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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 1800Introduction to Film Studies3
FILMS_VS 1880Introduction to Digital Media Production3
Film Studies Core II
Student must take 6 credit hours
Students must take one of the following courses
FILMS_VS 2820Trends in World Cinema3
FILMS_VS 2830American Film History I, 1895-19503
FILMS_VS 2840American Film History II, 1950-Present3
Students must take one National Cinema or Theory course
Production Core I
Students must take 9 credit hours
FILMS_VS 3520Post Production3
FILMS_VS 3540Cinematography I3
FILMS_VS 3550Field Production I3
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 2530Screenwriting I3
FILMS_VS 3555Directing for the Screen3
FILMS_VS 3560Audio Engineering for the Screen3
FILMS_VS 3930Screenwriting for Television and Film3
FILMS_VS 4580Production Practicum3
FILMS_VS 4940Internship in Film Studies1-3
DST_VS 2830Video Art I3
DST_VS 2880Digital Storytelling Production I3
DST_VS 2885Digital Storytelling Animation Production I3

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Semester Plan

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
FILMS_VS 18003FILMS_VS 18803
ENGLSH 10003MATH 1050, 1100, or STAT 12003
Social Science (MO State Law)3Foreign Language5
Foreign Language5DST_VS 20053
 Humanities/Fine Arts3
 14 17
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
FILMS_VS 35403FILMS_VS 35203
Science with Lab5FILMS_VS 28203
Foreign Language3Humanities/Fine Arts (Writing Intensive)3
Behavioral Science Course3Behavioral Science course3
Social Science Course3Science course3
 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
FILMS_VS 35503FILMS_VS 45404
FILMS_VS 25303FILMS_VS 38613
Minor course3Minor course3
Humanities/Fine Arts course3Humanities/Fine Arts course3
Science course (Math Reasoning Proficiency)3General Elective course3
 15 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
FILMS_VS 35603FILMS_VS 45603
Minor course3or 
Minor course3FILMS_VS 48803
Social Science course3Minor course3
Writing Intensive course 3000+3General Elective course3
 General Elective coursae3
 General Elective course3
 15 18
Total Credits: 127

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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/.

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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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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