B.F.A. in Film
Our Program
The B.F.A. draws on the program’s long tradition of student focused education in order to give undergraduates the education and training necessary to pursue future careers in film and media production and related fields. The program has a unique curriculum in which each student receives professional training in all major aspects of filmmaking, alongside a strong foundation in film studies. The curriculum ensures that each student graduates with a full and well-rounded skill-set that will allow them to succeed in all facets of the increasingly diverse media production landscape: in the film and television industry, in professional areas using time-based media such as web design and advertising, as independent artists, and as film professionals working with museums, galleries, and festivals. In addition, each student graduates with a polished portfolio of work that highlights their unique creative vision.
In their first-year and sophomore years, students receive an introduction to film as an art form, focusing on film history and film studies combined with an overview of basic filmmaking techniques and tools. Fiction, non-fiction, and experimental films and filmmaking practices are explored in these years. In their junior and senior years, students continue to engage with a rigorous film studies program while shifting their focus to making films. During this period, students also take part in specialization classes that allow them to develop a portfolio of work focused on their specific professional interests. Utilizing a project-based approach to building creative portfolios, students earn a B.F.A. with a concentration in directing, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, or post-production.
First-Year Admission
The requirements for admission to the B.F.A. in Film include a minimum overall 3.0 GPA in high school and the submission of a portfolio of creative work containing films/videos, screenplays, or work from another medium.
Change of Major/Minor/Certificate Policy
Admission to the B.F.A. in Film program is by application, interview, and portfolio submission only. Upon successful admission, change of major paperwork should be initiated at the College of Fine Arts Deans Office.
Interested in a Film Minor? Go here for details.
External Transfer Admission
Admission to the B.F.A. in Film program is by application, interview and portfolio submission only. It is rare to accept a transfer beyond the sophomore year. After acceptance to the University, program acceptance and placement will depend on the faculty’s assessment of the candidate’s potential to succeed. In most cases, transferring students should be prepared to expect to make up some of the foundation coursework in their programs. Upon successful admission, change of major paperwork should be initiated at the College of Fine Arts Dean’s Office.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
The preparation offered by the proposed B.F.A. in Film prepares students for a wide and expanding constellation of career opportunities open to visual storytellers. The B.F.A. in Film will train students in all aspects of the filmmaking process, from conceptualizing a story through shooting and production work, to editing, sound mixing and exhibition. The goal is to nurture well-rounded, creative, and skilled filmmakers able to enter careers across the spectrum of professional opportunities in cinema. In addition to having mastered the technical skills of filmmaking, the students will discover themselves as creators, crew-mates, and artists through the four years of the degree program.
Join the program
Ready to join the School of Film?