ACM – Critical Studies
The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.
ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.
Beyond a required core of ACM courses, students have the flexibility to design an academic program in their chosen curricular track, supplemented by ACM electives and electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies. Students work in close consultation with a faculty advisor to develop a program that reflects the development of theoretical, writing, technical, creative, and critical thinking skills.
ACM Student Learning Objectives
Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.
1. Critical Thinking
- Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
- Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.
2. Writing
- Creative and critical expression through writing
- Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.
3. History and Aesthetics
- A history and appreciation of cinematic media
- The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.
4. Professional Skills
- Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
- Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production
5. Creativity
- Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
- The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption
6. Responsibility
- Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
- Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.
7. Student-Centered Learning
ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.
For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.
Prerequisites
ACM offers a core curriculum and electives in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies. To insure that students in the Bachelor of Arts program satisfy ACM learning objectives in Critical Thinking, Writing, History & Aesthetics, Technical Skills of Digital Story Telling, Creativity, and Responsibility, all majors must take a core of 18 credit hours:
- The introductory course
- One Basic Production Skills Course
- One Writing Course
- Three Courses in Critical Studies
To apply to become a major in Creative Media, students must:
- Have completed or be enrolled in Cinema and Digital Media (ACM 255)*, and have completed 12 or more UHM credit hours with an overall 2.75 GPA.
- Be enrolled as an undergraduate student in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences.
Core Requirements
- Required Core Courses for All Student Majors (18 credits):
- 3 Credits: ACM 255 – Cinematic and Digital Media
- 3 Credits: Choose 1 for:
- Digital Cinema and/or Critical Studies Track ACM 310 – Cinematic Narrative Production
- Animation and/or Critical Studies Track ACM 316 – 3D Character Animation
- Note: A minimum grade of B in ACM 255 is a pre-requisite for both courses
- 3 Credits: Choose 1 from below:
- ACM 350 – Screenwriting
- ACM 355 – Oral Tradition to Screenplay
- 9 Credits: Choose 3 from below:
- ACM 352/AMST 352 – Screening Asian Americans
- ACM 360 – Indigenous Aesthetics
- ACM 380 – Genre & Narrative Theory
- ACM 382 – Authors in Creative Media
- ACM 385 – Topics in Creative Media
- ACM 460 – Ethics and Film
- ACM 480 – Oceanic Media Culture
- ACM 485 – Seminar in Creative Media
- ACM 490 – Global Media
- Major Track or Sequence Courses (at least 12 additional credits)
- 352 – Screening Asian Americans
- 360 – Indigenous Aesthetics
- 380 – Genre & Narrative Theory
- 382 – Authors in Creative Media
- 384 – Study Abroad
- 385 – Topics in Creative Media
- 460 – Ethics and Film
- 480 – Oceanic Media and Culture
- 485 – Seminar in Creative Media
- 490 – Global Media
- 499 – Directed Reading and Research
Electives
Six credit hours (2 courses). At least 3 credit hours (1 course) should be a film-related course outside of ACM. Electives must be 300 or 400 level courses.
Program Overview
The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.
ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.
Beyond a required core of ACM courses, students have the flexibility to design an academic program in their chosen curricular track, supplemented by ACM electives and electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies. Students work in close consultation with a faculty advisor to develop a program that reflects the development of theoretical, writing, technical, creative, and critical thinking skills.
ACM Student Learning Objectives
Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.
1. Critical Thinking
- Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
- Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.
2. Writing
- Creative and critical expression through writing
- Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.
3. History and Aesthetics
- A history and appreciation of cinematic media
- The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.
4. Professional Skills
- Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
- Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production
5. Creativity
- Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
- The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption
6. Responsibility
- Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
- Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.
7. Student-Centered Learning
ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.
For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.
Various faculty. Use the email below to email ACM Mānoa.
Contact an Admission SpecialistClick here to learn more about the various media programs across the UH System supported by the Academy for Creative Media System
Academic PathwaysTo learn more about the ACM – Critical Studies campus click here