BA in Film Studies with Emphasis in Film Production
Degree Program Description
The Film Studies program provides guidance to our students from accomplished research and film production faculty, real world experience through hands-on internship practicums, and opportunities for success beyond the program for our graduates.
The BA in Film Studies with Emphasis in Production offers an immersive curriculum in film production, spanning from screenwriting and cinematography to audio engineering and field production. The program combines rigorous technical instruction with aesthetic, historical, and theoretical topics that inspire students to find innovative ways to express themselves through film. Working with established filmmakers, media artists and scholars, our film production students develop their own personal craft and vision as a filmmaker. At each stage of the curriculum students exercise and demonstrate their skills and creativity through class projects. This learning process culminates in the senior film project that serves as the central piece of the graduate’s professional portfolio.
Film Studies graduates have the ability to pursue careers in in a wide range of professions. Common areas of employment are in arts and entertainment, broadcasting, and media and film production. For those who seek a career in the TV/motion picture and digital media industries, the BA in Film Studies qualifies them for many and various jobs, including producer, cinematographer, director, editor, actor/actress, writer, or technician for visual effects, lighting, sound or special effects.
Major Program Requirements
In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
| Film Studies Core I (6 credit hours) | ||
| FILMS_VS 1800 | Introduction to Film Studies | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 1880 | Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 |
| Film Studies Core II (6 credit hours) | ||
| Students must take one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Trends in World Cinema | ||
| American Film History I, 1895-1950 | ||
| American Film History II, 1950-Present | ||
| Students must take one National Cinema or Theory course | 3 | |
| Production Core (12 credit hours) | ||
| FILMS_VS 3520 | Post Production | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3540 | Cinematography I | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3550 | Narrative Filmmaking | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 4540 | Cinematography II | 3 |
| Screenwriting Core (3 Credit Hours) | ||
| Select 1 of the following courses: | ||
| FILMS_VS 2530 | Screenwriting I | 3 |
| THEATR 3930 | Screenwriting for Television and Film | 3 |
| Capstone (6 Credit Hours) | ||
| FILMS_VS 4550 | Capstone I | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 4560 | Capstone II | 3 |
| Production Electives (3 credit hours) | ||
| Select 1 of the following courses: | ||
| FILMS_VS 3555 | Directing for the Screen | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 2540 | The Art of Film Producing | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3855 | Documentary Film | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3560 | Audio Engineering for the Screen | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 4940 | Internship in Film Studies | 1-3 |
| DST_VS 2830 | Video Art I | 3 |
| DST_VS 2880 | Digital Storytelling Production I | 3 |
| DST_VS 2885 | 2D Animation I | 3 |
| THEATR 4938 | Advanced Screenwriting: Styles | 3 |
| THEATR 3560 | Scene Design | 3 |
Semester Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 1800 | 3 | FILMS_VS 1880 | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Biological or Physical Science Lab | 3 |
| Missouri State Law Requirement: Social Science from Arts & Science | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | Second Language Requirement | 4 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 3540 | 3 | FILMS_VS 3520 | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 2840 or 2820Students may also choose to take FILMS_VS 2830, typically offered in a spring semester. | 3 | FILMS_VS 2530 | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | Humanities, 2000+ | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 | Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 3550 | 3 | FILMS_VS 4540 | 3 |
| FILMS_VS - National Cinema or Film Theory and Method Course | 3 | Humanities, First Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Behavioral Science from Arts & Science | 3 | Social Science, 2000+ | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 2 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 4 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Writing Intensive, 3000+ (Film_VS 3820W or DST_VS 3880W recommended) | 3 | FILMS_VS 4560 | 3 |
| FILMS_VS - Production Elective, 3000+ | 3 | Humanities, 2000+ | 3 |
| Behavioral Science from Arts & Science | 3 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 4550 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
- Change your Major. If you are considering changing your undergraduate major or are choosing between several majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573) 884-9700 or through the Discovery Center service in your MU Connect success network.
- Decided on a Major. If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring that major.
- Identify your Interests and Strengths. If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values, and talents, visit the staff at the MU Career Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- Explore MU Majors. If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit Majors at Mizzou or the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.