A Bachelor’s in Film Studies can help you develop a wide range of practical skills and perspectives which you can use to reach the highest levels of success in the film industry once you graduate. While there are many promising career paths open to you, from producing, screenwriting, and directing to post-production, marketing, digital media management and more — a Bachelor’s in Film Studies gives students a solid educational foundation in all aspects of this complex, rapidly evolving industry.

What is a Bachelor’s in Film Studies? At Purdue University, we offer the most robust and comprehensive film studies program in the country, with over 30 different courses to choose from. Our courses cover fundamental areas such as production design, screenwriting and cinematography, and delve into more advanced topics, such as film theory and documentary production.

Those interested in producing Hollywood blockbusters need not apply. A Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies provides students with the tools to analyze films critically, gain an understanding of their cultural impact, and better discern how they are made. Students will be taught how every aspect of a movie, from the writing process to its CGI effects, affects the way people view the cinematic experience as a whole.

So, if you have a passion for films, the silver screen has opened a wide range of opportunities. With a Bachelor’s in Film Studies from TBC, or a Masters in Digital Media, you can work on films large and small, from feature films to independent movies.

Cleveland State University – BA in Film, Television, and Interactive Media

Cleveland State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences confers an affordable BA in Film, Television, and Interactive Media to students seeking entry-level positions in this field. This low cost 120-hour program includes 45 hours of courses within the major, including classes in communication, film, television production, media and technology, and mass media and society. Other requirements include courses in media criticism and screenwriting as well as broadcast and interactive media writing. Students focus their degree through electives, and the program culminates in either a film production or interactive media capstone course.

Degree Options:
Film, Television, and Interactive Media, B.A.
Average Program Cost: $11,804
In-State Tuition: $9,778
Out-of-State Tuition: $13,829
Graduation Rate: 43 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1

Rhode Island College – Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies

The affordable BA in Film Studies at Rhode Island College engages students in the study of moving images as a discursive practice that incorporates film theory, cultural contexts, aesthetics and style, genre studies, and film history. Students may also choose to immerse themselves in filmmaking through a sequence of courses from pre-production through post-production, creating in multiple forms of film such as animation, experimental cinema, documentary, and narrative filmmaking. Courses cover topics such as stop-motion animation, African-American cinema, Hollywood film scores, and television screenwriting. Students must complete 44 credit hours in the major in addition to general education requirements in order to earn their degree.

Degree Options:
B.A. in Film Studies
Average Program Cost: $15,033
In-State Tuition: $8,776
Out-of-State Tuition: $21,289
Graduation Rate: 46 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:1

California State University-Long Beach – BA in Film and Electronic Arts

For more than five decades, California State University-Long Beach has prepared students for careers in the study and production of moving images. The Department of Film & Electronic Arts offers a 120-unit affordable BA in Film and Electronic Arts taught by a diverse faculty comprised of accomplished media historians and industry professionals. This low cost degree program is comprised of a comprehensive education in the theory and history of moving images with specialized training available in concentration areas such as production design, digital arts, production management, screenwriting, and sound design. Students may also choose to specialize in editing, cinematography, broadcast production, creative nonfiction production, or narrative production. Networking and internship opportunities are also available.

Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts in Film and Electronic Arts
Average Program Cost: $12,670
In-State Tuition: $6,730
Out-of-State Tuition: $18,610
Graduation Rate: 69 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 24:1

CUNY Brooklyn College – BA in Film

Within the School of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts at CUNY Brooklyn College, the Film Department prepares students to become professionals in the motion picture industry. Students may pursue a 120-credit affordable BA in Film and choose from concentration areas such as industry studies, documentary, screenwriting, film production, and film studies. The diverse, rich, low cost programs offer peer collaboration and hands-on learning opportunities, and students are trained in all aspects of the discipline of the moving image, from the technical to the aesthetic. In addition to completing coursework, students have the opportunity to intern throughout New York City and enjoy the vibrant cultural and film life of the area.

Degree Options:
B.A. in Film
Average Program Cost: $10,735
In-State Tuition: $7,040
Out-of-State Tuition: $14,430
Graduation Rate: 58 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1

Eastern New Mexico University – BS in Digital Filmmaking

The affordable BS in Digital Filmmaking at Eastern New Mexico University includes courses in film production as well as relevant studies in theater, music, and art. Through the curriculum, digital filmmaking majors will acquire core skills in editing, sound, cinematography, producing, directing, and screenwriting, and students may choose to specialize in a concentration area or pursue broader interests such as business or broadcast production. All undergraduates are required to complete a senior portfolio class to get feedback from faculty mentors, and students have the opportunity to participate in two student-run film festivals: the Sci-Fi Festival and Fear Fest.

Degree Options:
Bachelor of Science in Digital Filmmaking
Average Program Cost: $8,901
In-State Tuition: $6,013
Out-of-State Tuition: $11,788
Graduation Rate: 33 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1

St. Cloud State University – BA in Film Studies

St. Cloud State University provides a low cost BA in Film Studies that immerses students in a rigorous study of the art of cinema, emphasizing creative and critical thinking. Offered by the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, the curriculum consists of 10 to 12 film courses per semester, and the school regularly adds new topics courses to keep the program fresh. Most classes draw upon films from around the world, offering a global perspective that is not limited to one particular focus on the field. Undergraduates pursuing this affordable degree program may also choose to gain additional experience through a minor in film production.

Degree Options:
B.A. in Film Studies
Average Program Cost: $12,345
In-State Tuition: $8,228
Out-of-State Tuition: $16,462
Graduation Rate: 44 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 21:1

Western Michigan University – Bachelor’s in Film, Video, and Media Studies

Students interested in any aspect of production, television and radio broadcasting, or film may pursue Western Michigan University’s low cost undergraduate program in film, video, and media studies. The curriculum emphasizes the practical assumptions and theoretical framework that drive today’s mass media, and students gain practical experience in production, radio and television broadcasting, technical direction, news writing. Although not required for the degree, student participation in freelance work, volunteer work, and internships is encouraged. Students are required to 36 hours in major coursework as well as general education courses, and approximately 25 percent of WMU’s film, video, and media studies go on to pursue graduate studies after completing the program.

Degree Options:
Film, Video, and Media Studies
Average Program Cost: $13,321
In-State Tuition: $11,943
Out-of-State Tuition: $14,699
Graduation Rate: 51 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1

 Miami Dade College – BAS in Film, Television, and Digital Production

Miami Dade College’s four-year low cost Bachelor of Applied Science in Film, Television, and Digital Production is designed to provide students with the practical, hands-on skills they need to succeed in the competitive and creative field of media production. The 120-credit affordable program consists of 41 credits within the major, and courses cover funding, editing, production, website design, scriptwriting, sound design, broadcast design, production management, and cinematography. In addition to completing the required curriculum of classes, students must also participate in a capstone experience that provides the opportunity to demonstrate the application of acquired competencies, skills, and knowledge.

Degree Options:
Bachelor of Applied Science in Film, Television, and Digital Production
Average Program Cost: $6,250
In-State Tuition: $2,838
Out-of-State Tuition: $9,661
Graduation Rate: 31 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 24:1

University of Alaska Fairbanks – BA in Film & Performing Arts

At the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Department of Theatre and Film provides a 120-credit affordable BA in Film & Performing Arts degree with concentrations in theater or film. Majors take a shared core of classes in production design, film set production, and the fundamentals in acting before choosing an area of specialization. Other areas of study include digital video editing, directing for film and video, and an introduction to the study of film. All students gain practical experience through participating in main-stage productions, working on professional film sets, and closely interacting with faculty mentors and advisors. Through production work and teaching, the department prepares students to succeed in the industry while educating them across disciplines in the fundamental skills of creativity, communication, and collaboration.

Degree Options:
B.A. in Film & Performing Arts
Average Program Cost: $12,723
In-State Tuition: $6,262
Out-of-State Tuition: $19,183
Graduation Rate: 30 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 8:1

New Mexico State University – Bachelor of Creative Media

New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Institute (CMI) offers an affordable bachelor’s degree in creative media, a cross-disciplinary program that prepares students for careers in animation and visual effects as well as digital filmmaking. The 120-credit-hour curriculum low cost degree program focuses on the business, craft, and art of storytelling, and while students can choose an emphasis area, all students take coursework in digital arts and filmmaking. Practice and theory are integrated at every step, and students manipulate cinema, images, sound, and text using industry-standard technology. CMI houses a post-production lab, a state-of-the-art digital project system screening room, production space, and an animation lab

Degree Options:
Bachelor of Creative Media
Average Program Cost: $13,742
In-State Tuition: $6,461
Out-of-State Tuition: $21,022
Graduation Rate: 46 percent
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1