If you want to work in film, pack your bags baby, because you are going to Hollywood! Well, at least you are in 4 years after you learn the ropes by getting a film degree. There are top film programs across the US, but you will most likely end up in California, New York, or surprisingly enough, Boston. When looking for a film degree, it’s important to think about what made you interested in film as well as what kind of school you want to go to. From big universities to art schools, to liberal arts colleges, many have film programs that have specific specializations. If you don’t know where to start, we suggest these top 10 undergrad programs for film:
USC
Being in Los Angeles is always a great choice when studying film and USC has one of the best, if not the best, in the region. The USC School of Cinematic Arts offers several tracks including a Production Program; Writing for Film and ;Television Cinema and Media Studies; and Film and Television Production. No matter why you love film, USC has a program that fits that niche.
NYU
If someone in a movie wants to study film, they usually dream of going to NYU. There is a reason for that. Their Kanbar Institute of Film and Television is a part of their Tisch School of the Arts. The program has many notable alumnae and every year, the faculty, staff, and students create over 5000 films. The Tisch school offers great internships and a thriving arts community for those who are interested in learning even more about film outside of the classroom.
UCLA
A couple of the UCs offer film programs, but UCLA is the most robust. It helps that it is in the film capital of the world. UCLA’s School of Film, Theater, and Television offers the Film and Television BA. This is a liberal arts degree that has coursework in history, theory, and production in film and TV. Juniors in this program learn a wide range of filmmaking skills, while seniors chose a concentration. Concentrations include screenwriting, cinematography, animation, digital media, and editing/postproduction. Students in the program must also complete a professional internship in the field before they graduate giving them great industry experience.
Columbia
If you are hoping to study film at the Ivies, Columbia should be your choice. Columbia’s School of the Arts offers a film program that is writing intensive. While they do teach other skills, writing and a scholarly approach to film is kind of Columbia’s thing. However, if you want more hands-on filmmaking they also have a student-run organization called Columbia Undergraduate Film Productions (CUFP) which serves student directors and producers. Barnard Students can also participate in this major.
CalArts
CalArts is the only art school on this list. Don’t get us wrong, art schools can be a great choice for many students. If this was a list for painters, we would have to talk about more art schools, but when it comes to film, many of the top programs aren’t through art schools but rather programs at Universities. That being said, leaving CalArts off the list, would be a snub. While they are often associated with animation, CalArts and their School of Film/Video approach the teaching of film in a holistic manner. They want their students to be “total film/videomaker artists” (their words not ours.) They teach everything from story to sound so that their students are ready to make their own projects from the ground up.
Wesleyan
Wesleyan’s College of Film and the Moving Image has both a film major and minor. They approach the study of film through the liberal arts lens. They have students learn film history and analysis as well as filmmaking. They host a student film festival every year and house a film archive on campus as well.
Loyola Marymount
Loyola Marymount’s School of Film and Television is another school located in Los Angeles. They offer several film majors and minors including the Animation Program; Film and Television Production; Recording Arts; Screenwriting; Film, Television, and Media Studies; and an International Documentary Production minor. All majors come with a broad liberal arts education and specialized coursework that begins freshman year.
Emerson
Emerson’s Department of Visual and Media Arts offers several BA tracks. For Film students, this includes the BA in Media Arts Production and the BFA in Stage and Screen Design/Technology. Most interested in film will choose the BA in Media Arts Production. This program gives students a chance to concentrate in screenwriting, film, TV, sound design, interactive new media, game design, and more.
Stanford
Really anything at Stanford is a good choice. They have two film tracks: Documentary Film and Video and Film and Media Studies. Both are offered through the Department of Art and Art History. Their Film and Media Studies major and minor teaches students about aesthetics, traditions, productions, and the proliferation of new forms of media.
Boston University
Boston University offers a BS in Film and Television. Their program has several focuses including Production; Screenwriting; Film and Television Studies; and Management/producing. All tracks come with a foundation in writing, visual literacy, and general film studies. Many of their film students also chose to minor in something that isn’t arts or film-related. They also host their own TV station and Production Studio for aspiring undergrads.
However you want to approach and specialize in film, there is a program out there for you. Right now you might not know if you want to be a producer or a cinematographer later down the line. That is ok! Going to a film program that lets you learn a wide range of skills and exposes you to the many careers you can pursue with a film degree is a perfect first step in your filmmaking career. You really cannot go wrong learning filmmaking at these ten top programs.
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