<p>NU is sort of my top choice right now, and luckily I got into the RTVF major. What does the courseload look like for a freshman RTVF major?</p>
<p>I was originally admitted to WCAS and switched a few days ago by emailing the department head. In the email, the woman said that all incoming freshmen should take something called Analyzing Media Texts (I believe) first quarter. Is there anything else crucial I would take my first year?</p>
<p>there’s the freshman topics seminar (RTVF 202-0) that i think RTVF majors need to take first year. and (RTVF 230-0) Understanding Media Contexts is also typically taken in the first year.</p>
<p>Here’s some stuff I’ve stumbled through in my explorations through this major.</p>
<p>From the SoC Guide:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>All RTVF majors are required to have competency in a modern foreign language equal to four quarters of college study (Classical languages such as Latin will NOT satisfy the requirement). Competency may be established by placement exam, an AP score of 3, 4, or 5, by completion of the fourth quarter, or by completion of a more advanced course. Independent of and in addition to this requirement, for the B.A. students must meet the WCAS language requirement.</p></li>
<li><p>Introductory courses: RTVF 190 Media Construction and a minimum of three courses on the 100 or 200 level in the School of Communication outside the department.
**Note: RTVF 190 and sophomore standing by year (not including AP credits) are a pre-requisite for all 300 level production courses.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>And from the 2009/2010 SoC Course Catalog:</p>
<p>Courses Primarily for Freshmen and Sophomores</p>
<p>*RTVF 190-0 Media Construction: Introduces the core components of media idea, image, sound, and sequence while teaching the technical fundamentals involved in
shooting and editing video. Students work with SLR and digital video cameras, with Photoshop and Final Cut Pro editing software. Four projects in different genres must be completed over the course of the quarter. This course is a pre-requisite for all upper-level production courses. Required for majors; typically taken in freshman year.</p>
<p>*RTVF 202-0 Freshman Topics Seminar: Beginning seminar focused around a special topic of media analysis, history, or theory. Freshmen will learn research, analytic, and writing skills while focusing on issues relevant to film, media and/or digital arts and culture.</p>
<p>*RTVF 220-0 Analyzing Media Texts: Introduction to the study of the moving image. Basic elements of style across media including film, television, and interactive media. Focus
on close analysis of texts to find significance. Prerequisite for upper-level courses in the department. Required for majors; typically taken in freshman year.</p>
<p>*RTVF 230-0 Understanding Media Contexts: Media industries as social and cultural forces; economic and political dimensions of the global media. Required for majors; typically taken in freshman year.</p>
<p>*RTVF 260-0 Foundations of Screenwriting: Introduction to writing for the screen (film, television, and/or computer). Structure, character, dialogue, format, voice, scope, pace,
context. Lecture/workshop. Prerequisite for upper-level writing courses in the department.</p>
<p>*COMM ST 275-0 Persuasive Images: Rhetoric of Contemporary Culture: See Communication Studies.</p>
<p>*RTVF 298-0 Studies in Media Topics: Theoretical or practical or both; emphasis on evolving trends.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. =)</p>