Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts

Cultivate your voice as an independent filmmaker and gain advanced production skills with the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts in Temple’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. Develop a specialization by focusing on one of four degree concentrations within this major, including Cinematography, Post-Production, Producing and Screen Studies. This 121-credit bachelor’s degree prepares you for independent project-based film work, a professional career in media production or related graduate-level coursework. 

Within the Film and Media Arts program, you will develop both theory- and practice-based skills. Coursework covers, among other topics, the major theories of image making and new technologies as well as the social, political, and economic forces that shape media arts and culture. You’ll also refine your creative vision through hands-on courses in all aspects of media production and have access to state-of-the-art professional cameras.

Film and Media Arts BA students enjoy an energetic campus culture located in central North Philadelphia. A prime city for filmmakers and enthusiasts, Philadelphia is home to top-of-the-line production facilities, such as SunCenter Studios. The Philadelphia Film Society hosts an annual Film Festival premiering critically acclaimed films ranging from local artists's works to larger-scale productions. 

Courses are taught by esteemed faculty who have been honored with Oscar, Emmy, Guggenheim, Rockefeller, Fulbright, Sundance and international awards. Graduates have gone on to become cinematographers, editors and screenwriters, among other roles. Learn more about potential careers for Film and Media Arts BA students

Choosing between a BFA and a BA in Film and Media Arts

Deciding whether a BFA or BA is right for you depends on your academic needs and professional goals. The BFA in Film and Media Arts offers an intensive, arts-based degree program concentrating on Directing, Media Arts or Screenwriting. The BFA focuses on developing students’ creative voices and powers of personal expression. The BA in Film and Media Arts provides a more general approach to the field, giving students the option to focus their studies in one of four concentrations—Cinematography, Post-Production, Producing and Screen Studies.

A student in a film studio carefully handles a camera while another student looks on.

Concentrations

You can focus on Film and Media Arts or you can take one of the following concentrations.

  • Cinematography

    Earn a liberal arts degree that prepares you for graduate film programs or professional careers in film and TV production with a focus on cinematography. The program includes courses in cinematic and theatrical lighting, filmmaking, history of photography, making documentaries, moving camera, and videography. Read more about the Cinematography Concentration in the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts.

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  • Post Production

    Earn a liberal arts degree that prepares you for graduate film programs or professional careers in film and TV production with a focus on post-production. The program includes courses in 3-D modeling, compositing, digital animation, making documentaries, screenwriting, three levels of editing, two levels of audio and videography. Read more about the Post-Production concentration in the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media program.

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  • Producing

    Earn a liberal arts degree that prepares you for graduate film programs or professional careers in film and TV production with a focus on producing. The program includes courses in distribution and exhibition, fundraising, producing, a producing internship, screenwriting, and videography. Read more about the Producing concentration in the Film and Media Bachelor of Arts program.

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  • Screen Studies

    Study the aesthetics, cultural significance and history of moving-image media. This program draws upon the fields of cinema studies, media studies and media arts theory, while encouraging you to approach screen cultures from neighboring disciplines, such as area studies, art history or visual studies. Read more about the Screen Studies concentration in the Film and Media Bachelor of Arts program.

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Classes & Curriculum

As a Film and Media Arts major, you will develop your technical and expressive skills through coursework and hands-on projects. After completing the general academic requirements for the major, students can design their own plan of study with the help of an academic advisor. You’ll choose from a range of middle- and upper-level courses in one of the four concentrations. A few courses you can anticipate exploring are the following.

  • Introduction to Film and Video Analysis
  • Media Culture
  • Survey of New Media

Learn more about Film and Media Arts BA courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $19,728.00 per year
Out-of-state: $34,176.00 per year

CA-FMA-BA

Additional Program Information