts of astronomy and astrophysics. Emphasis is on astronomical science, the solar system, the structure and evolution of stars, galaxies and the universe, including the endpoints of stellar evolution: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
College Writing
GH011 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
The ability to write correctly and articulately is essential to professional self-representation in the film business. This is a class in composition; providing a refresher in grammar, research, documentation, and citation. Students learn how to write a resume, cover letter, professional correspondence, memorandum, and request a letter of recommendation.
Creative Writing That Sells
GH301a (4 units)
Prerequisite: Writers Workshop 1
Students develop their creative talents in various self-chosen forms of writing including poetry, drama, short and long-form fiction. This course also incorporates the kinds of non-fiction writing that require creative application of the individual’s interests and abilities. Students must produce writing on a weekly basis, participate in the workshop, and complete a written term project.
Drawing
GH135 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Fee: $45 for art supplies
An introduction to the principles and techniques of drawing. From point to line to shading, this class explores the concepts of light and shadow, perspective and volume. Students spend part of every class drawing, with direct response and guidance from their Instructor.
Earth Sciences
GN104 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to the principles of geology, meteorology, oceanography and mineralogy. Subjects include plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather, the evolution of the earth, and people’s attempts to control the earth’s resources.
Essential Science
GN112 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
A course slanted towards understanding the science you hear and read about from current headlines – DNA, cloning, stem cells, extraterrestrial biology, physics (time travel) and more, as well as future trends in science.
Flick Lit: From Page to Screen
GH105 (4units)
Prerequisite: None
Literature and Cinema have a long history together. This class focuses on the history of adapting the short story, novella, and novel to the big screen. Studies include comparisons between source material and the end product, what works have succeeded and failed, and how the film’s success can eclipse that of the original work. Weekly readings, assignments, midterm, and final complement lectures.
Fundamentals of Music Science
GN120 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
This course gives students an understanding of the basic physical principles underlying sound and music and how music is created at its simplest form. It provides a clear demonstration of how physics works using a medium (sound and music) with which we are all familiar. The approach assumes no knowledge of music. A student completing this course will be able to write and recognize music notation symbols of traditional western music. An understanding of the language used by musicians to describe and perform music and film scores will be developed.
History of Design
GH134 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
The central goal of this course is to explore the relationships between the design disciplines of film, stage, furniture, architecture, industrial, interior and fashion through modern theoretical movements and major art trends. Exploration of various design philosophies will include classroom viewing and discussion of artworks. Students employ a working design vocabulary and knowledge of the most iconic pieces of modern design. The student will comprehend conceptual links between the major modern design movements and the corresponding designers from which they evolved, and finish the course with an understanding of the complexity of the numerous styles and minor movements in modern design’s history.
History of Music
GH114 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
This course will examine the historical development of the art of music, showing the increasing complexity of music through the great eras in history and the relationship of music to the political, economic, and cultural conditions of these eras.
History of Photography
GH124 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An in-depth look at the development of an art form that has become intrinsic to the dissemination of information and communication as well as the basis for the cinematic arts. This course will explore photography from its origins and challenge the students to determine what the aesthetic criteria are for the medium.
Humanities 1
GH110 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Writers Workshop 1
A comprehensive overview of Western culture: mythology, philosophy and all the arts from the ancient world to the Middle Ages. Creative projects and a research paper supplement weekly readings; midterm and final exam.
Humanities 2
GH210 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Humanities 1
A comprehensive overview of Western culture from the Medieval era to the beginning of the modern era in the late 19th century. The interaction of history, philosophy, art, literature, architecture and music form the backbone of the course. Artistic and philosophical styles including Medieval, Renaissance, Mannerist, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-Classical, Romantic, and Realist are explored in various manifestations.
Humanities 3
GH310 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Humanities 2
An examination of modern manifestations of Western culture, including in-depth analyses of the philosophy, thought, art, architecture, music, literature and drama of Europe and the United States. There will be special emphasis on modernism and its manifestations through Freudian and Marxist theories, artistic styles like Constructivism, Futurism, Surrealism, Expressionism, Dadaism, Social Realism, Abstract Expressionism and Post-Modernism. Popular arts, including movies, television and pop music, will be examined in some depth. Requirements include research papers, weekly reading, creative projects, midterm and final exams.
Introduction to Computer Science
GN111 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
The history of the computer, the role of the computer in society and business, and a discussion of the future of computers. Students will study the practical use of popular software packages including Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, and the Excel spreadsheet. They will also be exposed to the basics of opening, editing and saving files on hard drives and disks.
Math Essentials+
GN005a (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
A college math course geared for the eyes and sensibilities of visual artists. Topics include Non-Euclidean and projective geometry, as well as many areas that are foundational for cinema.
Modern Business & Industry
GS108 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
If you are going to be in business you need to know the basics of business be it loans or revenue. Or, perhaps you just want to know how to handle the money you are going to make in your professional life. This course explores the vital aspects of business often with examples of show business companies.
Music Appreciation and Analysis: From LPs to CDs
GH113 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An introductory survey of Western European classical music. Beginning with Gregorian chants and other early liturgies, the course continues through the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Impressionist eras. Students will attend live performances in and out of the classroom.
Painting
GH136 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Fee: $55 for art supplies
A hands-on introduction to painting. Working in still life, portraiture, and architectural subjects and experimenting with different media (oil, watercolor, acrylics on a variety of surfaces). Students explore basic concepts, such as the use of light and shadow, perspective and volume. Part of every class is spent painting, with direct response and guidance from the Instructor. Emphasizes development of the individual eye and expressive use of color.
Philosophy
GH112 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to the great secular thought of Western civilization, beginning with the classical world and proceeding through the thinkers of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Neoclassical worlds. The Enlightenment and the Romantic Movement are also examined, as well as the ideologies of the 20th Century such as Marxism, Freudianism and Existentialism.
Physics
GN106 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
The fundamental concepts of physics with special focus on light, sound, electricity and other scientific phenomena related to the creation of film and television. Minimal math used will be covered in class; no math is required to enroll.
Psychology
GS106 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
In this introductory course, students learn about the basic principles and practices of psychology, through guided readings in classical psychology texts, ranging from Freud through Jung, Perls, and Skinner to contemporary theorists and practitioners. Students develop original research projects exploring their own relationships to the classic theories and practices.
Public Speaking for Filmmakers
GH202 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
If you plan to produce, write or direct, you are going to have to present your ideas verbally along the road. This course will aid you in organizing your thoughts and using your verbal powers when interacting with potential investors for your films, being interviewed about your projects on radio or TV, and, overall becoming a more persuasive communicator. Conquer your worries about speaking one-on-one or to a group. Public Speaking For Filmmakers counts towards fulfilling GH requirements.
Science in Science Fiction Film
GN384 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
A unique approach to teaching science, in which actual, real-world science is compared to the not-so-real science found in sci-fi films. Topics include relativity, time travel, space travel, artificial intelligence, astrophysics, biology and mutation, evolution and orbital mechanics. Students will be required to write about both the films and the scientific concepts.
Science of Filmmaking
GN113 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Demonstrates the science behind the technology utilized in film production from 3-D, to film processing, to how light captures images, to how sound can be captured on magnetic strips, and more.
Sculpting
GH137 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Fee: $55 for art supplies
Explores a variety of forms of expression in three dimensions, using a wide variety of materials, both traditional and non-traditional. Students work on developing sensual consciousness of form, space, line, scale, and texture and develop their own pieces under individually guided instruction in a hands-on studio oriented environment.
Sociology
GS107 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
A basic introduction to the theories and methodologies of sociology. Working closely with the instructor, students explore a guided series of basic sociology texts. They apply the tools and methods of contemporary and classic sociologists to the world around them in original research projects tailored to individual interests and needs.
Space Sciences
GN109 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to the exploration of space, with special focus on knowledge about the solar system and stars. An in-depth look at the space programs of the US and the USSR/Russia: the origins of rocket science, the first orbits, the US manned program to the moon, Russia’s Mir Space Station, the unmanned exploration of planets and the joint Russian/US programs for a space station and the exploration of Mars.
The Law v. Hollywood: Movies on Trial
GH370 (4 units)
Prerequisite: History of Critical Analysis in Cinema 1
Examines how the law – criminal, civil, constitutional – is depicted in cinema and television. Students view portions of films and then study the law attached and whether it has been appropriately and accurately presented.
U.S. History
GS101 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
A survey of the historical development of The United States with an emphasis on its political and legal evolution as well as the timeline of issues facing the country today.
Western Civilization
GH111 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
The development of the major themes of Western civilization, including the basic questions of human rights, individual freedom, state-secured justice and the development of business and industry. The approach is principally historical and examines the evolution of these issues over time.
Writers Workshop 1
GH101 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
Students increase their ability to write and use language through ongoing writing exercises and essays. Students will learn how to make a stronger rational case for their perspective in essays and critiques, learn how to write a strong synopsis, and also work on such practical writing exercises as various forms of business letters.
Writers Workshop 2
GH201 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Writers Workshop 1
Daily exercises and assignments heighten confidence and experience with college-level writing and help students to further develop skills of creative and analytical expression. Course emphasizes the use of writing as a tool for achieving individual goals.
