Film & Television BS

Major: Film and Television
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits:187.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code: 50.0602
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:
27-2012; 27-4031; 27-4032

About the Program

The Film & Television major offers a balance of technical craft and artistic vision that prepares students to pursue professional careers in the Film and Television industries. The program is hands-on with core themes driving each year: Story, Voice, Professional Practice, and Implementation. There is also substantial coursework in screenwriting and film studies.

This highly competitive program, with only sixty-four freshmen accepted annually, features smaller classes that foster student-faculty interaction and mentoring, as well as ample access to excellent equipment. The unique Drexel co-op and Los Angeles Summer Program enhance education by providing students with professional employment experience.

Virtual courses and virtual components to courses play a small but important role in the curriculum for Film and Television. They allow us to attract talented faculty and speakers from across the country and expose students to real-world experiences of film production and the exposure to world class situations that would be impossible in a face-to-face setting.

The Film & Television program also offers a minor in Film Studies.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, contact the program director:

John Avarese
Film & Television
Department of Cinema and Television
Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
jva23@drexel.edu

Admission Requirements

  • Optional portfolio
  • GPA: 2.75
  • SAT: 1100

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
ARTH 102History of Art II3.0
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
MATH 119Mathematical Foundations for Design4.0
UNIV A101The Drexel Experience2.0
Required Arts and Humanities-students select a minimum of 9 credits 9.0
Required Natural Science-students select a minimum of 6 credits 6.0
Required Social Science-students select a minimum of 9 credits 9.0
Electives *24.0
Film & Television Production Core Courses
FMST 101Film History I: Emergence3.0
FMST 102Film History II: New Waves3.0
FMST 203Film History III: Trends3.0
FMST 250Documentary Studies3.0
FMTV 100Visual Storytelling3.0
FMTV 101Production Safety1.0
FMTV 110Basic Cinematography3.0
FMTV 115Basic Editing3.0
FMTV 120Basic Sound3.0
FMTV 140Acting for the Screen3.0
FMTV 185TV Industry3.0
FMTV 201Portfolio Prep1.0
FMTV 202Scene Analysis3.0
FMTV 210Intermediate Cinematography3.0
FMTV 211Intermediate Lighting3.0
FMTV 215Intermediate Editing3.0
FMTV 216DIT & Workflows3.0
FMTV 220Intermediate Sound3.0
FMTV 240Narrative Production3.0
FMTV 250Documentary Production3.0
FMTV 270Basic Directing3.0
FMTV 280Basic Producing3.0
FMTV 283Legal Basics for Filmmakers3.0
FMTV 345TV Series Production I3.0
or FMTV 346 TV Series Production II
FMTV 355DNews3.0
FMTV 360Experimental Production3.0
FMTV 401Career Prep3.0
FMTV 495Senior Project I3.0
FMTV 496Senior Project II3.0
FMTV 497Senior Project III3.0
SCRP 150Entertainment Storytelling Fundamentals3.0
SCRP 270 [WI] Screenwriting I3.0
SCRP 280 [WI] Writing the Short Film3.0
or SCRP 281 Writing Episodic Shorts
SCRP 370Screenplay Story Development3.0
TVST 100Recent TV Trends3.0
Advanced Production Choice - Select four of the following (includes 300 level FMTV or SCRP courses):12.0
Film & TV Internship
Camera Operators Workshop
Steadicam Workshop
Advanced Camera
Post Color Correction
TV Series Production I
TV Series Production II
DNews
Special Topics in Film & TV
Special Topics in Film & TV
TV Writers' Room
TV Drama Practicum
TV Series Editing
Special Topics in Film & TV
Special Topics in Film & TV
Film Studies or Television Studies Course - Select two of the following (any FMST-Film Studies or TVST-Television Studies course not already required):6.0
Films of Gus Van Sant
Film Comedy
The Cinematographer's Art
Social Advocacy in Cinema
Hollywoodland I
Hollywoodland II
Japanese Cinema: Kurosawa
The Horror Film
Special Topics in Film Studies
Special Topics in Film Studies
Art of TV Comedy
Art of TV Drama
Science Fiction Television
Teen Television
Supernatural Fantasy TV Shows
Special Topics in TV Studies
Special Topics in TV Studies
Total Credits187.0
*

 Includes Film & TV as well as general electives.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

Fall Winter co-op cycle

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ARTH 1023.0ENGL 1023.0CIVC 1011.0VACATION
ENGL 1013.0FMST 1023.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
FMST 1013.0FMTV 1011.0FMTV 1003.0 
FMTV 1103.0FMTV 1153.0FMTV 1403.0 
SCRP 1503.0FMTV 1203.0MATH 1194.0 
UNIV A1011.0SCRP 2703.0TVST 1003.0 
 UNIV A1011.0  
 16 17 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
FMST 2503.0COOP 101*1.0FMST 2033.0FMTV 1853.0
FMTV 2023.0FMTV 2153.0FMTV 2113.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0
FMTV 2163.0FMTV 2203.0FMTV 2403.0Elective3.0
FMTV 2103.0FMTV 3463.0FMTV 2703.0Film or TV Studies Elective3.0
FMTV 2503.0FMTV 3553.0FMTV 2803.0Social Science Elective3.0
FMTV 2011.0SCRP 280 or 2813.0  
 16 16 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEFMTV 2833.0SCRP 3703.0
  FMTV 3603.0Natural Science Elective3.0
  TV Production Choice3.0Social Science Elective3.0
  Advanced Production Elective3.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0
  Natural Science Choice3.0Advanced Production Elective3.0
 0 0 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
FMTV 4013.0FMTV 4963.0FMTV 4973.0 
FMTV 4953.0Advanced Production Elective3.0Electives12.0 
TV Production Choice3.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0  
Social Science Elective3.0Electives6.0  
Elective3.0   
 15 15 15 
Total Credits 187
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Spring Summer co-op cycle

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0ARTH 1023.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0VACATION
FMST 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0CIVC 1011.0 
FMTV 1103.0FMST 1023.0FMTV 1003.0 
FMTV 1153.0FMTV 1011.0MATH 1194.0 
FMTV 1203.0FMTV 1403.0SCRP 1503.0 
UNIV A1011.0SCRP 2703.0TVST 1003.0 
 UNIV A1011.0  
 16 17 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
FMTV 2023.0FMTV 2011.0COOP 101*1.0FMTV 1853.0
FMTV 2113.0FMTV 2103.0FMST 2033.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0
FMTV 2203.0FMTV 2163.0FMST 2503.0Elective3.0
FMTV 3453.0FMTV 2403.0FMTV 2153.0Film or TV Studies Choice3.0
SCRP 280 or 2813.0FMTV 2703.0FMTV 2503.0Social Science Elective3.0
 FMTV 2803.0FMTV 3553.0 
 15 16 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
FMTV 2833.0SCRP 3703.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
FMTV 3603.0Natural Science Choice3.0  
TV Production Choice3.0Social Science Elective3.0  
Advanced Production Elective3.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0  
Natural Science Choice3.0Advanced Production Elective3.0  
 15 15 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
FMTV 4953.0FMTV 4013.0FMTV 4973.0 
TV Production Choice3.0FMTV 4963.0Electives12.0 
Social Science Elective3.0Advanced Production Elective3.0  
Electives6.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0  
 Elective3.0  
 15 15 15 
Total Credits 187
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Opportunities

Students who study film and video can move on to careers as film or video directors, producers, video or film editors, directors of photography (film), camerawork, as well as grips and special effects coordinators.

Co-Op Experiences

Some past co-op employers of film and video students include:

  • USA Network, New York
  • Comcast, Philadelphia
  • Bad Robot, Los Angeles
  • ICM, Los Angeles
  • Focus Features, New York
  • Law & Order, New York
  • NFL Films, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
  • Tribecca Film Center, New York
  • National Geographic Television, Washington DC
  • NBC, New York
  • Paramount Studios, Los Angeles
  • MTV, New York

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Facilities

Film and Video facilities include a shooting studio with green screen; two screening rooms; a fully equipped HD television studio; post-production labs for editing, color correction and audio recording & mixing; specially outfitted multimedia rooms; state of the art film production equipment including cameras, steadicams, lighting and audio equipment.

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

  • Develop and demonstrate the skills of an effective storyteller
  • Obtain and demonstrate advanced skills in the craft of film and video production
  • Develop a specialized expertise in an area of film and video production such as editing, cinematography, producing, sound, directing, etc.
  • Demonstrate a strong understanding of film history
  • Display a firm grasp on industry protocols and standards
  • Understand the distribution and potential of one’s own work
  • Demonstrate a multi-skilled approach to the industry

Film & Television Faculty

John Avarese, BS (Drexel University) Program Director. Teaching Professor. Film Composer, Sound Mixer, Author.
Alison Bagnall, BA (Yale University). Assistant Professor. Feature film writer and director.
David Deneen, BFA (Philadelphia College of Art). Assistant Teaching Professor. Cinematography.
Benjamin Kalina, MFA (Temple University). Assistant Professor. Documentary producer and director.
Matthew Kaufhold, MA (University of North Carolina) Program Director, Screenwriting and Playwriting. Teaching Professor. Screenwriter, Producer.
Karin P. Kelly, MFA (New York University) Department Head, Cinema and Television. Associate Professor. Filmmaker. Author
Yvonne D. Leach, MFA (Temple University). Associate Professor. Television studies Scholar
Thomas Quinn, MFA (Temple University). Associate Professor. Feature film writer and director.
David A. Schwartz, BA (Rider University). Associate Teaching Professor. Steadicam operator; cameraman.
Andrew Susskind, AB (Harvard University). Associate Teaching Professor. Producing, Directing, Writing, Editing.
Jocelyn Tarquini, MFA (American Film Institute). Associate Teaching Professor. Editor.