Program Notes
- BU meets 100% of your financial aid need for first-year US students and permanent residents with demonstrated need
- ACT/SAT Optional—not required
Make Your Mark With a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and TV
Gain experience in top media hubs—study in Boston, a top 10 US media market, and spend a summer or a semester in the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles, with BU’s acclaimed LA program.
Learn from TV scholars and recognized filmmakers—earn your bachelor’s degree in film and TV at BU, and you’ll have access to unparalleled faculty mentors: widely published, award-winning producers and writers.
Explore your creativity and build your résumé—put your skills to the test by working at our own student-operated station, BUTV10, and the in-house, student-run agency, Real World Productions.
What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and TV?
A major in film from BU COM is one of the best majors for screenwriters, directors, producers, and scholars. In the BS in Film and TV, you’ll take courses that provide a broad foundation in motion picture writing, visual literacy, and film and TV studies. Then choose your focus: Production, Screenwriting, Film and Television Studies, or Management/Producing.
Production Roles
- Cinematographer
- Camera Operator
- Video Editor
- Production Assistant
- Director
Screenwriting Roles
- Screenwriter (Film/TV)
- Script Analyst
- Editor
- Showrunner
- Staff Writer
Film & Television Studies Roles
- Media Critic
- Archivist
- Researcher or Professor
- Cultural Analyst
- Media Literacy Educator
Management/Producing Roles
- Producer (Film/TV/Web)
- Production Manager
- Development Executive
- Talent Agent or Manager
- Studio or Network Executive
Jobs of Bachelor’s Degree in Film and TV Alumni
Alumni with an undergraduate major in film from BU COM have gone on to roles with:
Major Media & Entertainment Conglomerates
- The Walt Disney Company
- Warner Bros. Discovery
- AMC Networks
- HBO Max
Broadcast/Cable Networks & News Divisions
- ABC News
- NBCUniversal News Group
- CBS Broadcasting Inc.
- GBH (PBS Boston)
- National Geographic
Talk, Variety & Late-Night Shows
- The View
- The Drew Barrymore Show
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Production Studios & More
- Escape Artists Entertainment
- 4th Row Films
- Pier59 Studios
- Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- Boston Celtics
OUTCOME DATA
96%
of alumni are employed, in school, or in another chosen activity.
89% Employed, 7% Continuing Education, 4% Still Seeking
Source: based on 123/173 surveyed graduates of the 2024 class.
Get Inspired by BU COM Alumni
When you major in film at BU COM, you join an incredible community of inspiring and driven creatives.
Safdie Brothers Sparkle with Award-Winning Uncut Gems
Uncut Gems begins with one of the more unexpected transitions in cinematic history. The camera examines a rare uncut black opal…
How to Get a Job in Film and Television
You need a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Television with real-world experiences to build your portfolio. At BU COM, you’ll be encouraged to create, analyze, and develop film and television projects and complete impressive internships.
Curriculum Overview
This Bachelor’s Degree in Film and TV gives you a strong foundation in the industry and allows you to pick a career focus in one of four areas:
- Screenwriting—Write stories built to stream. Courses like Screenwriting I–II, pilots, and sitcom writing move you from idea to polished script, teaching structure, dialogue, and pitch skills, making this program a top major for screenwriters.
- Production—Grab the camera and make it happen. Production I–III and electives in directing, cinematography, sound design, and editing put you on set (and in the studio) to light, shoot, and cut your own projects.
- Managing & Producing—Run the show behind the scenes. Creative Producing, Line Producing, Media Business, and Film Industry courses dive into budgeting, scheduling, talent deals, and distribution. Turn a great concept into a green-lit, on-time, on-budget production.
- Film & TV Studies—Become a media critic who sees the bigger picture. From Understanding Film/TV to deep dives into genres, global cinema, and feminist TV, you’ll analyze how stories are made, why they matter, and where they fit in culture and history.
Choose a Major in Film and TV That Equals Real Experience
Spark ideas and dig into culture during BU COM’s free screenings at nearby Harvard Film Archive and the Brattle Theatre. Engage with filmmakers during on-campus lectures. Create and learn during summer internships at area TV studios and through BU’s Los Angeles program.
BUTV
butv10 is Boston University’s student-led video content production and distribution network.
Study Abroad for Film and TV
You can opt to attend BU study abroad programs in London, Sydney, and beyond.
Coveted Film and TV Internships
There’s no better way to learn than to do. Explore a list of internships and co-ops in film and television including production, screenwriting, and management/producing. Students pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Television have completed internships at major media companies including:
- A+E Networks
- Discovery Channel
- ESPN
- Fox
- Home Shopping Network
- Paramount
- QVC
- Viacom
- Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
- Time Warner
- Disney
- NBCUniversal
- CBS
Destination Internships
Film Series and Archives
Students pursuing the major in film and television at BU often participate in Cinemathèque, BU COM’s series of screenings and conversations with film- and television-makers. Enjoy full access to BU’s Krasker film and video resource center with 16mm prints and rarities at the Mugar Memorial Library on campus.
Learn With Film and TV Experts and Scholars
Earn your Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Television under the direction of professionals who’ve shaped hit shows and mentored top talent. BU COM professors combine academic rigor with real industry experience. They’ve written, directed, and produced award-winning films and TV and are widely published in academic and industry publications.
“This is a business built on networking. We give students real opportunities to connect—with guest speakers, industry panels, professional experiences, and alumni working in the field.”
Sheila Sitomer, Professor of the Practice, Film and Television; award-winning exec producer, exec editor, director, and writer with wide-ranging experience in network, syndicated, cable, and local television.
Enjoy Student Life at BU COM
BU life is fast paced, creative, diverse, and full of energy—just like Boston. With 450+ clubs, D1 sports, and a campus in the heart of the city, you’ll never be bored. It’s the kind of place where you can find your people and chase what excites you. And did we mention four years of guaranteed housing?
