College: Motion Picture Arts
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Specialized Admission: Yes
Address: A5100 University Center, FSU Tallahassee, FL 32306
Phone: (850) 644-4927
Email: mcorreia@fsu.edu
*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.*
The program of study leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree (BFA) in production combines schooling in filmmaking with a solid grounding in liberal studies. The curriculum directs students through the program in such a way that they will begin learning the special language of film by making short films, culminating with a senior capstone film.
The College of Motion Picture Arts funds most production expenses, including those of the capstone films. Screenwriting, production, and film analysis are viewed as part of an integrated process. The goal of the program is to produce educated, literate, creative filmmakers; the focus of the program is on fictional narrative films. The major courses include producing, directing, animation, screenwriting, editing, camera and lighting, sound, production management, film history, film theory and film aesthetics.
Students entering the program as freshmen will spend the first year working on general education requirements and then are immersed, sophomore through senior years, in production courses. Transfer students will enter the program as sophomores and complete the degree in eight semesters, which includes two summers. Transfer applicants should complete all general education requirements before starting the program and are encouraged to consult with the academic advisor for course planning when applying.
Prerequisite Coursework: None
There are no common prerequisites to the FSU program.
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Admission Requirements to Major Program of Studies
The Motion Picture Arts: Production major is a Specialized Admission program. Admission is highly selective. Each class comprises no more than 20 students. Separate applications must be made to The Florida State University Office of Admissions and to the College of Motion Picture Arts. All program applicants must apply to FSU by the Fall early admission deadline. An applicant seeking to enter the Motion Picture Arts must meet the grade point average and test score requirements described by the University’s Office of Admissions, http://film.fsu.edu/Apply-to-FSU-Film/BFA-in-Production .
The College of Motion Picture Arts application package consists of the following items: the online application, résumé, a writing sample, creative portfolio, three letters of recommendation on letterhead, and a personal statement (a 500 to 1,000 word essay describing your background, artistic experiences, creative influences, personal objectives, and future career goals). The College of Motion Picture Arts application deadline is posted on our website https://film.fsu.edu/admissions .
All students are only accepted into the program beginning in the Fall semester. Once admitted into the Production Major, students must maintain a “B” average in all major requirements. Continuation in the major will depend on the development of each student’s talents, skills, professional discipline and academic record, including a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above. A student’s work and commitment are under continuous review, and any candidate who fails to maintain high standards may be dismissed from the program.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (91 hours)
This information is subject to change; contact department.
Program Core Requirements:
FIL2043 - History and Practice of Visual Effects and Animation
FIL2090 - Professional Communication
FIL2110 - Story Development and Screenwriting I
FIL2113L - Screenwriting Workshop
FIL2423 - Filmmaking I
FIL2441 - Practicum in Technical Support
FIL2481L - Acting for Filmmakers
FIL2533 - Motion Picture Sound
FIL2557 - Motion Picture Editing
FIL2726 - Compositing I
FIL2860 - Film Styles
FIL2xxx - Special Topics: Documentary Lab
FIL3132 - Screenwriting II
FIL3433 - Filmmaking Techniques
FIL3516 - Film Camera and Lighting
FIL3363 - Documentary Filmmaking
FIL3641L - Motion Picture Production Management
FIL3971 - Capstone Film Support
FIL4xxx - Advanced Screenwriting
FIL4xxx - Advanced Directing
FIL4135 - Capstone Development
FIL4434 - Advanced Filmmaking
FIL4567 - Production: Advanced Editing
FIL4923 - Undergraduate Film Seminar
FIL4933 - Professional Development
FIL4973 - BFA Capstone Production
IDS2453 - Reality & Illusion in World Cinema
Electives:
FIL 2441 - Practicum in Technical Support
FIL 2727 - Compositing II
FIL 3932 - Special Topics
FIL 4474 - Production: Advanced Cinematography
FIL 4539 - Production: Advanced Sound
FIL 4567 - Production: Advanced Editing
FIL 4613 - Marketing and Exhibition
FIL 4872 - Film Aesthetics
FIL 4905 - Directed Individual Study
FIL 4910 - Application of Research and Creative Methods
FIL 4940 - Application of Instruction Methods
FIL 4945 - Professional Internship
FIL 4975 - Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Completion of the program should be planned with an academic advisor, with regard to the student’s background and goals
The following required courses in the major fulfill Liberal Studies for the 21st Century General Education and University-Wide Requirements:
FIL 2043 History & Practice of Visual Effects and Animation fulfills:
o Digital Literacy
o Scholarship in Practice
FIL 2090 Professional Communication fulfills:
o Oral Communication Competency
FIL2860 Film Styles fulfills:
o GE Humanities
IDS 2453 Reality & Illusion in World Cinema fulfills:
o GE Humanities
o Scholarship in Practice
o “W’ (Writing)
o Diversity
FIL 4135 Thesis Development fulfills:
o Upper Division Writing
FIL 4973 BFA Thesis Production fulfills
o Formative Experience
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hours Required 120
General Education 36
Major Coursework 91
Minor Coursework 0
Digital Literacy 0 beyond major
Oral Competency 0-3
Other Required Coursework 0
Electives to bring total number of credit hours to 120
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
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.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Fall 2025 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 Science3 |
| 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 Ethics (PHI2010 recommended)3 |
| GE Core History (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 Diversity course |
| Complete Natural Science Lab |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| FIL2110 Story Development & Screenwriting I1 |
| FIL2113L Screenwriting Workshop1 |
| FIL2423 Filmmaking I: Fiction3 |
| FIL2557 Motion Picture Editing2 |
| 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 |
| FIL3516 Film Camera & Lighting 2 |
| FIL2xxx Documentary Lab2 |
| FIL2557 Motion Picture Editing2 |
| 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 Film Camera & Lighting1 |
| FIL3433 Filmmaking Techniques 2 |
| FIL3132 Screenwriting II 2 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| FIL3641L Motion Picture Production Management1 |
| FIL4567 Production: Adv Editing1 |
| FIL2533 Motion Picture Sound1 |
| FIL3971 Capstone Film Support4 |
| FIL3516 Film Camera and Lighting 2 |
| FIL3433 Filmmaking Techniques2 |
| FIL2481L Acting for Filmmakers1 |
| 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 |
| FIL4434 Advanced Filmmaking3 |
| FIL3516 Film Camera & Lighting2 |
| FIL2481L Acting for Filmmakers1 |
| FIL4567 Production: Adv Editing2 |
| FIL2533 Motion Picture Sound1 |
| FIL3641L Motion Picture Production Management3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| Summer hrs |
| FIL4973 BFA Capstone Production3 |
| FIL4474 Advanced Cinematography2 |
| FIL4xxx Advanced Screenwriting2 |
| FIL4xxx Advanced Directing2 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| FIL4973 BFA Capstone Production12 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 |
| FIL4973 BFA Capstone Production6 |
| FIL4933 Professional Development3 |
| FIL4613 Marketing & Exhibition 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete Pre-Graduation Check with Registrar |
| Complete FIL4973 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |
| . |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Complete Upper Division Writing: FIL4135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Apply for graduation in 1st two weeks |
| Maintain 3.00 or higher GPA |