BA or BFA in Film, Video + Interactive Media
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Students pursuing the film, video and interactive media program experience intense and in-depth hands-on training in all phases of digital media production. Our students hone their individual skills to their highest level of creativity and innovation in the context of a firm grounding in media history, writing for the media, film and interactive media theory, ethics and rigorous production practice.
Both programs initially follow the same course of study. Students who are seeking a broader perspective will enjoy the traditional BA program, which allows them to explore courses in areas outside of the major. This program requires a minor in a subject outside the School of Communications. Students who are committed to a more preprofessional focus in the visual and performing arts should apply to the BFA program, which offers a greater number of applied studio courses.
Both programs are dedicated to skilled storytelling and the creation of documentary and narrative works in visual and audio media as well as other informative and entertaining programming for delivery on film, television, DVD, the Internet, mobile devices and emerging media platforms.
Students in both programs are immersed in techniques of visual storytelling that demand expertise in single and multicamera video production and writing and producing for film, radio, television and the Internet. Because good media practice also requires a solid understanding of media history and theory, the curriculum is balanced with courses that explore the role and impact of mass media in society.
Formal course work is not taught only on campus but, in recent years, has taken place in Tralee, Ireland; Nice, France; and in Cape Town and Kruger National Park, South Africa. Students in majoring in film, video and interactive media explore sequentially all dimensions of visual and audio storytelling beginning with the historical, cultural, business and professional contexts within which their own work will develop.
Students in the FVI program choose either the 40-credit BA major with a non-School of Communications minor or the 61-credit BFA degree.
Students in the program learn:
- To conceive and organize ideas clearly and forcefully through writing
- To shape those ideas for expression through image and sound
- To master the complex grammar of image and sound editing and the challenging artistry of lighting for both single and multicamera environments
- To master the acquisition, composition and manipulation of moving images and sound
Graduates are well positioned to pursue careers in the creation (writing, directing, editing, acquisition and distribution) of a broad range of digital material for all current and emerging media platforms. They are prepared to work for corporate, entertainment and not-for-profit institutions engaged in delivering entertainment and information programming to audiences around the world and have a firm foundation to pursue graduate work, including a master of fine arts degree.
Curriculum + Requirements - BA Degree
The standard degree in film, video and interactive media is the 40-credit bachelor of arts with an out-of-school minor.
Required communications core courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MSS 101* | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| JRN 160* | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| MSS 220* | Media History | 3 |
| MSS 340 | Communications Law and Policy | 3 |
*Must be completed by the end of sophomore year with a minimum B- average
Other required FVI courses (25 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| FVI 210 | Production Fundamentals I | 3 |
| FVI 212 | Production Fundamentals II | 3 |
| FVI 310 | Creating Interactive Media | 3 |
| FVI 340 | Analysis of the Moving Image | 3 |
| FVI 345 | Writing and Producing Media | 3 |
| FVI 372 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| FVI 450 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| FVI 494 | Senior Project Colloquy | 1 |
| FVI 495 | Senior Project (capstone) | 3 |
Electives, select one (3 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| FVI 312 | Projects in Interactive Media | 3 |
| FVI 320 | Film History I | 3 |
| FVI 342 | Directing Film and Television | 3 |
| FVI 355 | Projects in Single-Camera Production | 3 |
| FVI 375 | Advanced Camera and Lighting | 3 |
| FVI 380 | Projects in Audio Production | 3 |
| FVI 390 | Projects in Multicamera Production | 3 |
| FVI 392 | Post-Production Techniques | 3 |
| FVI 393 | Animation Techniques | 3 |
| FVI 397 | Summer Production Project | 4 |
| COM 490 | Internship | 3 |
Other courses with chair's approval
Out-of-department minor
Curriculum + Requirements - BFA Degree
The 61-credit bachelor of fine arts degree is highly competitive. Candidacy for this degree can only be obtained through a successful separate application that includes a portfolio review. Candidates for the BFA degree are selected in September or February of a student's sophomore year. To apply to the BFA, please download the application (Adobe PDF).
Requirements (61 credits)
Required School of Communications core courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MSS 101* | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| JRN 160* | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| MSS 220* | Media History | 3 |
| MSS 340 | Communications Law and Policy | 3 |
*must be completed by the end of sophomore year with a minimum B- average
Other required FVI courses (37 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| FVI 210 | Production Fundamentals I | 3 |
| FVI 212 | Production Fundamentals II | 3 |
| FVI 310 | Creating Interactive Media | 3 |
| FVI 320 | Film History I | 3 |
| FVI 322 | Film (and Television) History II | 3 |
| FVI 340 | Analysis of the Moving Image | 3 |
| FVI 342 | Directing Film and Television | 3 |
| FVI 345 | Writing and Producing Media | 3 |
| FVI 372 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| FVI 450 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| FVI 494 | Senior Project Colloquy | 1 |
| FVI 495 | Senior Project (capstone) | 3 |
| COM 490 | Internship | 3 |
Electives, select four (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| FVI 312 | Projects in Interactive Media | 3 |
| FVI 342 | Directing Film and Television | 3 |
| FVI 355 | Projects in Single-Camera Production | 3 |
| FVI 375 | Advanced Camera and Lighting | 3 |
| FVI 380 | Projects in Audio Production | 3 |
| FVI 390 | Projects in Multicamera Production | 3 |
| FVI 392 | Post-Production Techniques | 3 |
| FVI 393 | Animation Techniques | 3 |
| FVI 397 | Summer Production Project | 4 |
| COM 491 | Advanced Internship | 3 |
Other courses with chair's approval