Program

Bring your passion and develop your craft through CSU's hands-on BFA and BA programs.

The School of Film & Media Arts prepares students for a successful career in the film industry through an intensive project-based curriculum. After acquiring a strong foundation in cinematic storytelling, students have the opportunity to specialize in their chosen fields. We believe the best way to master the craft of filmmaking is to create original work. Our students start making films and telling stories within their first year in a dynamic and collaborative environment, and continue to hone their skills until graduation.

While the BFA program offers rigorous and focused coursework with tracks of specialization, the B.A. in Film & Media Arts presents a more flexible approach to cinematic arts with a creative and hands-on curriculum.

Students complete 72 credits in the major by taking nine credits each semester over eight semesters. The six tracks include:

• Acting and Directing
• Cinematography
• Interactive Media
• Post Production
• Writing and Directing
• Writing and Producing

BA students complete 48 credits in the major to earn a degree in Film & Media Arts [link to degree map]. The BA degree allows for more flexibility in exploring electives outside of the film program, making it the ideal option for students who are pursuing a double major. The BA is also a great option for transfer students who are completing their film education at CSU.

The minor in International Film consists of 18 credits including 6 credits in two required core classes, and an additional 12 credits of electives that must be chosen from two different departments.

FMA Courses and Descriptions

Every course offering described in detail, with prerequisites and frequency of offering.

Excel in a cutting-edge studio environment.

Have a table read in a seminar room. Block a scene on a soundstage. Tweak the color in a finishing suite. No matter which program track you pursue, you'll learn in a space that has been designed to put you as close as possible to a true professional environment. Housed on the top floor of ideastream's Idea Center at Playhouse Square, the school's 36,000-square-foot facility has 24-foot studio ceilings, two 2,000+ square-foot sound stages, extensive natural light, and sweeping views of downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie. Each space within the facility has a different look, providing students with the ability to shoot nearly any scene or location imaginable. 

The studio was designed by VAA Architects and Bastien and Associates — Bastien's prominent design and building projects include Manhattan Beach Studios and the Marion Knott Studios at Chapman University — and features state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, digital editing bays, professional production equipment and access to additional Idea Center facilities, which provides even more opportunities for training and internships as well as a potential distribution outlet for the content that students create.