Objectives
The School of Filmmaking is first and foremost an arts conservatory, preparing both our
undergraduate and graduate students for careers in the moving image arts and industries.
We offer a four-year undergraduate program in motion-picture production, as well as a two-year
master’s program in film music composition. The faculty of the School of Filmmaking consists
of film and television artists-in-residence as well as professional scholars, all of whom are
dedicated to instilling in our students the importance of telling stories of value and worth. We are
committed to nurturing the “complete” filmmaker ― a storyteller of vision and insight who
knows and appreciates the myriad components that are essential to the creation of the entire
spectrum of moving images: whether fiction or nonfiction, animated or live-action, series
television, music videos, commercials, industrial shorts, or other new media. We are a training
ground for young artists, giving them the freedom to explore their creative visions within a
carefully structured environment that attempts to mirror the collaborative creative process of the
professional world. The relationship between our faculty and students is one of “masterapprentice,”
involving close collaboration in all aspects of the development, production and
exhibition of the students’ digital video and film projects.
Course description
The Undergraduate Program in Filmmaking
The BFA program in filmmaking is open to students who wish to pursue program emphasis in the areas of animation, cinematography, directing, picture editing and sound design, producing, production design, or screenwriting. At the same time, the School expects students to have or to develop a strong base in the liberal arts and humanities, as well as the physical and social sciences, with additional intensive coursework in film history, aesthetics and criticism. With this in mind, the School of Filmmaking does not offer a College Arts Diploma to any student who does not already possess a BA, BM, BS, or BFA degree.
School of Filmmaking: Directing
Year One
FIM 131 132 133 American Cinema 2 2 2
FIM 151 152 153 Fundamentals of Filmmaking 6 6 6
FIM 599 Intensive Arts 2
GES 101 102 103 Critical Perspectives 2 2 2
GES 120 Digital Media for the Artist 2
Academic Electives* HUM, SOS, Math/Science 4 4
Year Two
FIM 231 232 233 Classics of World Cinema 2 2 2
FIM 251 252 Interdisciplinary Visual Storytelling 2 2
FIM [211] [212] [213] Screenwriting Workshop [2] [2] [2]
FIM [221] [222] [223] Directing Workshop [2] [2] [2]
FIM [241] [242] [243] Producing Workshop [2] [2] [2]
FIM [261] [262] [263] Editing Workshop [2] [2] [2]
FIM [281] [282] [283] Cinematography Workshop [2] [2] [2]
FIM 599 Intensive Arts 2
ARH 101 102 103 Art History 2 2 2
GES 211 212 213 Foundations of Western Thought 2 2 2
Year Three
FIM 320 320 320 Intermediate Directing 4 2 4
FIM 327 327 327 Intermediate Directing Practicum 2 2 2
FIM [330] [330] [330] Cinema Studies [2] [2] [2]
FIM [370] [370] [370] Film Electives [2] [2] [2]
FIM 599 Intensive Arts 2
Academic Electives* HUM, SOS, LIT, WRI, PHI 2 2 4
Year Four
FIM 420 420 420 Advanced Directing 2 4 4
FIM 427 427 427 Advanced Directing Practicum 2 2 1
FIM [330] [330] [330] Cinema Studies [2] [2] [2]
FIM [370] [370] [370] Film Electives [2] [2] [2]
FIM 599 Intensive Arts 2
Academic Electives* HUM, SOS, LIT, WRI, PHI 2 2 2
