Motion Picture Arts (Production)
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Fall 2026 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. After the freshman year, students only take courses in the major and the curriculum is lock-step — i.e., the faculty determines which courses students take each semester. The sample schedule below is subject to change.
The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in 10 semesters for freshmen and 8 semesters for transfers. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-Track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
The Motion Picture Arts: Production major is a Specialized Admission program. Admission is highly selective.
General Education and any university requirements that can’t be met within the major should be completed before starting the program. Admitted freshman will complete these during their first year. Transfer applicants are encouraged to consult with the mapping coordinator during the application process.
Mapping Coordinator: Mary Correia
Email: mcorreia@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| 1st GE Mathematics3 |
| GE Core Natural Science and Lab4 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice (FIL 2001 Intro to Cinema Studies recommended)3 |
| GE Social Science/Exploring Human Experience/State-Mandated Writing3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| GE Natural Science3 |
| GE Core Humanities/Ethics course (PHI2010 recommended)3 |
| GE Core History (AMH 2010 or AMH2020 recommended)3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete GE Statewide Core courses |
| Complete one Exploring Human Experience course |
| Complete Natural Science Lab |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| FIL2113L Screenwriting Workshop1 |
| FIL2423 Filmmaking I: Fiction3 |
| FIL2557 Motion Picture Editing I3 |
| FIL2043 History & Practice of VFX and Animation2 |
| FIL2090 Professional Communication (Oral Competency)1 |
| FIL2860 Film Styles 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete FIL2090 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete FIL2043 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| FIL2XXX Cinematography I 2 |
| FIL2360 Documentary Lab2 |
| FIL2XXX Motion Picture Editing II2 |
| FIL3363 Filmmaking II: Nonfiction3 |
| IDS2453 Reality & Illusion in World Cinema3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete IDS2453 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Summer hrs |
| FIL2441 Practicum in Tech Support1 |
| FIL2481L Acting for Filmmakers1 |
| FIL2726 Compositing I1 |
| FIL3516 Cinematography II 1 |
| FIL3433 Filmmaking & Technique2 |
| FIL3132 Screenwriting II 1 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| FIL3641L Motion Picture Production Management1 |
| FIL3XXX Motion Picture Editing III1 |
| FIL2533 Motion Picture Sound1 |
| FIL3971 Capstone Film Support4 |
| FIL3XXX Cinematography Scene Workshop 2 |
| FIL3433 Filmmaking Techniques2 |
| FIL2481L Acting for Filmmakers1 |
| FIL3132 Screenwriting II 1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete a Pre-graduation Check with College |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| FIL3XXX Practicum in Directing3 |
| FIL3XXX Practicum in Cinematography2 |
| FIL2481L Acting for Filmmakers1 |
| FIL3XXX Practicum in Editing2 |
| FIL2533 Motion Picture Sound1 |
| FIL3641L Motion Picture Production Management3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Summer hrs |
| FIL4XXX Live Action Capstone Pre-Production3 |
| FIL4xxx Advanced Screenwriting2 |
| FIL4434 Advanced Filmmaking2 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| FIL4973 Live Action Capstone Production12 |
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| Sample Schedule: Term 8 |
| FIL4XXX Live-Action Capstone Post-Production6 |
| FIL4933 Professional Development3 |
| FIL4613 Marketing & Exhibition 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete Pre-Graduation Check with Registrar |
| Complete Formative Experience FIL4973 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| . |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Complete Upper Division Writing: FIL4933 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Apply for graduation in 1st two weeks |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
Employment Information
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major (BFA or MFA): Director, Writer, Producer(Executive, Assistant, Unit), Director of photography, Editor, Post-production coordinator, Casting director, Production designer, Art director, Supervising art director, Set decorator, Costume designer, Costumer, On-set costume assistant, Makeup, Production manager, Post-production supervisor, Propmaker, Property master, Storyboard artist, Set dressing foreman, Set designer, Animatics, Animatics supervisor, Graphic designer, Visual development coordinator, Foley mixer, Sound effects recordist, Supervising sound editor, Production sound mixer, Sound editor, Dialogue Supervisor, Visual effects coordinator, Visual effects creative supervisor, Animation supervisor, Effects animator, Electrician, Best boy electric, Grip, Gaffer, Best boy lighting, Marketing coordinator, Production accountant, Craft service, Location manager, Script Supervisor.