Program Contact: Frederick Staudmyer 203-582-6554
Students in the Film, Television and Media Arts BA program explore all aspects of physical production through their coursework while also gaining a strong foundation in film history, analysis, and theory. Students begin working with cameras their first semester on campus, and the curriculum builds on these foundational skills through a progression of required production courses. The curriculum introduces students to every aspect of professional filmmaking, providing them with the technical and narrative skills to bring compelling stories to life on-screen. They learn to conceptualize 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 production techniques, students select elective courses that broaden their skillset and reflect their specific filmmaking interests. Areas of study may include directing, screenwriting, cinematography and lighting, emerging cinematography and virtual production, VFX, animation, sound acquisition and design, costume and production design, editing, documentary production, producing, etc. The curriculum culminates in a Senior Capstone Project, where students work together over two semesters to produce a professional-caliber narrative, or documentary short film to submit to domestic and international film festivals.
Graduates of the Film, Television and Media Arts programs are well-prepared to work on set in various capacities on both film and television productions as well as pursue creative and corporate careers with myriad companies in the entertainment industry. Graduates also have a solid foundation to pursue graduate (MA or MFA) work.
FTM majors are encouraged to participate in our QU in LA program and further strengthen their engagement with the entertainment industry.
Programs of Study
The standard degree in Film, Television and Media Arts is the 45-credit Bachelor of Arts. Students enrolled in the BA in Film, Television and Media Arts are required to complete a minor (typically 18 credits) that will complement their career and/or personal interests. This minor can be from any program either inside or outside the School of Communications. The BA degree requires students to complete one of the following drama courses: DR 150, DR 160, DR 181, DR 220 or DR 260.
The BA in Film, Television and Media Arts requires a minimum of 123 credits for degree completion.
| 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 3 | ||
| Global Issues and Cultures, select two courses | 6 | |
| 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 372 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| FTM 450 | Senior Seminar in Film and Television | 3 |
| FTM 493 | Senior Project Colloquy: Development and Pre-Production | 3 |
| FTM 495 | Senior Project Colloquy: Production | 3 |
| FTM Electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Visual Effects (VFX) Techniques | ||
| History of Film I (to 1975) | ||
| History of Film (and Television) II | ||
| Emerging Cinematography Techniques | ||
| Directing Techniques | ||
| Documentary Production | ||
| Cinematography and Lighting Techniques | ||
| Projects in Audio Production | ||
| Projects in Multicamera Production | ||
| Post-Production Techniques | ||
| Animation Techniques | ||
| Summer Production Project | ||
| Communications Career Internship | ||
Other courses with chair's approval | ||
| FTM Drama Requirement, select one course: | ||
| DR 150 | Performance Fundamentals Fundamentals | 3 |
| or DR 160 | Acting I | |
| or DR 181 | Improvisational Acting | |
| or DR 220 | Voice and Movement | |
| or DR 260 | Acting for Film/Tv | |
| Free Elective | ||
| Select any course from across the university | 3 | |
| Minor Courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 123 | |
- 1
Students majoring in Film, Television and Media Arts will complete their Integrative Capstone Requirement within the major with FTM 495. In place of those credits, the student will select an additional unrestricted course in the University Curriculum.
- 2
Core must be completed by end of sophomore year.
- 3
A minimum of 45 credits of a student's total number of credits (includes major, minor, UC, electives, etc.) must be taken at the 200 level or higher.
Minor Requirement
Students majoring in the BA in Film, Television and Media Arts program are required to take a minor (typically 18 credits) that will complement their career and/or personal interests. This minor can be from any program either within or outside the School of Communications. However, a student enrolled in the BA in Film, Television and Media Arts program may not minor in the film and television minor offered by the School of Communications.
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student's individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser. Course availability, potential transfer credits, student goals, and course prerequisite completion may influence the course plan for each student.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| FTM 102 | Understanding Film | 3 |
| FTM 110 | Single Camera Production | 3 |
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| FTM 112 | Multicamera Production | 3 |
| MA 110 | Contemporary Mathematics (Or other University Curriculum Approved Math) | 3 |
| Minor Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTM 240 | Analysis of the Moving Image | 3 |
| FTM 245 | Intermediate Production | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Minor Course #2 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTM Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #3 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Lab Science | 4 | |
| University Curriculum/Drama Requirement | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTM 372 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| Minor Course #4 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTM Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #5 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTM 450 | Senior Seminar in Film and Television | 3 |
| FTM 493 | Senior Project Colloquy: Development and Pre-Production | 3 |
| Minor Course #6 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTM 495 | Senior Project Colloquy: Production | 3 |
| FTM Elective | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 123 | |
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.
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.