Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mass Communications: Film

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Film

The Film concentration provides students interested in digital cinema with the basics of film production and the visual lexicon. This includes fundamental film production and post-production skills as well as an examination of contemporary and historical films in terms of style and context. Students develop skills to critically examine film texts and to appreciate production workflow, preparing them for an exciting career in the film industry.

Requirements

All students who choose to declare a major or minor in Mass Communication or Ag/Com will be required to pass the Grammar Module with a score of 80 percent or better before they will be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000-level courses in MCFL, MCJR, MCOM, MCPA, or MCPD. Please visit the Grammar Module for additional information. 

All students declaring a major or minor in Mass Communication or Ag/Com are required to receive a grade of C or better in MCFL, MCJR, MCOM, MCPA, or MCPD 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 Arts, Major in Mass Communications: Film
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) 2,33
Component Area V (Creative Arts) 43
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 53
Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 64
Degree Specific Requirements
PHIL 2303Critical Thinking 53
Foreign Language: WOLC 1411, WOLC 1412, WOLC 2311, WOLC 2312 214
Major: Foundation
MCOM 1130Media Literacy 61
MCOM 1330Media, Culture and Society (Writing Enhanced) 33
MCOM 1332Writing For Mass Media (Writing Enhanced)3
MCOM 2371TV & Film Production3
MCOM 3026Media Practicum1
MCOM 4371Mass Media Law And Ethics (Writing Enhanced)3
Major: Required
MCOM 1371Audio Production & Performance 63
MCOM 2366Film Appreciation 43
MCFL 3351Moving Image Aesthetics3
MCFL 3352Cinematography3
MCFL 3353Advanced Editing for Film & TV3
MCFL 3359Directing for Film and TV3
MCFL 3372Single Cam & Non-Linear Edit I3
MCPD 3375Scriptwriting3
MCPD 4373Advanced Production3
MCFL 4375Advanced Screenwriting3
Major: Prescribed Electives12
Film History I
Film History II
Select Film Genre
Field & Studio Audio Recording
Film Theory
New Media Platforms
Special Topic
Independent Study
Professional Internship
Studio Production
Multi-Camera Studio Production
Production Management
Multi-Camera Field Production
Advanced Audio Production
Select Option A or B 715
Minor: Not Required 8,9
Total Hours120
1

MATH 1332 is recommended.

2

Four courses in one foreign language are required. 

3

MCOM 1330 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, Culture).

4

PHIL 2303 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

5

MCOM 1130 and MCOM 1371 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option) as well as the major. 

6

MCOM 2366 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area V (Creative Arts).

7

Select from Option A or Option B. Option A consists of 18 credits in one Subject Area, 12 of which are Upper Level courses. Option B consists of 18 credits in Business, 12 of which are Upper Level Courses. The remaining courses for both Options are referred to as Lower Level.

8

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

9

All minors can be paired with this degree program.

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework. 

Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate.

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 II13Component Area III4
HIST 130123HIST 130223
MCOM 1330 (Writing Enhanced)33MCOM 13323
MCOM 137143MCOM 23713
 15 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area III4MCFL 33513
MCOM 113041MCFL 33523
MCOM 236653PHIL 230383
POLS 230563POLS 230663
WOLC 141174WOLC 141274
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MCFL 33533Prescribed Electives106
MCFL 33723MCFL 33593
MCPD 33753MCOM 30261
Option A or B: Lower Level93WOLC 231273
WOLC 231173 
 15 13
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Prescribed Electives93Prescribed Electives103
MCFL 43753MCPD 43733
MCOM 43713Option A or B: Upper Level96
Option A or B: Lower Level93Option A or B: Upper Level93
Option A or B: Upper Level93 
 15 15
Total Hours: 120
1

MATH 1332 is recommended.

2

Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History). 

3

MCOM 1330 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture).

4

MCOM 1130 and MCOM 1371 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option) as well as the major. 

5

MCOM 2366 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area V (Creative Arts) as well as a Degree Specific requirement for Mass Communication.

6

Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).

7

Four courses in one foreign language are required. 

8

PHIL 2303 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) as well as the major.

9

Select from Option A or Option B. Option A consists of 18 credits in one Subject Area, 12 of which are Upper Level courses. Option B consists of 18 credits in Business, 12 of which are Upper Level Courses. The remaining courses for both Options are referred to as Lower Level.

10

See,Prescribed Electives course list below. 

Prescribed Electives 10
Select four of the following:
MCFL 3354Film History I3
MCFL 3355Film History II3
MCFL 3356Select Film Genre3
MCFL 3376Field & Studio Audio Recording3
MCFL 4350Film Theory3
MCFL 4351New Media Platforms3
MCOM 4022Special Topic (Limited to 3 SCH)3
MCOM 4099Independent Study (Limited to 3 SCH)3
MCOM 4398Professional Internship3
MCPD 3373Studio Production3
MCPD 3377Multi-Camera Studio Production3
MCPD 3378Production Management3
MCPD 3379Multi-Camera Field Production3
MCPD 4376Advanced Audio Production3

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework. 

Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate.

All Mass Communication majors and minors must earn a grade of "C" or better in each Mass Communication course. 

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

All minors can be paired with this degree program.

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 BA in Mass Communications: Film is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

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