B.F.A. in Film Production
Tell your story through film.
This competitive-entry degree offers courses in theory and history, creative thinking and writing, and 19 film production courses. Our production-based curriculum gives students as many opportunities as possible to make film.
Key Benefits
Students make their own films beginning first semester, which distinguishes us-the only intensive film production program in Mississippi-from most top tier film schools. Students build professional-grade portfolio reels essential for entering the industry using a new, state-of-the-art, 6,000 square foot film production facility.
Graduate Outcomes
A liberal arts education empowers and prepares students to deal with complexity and change through a broad knowledge of the world. They gain key skills in communication, problem-solving, and working with a diverse group of people. Related careers in film production include director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer, lighting designer, production designer, screenwriter, visual effects, set decorator, and key grip, and many more.
Experiences Offered
Students can enter their film into the UM Film Festival as well as the Oxford Film Festival, providing many local opportunities to engage with the film community. Our faculty connections with the professional film industry provide many internship possibilities.
B.F.A. in Film Production Faculty
Best described as a graduate program for undergraduates, our BFA is professionally-focused and features a low student-to-teacher ratio with emphasis on individual mentorship.
Course Requirements
The major in film production for the B.F.A. degree requires 73 credit hours.
Film Production courses (43 hours)
- Thea 193 – Film Practicum I - (1 hr)
- Thea 250 – Film Production I - (3 hrs
- Thea 293 – Film Practicum II - (1 hr)
- Thea 294 – Film Practicum III - (1 hr)
- Thea 305 – Screenwriting I - (3 hrs)
- Thea 350 – Editing I - (3 hrs)
- Thea 354 – Directing for the Screen I - (3 hrs)
- Thea 360 – Cinematography I - (3 hrs)
- Thea 361 – Sound Design for Cinema I - (3 hrs)
- Thea 362 – Motion Picture Lighting - (3 hrs)
- Thea 393 – Film Practicum IV - (1 hr)
- Thea 394 – Film Practicum V - (1 hr)
- Thea 406 – Screenwriting II - (3 hrs)
- Thea 450 – Editing II - (3 hrs)
- Thea 454 – Directing for the Screen II - (3 hrs)
- Thea 455 – Cinematic Storytelling - (3 hrs)
- Thea 460 – Cinematography II - (3 hrs)
- Thea 493 – Film Practicum VI - (1 hr)
- Thea 494 – Film Practicum VII - (1 hr)
Theory, History, and Literature courses (18 hours)
- One of the following: Thea 203, 204 – Drama in Film, Comedy in Film - (3 hrs)
- Thea 205 – Cinema Survey I - (3 hrs)
- Thea 206 – Cinema Survey II - (3 hrs)
- AH 201 – History of Art I - (3 hrs)
- AH 202 – History of Art II - (3 hrs)
- One of the following (3 hrs)
- Eng 311 – Studies in Cinema/Media Genres
- G St 350 - Gender and Sexuality in Cinema
- G St 386 - Gender on Film
- Phil 320 - Aesthetics
- Phil 355 - Philosophy of Film
- Thea 323 - Film and Aristotle
Other Course Requirements (12 hours)
- Eng 199 – Introduction to Creative Writing - (3 hrs)
- Thea 120 – Introduction to Theatre, Film & Dance - (3 hrs)
- Thea 121 – Creative Thinking - (3 hrs)
- Thea 499 – Senior Seminar - (3 hrs) In addition to the general education courses, the degree in film production requires elective hours chosen from any area, including theatre & film,to bring the total number of credits to 120 semester hours.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is by competitive entry. Students submit writing and film samples before their freshman year for entry into the film production program. More details are found on the department website.