Program Overview

Introduction to the Digital Innovation, Film and Television Program

The Digital Innovation, Film and Television (DIFT) program at Xavier University is a four-year undergraduate program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the digital media and production industry. The program is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, which challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Innovation, Film and Television is a comprehensive program that covers all facets of the industry, including foundational technology skills, writing for production, video editing, and more. The program is designed to teach students not only what it takes to be successful as professionals in digital media and production but also how to apply the skills and principles they learn in the field.

Curriculum

The DIFT program curriculum is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education in digital media and production. The curriculum includes courses such as:

• Screenwriting and Story Craft (DIFT 250)
• Intro to Video Production (DIFT 254)
• Field Production and Storytelling (DIFT 354)
• Introduction to Video Graphics (DIFT 451)

Sample Course Sequence

The sample course sequence for the DIFT major is as follows:

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Dift 210: Art of Film (3cr.)
    • Core 100: First-Year Seminar (3cr.)
    • Philosophy 100: Introduction to Ethics (3cr.)
    • Second language I (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Mathematical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Social Impact Sciences Elective (3cr.)
    • Theology 111: Theological Foundations (3cr.)
    • English 101: English Composition (3cr.)
    • Second language II (3cr.)
• Sophomore Year:
  • Fall:
    • Dift 213: Non-Fiction Film (3cr.)
    • Communication Arts 206: Writing for the Media (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Scientific Perspectives Elective (3cr.)
    • Philosophy 200: Philosophical Perspectives (0cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Historical Perspectives Elective (3cr.)
    • Dift 215: Aesthetics and Technology in Post-Production (3cr.)
    • English 205: Literature and the Moral Imagination (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Creative Perspectives Elective (3cr.)
• Junior Year:
  • Fall:
    • Dift 250: Screenwriting and Story Craft (3cr.)
    • Dift 254: Intro To Video Production (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Natural Science Elective (3cr.)
    • Humanities Elective (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Dift 354: Field Production and Story Telling (3cr.)
    • Theological Perspectives (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Dift Elective (3cr.)
• Senior Year:
  • Fall:
    • Dift 459: Senior Seminar Electronic Media: Advanced Production (3cr.)
    • Dift Elective E/RS Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Dift Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Dift 460: Senior Seminar Electronic Media: Advanced Production II (3cr.)
    • Dift Elective (3cr.)
    • Dift Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)

Outcomes

The DIFT program at Xavier University has a strong track record of placing graduates in successful careers in the digital media and production industry. 98% of undergraduate Xavier students, including those in the DIFT major, are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2023). Recent employers of DIFT graduates include ABC, Amazon, ESPN, NCAA, Macy's, and Four Entertainment Group.

Related Programs

The DIFT program is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, which offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Related majors include:

• Communication Studies
• English
• Marketing
• Music Production
• Sports Marketing Related minors include:
  • Advertising
  • Communication Studies
  • Digital Innovation, Film and Television
  • Digital Media
  • Public Relations
  • Writing

Program Features

The DIFT program at Xavier University offers a range of features that make it an attractive option for students interested in digital media and production. These include:

• Hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment and software
• Opportunities to produce full-length creative films
• A location in Cincinnati, Ohio, which provides access to a vibrant film industry and a network of production companies, studios, and film professionals
• A curriculum that emphasizes the use of film and media as a tool for positive change, in line with the Jesuit values of the university

Alumni Making an Impact

DIFT graduates from Xavier University are making an impact in the digital media and production industry. Alumni include:

• Katie Ryan, Producer at the Today Show
• Courtnie Sprouse, Production Assistant, ESPN
• Victoria Page, President, The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting

FAQ

The DIFT program at Xavier University prepares students for a range of careers in the digital media and production industry. Some of the most common careers for DIFT graduates include:

• Creative Roles:
  • Film Director
  • Screenwriter
  • Cinematographer
  • Editor
  • Sound Designer
  • Production Designer
• Production Roles:
  • Producer
  • Production Manager
  • Line Producer
  • Assistant Director
  • Casting Director
• Technical Roles:
  • Camera Operator
  • Gaffer
  • Grip
  • Sound Mixer
  • Editor
• Post-Production Roles:
  • Colorist
  • Sound Editor
  • VFX Supervisor Students in the DIFT program learn to use a range of equipment and software, including:
• Cameras (DSLR, cinema cameras)
• Lighting equipment
• Sound recording equipment
• Editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro)
• Visual effects software (Adobe After Effects)
• Sound editing software (Adobe Audition) The university offers an honors program for DIFT students, which provides a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.