Film Major (B.F.A.) at Ohio University

The BFA in Film is a unique curriculum providing professional training in all major aspects of filmmaking alongside a solid foundation in film studies. The program prepares students to succeed in careers in the film and television industry, in professional areas utilizing time-based media (i.e., the web, advertising), and/or as independent artists. The focus of the program is to develop each student's individual strengths as visual storytellers, creative voices, and critical media practitioners within the context of a rigorous liberal arts education. By encouraging students to master a wide range of tools as well as specific areas of knowledge and experience, the program aims to nurture filmmakers that will be ready, upon graduation, to work in a multifaceted and rapidly changing media world, while discovering and expressing their unique creative vision.

During the first two years, students receive an introduction to film as an art form, focusing on film history and film studies combined with an overview of basic filmmaking techniques and tools. Fiction, non-fiction, and experimental films and filmmaking practices are explored. In the final two years, students continue to engage with the film studies program while shifting their focus to filmmaking praxis. During this period, students also take part in specialization classes designed around professional practice. Utilizing a project-based approach to building creative portfolios, students earn a BFA with a concentration in filmmaking, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, post-production, or film studies. Students graduate with a strong combination of critical knowledge, filmmaking skills, and a polished portfolio of work.