Cinema Studies & Film Production: Overview

In a world dominated by mass media and increasingly diverse forms of audiovisual communication, the person with the skills and knowledge of the filmmaker occupies a position of influence and importance. But to make an effective film, a filmmaker needs to do more than master the complex technologies of film production. Being a successful filmmaker requires an understanding of how to conceptualize ideas in terms of how films communicate ideas and emotions, and how to break down such conceptions into the multitude of individual tasks that comprise a production.

The Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies and Film Production is a 120-credit program that embeds a fully-articulated program in cinema studies and film production within the context of a liberal arts philosophy emphasizing the education of the person as a whole. The program takes a craft approach to filmmaking, providing students with very high levels of technical skills while fostering the student’s personal development as a creative artist. The student’s personal interest in filmmaking is nurtured in light of a range of historical models, from classic Hollywood narrative films to revolutionary “Third Cinema” to experimental filmmaking and documentary. Structural sophistication, technical excellence, and artistic ambitiousness are the landmarks of the films and videos produced by graduates of the B.A. program.

The B.A. in Cinema Studies and Film Production is designed so that it can be completed in eight semesters of full-time coursework. Students with a B.A. in Cinema Studies and Film Production are ready to begin their careers as filmmakers or go on to graduate work in the fields of cinema studies and/or film production. Graduates of the B.A. program in Cinema Studies and Film Production have the skills and knowledge to qualify for a variety of possible positions at television stations, advertising agencies, production companies, and studios.