columbia college chicago - viewbook

LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE

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table of contents

Introduction 3Liberal Arts and Sciences Core 12 Programs of Study 14 Honors Program 26 Learning Studio 26 Diversity 28 Faculty 30

Facilities 34

Urban Campus 38

Career Preparation 46 Student Life 56 Living on Campus 58

Sustainability 60 Value 62

Alumni 68

FastFacts 73

image credits 74

1 Live What You Love | Columbia College Chicago

GO AHEAD, BE BRAVE. TELL YOUR STORY—THE ONE THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN TELL. Write it down, scream it from the stage, sketch it in your notebook, storyboard it and bring it to the big screen—however you tell it best. But tell it. Because your story matters. Your voice matters.


YOUR RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF NEW IDEAS—NEW WAYS OF SEEING, DOING, AND KNOWING—IS IMPORTANT.

Your unique perspective, your ability to

seek solutions that didn’t exist before,

and your willingness, maybe even your

need, to share your ideas broadly are

at the very heart and soul of creativity.

It can be difficult work, yes, but

you should know it is in high demand.

The same approaches to reasoning

and problem solving that painters,

actors, designers, and communicators

have always brought to their work are

the same as those now being adopted

and prized by leaders across a range of

professional settings. From computer

science, to popular culture, to viral

marketing campaigns, politics, even

law, medicine, and science—the ability

to imagine, to innovate, to develop

new ways of thinking and doing are

what will drive and define success in a

competitive world.

Think of it as the new ‘creative

economy.’ And as it continues to

expand and change, Columbia College

Chicago stands where it always

has—where artistry, technology, and

innovation intersect.


Columbia is the largest and most diverse, non-

profit, private arts and media college in the nation.

We specialize in educating students in the visual,

performing, media, and communication arts, and

we will help you cultivate the skills, experiences, and

connections you will need to successfully design and

navigate your career.

Columbia offers an immersive, creative

learning environment like no other—where original

voices are supported and innovative ideas are

celebrated; where hard work, intellectual rigor, and risk-

taking define our students and our culture. We believe

that there are many answers to a good question and

many approaches to solving difficult problems—that

collaborative thinking and hands-on doing provide

the best foundation to connect you to your own work

and to the work of others. We’ve designed our creative

learning environment this way because we know it is

the best preparation for launching a sustainable career

in a creative field.

YOUR VOICE HAS POWER—AND NOW IT HAS A PLACE.

Columbia’s curriculum is rigorous and challenging—and our faculty will hold you to professional standards— because living a creative life is one of the most demanding paths you can choose. It is also one of the most rewarding…and important.


And they come to Columbia from just about

everywhere to explore, to practice, to develop, to test,

and to discover the best way to say it. In the process

they learn to push themselves and the boundaries of

their art forms.

Columbia’s student body represents one of

the largest concentrations of creative youth in the

world. Our students approach their work with open

minds, a desire to live intellectually, and an eagerness

to collaborate with one another. They are unafraid to

ask hard questions, test new waters, or grapple with

big ideas. And they approach their education and their

work with such discipline, courage, and honesty, not

because they have to, but because they can’t imagine

doing it any other way.

OUR STUDENTS HAVE SOMETHINGTO SAY.

We are a creative power-house: a wildly diverse collective of the world’s leading artists and communicators—students and faculty who share a passion for telling stories that reflect and shape culture, that define our world.

WE GRADUATE STUDENTS WHOSE WORK IS DARING AND RELEVANT.


FOCUS AND DIG DEEP.

Columbia’s curriculum is specifically structured

to allow you to focus and dig deep into the areas

you are most passionate about, but also broad

enough to let you explore other disciplines and

subjects that can add layers and meaning to the

work you will do in your major. At Columbia, a

traditional liberal arts core will provide the context

for everything you will do as a student; it is the

foundation from which to practice your craft,

move your work forward, and develop your voice

deeply. Columbia’s curriculum is designed to help

you consider and advance your ideas and creative

work in the framework of a larger, global milieu.

It is designed to provide you with the breadth of

connections, resources, and knowledge to be

flexible and resilient in today’s (and tomorrow’s)

rapidly changing marketplace.

At the center of a Columbia College education is a core of liberal arts and sciences coursework.

Our classes in Composition,

Anthropology, Communications, Foreign

Languages, History, Literature, Philosophy,

Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology,

Mathematics, and Science expose our students

to the broad spectrum of human experience

and history while providing the essential context

for creating meaningful work that endures. We

graduate students whose work is daring and

relevant because they draw from everything that

came before them, while at the same time living

and working in today’s world.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Core


Advertising Art Direction (BFA)American Sign Language- English Interpretation (BA)Art & Design (BA)Art History (BA)Art & Materials Conservation (BA)Arts Management (BA) Advanced Management (BA) Live & Performing Arts (BA) Media Management (BA) Music Business Management (BA) Sports Management (BA) Visual Arts Management (BA)Audio Arts & Acoustics Acoustics (BA) Audio Design & Production (BA) Audio for Visual Design (BA) Live & Installed Sound (BA)Creative Writing Nonfiction (BA) Poetry (BA)Cultural Studies (BA)

Dance (BA) Dancemaking (BFA) Pedagogy (BFA)Early Childhood Education (BA)Fashion Business (BA)Fashion Design (BFA)Fiction Writing (BA, BFA)Film & Video (BA) Animation/Computer (BA) Animation/Traditional (BA) Audio for Visual Media (BA) Cinema Studies (BA) Cinematography (BA) Directing (BA) Documentary (BA) Film & Video (BA) Post-Production (BA) Producing (BA) Screenwriting (BA)Fine Art (BFA)Game Design Game Art (BA) Game Development (BA) Programming (BA) Sound Design (BA)

COLUMBIA OFFERS BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, AND BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREES:

Programs of Study


Graphic Design (BFA)Illustration (BFA)Interactive Arts & Media (BA, BFA)Interior Architecture (BFA)Journalism Broadcast Journalism/Radio (BA) Broadcast Journalism/Television (BA) Magazine Writing & Editing (BA) News Reporting & Writing (BA) News Reporting & Writing/Sports Reporting (BA) Science Journalism (BA)Marketing Communication Advertising (BA) Marketing (BA) Public Relations (BA)Music Composition (BA, BMus) Contemporary Urban & Popular Music (BA, BMus) Instrumental Jazz (BA) Instrumental Performance (BA) Vocal Performance (BA)

Gold Text indicates majors offered by the college. White Text indicates concentrations offered within majors.

Photography (BA, BFA) Commercial (BA) Fine Art (BA) Photojournalism (BA)Playwriting (BA)Product Design (BFA)Radio (BA)Television Internet & Mobile Media (BA) Post-Production & Effects (BA) Production & Directing (BA) Writing & Producing (BA)Theatre Acting (BA, BFA) Directing (BA, BFA) Musical Theatre (BA) Musical Theatre Performance (BFA) Technical Theatre (BA) Theatre Design (BA, BFA)


ADVERTISING ART DIRECTION

(see Art & Design)

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE – ENGLISH INTERPRETATION Columbia’s Department of ASL-English

Interpretation educates students who are

committed to serving as leaders, role models,

and advocates for the Deaf and hard-of-

hearing community. You will be immersed in

an intensive language and culture program

that promotes a nuanced understanding of

the linguistic and cultural complexities found

in this diverse population. Columbia’s ASL

faculty—who are both deaf and hearing—are

nationally certified interpreters who are

experts in ASL communication and Deaf

culture. They also have extensive relationships

in the Deaf and interpreting communities,

uniquely positioning Columbia to offer

you access to learning opportunities and

experiences not found elsewhere. ART & DESIGN

Advertising Art Direction, Art & Design, Art History, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Architecture, Product Design

Our Art and Design Department is home to a

wide range of programs, all of which are tailored

to give you the education and experience you

need to develop your own artistic style and

point of view. Our faculty foster an environment

that encourages students to collaborate

across disciplines while focusing on a specific

field of interest. You will explore how different

aesthetic principles—everything from color and

composition, to building materials; from textiles

and text, to illustrations and installations; from

graphics and environments, to market trends—

can impact your work and help you shape the

creative look and feel of the 21st century.

ART & MATERIALS CONSERVATION Columbia’s Art and Materials Conservation

program unites the precision of science and the

aesthetics of fine art that are used to preserve,

maintain, and protect works of art and important

cultural artifacts. Through a foundation of

coursework in chemistry, materials science,

and the humanities, our students work closely

with a faculty of accomplished scientists and art

historians to develop their understanding of the

scientific methods and ethical considerations

surrounding art and materials conservation. As the

only one of its kind in the Midwest, our program

is uniquely positioned to provide students with

access to world-renowned museums, libraries,

galleries, and private collections, as well as a

full academic year of hands-on study under the

guidance of conservation experts at the Lorenzo

de’ Medici School in Florence, Italy.

ARTS MANAGEMENT Advanced Management, Live & Performing Arts, Media Management, Music Business Management, Sports Management, Visual Arts Management The Arts Management program at Columbia

prepares you with the skills and knowledge to

effectively connect the work that artists create and

the audiences they are trying to reach. Facilitating

these kinds of profitable business partnerships

requires an ability to collaborate with creative

thinkers and an in-depth understanding of the

managerial, economic, marketing, financial, and

legal issues found throughout the modern arts

and entertainment industry.

Programs of Study


16 Live What You Love | Columbia Colllege Chicago


AUDIO ARTS & ACOUSTICS Acoustics, Audio Design & Production, Audio for Visual Design, Live & Installed Sound

Our Audio Arts and Acoustics programs live at the

intersection of science and art. We systematically

address the physics of sound production and

transmission, the technology of audio equipment,

the physiology of hearing, and the psychology of

sound perception and cognition for the purpose of

understanding and creatively exploring our sonic

environment. Through this balance of science,

technology, and creativity you will develop strong

skills and aural sensibility and prepare yourself

for a successful career in the many fields of audio.

You will learn in our state-of-the-art recording

studios, post-production suites, research facilities,

and specialized classrooms and be given the

tools and experience necessary to craft the

soundscapes that enhance our everyday lives.

CREATIVE WRITING Nonfiction, Poetry NONFICTION Columbia’s Creative Writing – Nonfiction program

offers a full curriculum of classes and workshops

for students interested in working in this highly

personal genre of writing. By exploring the

various means of creative expression associated

with the personal essay, autobiography, memoir,

diary, prose poem, and travelogue, you will

learn to shape your own storytelling techniques

and share your unique perspectives with your

audience. As a student in this program, you will

graduate prepared to succeed in any career or

graduate program that values strong writing skills

and creative thinking.

POETRY Columbia’s dedication to poetry is renowned:

We were the first college in the country to offer

an undergraduate program of its kind. Our

classes and workshops are led by internationally

renowned poets and scholars who have been

widely published and who share their diverse,

creative and professional perspectives in the

classroom. By encouraging you to focus on

your writing process and develop an aesthetic

understanding of your own work, we enable you

to achieve artistic and critical success through

your poetry.

CULTURAL STUDIES

This program focuses on studying a variety

of fields from music and food, to gender and

religion, to social rituals and subcultures. Using

an interdisciplinary approach that utilizes

a wide range of elective courses and study

abroad opportunities, you will hone a critical

appreciation of how people and cultures

interact with the social, economic, and political

forces around them. You will graduate uniquely

qualified for a career in any profession that

values a keen, deeply developed understanding

of how cultural traditions and phenomena affect

a world in which art and media are created,

consumed, and criticized.

Programs of Study


DANCE Dancemaking, Pedagogy

Columbia’s Dance students commit their

bodies, minds, and imaginations to learning and

mastering one of the oldest forms of physical,

spiritual, and artistic expression in the world.

In this program focused on modern dance

education, you will dance every day, and through

classes in jazz, hip hop, modern, ballet, and a

variety of world forms, you will be immersed in

a curriculum that encourages you to fashion

your own creative vision while integrating other

aspects of this art—dance theory, dance history,

music analysis, choreography, cultural studies,

and body sciences—into your training.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Following the internationally respected Reggio

Emilia approach and developed in collaboration

with the renowned Erikson Institute, Columbia’s

Early Childhood Education program celebrates

children as capable and multifaceted individuals.

This program combines the study of child

development, focused work in the arts, and

extensive fieldwork in classrooms to provide

you with the kind of rigorous academic training

that readies you to be an effective, passionate

teacher who knows how to anticipate and meet

the educational needs of children (ages birth

through third grade) in a range of urban settings.

FASHION BUSINESS & FASHION DESIGN Reflecting the creative and commercial

collaboration between designing and selling

clothes, Columbia’s Fashion Studies Department

prepares you for a career on either the design

side of the industry (clothing, costume, jewelry,

accessory design) or the business side (retail

management, purchasing, boutique ownership).

By studying fashion theory, design practice and

methods, dress and costume history, basic drawing,

visual merchandising, apparel manufacturing,

entrepreneurship, and CAD for fashion, you will

expand your understanding of modern consumers,

develop your artistic sensibilities, learn the

latest techniques, technology, and management

strategies, and experiment with new advances in

textiles and renewable resources.

FICTION WRITINGColumbia’s Fiction Writing program is dedicated

to helping you tell the stories that you want to tell.

We use the renowned Story Workshop® method

and a faculty of professional writers to tap the rich

imaginations and unique array of voices found

in our Fiction majors and help them develop a

personal approach to their writing. By working

in such formats as the novel, the short story,

playwriting, essays, and the graphic novel, you

will have the opportunity to share your ideas and

explore your unique literary style.

FILM & VIDEO

Animation/Computer, Animation/Traditional, Audio For Visual Media, Cinema Studies, Cinematography, Directing, Documentary, Post-Production, Producing, Screenwriting

Our curriculum immerses you in a collaborative,

team-based environment, provides you with industry-

standard facilities, and offers you ten different areas

of concentration designed to give you specialized

expertise in the area of filmmaking that interests

you the most. Columbia’s Film & Video Department

encourages filmmaking that is grounded in

independent thinking, an understanding of cinema

history and aesthetics, rigorous coursework, and the

value of hands-on training. Most importantly though,

at Columbia you start producing movies in your first

year, meaning that you will quickly begin to see your

work and creative vision come to life on the screen.

Programs of Study


FINE ART

(see Art & Design)

GAME DESIGN Game Art, Game Development, Programming, Sound Design

Our Game Design majors immediately obtain rigorous

hands-on experience in team-based environments

that simulate real world scenarios. Students choose

to develop an in-depth concentration in game art,

design, programming, or sound. During the capstone

course, many students opt to create a full-scale video

game through an industrial scale production process.

Others work through smaller scale teams to build an

emerging forms portfolio consisting of simulations,

mobile apps, and indie games. Our experienced

faculty excels at preparing students for rewarding and

creative work in a rapidly growing field, while exploring

the aesthetics, theory, culture, and practices that

shape today’s gaming industry.

GRAPHIC DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

(see Art & Design)

INTERACTIVE ARTS & MEDIA

IAM students learn to build dynamic media and art

experiences centered on the interactions between

people and technology. A student might choose a

course pathway emphasizing interactive art (BFA),

interaction design (BA), or programming (BA). By

focusing on the core principles of media theory,

visual, web and interactive design, time-based

media, digital storytelling, and physical computing,

students become innovators of new media

experiences, while honing a digital toolset and

developing a unique artistic voice.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

(see Art & Design)

JOURNALISM

Broadcast Journalism/Radio, Broadcast Journalism/Television, Magazine Writing & Editing, News Reporting & Writing, News Reporting & Writing/Sports Reporting, Science Journalism

Columbia College Chicago prepares you to cover

the news of politics, entertainment, sports,

business, fashion, health, and more, accurately

and ethically. In an ever-evolving media landscape,

our curriculum teaches the crucial core values of

journalism as you explore emerging new media

and entrepreneurial opportunities. Through our

hands-on approach, including dynamic courses,

meaningful internships, and connections with

successful alumni, you will gain the practical,

real-world experience that leads to a career as a

trusted, influential journalist.

Programs of Study


MARKETING COMMUNICATION Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations

Columbia’s Marketing Communication Department

prepares you for a dynamic, creative career in a

field that shapes and delivers compelling, original

messages that resonate in the minds of the public.

Our rigorous curriculum offers opportunities to

specialize in advertising, public relations, and

marketing with classes in: consumer behavior,

culture and race, branding, and marketing. Working

closely with our faculty of working professionals,

you will get all the context and training necessary to

succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.

MUSIC

Composition, Contemporary Urban & Popular Music, Instrumental Jazz, Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance

Columbia specializes in using a rigorous

curriculum to train contemporary musicians

and composers. Through a fusion of classroom

instruction, individual training, workshops, and

master classes, we allow you to explore your

personal creative approach to music while

expanding your understanding of music theory.

You will have the opportunity to explore jazz,

pop, R&B, blues, and rock alongside a faculty of

accomplished musicians and music professionals

while taking advantage of the more than 20

bands, combos, choirs, and orchestras.


PHOTOGRAPHY Commercial, Fine Art, Photojournalism

Columbia’s Photography Department teaches the

fundamental technical and conceptual skills—as

well as important historical and artistic frameworks

—that you will need to develop your own creative

techniques and professional aesthetics. You will

get hands-on experience working with images in a

range of styles (photojournalism, studio, commercial,

documentary, and fine art) while you hone your

mastery of both traditional and digital photography

formats. Columbia’s facilities are the most extensive

and advanced in the Midwest, with a digital imaging

lab, state-of-the-art scanners, large-format cameras

and printers, color and black-and-white darkrooms,

and studios with professional lighting.

PLAYWRITING (see Fiction Writing)

PRODUCT DESIGN (see Art & Design)

RADIO Our Radio program provides you with the skills and

knowledge necessary for a successful career in

both the art and business of radio. The curriculum

not only ensures that all students take part in the

operation and programming of Columbia’s award-

winning radio station, WCRX 88.1 FM, it also allows

you to work in multiple radio formats (traditional and

satellite broadcasting, podcasting, webcasting) while

our faculty of industry professionals guide you in

developing your talents as an on-air host, sportscaster,

newscaster, programmer, promotion manager, station

manager, producer, or production director.

TELEVISION Internet & Mobile Media, Post-Production & Effects, Production & Directing, Writing & Producing

Television is evolving, and Columbia’s Television

Department prepares you to succeed in all its

traditional and emergent forms. From the first

semester, you will learn in a hands-on environment

using our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

Our foundation curriculum, grounded in history,

ethics, and artistic vision, will take you through every

phase of production from script to screen. You then

choose a concentration: Internet & Mobile Media,

Post-Production & Effects, Production & Directing,

Writing & Producing. Finally, you will choose a

senior year, capstone experience. It might be

working on one of our award-winning departmental

shows, a professional internship, or our Semester

in LA program. The Television Department’s

comprehensive program thoroughly prepares you

for a rewarding career in this growing medium.

THEATRE Acting, Directing, Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre Performance, Technical Theatre, Theatre Design

Columbia’s Theatre Department immerses you

in a vibrant and challenging curriculum taught

by a faculty of accomplished professionals. Our

ensemble approach to this art emphasizes the

benefits of collaboration, creativity, and hard

work from everyone both on stage and behind the

scenes. Columbia mounts over 40 productions each

year, ensuring that you have ample opportunities

to explore your interests as a director, actor,

technician, playwright, or designer. By providing

you with so many chances to delve into both the

mechanics and artistry of theater, we ensure you

are ready for a successful future in dramatic arts.

Programs of Study


The Learning StudioColumbia’s Learning Studio is an innovative academic support center designed to help students meet the challenges of Columbia’s rigorous and creative curriculum. Students may seek assistance that is tailored to their individual learning needs through tutoring in math, science, and writing, and peer study groups. The Learning Studio also supports students who wish to push their achievements to their highest levels, and it’s not uncommon to find our Honors students taking advantage of the friendly help available through the Studio.

The Honors ProgramColumbia College Chicago’s Honors Program offers motivated, high-achieving students the opportunity to pursue deeper intellectual and creative challenges in their core coursework in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students whose skills, interests, energy, and initiative make them ideally suited for the challenges of this type of coursework will be invited to join the Honors Program.

Our curriculum also offers programs to further enhance learning or provide inspiration for deeper academic accomplishment:

ENHANCING THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE


27/28 Diversity

They come from the Chicago area,

from across the country, and around

the world. They are writers on their

school newspaper or literary magazine,

they performed in their school theater

productions (big roles and small roles).

They are class valedictorians, they

won awards in their local or regional

art competitions. They belong to a

dance troupe. They might even have

some prior professional experience

under their belts...OR they may just

be beginning to discover their creative

passion, and that’s exciting to us, too.

No matter what your level of

experience, you can find your own path

here. There is no limit to how deep (or

how wide) you can go in our curriculum.

Our student body is one of

the most diverse you’ll find on any

college campus. We believe this

diversity is essential to the continued

advancement of contemporary arts,

media, and communications, and we

celebrate it!

Diversity

COLUMBIA STUDENTS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, AGES, SEXES, COLORS, RACES, CREEDS, CULTURES, AND ABILITIES.


We have always believed that faculty who are actively engaged in the subjects they teach are uniquely qualified to share their expertise in the classroom. Our faculty are Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, Emmy Award-winning producers, and nationally recognized photographers, managers, artists, actors, writers, designers, dancers, business owners, and community leaders. Above all, they are gifted teachers committed to sharing their experience and insight with our students.

Faculty

ACTIVE INDUSTRY LEADERS

Our teachers are creative leaders, shaping their disciplines and fields, and bringing the most contemporary and innovative thinking to the structure and delivery of our curriculum.


“ I teach exactly what I do as an artist… I love the ability to blend motion, image, interaction, and story that the technology provides. I love that the medium does not stay still, that you are always learning new methods. I think it is very important for artists to be actively engaged in the direction and formation of new media.”

Niki Nolin, Associate Professor Interactive Arts and Media


We know that the best way to learn your craft is to actually DO your craft. Keeping our facilities and technology on the cutting edge is essential to our hands-on educational approach that will prepare you to hit the ground running in your chosen field. You will get real hands-on experience working on our film and video production and post-production equipment, and in our photography labs, graphic design computer labs, dance studios, concert halls, theater stages, radio station, recording facilities, art studios, performance spaces, design studios, television studios, and galleries.

Media Production CenterColumbia is also home to the Media Production Center, an extraordinary educational facility designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among students in film, interactive arts and media, and television. The Center features two sound stages, a motion-capture studio for game design and 3-D animation, an animation lab, and ample space for production design, costume construction, and all the other myriad components that come together to make fully realized film and digital media productions.

COLUMBIA’S FACILITIES ARE SECOND TO NONE.

Facilities


Columbia’s campus is just...different. Instead of tree-lined quads, we have block after block

of new opportunities and possibilities. Instead of ivy-covered buildings, we are surrounded by

people, ideas, and inspirations from all over the world. And we may not have rolling green lawns

and football games, but we do pulse with an irrepressible creative energy that is unmatched

by any other college. When you need to take a break, just step onto our front lawn—Grant Park

and Lake Michigan—for a dose of serenity and natural beauty.

Our campus is not just our neighborhood, but all of Chicago—the theaters, museums, galleries,

restaurants, libraries, clubs, concert halls, studios, publishers, international corporations,

television and radio stations, newspapers, ad agencies, and nine miles of Lake Michigan parks

and beaches. It’s a vibrant, shifting urban campus of people, colors, architecture, culture, and

experience that offers the kinds of educational, professional, and creative opportunities that

can only be found in one of the greatest cities on the planet.

23 BUILDINGS RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF CHICAGO’S HISTORIC, BUSTLING SOUTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD.

Urban Campus


A VIBRANT, SHIFTING URBAN CANVAS OF PEOPLE, COLORS, ARCHITECTURE, CULTURE, AND EXPERIENCE.


“ Knowing I can walk down Wabash Avenue and see peers from all different nationalities, backgrounds, religions, sexual preferences, and ages is truly the Columbia landscape, and being able to interact with such a range of personal experiences in the classroom has made my education all the more meaningful.”

Percentage of minority students in student body: 30.2%

States represented in student body: 50

Countries represented in student body: 46

Jessica Valerio, Visual Arts Management major, 2011


“ The more fully we are who we are as people, the fuller we are as artists and thinkers, the richer our classrooms, our conversations, our art becomes.”

K. Bradford, Coordinator of the LGBTQ Office of Culture & Community and Adjunct Faculty, English Department


BODY OF WORKOne of Columbia’s primary goals as a college is to prepare you for your career as an adaptable, thoughtful creative professional. We will encourage you as an artist and innovator by offering rigorous academics and abundant internship opportunities, using real-world expectations to inform your coursework and help you build your portfolio, and providing you with state-of-the-art facilities in which to work and study. By ensuring that you graduate with a thorough understanding of the creative marketplace that you will enter and a professional-grade Body of Work, we will help you successfully position your talent and dedication to the industry professionals who can hire you. We want you thinking about your Body of Work from the moment you arrive on campus. Will it include a portfolio, films, articles, stories, poems, papers, artwork, or music? Or will it be a resume that shows the jobs you’ve held and the internships you’ve completed?

45/46 Career Prep

Career Preparation

When you graduate from Columbia we expect you to walk out with a Body of Work that shows off you and your talent. It will be your calling card, and it will tell the world that you and your work are to be taken seriously.


Portfolio Center The Portfolio Center excels at helping you sift through

your Body of Work to pull out the best of the best from

what you’ve done in and out of class. The Portfolio

Center Staff members will help you put together

professional-grade portfolios, resumes, press kits,

demo reels, and web sites. The Portfolio Center also

hosts over a thousand industry professionals each

year—experts who will give you feedback on the work

you’re doing and how to present it so it meets current

industry standards.

Internships Columbia has hundreds and hundreds and hundreds

of internships. Literally, we have more internships

than we have students to fill them. And since we’re

assuming nobody is dying to learn how to fetch

coffee or make photocopies, they’ve all been chosen

specifically to give our students direct, hands-on

experience in the fields they’re studying. These

are internships that will get your hands dirty and

your mind working, and happen at places like E!

Entertainment, The Museum of Contemporary Art,

The Onion, Pitchfork Media, Ralph Lauren, Island/Def

Jam Records, PBS, the Chicago Bears, the American

Red Cross, and Harper’s Bazaar. And that’s just some

of them; the list really does go on, and on, and on,

and on, and on….

ShopColumbiaThis is our professionally curated retail boutique that

sells only the work of Columbia students. We opened

it for two reasons: first, we wanted to give our students

experience with the business side of arts retail

(marketing and selling their work, and a familiarity

with contracts and consignment agreements), and

second, we really wanted to give the public a chance

to buy the incredible work our students are creating.

Don’t worry, we’re going to help.

We’ve put in place numerous programs,

offices, and events all over campus to

help you not only put together and craft

your Body of Work, but also to help

make sure that the whole world has a

chance to see it.


31 Live What You Love | Columbia Colllege Chicago50 Live What You Love | Columbia College Chicago

ManifestEvery Spring Columbia hosts an end-of-the-year graduation celebration/arts fair/music festival/showcase of spectacle and innovation. Or, as we call it, Manifest. It’s a full day of free-for-all creativity marking the ‘arrival’ of the next generation of creative professionals—letting the world know that our students spend their time working hard, reaching high, and daring to do things differently.

Industry NightThis annual event is about two things: our students’ Bodies of Work, and the industry leaders who want to be first in line to see them. This is not a “job fair” or a “career night.” It’s where our seniors showcase themselves, and how hard they’ve been working, to industry leaders. Every year we host several hundred local and international businesses—businesses like Saks Fifth Avenue, Pitchfork Media, DraftFCB, Leo Burnett, SPIN Magazine, CBS 2 Chicago, and McDonald’s Creative Services—and every year our graduates make connections that can help lead them to the careers they want.

We believe that showing off pays off. So before our students graduate, we like to give them a final chance to display their talents and share the Bodies of Work they’ve created.


Student performances, productions, and screenings presented each year: 625

Student Publications: 7 (Columbia Chronicle, Columbia Poetry Review, Court Green, Echo Magazine, F Magazine, Hair Trigger, South Loop Review)

Galleries on campus: 8 (Mounting more than 75 shows each year)

Radio Station: 88.1 WCRX--our award winning student radio station streaming live at colum.edu/wcrx

Television Channel: Frequency TV--nominated for six Student Production Awards by the Television Academy in 2010

Record Label: AEMMP Records--released 10 albums since 2005, including the Independent Music Award winner Chompilation


We believe that your education continues even when you step out of the classroom. That’s why we offer a number—a very large number, in fact—of opportunities to keep building your experience and your portfolio.

“ We meld theory and practice. We expect you to come in, to think, reflect, and then to do and make. Whether that’s as a playwright, whether that’s as a filmmaker or a poet, you will create an ever emerging body of work, and that body of work is what becomes central to your experience at Columbia.”

Mark Kelly, Vice President of Student Affairs

THROW YOURSELF OUT THERE—

Waaay out there. Because a truly complete college experience means not just nourishing the passions you come here with, but the ones you pick up along the way, too. Student Life at Columbia is about much more than just joining a few clubs—it’s about everything you do, who you are, what you bring to the table, and what you take away from the table—your classes, your friends, your instructors, the campus, the city, your passion. We mean it; it should be a feeding frenzy of thoughts, experiences, and expressions. Your classes will expose you to new things every day, but there’s still much more: readings, film screenings, galleries, parties, art and photography exhibits, live music, symposiums, guest lecturers, theater and dance performances, academic clubs, social clubs, special interest clubs, fashion shows, and, of course, hanging out with new friends in diners and coffee shops and parks and in the dorms.

College should be about many, many different things. And they should all influence how you work and how you play. Not that you’ll be able to tell your work and play apart all that easily at Columbia—because, frankly, to us, they are one and the same.

Student Life


BRILLIANT IDEAS DON’T MAKE APPOINTMENTS.They should be able to find you any time, day or night, no matter where you are. That’s why we designed our on-campus housing specially for you, the creative student.

On-Campus Housing: 2,700 Students 4 Residence Centers

A place to work on and develop your craft and

creative voice; a place to live with and connect with

other creative students from near and far who are

as passionate about their work as you are; spaces

designed for the specific needs of creative students—

all in the heart of Chicago, one of the most beautiful

and culturally rich cities in the world.

Columbia is home to the most innovative

student housing in the country. Each one of our

buildings has its own unique vibe and feel with a

range of layouts and amenities such as a renovated

loft space, or a brand-new state of the art residence

hall in Chicago’s thriving Printer’s Row neighborhood,

a luxury high rise with full kitchen and bath, incredible

views of the lake, a rooftop garden, fitness center,

food court, music practice rooms, art studios, and

laundry facilities.

And the best part? All of our buildings are right in the middle of campus, so you can wake up at 8:50 and still make your 9:00 class.

Living on Campus


And we believe that future should include a healthy, nurturing planet on which you can continue to thrive.

To do our part in supporting our planet we’ve undertaken several green initiatives over the last several years, including extensive recycling of paper, plastic, aluminum, and techno trash (batteries, discs, and computers), the use of green cleaning supplies throughout campus, retrofitting light fixtures, and installing motion sensor controls which automatically turn off lights in spaces not being used. And in an ongoing effort to transform our buildings into more sustainable structures, we’ve added green roofs to some of them and have been working with the Clinton Climate Initiative to examine how to make our HVAC systems as efficient as possible.

Because when we say we strive to create a great environment in which our students can thrive and succeed, we really mean a great environment.

EVERYTHING WE DO HERE IS ABOUT GETTING YOU READY FOR THE FUTURE.

Sustainability


The breadth and depth of our curriculum, our diverse student body, our prime location, our award-winning faculty—bump that up against our tuition (among the lowest of all private arts and media colleges in the U.S.)—and you can see what an incredible value a Columbia education is.

ZOOM OUT, CONSIDER IT ALL.

Value

If Columbia is “your school”, we want to make it

possible for you to experience everything Columbia

has to offer. Even with our very reasonable tuition

rates, we know some students may need a little

help to make it all happen. Columbia participates in

Federal and State Financial Aid programs, such as

the Pell Grant, Illinois MAP Award, Work-Study and

Loans. Columbia also offers merit and need-based

scholarships.

We can help students and families figure out

payment plans, parent loans, and identify sources to

seek out external scholarships that fit their individual

circumstances. We believe that with advanced

planning and a strong partnership, we can make

things happen.

We will work with you and your family to help you figure out if a Columbia education is a viable option, not just for your first year, but for all of your years here.


At Columbia, students learn to be actors, filmmakers, photographers, journalists, painters, sculptors, poets, designers, directors, dancers, choreographers, or musicians.

Yes, they learn the elements of the art forms. But, more important, they are asked to rise to the highest standard of the arts. They are asked to use the forms to engage the world, learn and make meaning from it, to communicate with others, imagine new things and new ways the world can be, and to change themselves and the world in the process.


IT WORKED FOR THEM, IT CAN WORK FOR YOU. Columbia Alums are everywhere.

They are winning Oscars in Hollywood, reporting live in major markets, writing their own columns in major dailies, and performing on television. They work for major corporations, they start their own businesses, they freelance, they dance, exhibit, edit, produce, animate, design, manage, compose, buy, perform, write, and direct with the best. How’d they get there? Well, of course, Columbia’s solid preparation gives students that all-important edge they can’t get any other way. But, let’s be honest...

Alumni

These are competitive fields we specialize in. You have to want it, be willing to work hard in pursuit of it and stay focused. It’s a winning combination that works, creating a synergy that puts you in control of your career.


Mauro Fiore (B.A. Film), won the 2010 Oscar for Best

Cinematography for his work on the blockbuster Avatar.

Peter Schlesinger (’59) Producer and former governor, Television Academy of Arts and Sciences; 18-time Emmy Award Winner

Pat Sajak (68’) Host, Wheel of Fortune

Bill Phillips (B.A. ’72) VP of Original Productions, TBS & TNT

Len Amato (B.A. ’75) President, HBO Films

Steve Kmetko (B.A. ’76) Host, reporter (fmr.), E! Entertainment Tonight

Jeff Jur (B.A. ’76) Cinematographer, Dirty Dancing (1987) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Declan Quinn (B.A. ’79)Cinematographer, Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Michael Goi (B.A. ’80) President, American Society of Cinematographers Peter Teschner (’80), Editor, Borat (2006), Dodgeball (2004), Charlie’s Angels (2000) Hal Haenel (B.A. ’81) SVP, GM Studio Operations, 20th Century Fox Tod Lending (B.A. ’83) Documentarian, Academy Award nominee, Legacy (2002)

Mark Protosevich (B.A. ’83) Writer, I Am Legend (2007), Poseidon (2006), The Cell (2000) Bob Odenkirk (’84), Writer, Saturday Night Live (1987-1995); writer/creator/actor, Mr. Show with Bob and David Pepe Vargas (B.A. ’85) Founder and executive director, International Latino Cultural Center, presenter of the Chicago Latino Film Festival Dino Stamatopoulos (’86) Writer/creator, Morel Orel (CN) Scott Adsit (’87), Actor, 30 Rock (NBC) Andy Richter (’88) Actor, co-host, Conan with Conan O’Brien Mauro Fiore (B.A. ’87) Academy Award winning cinematographer, Avatar (2009) Janusz Kaminski (B.A. ’87) Two-time Academy Award winning cinematographer, Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Schindler’s List (1993)

Genndy Tartakovsky (’90) Creator, animator, Samurai Jack, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory (CN)

Bob Teitel (B.A. ’90) Producer, Men of Honor (2000), Barbershop (2002), Notorious (2009) Josefina Lopez (B.A. ’91) Writer, Real Women Have Curves (2002) George Tillman, Jr. (B.A. ’91) Director, Men of Honor (2000), Barbershop (2002), Notorious (2009) Cece DeStefano (B.A. ’94) Production designer, Melrose Place (CW), Chuck (NBC), Alias (NBC) Josh Liss (B.A. ’95) Sports director, morning sports anchor-WBBM Radio Paul Garnes (B.A. ’96) V.P. Production, Tyler Perry Studios Fred Pienkos (B.A. ’96) Visual effects supervisor, Spiderman 3 (2007) Erica Hubbard (B.A. ’99) Actor, Lincoln Heights (USA) Navid Mcllhargey (M.F.A. ’00) Executive producer, New Regency Productions Bob McNamara (’67) Senior news correspondent, CBS News Nick Charles (’70) Veteran blow-by-blow boxing announcer, ShoBox Joe Peyronnin (’70) Exec. VP Telemundo, fmr. VP CBS News

Alumni


Chet Coppock (B.A. ’71) Veteran sports commentator, WLS Radio Ozier Muhammad (’72) Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, The New York Times Dean Richards (B.A. ’76) Entertainment reporter, WGN-TV, WGN-Radio Pete Janos (B.A. ’80) West/Midwest Region Bureau Chief, CNN Mark Biello (B.A. ’83) Senior photojournalist, CNN Parisa Khosravi (B.A. ’87) Senior VP International Newgathering, CNN Mary Mitchell (B.A. ’91) Columist, Chicago Sun-Times Anita Padilla (B.A. ’91) Reporter, FOX Chicago Pablo Martinez Monsivias (B.A. ’94) Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, Associated Press Sharon Mesmer (B.A. ’83) Poet, author, educator – Annoying Diabetic Bitch

Jay Bonansinga (M.A. ’88) Best-selling author Frozen, The Killer’s Game

Joe Meno (B.A. ’97, M.A. ’00) Author, Hairstyles of the Damned Sam Weller (B.A. ’90, M.A. ’01) Author/biographer, The Bradbury Chronicles Earl Sewell (’02) Best-selling author, Kimani Tru series Stephanie Kuehnert (B.A. ’03, M.F.A. ’06) Author, Ballads of Suburbia Marcus Sakey (’06) Best-selling author, The Blade Itself, Good People Ruth Thorne-Thomsen (B.F.A. ’74) Photographer Vandell Cobb (B.A. ’75) Photographer, Ebony Magazine Melissa Pinney (B.A. ’77) Photographer – Guggenheim-award winner Richard Izui (B.A. ’96) Photographer – Playboy Lana Fertelmeister (B.A. ’97) Jewelry designer Curtis Mann (M.F.A. ’08) Photographer – 2010 Whitney Biennial Nana Shineflug (M.A. ’86) Owner, The Chicago Moving Company

Eduardo Vilaro (M.A. ’01) Founder/Artistic Director, Luna Negra Dance Company

Margi Cole (B.A. ’90) Founder, The Dance COLEctive Chester Gregory (B.A. ’95) Actor, Broadway productions of Tarzan, Cry Baby, and Dreamgirls Tonya Pinkins (B.A. ’96) Tony Award winning actor, Jelly’s Last Jam (2002) Hettie Barnhill (B.A. ’06) Dancer, Broadway production of Fela! (2009) Paul Broucek (B.A. ’74) President, Music, Warner Brothers Pictures Common (’86) Recording artist and actor Nan Warshaw (M.A. ’93) Founder and co-owner, Bloodshot Records Melisa Young a.k.a. “Kid Sister” (B.A. ’04) Recording artist Jenny Brown (B.A. ’93) Activist, founder Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary Greg Woock (B.A. ’85) CEO and Founder, Pinger, Inc Jay Boersma (B.A. ’74) Creative Director at Playboy.com

50 Live What You Love | Columbia College Chicago71 Live What You Love | Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago600 South Michigan AvenueChicago, Illinois 60605312.369.1689TTY: 312.663.1689www.colum.edu

Undergraduate Admissions312.369.7130email: [email protected]

Graduate Admissions312.369.7260email: [email protected]

AccreditationColumbia College Chicago is accredited at the graduate and undergraduate levels by the Higher Learning Commission through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by the Illinois Office of Education. The College is Accredited as a Teacher training institution by the Illinois State Board of Education. For further information about Columbia’s accreditation, contact the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, 312.263.0456

Columbia is an independent and unaffiliated institution of higher education.

Equal OpportunityColumbia College Chicago complies with all local, state and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. Columbia College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies should be directed to the college’s human resources office at 312.369.7592

DisclaimerThe policies, programs, activities, course offerings, descriptions, and faculty listed are subject to change without notice.

College Type: Private/Non-Profit/Four Year Degree Types: BA, BFA, BMus, Graduate programsAcademic Calendar: SemestersFounded: 1890Religious Affiliations: NoneSchool Size: 12,000 students Male-Female Ratio: 48:52Average Class Size: fewer than 20 students



Image Credits: cover photo: Alexa Rubinstein (’09) inside spread, p. 0: Sarah McKemie (’08)p. 2: Scott Beahm (’09)p. 5: Misty De Berry (’09), Milkweed Performance p. 6-7: Nolan Wells p. 8: Alexa Rubinstein (’09)p. 10-11: Dianne Hlinsky (’10)p. 13: Monica Lewandowski, K14 p. 17: Shane Welch (’10)p. 18-19: Nolan Wellsp. 20: Joy Whalen (’05) p. 22-23: Drew Reynolds (’97) p. 25: Jeremy Lawson (’94)p. 27: Ruben Cantu Photography, Beast Production Stillp. 29: Brent Lewis p. 31: Alexa Rubinstein (’09) p. 32: Curtis Mann (’08) p. 35: Hendrich Blessing Photographers p. 36: Drew Reynolds (’97)p. 39, 41: Brad Betz p. 42: Andreas Larssonp. 44: Drew Reynolds (’97) p. 46: Brent Lewis p. 48: Shane Welch (’10) p. 50: Brad Betzp. 53: Alexa Rubinstein (’09)p. 54-55: Shane Welch (’10) p. 57: Sara Perez (’10), Fashion Designer, Photo: Joshua Hainsp. 59: Ben Reed (’06) p. 61: Tim Kleinp. 63: Annie Holm (’04), The Artist Incubatorp. 64-65: Brian Willard, Renunciation, 2010p. 66: Alexa Rubinstein (’09)p. 69: Steve Becker Photographyp. 72: Mike Mierendorfp. 75: Brooke Bergerp. 76-77: Tim Klein

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