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Film (Filmmaking Practices), BA

Develop practical skills, creative versatility and assemble a strong portfolio along the way. You ultimately graduate with the professional foundation needed for long-term success in filmmaking and related creative industries.

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Students film a scene on a professional set, demonstrating the field explored in the BA in Film (Filmmaking Practices).

Quick facts

Courses

120 credit hours
Math intensity: General program math intensity general
First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
or any math course that meets the MATH designation.
View more details

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

Film (Filmmaking Practices) degree description

A Bachelor of Arts program at The Sidney Poitier New American Film School empowers you with critical thinking skills to navigate new, complex and changing environments in the film industry. With a foundation in ethical and collaborative practices and project-based learning that uses state-of-the art technology, this inclusive, high-impact film school empowers you to be a part of the next generation of cinematic storytellers, with programs that emphasize the interdisciplinarity of filmmaking, the evolving landscape of the screen and the journey of a story from idea to intended audience.

The BA program in film with a concentration in filmmaking practices builds on storytelling and equips you with the resilience and insight necessary not just to thrive in the industry, but to excel in your craft.

In this holistic program, you gain a comprehensive understanding of the art, craft and business of filmmaking. You are equipped with a broad tool set, production skills and knowledge base to pursue diverse career paths in the entertainment industry.

Los Angeles location
The Los Angeles location for the BA program in film is accepting first-year students and transfer students with an associate degree in film or media production (or applicable credits) from Arizona and California community colleges.

Why specialize in filmmaking practices at ASU?

At the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, you can create at the ASU MIX Center, a 118,000-square-foot facility for film, media arts, design and emerging technology in downtown Mesa. Its script-to-screen setup lets you learn every stage of filmmaking across soundstages, a color-grading room, sound-mixing studios, editing bays and screening theaters.

California students tap into Los Angeles Center Studios, a 20-acre production campus in the City West neighborhood near the ASU California Centers. This working studio lot is the closest to downtown LA and has hosted more than 4,000 productions, including ¿Mad Men,¿ ¿Dark Knight Rises,¿ ¿CSI¿ and ¿Top Gun: Maverick,¿ putting its equipment and soundstages within your reach.

Get to know the Film (Filmmaking Practices) degree at ASU

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Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
FMP 180 Principles of Production Technology
FMP 205 Introduction to Post-Production
FMP 210 Principles of Creative Producing
FMP 245 Concepts of Cinematography
FMP 261 Principles of Screenwriting
FMP 280 Introduction to Film and Media Production

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Apply technical, creative, and project management skills when undertaking the collaborative process of filmmaking.
  • Produce a comprehensive, coherent literature review by synthesizing relevant professional and scholarly literature regarding the artistic value and cultural impact of film, television, and digital media making.
  • Create a digital portfolio that represents and reflects the student's unique creative voice, advanced technical skills, successful production experience and professional vision.

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

An ASU student who would like to change their major to this program and would be new to this major must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 and understand that their GPA must be brought up to 2.50 or higher within one semester to remain in good standing. An ASU student who is returning to this major must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:


Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School's Semester in Los Angeles program is an opportunity for upper-division students to live and study in Los Angeles for one semester. The program offers the opportunity for an internship with a film industry company, as well as networking events, screenings and site visits to Panavision, Universal Studios, the Academy Museum and more. This is a chance for students to take exclusive, in-person courses at the ASU California Center locations while staying on their path to graduation.

Study abroad provides students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the globe while developing specific skills that can help them stand out in the competitive field of film.

With more than 300 Global Education programs available to them, students have an opportunity to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens and acquire a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture distinctly different from their own. The programs not only encourage students to build communication skills, but also challenge them, as artists, to think differently. Besides acquiring intercultural, communication and leadership skills, students have the chance to learn languages and expand their international network.

Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, Global Education programs challenge students to adapt and persevere, enabling them to look inside themselves in a way they haven't done before, growing their self-confidence along the way.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
Animator -0.3% $102,030
Audio-Visual Technician 3.9% $58,100
Camera Operator 1.3% $74,990
Casting Director 4.0% $90,360
Executive Producer 4.0% $90,360
Production Assistant 3.9% $73,620
Public Relations Specialist 1.8% $74,750
Technical Director 4.0% $90,360

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

Careers this filmmaking practices concentration prepares you for

Graduates with the concentration in filmmaking practices are prepared for careers in the film production and entertainment industry in areas such as public relations and marketing, management and law. Some graduates find entry-level positions in media and entertainment production, and others continue to advanced graduate-level education.

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School | GHALL 232
filmadmissions@asu.edu
480-727-7132

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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