Documentary films have played a long and venerable role in the  cultural life of modern society, whether the films in question are home movies, government propaganda, ethnographic records, historical studies, explorations of the natural world, film essays, or any of the other varieties of forms that fall under the heading of non-fiction film. With the advent of digital cameras and computer-based non-linear editing programs, more and more people have access to the tools for creating such films, fueling a vast new interest in the documentary form, and through their creation bringing to light new and unexpected arenas of the human experience.

The Certificate in Documentary Filmmaking is a 24-credit program of interest to students who would like to learn the basics of documentary film production without pursuing the additional coursework involved in earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students in this program develop foundational skills in shooting, scripting, and editing documentaries shot on film or video, grounded in a general understanding of the traditions, principles, and practice of non-fiction film. Beyond the basic production sequence, Certificate students have the opportunity to take 9 credits of electives in film production, content coursework, or independent study, including up to 3 workshop credits.

The Certificate in Documentary Filmmaking is designed so that it can be completed in anywhere from 2 to 4 semesters of full-time or part-time coursework. In addition to the ability to do independent work in film and video production, graduates of the Certificate program are qualified to serve as production assistants on professional film productions and to work in entry-level positions in production companies and television stations.

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