Program Contact: Frederick Staudmyer 203-582-6554
Students in Film, Television and Media Arts 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. They learn to conceive and organize ideas clearly and forcefully through writing and to shape those ideas for expression through image and sound. After mastering a full spectrum of basic techniques, students are immersed in the complex grammar of image and sound editing and the challenging artistry of lighting for both single and multi-camera environments. Mastering the acquisition, composition and manipulation of moving images and sound, they are expected to create and execute compelling stories—narrative or documentary—for current and developing distribution platforms.
Graduates of the Film, Television and Media Arts programs are well positioned to pursue careers in the entertainment industry in creation 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 informational programming to audiences around the world and have a firm foundation to pursue graduate (MA or MFA) work.
Programs of Study
The department offers a highly competitive 63-credit bachelor of fine arts degree. Candidacy for this degree can only be obtained through a successful separate application that includes a portfolio review. Candidates for the BFA are selected in September or February of a student’s sophomore year or by separate application after admission to Quinnipiac.
Students enrolled in the BFA program in film, television and media arts are not required to take a minor.
BFA in Film, Television and Media Arts Curriculum
Students majoring in Film, Television and Media Arts must meet the following requirements for graduation:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Required School of Communications core courses 2 | ||
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| School of Communications Requirements | ||
| Global Issues and Cultures, select two courses | 6 | |
| FTM drama requirement, select one course | ||
| DR 150 | Performance Fundamentals | 3 |
| or DR 160 | Acting I | |
| or DR 220 | Voice and Movement | |
| Additional course outside the major or minor, at the 200 level or higher | 3 | |
| Seminars for Success | ||
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Required FTM courses | ||
| FTM 102 | Understanding Film | 3 |
| FTM 110 | Single Camera Production | 3 |
| FTM 112 | Multicamera Production | 3 |
| FTM 240 | Analysis of the Moving Image | 3 |
| FTM 245 | Intermediate Production | 3 |
| FTM 320 | History of Film I (to 1975) | 3 |
| FTM 322 | History of Film (and Television) II | 3 |
| FTM 342 | Directing Film and Television | 3 |
| FTM 372 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| FTM 450 | Senior Seminar in Film and Television | 3 |
| FTM 493 | Senior Project Colloquy: Preproduction | 3 |
| FTM 495 | Senior Project Colloquy: Production | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Visual Effects (VFX) Techniques | ||
| Emerging Cinematography Techniques | ||
| Documentary Production | ||
| Projects in Single Camera and Lighting | ||
| Projects in Audio Production | ||
| Projects in Multicamera Production | ||
| Post-Production Techniques | ||
| Animation Techniques | ||
| Summer Production Project | ||
| Communications Career Internship II | ||
Other courses with chair's approval | ||
| Total Credits | 123 | |
- 1
All students must complete the 46 credits of the University Curriculum. Students majoring in Film, Television and Media Arts complete their Integrative Capstone Requirement within the major with FTM 495. In place of those credits, the student must select an additional unrestricted course in the University Curriculum.
- 2
Core must be completed by end of sophomore year.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Creative Thinking and Visual Literacy: Develop the ability to conceptualize and produce visual stories demonstrating aesthetic competence, fluency with visual grammar, and an appreciation of the historical context from which new forms and stories are created.
- Written and Oral Communication: Acquire the facility to create effective content for visual media, as well as an ability to demonstrate both written and oral proficiency within a variety of professional formats and delivery platforms.
- Critical Thinking and Reasoning: Develop the skills needed to critically analyze the work of others as a means to problem-solve and better inform students’ own original creative output. Achieve a proficiency in creating professional quality work within the parameters and practical limitations of a broad spectrum of production environments. Recognize works of art as visual arguments, and be able to use analytical skills to assess their effectiveness.
- Information Fluency: Learn to plan and produce effectively across a wide array of technical contexts, demonstrating facility and expertise with preproduction, production and postproduction phases of film, television and interactive media creation.
- Social Intelligence: Demonstrate an ability to work effectively within groups and production teams, to understand and manage collaborations and to act ethically, constructively and responsibly in the process of achieving individual and common goals.
- Diversity Awareness and Sensitivity: Acquire an understanding of and respect for the similarities and differences among human communities, including a recognition and appreciation for the unique talents and contributions of all individuals.
- Responsible Citizenship: Learn to recognize and analyze media-related issues and influence decisions and actions at the local, national and global community, and to become engaged as responsible citizens.
Please note: Current high school students, transfer students and matriculated Quinnipiac University students who wish to be considered for the BFA program can access a BFA application on the Film, Television and Media Arts page on Quinnipiac's website.
Admission Requirements: School of Communications
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate School of Communications programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.