Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Film & TV Production

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.

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 renowned 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, multicultural, and rapidly changing media world.

Requirements:

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 MCFL, MCJR, MCOM, MCPA, or MCPD. Please visit the Grammar Module for additional information. 

A digital media portfolio or a link to an online digital media portfolio must be submitted to the department during the student's 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 C or better in all degree specific courses in MCFL, MCJR, MCOM, MCPA, or MCPD.

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) 23
Component Area V (Creative Arts) 33
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) 44
Major: Foundation
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
MCFL 4351New Media Platforms3
MCFL 4375Advanced Screenwriting3
MCOM 1130Media Literacy 41
MCOM 1330Media, Culture and Society (Writing Enhanced) 23
MCOM 1332Writing For Mass Media (Writing Enhanced)3
MCOM 1371Audio Production & Performance 43
MCOM 2366Film Appreciation 33
MCOM 2371TV & Film Production3
MCOM 3026Media Practicum3
or MCOM 4398 Professional Internship
MCOM 4099Independent Study3
MCOM 4371Mass Media Law And Ethics (Writing Enhanced)3
MCPD 3373Studio Production3
MCPD 3375Scriptwriting3
MCPD 3377Multi-Camera Studio Production3
MCPD 3378Production Management3
MCPD 3379Multi-Camera Field Production3
MCPD 4373Advanced Production3
MCPD 4378Multi-Camera Remotes3
THEA 1364Beginning Acting3
Electives: General
General Electives18
Minor: Not Required 5
Total Hours120
1

MATH 1332 is the recommended math course for students in this program.

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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. 

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. 

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 II23
Component Area VIII3Component Area III4
MCOM 1330 (Writing Enhanced)13MCOM 137133
MCOM 1332 (Writing Enhanced)3MCOM 23713
 16 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIST 130143HIST 130243
MCFL 33523MCFL 33513
MCOM 236653MCFL 33723
MCPD 33733MCPD 33753
THEA 13643POLS 230563
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
General Electives3General Electives3
MCFL 33533MCFL 43753
MCOM 113031MCPD 33783
MCPD 33773MCPD 33793
POLS 230663General Electives3
 13 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
General Electives3MCOM 40993
MCFL 33593MCOM 4398 or 30263
MCFL 43513MCPD 43733
MCOM 4371 (Writing Enhanced)3General Electives3
MCPD 43783General Electives3
 15 15
Total Hours: 120
1

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

2

MATH 1332 is the recommended math course for students in this program.

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

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. 

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. 

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 teamwork skills.
  • Conduct the collection, analysis, and management of digital data.
  • Conceptualize and produce original and creative media.
  • Produce media campaigns for social and digital platforms.