A film degree familiarizes a student with the history and techniques of filmmaking and prepares him for what he will encounter working in movies or television. Individuals with film degrees seek work among the positions within and surrounding the film industry, such as editing, screenwriting or serving as part of a crew on a film set.
The need for a medium-specific degree is a subject of disagreement among those who work in film. Some dispense with school and instead adopt an apprenticeship approach to their training, taking low-level jobs on set first and working their way up to positions of greater creative control.
Yet a degree in film, particularly if it comes from one of the best film schools, confers certain advantages. These include a deep knowledge of the history and theory of the craft; useful personal and professional connections; and training in a range of technical skills that prepare students to work with the most current technologies and equipment.
There are all sorts of film schools, and there is no single universal supervisory body performing accreditation. Instead, different types of schools receive accreditation from different agencies. For instance, many of the schools offering associate's degrees are accredited by the A.C.C.S.C, which oversees vocational schools. Some art schools with film programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Four-year colleges with film schools or film departments are accredited by their regional accreditation bodies. Some film schools have no accreditation at all.
Film degrees vary widely in what they provide students, with some focusing primarily on practical skills, and others providing a framework of film theory. The discipline has become increasingly represented in post-secondary education since the 1990s.
As a supplement to a bachelor's degree or a Ph.D., a certificate in film is something like a double major, indicating a keen interest in the subject. Courses for the certificate can be both academic and practical.
While a certificate of this kind does not make its bearer job-ready, the background it provides may qualify a graduate to teach film at the undergraduate level,
Associate degrees in film require a high school transcript or GED. Most take around four years to complete. Courses concentrate on the technical aspects of film making, and film survey courses are generally part of the curriculum as well.
An associate's degree can provide a student with the skills necessary for some entry-level roles in film or television production.
A bachelor's degree in film is usually a four-year program that introduces the student both to the history of the medium and the skills necessary to create his own work. Besides general education, the coursework includes classes that provide experience with the tools film makers will use after graduation.
While a bachelor's degree in film does not guarantee a job, the skills and experience gained in its pursuit are useful. Internships and student projects all add up to hours logged solving the problems of making movies.
It takes between two to three years to complete an M.A. or an M.F.A. in film. Some of these film programs are very specialized, guiding the student toward a focus on, for instance, directing, cinematography, or theory.
A thesis project, either a film or a paper, is usually a requirement of a master's program in film. Graduates bearing a master's degree may find work in film through networking with classmates and faculty, or through marketing the particular skills they have developed during the production of student efforts. Some of the top film schools provide large budgets for student movies, allowing aspiring filmmakers to work at professional levels.
A Ph.D. in film examines and contributes to the scholarship of film and is research-oriented. A filmed thesis is sometimes the result of doctoral study, but more often a dissertation concerning film is the product.
A doctoral student in film participates in dissertation hours and seminars. The nature of his concentration determines the type of seminars and other coursework he takes.
A film scholar with a Ph.D. has a number of employment options, including the following:
We found 45 schools offering film degree programs in the U.S.
>> See all 45 Film / Video And Photographic Arts Other Colleges in the U.S.
