Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Film & TV Production

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and TV production at Sam Houston State University is perfect for anyone interested in studying digital cinema.

Whether you want to write, direct, produce, design, edit, or shoot, you can get your first shot with a Sam Houston film & TV degree plan. The BFA in film and TV production provides students with an excellent liberal arts education from a renown department with a high degree of student-faculty interaction, a wide variety of hands-on courses, state-of-the-art facilities located in the Dan Rather Communications Building, and worldwide networking opportunities. Students will be prepared for a career in motion picture and media production in a diverse, multi-cultural, and rapidly changing media world.

All students who choose to declare a major or minor in Mass Communication or Ag/Com will be required to pass the Pearson Grammar Competency Lab with a score of 80 percent or better before they will be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000-level courses in MCOM.  The lab is offered free of charge. Please visit Grammar Module for additional information. 

Additional Requirements

  • A digital media portfolio or a link to an online digital media portfolio must be submitted to the department during the students first semester at SHSU. A review of the portfolio will determine if the student is allowed to remain in the BFA program. Students not passing the portfolio review will be required to select another concentration within the department. Students may be required to submit subsequent digital portfolios for review throughout the program.
  • Students are required to earn a B or better in all degree specific courses.
  • Writing Enhanced Courses. All undergraduate students are required to complete at least six hours of writing enhanced courses within the discipline, of which three hours must be advanced.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Film and TV Production
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science)8
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture)3
Component Area V (Creative Arts3
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences)3
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Required Courses
MCOM 1330Analysis of Electronic Culture (Writing Enhanced)3
MCOM 1332Writing For Mass Media (Writing Enhanced)3
THEA 1364Beginning Acting3
MCOM 1371Audio Production & Performance3
MCOM 2366Film Appreciation3
MCOM 2371TV & Film Production3
MCOM 3351Moving Image Aesthetics3
MCOM 3352Cinematography3
MCOM 3353Advanced Editing for Film & TV3
MCOM 3359Directing for Film and TV3
MCOM 3372Single Cam & Non-Linear Edit I3
MCOM 3375Scriptwriting3
MCOM 3377Multi-Camera Studio Production3
MCOM 3378Production Management3
MCOM 3379Multi-Camera Field Production3
MCOM 4350Film Theory3
MCOM 4351New Media Platforms3
MCOM 4371Mass Media Law And Ethics (Writing Enhanced)3
MCOM 4373Advanced Production3
MCOM 4375Advanced Screenwriting3
MCOM 4378Multi-Camera Remotes3
MCOM 4379Directing Multicam Productions3
MCOM 4398Professional Internship3
MCOM 4099Independent Study3
Electives 6
Total Hours120

 Note: All Mass Communication majors and minors must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in each Mass Communication course.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area I3Component Area I3
Component Area III4Component Area II13
Component Area IV3Component Area III4
MCOM 1330 (Writing Enhanced)3MCOM 13713
MCOM 1332 (Writing Enhanced)3THEA 13643
 16 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area V3Component Area VI3
Component Area VI3Component Area VII3
MCOM 23663MCOM 33523
MCOM 23713MCOM 33533
MCOM 33513MCOM 33593
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area VII3Component Area IX3
Component Area VIII3Elective3
Component Area IX1MCOM 33783
MCOM 33723MCOM 33793
MCOM 33753MCOM 43503
MCOM 33773 
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Elective3MCOM 43783
MCOM 43513MCOM 43793
MCOM 4371 (Writing Enhanced)3MCOM 43983
MCOM 43733MCOM 40993
MCOM 43753 
 15 12
Total Hours: 120

Note: All Mass Communication majors and minors must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in each Mass Communication course.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BFA in Film & TV Production is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Demonstrate strong oral, aural, and written communication skills.
  • Utilize leadership, critical thinking,and team-working skill.
  • Conduct the collection, analysis, and management of digital data.
  • Conceptualize and produce original and creative media.
  • Produce media campaigns for social and digital platforms.