Film, B.A.

School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts

Program Overview

When you major in film, you will gain invaluable experience in all aspects of the moving image, from the aesthetic to the technical. With a variety of tracks to choose from—film studies, film production, screenwriting, documentary production, and industry studies—you will obtain both a liberal arts grounding in cinema history and theory as well as hands-on, craft-based filmmaking skills.

Film, B.A.

Where You'll Go

With training in film, you could go on to become a director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, location sound recordists, editor, or any number of related professions.

Major Details

The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2023–24 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.

Department Requirements (33 Credits)

The department chairperson or designee may allow substitutions consistent with the educational goals of the program for one or more requirements in any film concentration.

Students must complete each of the required courses for all concentrations with a grade of C or higher.

A student may not enroll for a third time in any course in which s/he has twice received a grade of D or lower or the administrative grades of W or WU. An exception may be made following written appeal, but only if a student can establish changed circumstances that would permit satisfactory performance in the course.

A student whose complete academic record includes a combination of six or more failing grades and withdrawals may not enroll in any course in the department without the written permission of the chairperson.

All majors are expected to fulfill college-wide requirements, including the CUNY Pathways curriculum, in a timely fashion. Any student who does not demonstrate satisfactory progress toward the completion of these requirements will be prohibited from taking upper-level courses in the major.

Students can select one of the following tracks:

  • Documentary Production
  • Film Production
  • Film Studies
  • Industry Studies
  • Screenwriting

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will comprehend the principles of cinematic narrative.
  • Students will express ideas through image and sound.
  • Students will achieve competence in production techniques.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of cinematic history.
  • Students will increase their understanding of cinematic forms and genres.
  • Students will identify major ideas and trends in contemporary global cinema and the motion picture industry.

Contact

Annette Danto, Department Chair

203 West End Building
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 5664

Judith Kenny, Director of Academic Affairs and Operations

201 West End Building
E: judith.kenny76@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5664

Or contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu

To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:

Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments

Tracks

Film Production (39 Credits)

All of the following: Film 11011201250124013300W32003700260127011301.

Three additional three-credit film studies courses plus their prerequisites.

Film majors who have received transfer credits from other colleges and who are enrolled in the concentration in film production must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the Department of Film at Brooklyn College. Of these, six credits must be in the area of film studies (film courses numbered 2100 through 2199, 3100 through 3199, and 4100 through 4199).

Documentary Production

All of the following: Film 11011201130121202201260127013101W32013701.

One of the following: Anthropology 3180, Art 3167, Film 3202, Philosophy 3315, Sociology 2800.

Film majors who have received transfer credits from other colleges and who are enrolled in a concentration other than film production must complete 18 credits in the Department of Film at Brooklyn College. Of these, six credits must be in the area of film studies.

Film Studies (33 Credits)

All of the following: Film 11013101W21152116.

One of the following: Film 3122 or 3130.

Two of the following plus their prerequisites: Film 211421202126212821292131.

Four additional three-credit film studies courses numbered 2100 or higher plus any prerequisite of the courses.

Film majors who have received transfer credits from other colleges and who are enrolled in a concentration other than film production must complete 18 credits in the Department of Film at Brooklyn College. Of these, six credits must be in the area of film studies.

Industry Studies

All of the following: Film 11013101W21142115211629012902120128011301.

One of the following: Film 212749015187.

Film majors who have received transfer credits from other colleges and who are enrolled in a concentration other than film production must complete 18 credits in the Department of Film at Brooklyn College. Of these, six credits must be in the area of film studies.

Screenwriting

All of the following: Film 11013101W2115211612011301230133014301.

Students must take two additional advanced film courses, one of which may be substituted from the following: English 3301 or 3306; Television, Radio and Emerging Media 2616 or 3661 or 3662 or 3850; Theater 1101 or 1003. Screenwriting students are encouraged to select additional electives outside the department from the courses above as well as related writing courses across the curriculum.

Film majors who have received transfer credits from other colleges and who are enrolled in a concentration other than film production must complete 18 credits in the Department of Film at Brooklyn College. Of these, six credits must be in the area of film studies.

Internships and Employers

Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the film B.A. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:

  • Deluxe
  • Netflix
  • River Road Entertainment, LLC
  • San Francisco Film School
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.
  • Streamland Media
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • WarnerMedia
  • Whitney Museum of American Art
  • WWE

Learn More

Brooklyn. All in.

Brooklyn. All in.