Program Overview

Film and Television

Overview

Discover your personal voice as a cinematic storyteller in a degree program that introduces you to all aspects of one of the most immersive media formats in the world. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television trains students to become directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and other industry leaders. Students take courses taught by a faculty of internationally recognized and award-winning filmmakers. Students produce original content while working on multiple film productions each semester. With an emphasis on professional production values and technical mastery, this immersive, hands-on curriculum offers students the opportunity to hone their craft throughout the filmmaking process, from development through postproduction. Graduates have gone on to work in the entertainment industry in aspects of film and media such as development, production, and distribution.

Learning Outcomes

• Create Original Work: Develop original work which reflects a personal artistic voice through the production of fiction and non-fiction work.
• Craft Skills: Demonstrate strong technical control in the areas of directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and production and post-production sound.
• Collaboration: Effectively collaborate with peers in the development, production, and completion of films.
• Professionalism: Employ professional standards in their collaboration with peers and faculty.

Program Details

Sample Courses

• FTV 311A: Cinematography
• FTV 318: Fundamentals of Editing
• FTV 364: Writing the Short Screenplay

Career Fields

• Cinematography
• Directing
• Editing
• Film production
• Screenwriting

Level of Math

• General Knowledge: This strand involves the general understanding and appreciation of how mathematics is used to solve problems in everyday life. The G-strand does not prepare a student for any further work grounded in mathematics and assumes the student will not proceed beyond the basic Foundations level noted above. Thus, only those students whose major requires the most general knowledge of mathematics should take this strand.

Level of Second Language

• 4th Semester Proficiency: Fourth-semester skill level in a second language is required. B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options:
  • Scoring the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona.
  • Completion of a two-course sequence beyond the second semester of post-secondary language instruction.
  • Completion with a C or higher of a 300- or 400-level language course at the post-secondary level.
  • Completion of one course beyond the third semester in combination with an AP (Advanced Placement) score, IB (International Baccalaureate) score, or a CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) score determined by the individual language department.
  • An AP, IB, or CLEP language score determined by individual language departments.
  • A minimum of one semester study abroad in a language program approved by the appropriate language department as the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level.

Pre-major Required?

• No

Additional Admissions Requirements

• This major has additional admission requirements. Please see the School of Theatre, Film, and Television website for details.

This Major's College

• College of Fine Arts

Degree

• Bachelor of Fine Arts

Sample Plans

2025, Film and Television

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework

First Year

1st Semester

• FTV 100A Film & TV History, Beg-Mid 20th C (3 credits)
• FTV 200 Film & TV Aesthetics (3 credits)
• ENGL 101 (3 credits)
• Math (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1 credit)

2nd Semester

• FTV 100B Film & TV History, Mid 20th C-Pres (3 credits)
• ENGL 102 (3 credits)
• Second Language (4 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

Second Year

3rd Semester

• FTV 210 Intro to Film Production (3 credits)
• Second Language (4 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• FTV 303 (1 credit)

4th Semester

• FTV 270 Intro to Film & TV Industries (3 credits)
• FTV 309 History of Documentary (3 credits)
• FTV 311A Cinematography (4 credits)
• FTV 313 Experimental Production Practices (4 credits)
• FTV 318 Editing Fundamentals (3 credits)

Third Year

5th Semester

• FTV 314A Documentary Production (4 credits)
• FTV 317A Sound Design for FTV Production (4 credits)
• FTV 364 Writing the Short Screenplay (3 credits)
• FTV 367 Directing for the Screen (4 credits)
• FTV 373 Producing I (3 credits)

6th Semester

• FTV 315A Fiction Production (4 credits)
• FTV 374 Producing II (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1 credit)

6th Semester Summer

• FTV 493 Internship (3 credits)

Fourth Year

7th Semester

• FTV 498D BFA Capstone I (6 credits)
• FTV History Elective (3 credits)
• General Elective (3 credits)
• General Elective (3 credits)

8th Semester

• FTV 498E BFA Capstone II (6 credits)
• FTV Major Elective (3 credits)
• FTV Producing Elective (3 credits)