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 | ||
| Students must take 6 credit hours | ||
| FILMS_VS 1800 | Introduction to Film Studies | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 1880 | Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 |
| Film Studies Core II | ||
| Student must take 6 credit hours | ||
| Students must take one of the following courses | ||
| FILMS_VS 2820 | Trends in World Cinema | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 2830 | American Film History I, 1895-1950 | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 2840 | American Film History II, 1950-Present | 3 |
| Students must take one National Cinema or Theory course | ||
| Production Core I | ||
| Students must take 9 credit hours | ||
| FILMS_VS 3520 | Post Production | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3540 | Cinematography I | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3550 | Field Production I | 3 |
| Production Core II | ||
| Students must take 6 credit hours | ||
| FILMS_VS 4540 & FILMS_VS 4560 | Cinematography II and Field Production II | 3-7 |
| or FILMS_VS 4880 | Capstone Experience | |
| Production Electives | ||
| Students must take 6 credit hours | ||
| FILMS_VS 2530 | Screenwriting I | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3555 | Directing for the Screen | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3560 | Audio Engineering for the Screen | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 3930 | Screenwriting for Television and Film | 3 |
| FILMS_VS 4580 | Production Practicum | 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 | Digital Storytelling Animation Production I | 3 |
Semester Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 1800 | 3 | FILMS_VS 1880 | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | MATH 1050, 1100, or STAT 1200 | 3 |
| Social Science (MO State Law) | 3 | Foreign Language | 5 |
| Foreign Language | 5 | DST_VS 2005 | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 | ||
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 3540 | 3 | FILMS_VS 3520 | 3 |
| Science with Lab | 5 | FILMS_VS 2820 | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts (Writing Intensive) | 3 |
| Behavioral Science Course | 3 | Behavioral Science course | 3 |
| Social Science Course | 3 | Science course | 3 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 3550 | 3 | FILMS_VS 4540 | 4 |
| FILMS_VS 2530 | 3 | FILMS_VS 3861 | 3 |
| Minor course | 3 | Minor course | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts course | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts course | 3 |
| Science course (Math Reasoning Proficiency) | 3 | General Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FILMS_VS 3560 | 3 | FILMS_VS 4560 | 3 |
| Minor course | 3 | or | |
| Minor course | 3 | FILMS_VS 4880 | 3 |
| Social Science course | 3 | Minor course | 3 |
| Writing Intensive course 3000+ | 3 | General Elective course | 3 |
| General Elective coursae | 3 | ||
| General Elective course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Total Credits: 127 | |||
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.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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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 the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.