About

The Bachelor of Arts in Film is designed to give students the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in an entry-level position in the film industry and/or to pursue a graduate degree in a program that matches their professional goals, whether those involve production, screenwriting, or scholarly studies in cinema.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Film the student should be able to:

  • Identify Film History in Context. Distinguish major figures instrumental in the creation of world cinema and distinguish different film genres, film forms, national cinemas, and their production and distribution systems.
  • Comprehend Film Language. Communicate cinematic language in terms of the art and craft of cinema including: mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, acting, directing, narrative storytelling, documentary, film criticism and film theory.
  • Analyze Screen Stories. Recognize and discuss strengths and weaknesses with structural elements of a cinematic story.
  • Apply Film Research. Use library resources; search the Internet, and an understanding of a foreign language sufficiently to conduct emphasis-appropriate research in their selected field of cinema.
  • Write Filmic Analysis. Implement the terms taught and apply them to any discussion and assignment of the field of cinema.
  • Synthesize Filmmaking Fundamentals. Construct film essays, write in proper screenplay format, and exhibit competence in the creation of short films.
  • Execute Film Response & Criticism. Evaluate films and screenplays and communicate through critical writing and oral response.
  • Determine Track Specializations. Select with a faculty advisor to focus on one of these areas: Film history, screen performance, production methods, and screenwriting. Proactive meetings with the faculty professional will allow the students to tailor seven track electives to meet their needs, interests, and career goals.

Career Possibilities

In the Bachelor of Arts in Film, students learn the foundations of visual storytelling, skills that can be applied to any field. Our students are challenged with innovative training in directing, signature screenwriting approaches, the latest cinematography techniques, cutting-edge nonlinear solutions, and interactive courses in film history, theory, and criticism. Once required courses are complete, students can select track electives to specialize in the area of their choice and prepare themselves to pursue careers as cinematographers, critics, directors, editors, historians, screen actors, producers, screenwriters, or professional crew. The program also equips students for entry into top-tier graduate programs in production or research.

Requirements

Film (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Film is designed to give students the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in an entry-level position in the film industry and/or to pursue a graduate degree in a program that matches their professional goals, whether those involve production, screenwriting, or scholarly studies in cinema.

Please see the UNLV College of Fine Arts, Department of Film web page for information about department programs, faculty and facilities.  Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available on the UNLV Degrees Directory.

Learning Objectives 

Outcome #1

 Knowledge 

  Identify

 Distinguish

 Film History in Context

 By the end of the program students will be able to distinguish major figures instrumental in the creation of world cinema and distinguish different film genres, film forms, national cinemas, their production and distribution systems.

Outcome #2

 Comprehension 

 Communicate

 Demonstrate

 Film Language

 By the end of the program students will be able to communicate cinematic language in terms of the art and craft of cinema including: mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, acting, directing, narrative storytelling, documentary, film criticism and film theory.

Outcome #3

 Application 

 Recognize

 

Screen Story Recognition

 By the end of the program students will be able to recognize and discuss strengths and weaknesses with structural elements of a cinematic story.

Outcome #4

 Application 

 Research

 

Film Research

By the end of the program students will be able to use the library, search the internet, and an understanding of a foreign language sufficiently to conduct emphasis-appropriate research in their selected field of cinema.

Outcome #5

 Analysis 

 Analyze

 

Film Analysis

By the end of this program the student will be able to recognize and describe the terms taught and apply them to any discussion of the field of cinema.

Outcome #6

 Synthesis 

 Create

 

Filmmaking Fundamentals

By the end of this program the student will be able to write film essays, write in proper screenplay format, and create short films.

Outcome #7

 Evaluation 

 Evaluate

 Communicate

Film Response and Criticism

By the end of this program the student will be able to evaluate films and screenplays and communicate critical and oral responses.

Outcome #8

 Emphasis 

 Select

 Specialize

Track Specialization

Each Film major meets with an advisor to focus on one of these areas: film history, production, and screenwriting, short films. It is expected that the student meet actively with the advisor to tailor their track electives to meet their needs, interests, and goals.

Career Possibilities

In the Bachelor of Arts in Film, students learn the foundations of visual storytelling, skills that can be applied to any field. Our students are challenged with innovative training in directing, signature screenwriting approaches, the latest cinematography techniques, cutting-edge nonlinear solutions, and interactive courses in film history, theory, and criticism. Once required courses are complete, students can select track electives to specialize in the area of their choice and prepare themselves to pursue careers as cinematographers, critics, directors, editors, historians, screen actors, producers, screenwriters, or professional crew. The program also equips students for entry into top-tier graduate programs in production or research.

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Fine Arts Student Advising Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

Please see 

Graduation Policies
 for complete information.

Film (BA) Degree Requirements - Total: 120-122

General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 38-40 Credits

First-Year Seminar - Credits: 3

English Composition - Credits: 6

Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3

Constitutions - Credits: 4-6

Mathematics - Credits: 3

Distribution Requirement - Credits: 19

Please see

Distribution Requirements
 for more information.

  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
  • Social Science: 9 credits 
    • One course each from three different fields
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking: 10 credits
    • Two courses from Life and Physical Science;  at least one course must have a lab
    • Analytical Thinking 3 credit course 

Multicultural and International

Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. Visit the Provost webpage for the list of approved Multicultural and International courses.

Major Requirements - BA in Film - Subtotal: 60-63 Credits

General Electives - Credits: 18-19

Total Credits: 120-122

Notes

1.

FILM 216
Loading from UNLV Catalog…
 is a Milestone Experience course for Film B.A.

2. Please consult with an advisor regarding satisfying the Culminating Experience requirement.

Close

Documents/Downloads

Contacts

Department of Film

The department of film offers students the exciting opportunity to study film in the heart of Las Vegas, “The Entertainment Capital of the World.” Our efforts contribute to UNLV’s status as a premier metropolitan research university by adapting traditional film education values to meet the needs of individuals, communities, and industries in the 21st century.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/film
Email
unlvfilm@unlv.edu
Phone
702-895-3547
More

College of Fine Arts

The College of Fine Arts provides an academic experience that heightens awareness of the physical, intellectual, and cultural world. We diligently prepare students for professional employment and/or post-graduate study in their artistic area.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/finearts
Phone
702-895-4210
More
Update Degree Info