Department of Electronic & Photographic Media

General Education Requirements

A minimum of 36 credit hours must be taken from the liberal arts and sciences with the following distribution:

Category One 18 hours
Literature, history, foreign language, general studies, religious studies, philosophy, visual art, dance, theatre, music, composition

Category Two 12 hours
Political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, women's studies, multicultural studies, international relations, international studies, economics, human rights

Category Three 6 hours
Computer applications, computer science, mathematics, natural sciences, physical sciences

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Special Study Opportunities

Students learn about their fields of interest through internships and externships in communications businesses and organizations. In recent years, Electronic and Photographic Media   students have secured internships in St. Louis as well as in California, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Ghana, Japan, Switzerland and Thailand. Prestigious internships have included KSDK-TV, KMOV-TV, KPLR-TV, KTVI-TV, KETC-TV Channel 9, KMOX Radio, The Vision Factory, Clayton Studios, Photo Source, Beacon Pictures and 20th Century Fox TV (both in California,) the St. Louis Blues, MTV Network and World Wide Audio Inc. (both in New York,) Clear Channel Radio, Bruton Strobe Studios, Doppler Studios, the Discovery Channel, and Stanco Audio Systems.

The School of Communications houses and supports:

• The May Gallery, a photographic exhibit space;
• The Webster University Film Series, a comprehensive alternative film series allowing students, faculty, and community members to view independent features and documentaries, avant-garde films, animation, retrospectives, and short works and offering filmmaking workshops to students and the community;
• The Journal, an award winning student newspaper offering print and internet news;
• Gorlok TV, a student operated television station;
• The Galaxy, a student operated radio station;
• The Ampersand, an award winning student magazine; and
• The Webster University Media Watch, a media watchdog critiquing professional media performance.

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Special Requirements

Portfolio Review

Students declaring a major within the Department of Electronic and Photographic Media (except in animation, film production and interactive digital media) complete portfolios of their work as part of their degree requirements. Students majoring in audio production, video production, film studies, photography, and media communications must complete a portfolio review with a panel of faculty within their major after they have successfully completed the following course requirements:

• EPMD 1000 Introduction to Media Production
• MEDC 1010 Introduction to Mass Communications
• 9 credit hours as defined by each major

Students majoring in animation, interactive digital media, and film production must apply and receive approval for a petition to proceed with their senior overview in lieu of a portfolio review.

In the portfolio review process, students learn to develop personal portfolios in their areas of interest. In addition, the process enables the faculty to gauge the talent, aptitude, and potential of the student in his or her area of study. This mid-program portfolio review gives faculty members the opportunity to talk with students about their progress and make suggestions regarding their school program and career goals.

The student's portfolio is judged on both the quality and presentation of the material. Faculty members consider accuracy, creativity, content, and technical expertise in the work presented, and enthusiasm and professionalism of delivery when judging the student for formal admittance into his or her major in the Department of Electronic and Photographic Media.

Portfolio deadlines are announced each academic year, and reviews are held each semester. Students should contact their academic advisors in the School of Communications for more specific information about portfolio review requirements as soon as they enter Webster University.

Capstone Course

Successful completion of a capstone class with a grade of B or better is part of the degree requirement for each major and emphasis. A capstone class is an advanced course designated by the major in which students learn to demonstrate their mastery of the subject matter. The capstone class should be taken in the student's senior year.

Transfer Students-Pre-Enrollment Interview

Transfer students with prior coursework in communications must submit a portfolio of their work in a pre-enrollment interview to determine placement within the curriculum and their standing regarding portfolio review. If the student meets the portfolio review criteria, this pre-enrollment interview may serve as the portfolio review.

Transfer students should not expect to obtain a degree in the Department of Electronic and Photographic Media in less than four full semesters of sequenced courses.

Transfer students who have completed the associate of arts (AA) degree have satisfied the school's general education requirement.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C- or better in any course they wish to apply toward their major or toward the 36 required credit hours in general education. The pass/fail option is not available for courses that students wish to apply toward their major or toward their general education requirements, unless those courses are offered only under the pass/fail option. (For example, creative writing courses in the English Department are offered only as pass/fail and may count toward Category I of general education.)

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Double Majors

An area of concentration (major) in the School of Communications may be combined with a major in another Webster University School or College as part of the student's bachelor of arts degree plan. Double majors are not allowed between the departments of the School of Communications.

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