Dec 03, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Film & Media Arts, B.F.A.



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Description

The BFA in Film & Media Arts prepares students for a successful career in the media arts industry. After a core foundation of filmmaking fundamentals, qualified students may enter the BFA program where they’ll further explore filmmaking through an intensive, project-based curriculum. BFA candidates select two of the seven concentrations offered: Directing, Screenwriting, Producing, Cinematography, Sound, Editing, and Visual Effects. The program allows for disciplined focus and opportunities for collaborative projects of increasing sophistication as students progress through the program.

What careers can this major prepare you for?

The language of the global economy is communicated through film and media arts as evidenced throughout the world-wide-web, and all manner of information, marketing and entertainment dissemination. Specific career paths include: Screenwriter, Series Writer, Copywriter, Writer, Writer’s Assistant; Executive Producer, Creative Producer, Associate Producer, Line Producer; Production Manager, Unit Production Manage; Production Coordinator; Script Supervisor; Production Assistant; Director; First/Second Assistant Director; Cinematographer; Director of Photography; Camera Operator; First/Second Assistant Camera; Key Grip; Grip; Gaffer; Best Boy; Sound Mixer; Boom Operator; Location Manager; Postproduction Supervisor; Editor; Assistant, Dialog, Sound Editor; Colorist; Compositor; Digital Effects Artist; Actor; Casting Director; Writer/Director; Writer/Producer; Commercial Director; Music Video Director; Filmmaker; Documentarian; Interactive Media Creator.

What skills are developed within this major?

Creative problem-solving, communication, collaboration, time-management, and storytelling aesthetics are some of the principle skills developed within the major and are broadly applicable throughout a host of industries.

Admissions to the BFA


After the first 12 required core courses are completed, students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher may choose to enter the BFA program, which offers rigorous and focused coursework.

Hours Required for Degree


Minimum hours required for degree: 120

Minimum hours required for major: 72

College Requirements


See college page  for college requirements.

Major Requirements


  • Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the major
  • BFA students must take a total of 18 common core courses
  • Once enrolled in the BFA, students must choose 2 concentration areas, each requiring 3 unique concentration-specific courses per concentration (total 6 concentration-specific courses) 
  • Outside of the 6 concentration-specific courses, BFA students are required to take 6 additional FMA common core courses. These courses must fall outside of their required 6 concentration-specific courses.

Concentration Courses


Directing


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Directing Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, FMA 334 - Directing Workshop  and FMA 331 - Directing the Actor  are required.

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

Screenwriting


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Screenwriting Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, the following 2 are required: FMA 222 - Writing the Short Script  and FMA 427 - Writing the Feature Script .

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

Sound


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Sound Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, FMA 301 - Location Sound Recording  and FMA 374 - Sound Design I  are required. 

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

Producing


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Visual Effects Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, FMA 412 - Film-Video Business  and FMA 421 - Topics in Producing  are required. 

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

Cinematography


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Cinematography Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, FMA 362 - Cinematography I  and FMA 464 - Cinematography II  are required. 

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

Editing


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Editing Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, FMA 272 - Post II: Editing Aesthetics  and FMA 377 - Postproduction III  are required. 

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

Visual Effects


In addition to the required 18 core courses, students must complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) to earn the Visual Effects Concentration.* Of the 3 courses, FMA 373 - Visual Effects I  and FMA 476 - Visual Effects II  are required. 

* Students must choose 2 concentrations, so they are required to complete an additional 3 courses (9 credits) in a secondary concentration.

University Honors Requirements


Attain and maintain CSU Honors Program status. Attain and maintain an average 3.5 GPA in all School of Film & Media Arts courses. Students may fulfill the honors requirement by taking a minimum of 9 hours of FMA courses required for the major at the 300 - 400 level as Honors Contract courses (which requires approval of an honors contract petition, signed by both the instructor and the student).

University Scholars Requirements


Attain and maintain CSU Scholars Program status. Attain and maintain an average 3.5 GPA in all School of Film & Media Arts courses. Students may fulfill the scholars requirement by taking a minimum of 9 hours of FMA courses required for the major at the 300 - 400 level as Scholars Contract courses (which requires approval of a scholars contract petition, signed by both the instructor and the student).

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