About studying different courses in SWAVE, part 1

Heyo!

I think I should have written a post like this a long time ago. After all, studying screenwriting and visual expression (= SWAVE) is half of what this blog is all about. I did write something about it, as my second post ever, but it was more of a overview. But now I have studied here for six months, and I have enough experience to tell you what it's really like.
Instead of writing of what my average day is like, I'll tell you about all the different subjects/courses that I have studied so far. I think it gives you pretty good idea of studying SWAVE, minus, of course, all the after school stuff.
So, if you have ever wondered what's included in studying SWAVE, and what it means in practice, read on.
(By the way, I like how the word "studying" has the word "dying" in it :D)

Overall, there's 65 different mandatory courses in SWAVE, and our days here mostly consists of these. Of course there's also plenty of optional courses as well and different student projects.
Of those 65 mandatory courses, I have studied, or am currently studying 20. Not counting the orienting studies here.
I'll start with the less exciting ones, that surround the actual creative process without taking part in it. Without any strict order:

English & Swedish
First, language studies. It's mostly like what you think it's like. Except more new words and less grammar. Last week we had to discuss and analyze a short film in Swedish, which I think was rather useful, although hard. Lot of homework and doing essays independently. Speaking language in question, of course.
The necessity of English is obvious (especially in the showbiz), but if you're from abroad and wondering the Swedish: as citizens of Finland, we are obliged to somewhat study our second official language, Swedish, as well as Finnish. It's a small thorn on the side of every non-bilingual Finnish student, and waste of resources, but that's another (long) story.

Business accounting
A bit boresome, unfortunately. Basically learning how to account and where to place credits and debits. Early on a lot of emphasis of how The Law requires double entry bookkeeping system from each company and corporation. After all, school encourages us to become entrepreneurs.

Mathematics
Recap from high school. How to calculate taxes, inflation, etc. So, more practical calculations than earlier, thankfully. Not too hard by itself, but we had to learn how to calculate using only Excel, which caused some difficulties earlier. No paper, no calculator, only Excel. Because that's modern times, apparently.
I'm not arguing against that, though, because there has been some teachers who would like you to calculate everything with only your head and perhaps an abacus.

Information technique
Nice name, but it only means making word and excel files. We have made CVs, job applications, grocery lists and whatnot. Too easy. Good thing is that once you're finished, you can leave, and so every class ends at least an hour ahead of schedule.

Communication skills
How to communicate within a group. How to have a meeting. How people communicate. How to perform in front of an audience. Form of teaching is lecture, so a little of that university feel there. There were some theory about communication in a more abstract level, but cannot recall any particulars. Oh well. A bit silly subject.
A few presentations have been made and are to be made. Next one of mine will be a week from now. I'll have it about a theory of Mr. Michel Foucault. Let's see how it goes.

Information acquisition skills
This course was one big essay. First we prepared for the essay by learning how to use school's own database and how to, obviously, seek information from it. Then we wrote a ten to twelve page essay. Mine was about alternative screenwriting. And man, it was hard work. The essay itself is a sort of practice for the literary part of our thesis.

Marketing communication
How to market your product, and to whom. Public relations, and so forth.
Lecturing and theory. Not a lot of practical exercises, which was a bit surprising.
We were to upkeep a blog during the course, which, I admit, was a nice touch.

Art history
As I write this, we've had only one class of art history. So, my thoughts about the course are subject to change. But as it seems, we go through European art history, from prehistory to modern times. Probably, mostly just lectures and Powerpoints. We'll watch a few films and look at art, analyze it and try to be inspired by it. We'll do presentations of a art era and "modernize" a piece of art. Sounds interesting.

The length of this post grows and grows. So, next time I'll write about the more appealing courses, the ones that actually involve a exciting creative process. Like screenwriting ;). Stay tuned.

J.

Those songs that you already own, but are under your radar for a long time, until you discover them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D6k3LKeMA0