Academic Programs
Our department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinematic Arts. The B.A. degree in Cinematic Arts is the combination of the former B.A. options in Narrative Production and Theory & Practice.
Along with this change, our new curriculum will begin Fall 2024 and will no longer require a portfolio submission.
Program Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate proficiency in an area of the cinematic arts (critical studies, media writing, production, and/or post-production);
- Analyze and evaluate the ethical, historical, cultural, and economic impacts of cinema and its production and distribution worldwide;
- Apply aesthetic and textual analysis when creating or analyzing works of cinematic art;
- Utilize cinematic language to communicate themes, emotions, and points of view to an audience;
- Work collaboratively and ethically across all disciplines of the cinematic arts, synthesizing the valuable contributions of others in the resulting creative or scholarly work;
- Be prepared with conceptual, practical, and technical skills to successfully enter the workforce or to pursue advanced study.
Degree Requirements
Our program begins with a series of engaging Lower Division Courses in storytelling, production, and critical studies, that prepare students for our Upper Division Specialization Tracks. Students must complete 24 lower division units, 9 upper division units, and 21 units related to their specialization track, for a total of 54 minimum units.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 100 -- Orientation to FEA (2 units)
- Overview of department mission, degree requirements, areas of specialization, career opportunities, and theoretical, practical, and ethical issues of studying the cinematic arts. Campus and department resources are also highlighted.
- FEA 101 -- Understanding Film (3 units)
- An introduction to the world of cinema that focuses on the fundamental vocabulary of film analysis, as well as the critical issues in and around cinema, including ideology, representation, genre, authorship, and media industries.
- FEA 170 -- On-Set Safety Fundamentals (3 units)
- An introduction to the mindset, skillsets and techniques common across film and television productions promoting safety and respectful collaboration. Basics of electricity, hazards associated with stages and locations, as well as each crew member’s safety related responsibilities are highlighted.
- FEA 201 -- Film History I: Origins to 1960 (3 units)
- An overview of film history from its origins to 1960. Introduces students to early and silent cinema, the Hollywood studio system, and select national movements to understand cinema’s historical, cultural, aesthetic, industrial, and social contexts.
- FEA 202 -- Film History II: 1960 to Present (3 units)
- An overview of film history from the 1960s to the present. Introduces students to the new waves of the 60s, the New Hollywood, select movements and trends in world cinema, and the impact of globalization and digital technologies.
- FEA 207 -- Intro to Screenwriting (3 units)
- Introduction to formal elements of writing the short script.
- FEA 210 -- Sight, Sound & Story (3 units)
- An introduction to storytelling through the visual language of the cinematic arts. Explores shot design and how it conveys story, character, emotion, and themes. Students create short projects using sequences of still images.
- FEA 220 -- The Visual Story (3 units)
- FEA 272 -- Editing I Lab (1 units)
- Principles of non-linear editing in post-production.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 301 -- Critical Debates in Film & Media (3 units)
- Classical and contemporary theories of film analysis.
- FEA 305 -- Production Workshop I (3 units)
- Practical application of the collaborative components of narrative filmmaking: story development, pre-production, production, and post-production. Involves small group work and hands-on experience with key production roles.
Take one of the following:
- FEA 310 -- The World & Culture Through Film (3 units)**
- Examines how film impacts culture, using a variety of viewpoints from contemporary critical and cultural studies.
- FEA 380 -- Documentary History and Theory (3 units)
- Critical study of the history, theory, ethics, and aesthetics of documentary film.
**Students who choose to specialize in Creative Nonfiction MUST take FEA 310**
Specialization Tracks
Tracks of Specialization (21 units)
Select one of the following sub-plans. Courses in any track may be applied as electives in other tracks. See an advisor to determine the most relevant electives for your track.
Before choosing between one of our seven Specialization tracks, students must complete the lower division core courses.
Focus on the art and craft of cinematography including lighting, shooting, and crewing on advanced narrative projects.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 323 -- Cinematic Lighting/Approaches to Lighting (4 units)
- FEA 418 -- Color Correction (3 units)
- FEA 422 -- Production Workshop II (3 units)
- FEA 423 -- Advanced Cinematography I –Production Techniques (4 units)
- FEA 425 -- Advanced Cinematography II – The Cinematographer and Post Production (4 units)
Take three units of FEA Elective.
Acquire hands-on experience in producing, directing, cinematography, sound recording, editing, as well as documentary research and development.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 355 -- Intro to Documentary Production (4 units)
- FEA 374 -- Editing Documentary (3 units)
- FEA 380 -- Documentary History and Theory (3 units)
- FEA 455 -- Intermediate Documentary Production (4 units)
- FEA 465 -- Advanced Documentary Production (4 units)
Choose one of the following:
- FEA 307 -- Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 416 -- Editing II (3 units)
Obtain a foundational education in the history, culture, and theory of media. Provides a pathway for students that wish to apply to graduate programs.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 452 -- Film and Media Theory (3 units)
- FEA 471 -- Senior Seminar (3 units)
Take six units from the following:
- FEA 346 -- The European Cinema of Communism, Fascism and Resistance (3 units)
- FEA 392 -- Special Topics in International Cinema (3 units)
- B. European Cinema After 1960;
- C. Latin American Cinemas
- D. Japanese Cinema
- E. Korean Cinema
- F. Hong Kong Cinema
- FEA 454 -- Italian Cinema (3 units)
- FEA 456 -- French Cinema (3 units)
- FEA 457 -- German Cinema (3 units)
- FEA 458 -- Russian Cinema (3 units)
- FEA 460 -- Spanish Cinema (3 units)
Take nine units from the following:
- FEA 310 -- The World & Culture Through Film (3)8
- FEA 315 -- Digital Culture (3 units)
- FEA 316 -- Mass Media and Popular Culture (3 units)
- FEA 317 -- Women in the History of U.S. Film (3 units)
- FEA 362 -- Black Cinemas (3 units)
- FEA 363 -- Queer Film & Media (3 units)
- FEA 364 -- Cinemas of Rebellion and Resistance (3 units)
- FEA 380 -- Documentary History and Theory (3 units)
- FEA 395 -- Film Genres (3 units)
- A. Horror
- B. Comedy
- C. Science Fiction
- D. Thriller
- E. Melodrama
- F. Action
- FEA 426 -- Critical Television Studies and Culture (3 units)
- FEA 445 -- Cinema and Migration (3 units)
- FEA 450 -- American Indian and Indigenous Cinema (3 units)
- FEA 451 -- American Cinema in Focus (3 units)
- FEA 453 -- Mind-Game Film (3 units)
- FEA 470 -- Special Topics in Critical Studies (3 units)
- FEA 486 -- Alternative Media (3 units)
Focus on writing, producing, and directing short narrative films, including collaborative work on advanced projects.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 344 -- Directing I (3 units)
- FEA 345 -- Directing II (3 units)
- FEA 348 -- Acting for Directors (3 units)
- FEA 385 -- Collaborative Script Development (3 units)
- FEA 422 -- Production Workshop II (3 units)
- FEA 424 -- Production Workshop III (3 units)
Take three units of FEA Elective.
Learn the creative, aesthetic, and technical principles of editing, sound, and visual effects for films with the opportunity to obtain professional industry credentials.
Take 21 units from the following courses:
- FEA 307 -- Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 320 -- Post-Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 322 -- Experimental Film (3 units)
- FEA 337 -- Digital Arts Production (3 units)
- FEA 344 -- Directing I (3 units)
- FEA 347 -- Introduction to Visual Effects (3 units)
- FEA 360 -- Independent Media Production (3 units)
- FEA 374 -- Editing Documentary (3 units)
- FEA 416 -- Editing II (3 units)
- FEA 417 -- Editing III (3 units)
- FEA 418 -- Color Correction (3 units)
- FEA 420 -- Advanced Audio (3 units)
- FEA 422 -- Production Workshop II (3 units)
- FEA 424 -- Production Workshop III (3 units)
- FEA 437 -- Introduction to 3D Visual Effects (3 units)
Suggested course roadmaps for specific Post-Production focuses:
Sound Focus
- FEA 307 -- Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 320 -- Post-Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 322 -- Experimental Film (3 units)
- FEA 420 -- Advanced Audio (3 units)
- FEA 424 -- Production Workshop III (3 units)
Take two other courses of interest.
Editing Focus
- FEA 307 -- Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 344 -- Directing I (3 units)
- FEA 347 -- Introduction to Visual Effects (3 units)
- FEA 374 -- Editing Documentary (3 units) OR FEA 424 -- Production Workshop III (3 units)
- FEA 416 -- Editing II (3 units)
- FEA 417 -- Editing III (3 units)
- FEA 418 -- Color Correction (3 units)
Visual Effects
- FEA 322 -- Experimental Film (3 units)
- FEA 337 -- Digital Arts Production (3 units)
- FEA 347 -- Introduction to Visual Effects (3 units)
- FEA 360 -- Independent Media Production (3 units)
- FEA 437 -- Introduction to 3D Visual Effects (3 units)
Take two other courses of interest.
Post Generalist
- FEA 307 -- Production Sound (3 units)
- FEA 322 -- Experimental Film (3 units)
- FEA 337 -- Digital Arts Production (3 units)
- FEA 360 -- Independent Media Production (3 units)
- FEA 374 -- Editing Documentary (3 units)
Take two other courses of interest.
Learn the producer’s role in feature-length film projects, from development and pre-production to post-production and distribution.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 327 -- Producing I (3 units)
- FEA 360 -- Independent Media Production (3 units)
- FEA 375 -- Producing and the Business of Television (3 units)
- FEA 385 -- Collaborative Script Development (3 units)
- FEA 427 -- Producing II (3 units)
Take six units from either:
- FEA 338 -- Television Studio Production (3 units)
- FEA 438 -- Television Studio Directing (3 units)
OR
- FEA 422 -- Production Workshop II (3 units)
- FEA 424 -- Production Workshop III (3 units)
Write for film, television, and transmedia. Develop a deep understanding of character development, dialogue, and visual storytelling techniques.
Take the following courses:
- FEA 306 -- Intermediate Screenwriting (3 units)
- FEA 404 -- Advanced Screenwriting I (3 units)
- FEA 406 -- Advanced Screenwriting II (3 units)
- FEA 409 -- Writing the Episodic Series Pilot (3 units)
Take two of the following courses:
- FEA 375 -- Producing and the Business of Television (3 units)
- FEA 385 -- Collaborative Script Development (3 units)
- FEA 405 -- Comedy Writing (3 units)
- FEA 408 -- Writing the Screen Adaptation (3 units)
- FEA 419 -- The Writers Room (3 units)
