Department of Film & Television

Undergraduate

BS in Film & Television

The Undergraduate Program, leading to the BS degree in Film & Television, provides a comprehensive exploration of film, TV, and new media while ensuring that students receive a strong liberal arts education. The program focuses on four critical areas:

• studies
• screenwriting
• production
• management/producing

Students learn from those who came before them, practice the art of storytelling through their writing courses and apply what they have learned in their production courses.

COM Film & Television students…

• prepare for a variety of career opportunities in film, television and related industries
• develop a foundation for graduate study
• follow their interests and career goals by taking advantage of flexible programming
• gain support from an active alumni community

Courses are taught by a diverse faculty of accomplished filmmakers, scholars, and writers, representing a wide range of approaches and backgrounds, who have earned national and international distinction in their areas.

Both undergraduate and graduate students may participate in our Los Angeles Internship Programs to enhance their education and gain professional experience.

Students declare their major in the Film & Television Department in the spring of their sophomore year. Although there are certain department courses required of all majors, students have options for tailoring a curriculum that fits their individual interests and career goals. Students may take additional hands-on production, screenwriting or critical studies courses beyond the required minimum, as well as take electives from the rest of the University.

The College of Communication provides state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for instruction in studio and field production in both high definition video and film and extensive digital post production editing suites. Students will be expected to supply their own expendables including external hard drives, flash media, film/video stock for field cameras and any processing fees that may be applicable. Other fieldwork expenses such as permits and utilities should also be expected.

Internship Program

Qualified students with junior status are encouraged to participate in the internship program. Internships provide students with the opportunity to work at one of the many broadcast stations, independent film and video production facilities, or cable companies in the Boston area. This experience enables students to apply their academic training and gain professional experience. Students may intern either part time during the academic year or full time during the summer following their sophomore year. A summer internship is one way students can explore career opportunities outside the Boston area. Students must have a 3.0 COM GPA in order to meet the academic portion of the internship program. Certain course requirements are needed as well. Students should check with their departments if there are any questions.

Los Angeles Internship Program

The Los Angeles Internship Program offers a semester of study and work in the heart of the film and television industry. Courses are taught by members of the Boston University faculty and by alumni who also provide internship positions and serve as mentors in and outside of the classroom. Upon successful completion of a semester, students earn 16 Boston University credits (three 4-credit courses and a 4-credit internship), which fall within the film and television curriculum. All grading is done by Boston University faculty or the academic director.

Graduate

The Department of Film & Television offers Master of Science (MS) degree programs in Television Production and Media Ventures and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree programs in film. A dual degree MBA/MS in Media Ventures is also available. The programs and areas of study in the department are both academic and professional.

Graduate students are expected to examine, probe, and study the history and literature of their chosen field: its role in the communication process, its creative and technical development, its organization, its economic impact and development, and its aesthetic, social, and cultural developments and implications.

As part of its professional emphasis, the department provides an opportunity for practical work in both the classroom and the field.

The Boston Area

Boston is an excellent area in which to prepare for a career in communications. There are frequent opportunities for contact with professionals from the many radio and television stations, cable companies, advertising agencies, and film and video production houses in or near the city. The graduate internship program assists students in obtaining on-the-job experience with these professional organizations.

Expenses

While the College of Communication has all of the production and post-production equipment necessary to produce high-end work, students will be expected to supply their own expendables including external hard drives, flash media, film/video stock for field cameras and any processing fees that may be applicable. Other fieldwork expenses such as permits and utilities should also be expected.