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Undergraduate Film Program

The Undergraduate Film Program leading to the B.S. Degree in Film and Television, provides a comprehensive exploration of film while ensuring that students receive a strong liberal arts education. The program focuses on three critical areas: film studies, screenwriting, and film production. Students study the works of master filmmakers to learn from those who came before them, practice the art of storytelling through their screenwriting courses and apply what they have learned in their film production courses.

Although students are required to select an area of concentration in either the Film or the Television Program during the second semester of the sophomore year, they also have options for tailoring a major that fits their individual interests and career goals. Film students may take additional hands-on production, screenwriting or critical studies courses beyond the required minimum, as well as take electives from Television and the rest of the university.

In addition to coursework, undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the extracurricular activities of the student-operated radio station, WTBU; the student television organization, BUTV; Neighborhood Network News; Television Production Hothouse; student-run film and video organizations; and the student chapters of various professional organizations.

Read the complete undergraduate course descriptions in the COM bulletin.

Major Requirements
  • FT 360 Understanding Film and FT 310 Screenwriting I.
  • 8 additional Department of Film and Television courses, including at least 3 Film Studies courses.
  • A concentration of 3 College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) courses in the same subject area, at 300-level or higher.
  • 3 general electives taken anywhere in the university.

Note: Freshmen and sophomores may take only one FT course per semester and none in the first semester of freshman year.

Film Studies Electives
  • FT 457 American Masterworks
  • FT 458 International Masterworks
  • FT 533 American Independent Film
  • FT 535 Film Analysis
  • FT 536 Film Theory and Criticism
  • FT 540 Screenplay as Dramatic Literature
  • FT 553 Special Topic†
  • FT 554 Special Topic†
  • FT 560 The Documentary
  • FT 563 French New Wave
  • FT 567 Film Styles
Study Abroad Programs
  • FT 345 Australian Cinema
  • FT 317 British Cinema and Society, Contemporary Cinema (Madrid), History of French Cinema
Film Program Electives
  • FT 304 Film Industry
  • FT 325 Producing I
  • FT 351 Film Production I
  • FT 353 Video Production I
  • FT 402 Video Production II [FT 353]
  • FT 403 Film Production II [FT 351]
  • FT 411 Screenwriting II [FT 310 & FT 540]
  • FT 412 Screenwriting III [FT 411 & FT 540]
  • FT 428 Interactive/Broadband TV
  • FT 456 Acting for Directors and Writers
  • FT 465 Video Production III [FT 402]
  • FT 468 Film Production III [FT 403]
  • FT 491/492 Directed Study [consent]*
  • FT 493/494 Internship I & II [consent]**&#
  • FT 502 Sound Design for Film and Television [FT 351]
  • FT 505 Television Production Hothouse [Producing or Production]
  • FT 507 Television Studio Production [FT 353]
  • FT 512 Writing Episodic Drama [FT 310 or FT 314]
  • FT 522 Writing Situation Comedies [FT 310]
  • FT 525 Producing II [FT 325]
  • FT 526 Directing the Theatrical and Television Film [FT 456 or SFA DR 123]
  • FT 527 Lighting [FT 351]
  • FT 542 Advanced Screenwriting [FT 412]
  • FT 543 Television Comedy
  • FT 545 Television and Childhood
  • FT 551 Designing the Short Film
  • FT 552 Special Topic†
  • FT 555 Narrative Documentary Practicum [FT 403]
  • FT 573/574 BUTV I & IIĹ~&#
  • FT 561 Television Drama
  • FT 565 Digital Editing [FT 403]
  • FT 593 Cinematography [FT 351]
  • SFA DR 123 Acting for Non-Theater Actors
Study Abroad Programs
  • CM 350 Mass Media in Australia
  • CM 415 Mass Media in Ireland
  • FT 316 Impact of Film & TV in Modern Britain
  • FT 352 Film Style Video Production
  • FT 493/494 Internship I & II**&#
Los Angeles Program
  • FT 552E A1 Sp. Tpc: The Creative Life in TV
  • FT 552E B1 Sp. Tpc: Professional Prod. Methods
  • FT 552E C1 Sp. Tpc: The Writer in Hollywood [FT 311 and FT 411]
  • FT 566 A1 Sp.Tpc.: The Business of Hollywood
  • FT 566 B1 Sp.Tpc.: Careers in Hollywood
  • FT 493/494 Internship I & II**&#
  1. * Not to exceed 8 credits
  2. ** Not to exceed: 4 credits abroad, 4 credits for L.A. Program, 4 credits elsewhere
  3. † Course topics change each semester. Check with the Film and Television Office for current descriptions. Students may register for the same Special Topics number more than once provided the topic each semester is different.
  4. Ĺ~ Not to exceed 4 credits
  5. # TOTAL OF BUTV, Directed Study, and Internship not to exceed 12 credits
  6. [ ] Pre-requisites
  7. NOTE: Other courses may be offered, so please check the current class schedule for additional offerings.