Filmmaking (B.F.A.)

Location(s): Main Campus

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Program Summary

The B.F.A. in Filmmaking is an interdisciplinary program-integrating areas of art and design, communication, media, English, history/sociology/anthropology, music, theatre, and content unique to the discipline of film. This program allows students to acquire a strong technical skillset with the writing and visual story-telling of meaningful ideas developed during the pre-production, production, and post-production of the film/video-making process.

Program Information

All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the major, but FILM 1100 , FILM 2100 , FILM 3900 , and FILM 4900 must be passed with a “B-” (2.7) or better.
Filmmaking accepts 20 new students into the program each Spring for the upcoming academic year. Students should apply after their first Freshman semester at SUU. Transfer students will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and admitted based on availability of seats. More information and an application can be found at www.suu.edu/pva/film/application.html.

General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)

See General Education for course options.

Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
Breadth Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)

Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Breadth Area requirements.

Filmmaking Curriculum (90 Credits)

Foundation Courses (15 Credits)

ART 1050 - Introduction to Photography 3 Credit(s) (can be used to fulfill General Education Fine Arts Breadth Area)
ART 1120 - 2-D Design 3 Credit(s) (can be used to fulfill General Education Fine Arts Breadth Area)
ART 1130 - 3-D Design 3 Credit(s)
ARTH 2720 - Art History Survey II 3 Credit(s) (can be used to fulfill General Education Humanities Breadth Area)
THEA 1023 - Introduction to Film 3 Credit(s) (can be used to fulfill General Education Fine Arts Breadth Area)

Required Courses (65 Credits)

ART 1110 - Drawing I 3 Credit(s)
ARTH 2910 - History of Experimental Film and Video Art 3 Credit(s)
ENGL 1523 - Storytelling 3 Credit(s)
ENGL 2023 - Screen Aesthetics 3 Credit(s)
ENGL 2150 - US Narrative Film 3 Credit(s)
ENGL 2523 - Writing for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
ENGL 3023 - Film Theory 3 Credit(s)
FILM 1100 - Personal Cinema 3 Credit(s)
FILM 2100 - Filmmaking Fundamentals 3 Credit(s)
FILM 2200 - Subtext for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
FILM 2300 - Editing for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
FILM 2400 - Sound for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
FILM 3100 - Cinematography: Imaging Systems and Optics for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
FILM 3110 - Cinematography: Advanced Imaging Systems and Lighting 3 Credit(s)
FILM 3190 - Film Crew 1-3 Credit(s) (must complete 2 credits) 2 Credit(s)
FILM 3200 - Directing for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
FILM 3500 - Producing for the Screen 3 Credit(s)
FILM 3900 - Thesis Film Development 3 Credit(s)
FILM 4500 - Business of Film 3 Credit(s)
FILM 4900 - Film Thesis Production 3 Credit(s)
FILM 4910 - Film Thesis Post-Production 3 Credit(s)
LANG 3250 - World Cinema 3 Credit(s)

Elective Courses (10 Credits)

Complete 10 credits from the following:

ART 3510 - Visual Development 3 Credit(s) **
ART 3520 - Narrative Illustration 3 Credit(s) **
AVTN 1130 - Unmanned Aerial Systems Basics 3 Credit(s)
AVTN 1135 - Unmanned Aircraft LOS and BLOS Flight Lab 2 Credit(s)
COMM 4760 - Advanced Video and Film Production 3 Credit(s) **
ENGL 3110 - Literature and Film 3 Credit(s)
FILM 4150 - Topics in Filmmaking 3 Credit(s)
FILM 4890 - Filmmaking Internship 1-6 Credit(s)
FREN 3100 - Conversation Through Film 3 Credit(s) **
GERM 3100 - Conversation Through Film 3 Credit(s) **
GERM 3610 - Weimar Cinema and Beyond 3 Credit(s) **
SOC 3530 - Documentary Filmmaking on Social Issues 3 Credit(s)
SPAN 3100 - Conversation Through Film 3 Credit(s) **

Note

** These courses have additional prerequisites not required as part of the Filmmaking program, which may extend students’ time to graduation.

Free Electives (0-6 Credits)

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Total Credits, B.F.A.: 120-125 Credits

Program Learning Outcomes

Foundation/Core Learning Outcomes:

Develop practical skills in organizing visual elements in two and three dimensions, including color theory, and understand the fundamental elements and vocabulary of film and how they interact.
Critically analyze films from both Western and non-Western perspectives and develop an awareness of the historical accomplishments, current significant issues, and future directions in the field.
Demonstrate understanding of the craft of dramatic structure and the interpretation of subtext as basis for crafting meaningful works.
Develop a working knowledge of technologies and equipment applicable to the film industry.

Film Production Learning Outcomes:

Through production-oriented studies, gain understanding of communication, aesthetic, and design principles in the elements of film-including the use of time as an expressive design consideration.
Gain knowledge and skills in the use of basic concepts, tools, techniques, and procedures sufficient to produce work from concept to finished product; gain competence in film production processes; develop fundamental knowledge of equipment and technologies.
Gain functional knowledge of the history of film, its artistic and technological evolution, and an understanding of basic aesthetic and critical theory.
Effectively coordinate project elements and communicate with involved personnel at all stages of the production process.