Completion of at least 42 credits and no more than 58 credits of Film and Media Arts courses.
Completion of a maximum of 71 credits within the School of Communications and Theater and a minimum of 53 credits outside of the school.
Please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin for more information on the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts (including Suggested Semester by Semester Plans).
Maintaining Program Performance
Prerequisites to entrance and graduation from the Creative and Media Studies Thesis sequences require students to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 calculated in all courses taken in the university. Students who have earned at least a 2.0 GPA may enter and graduate in the General sequence. Students with an average under 2.0 may not continue in the FMA program. Students may take up to four of the 42 FMA credits in the FMA Internship Program.
FMA Foundation Courses
Film and Media Arts students will complete the following courses by the end of the sophomore year:
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
FMA
1141
Media Arts I
4
FMA
1142
Media Arts II
4
FMA
1171
Media and Culture
3
FMA
1172
Introduction to Film and Video Analysis
3
for total credit hours:
14
Transfer students and Honors students may petition to take FMA 1143 in lieu of FMA 1141 and 1142.
Eligibility to enroll in 2000 level or above FMA Courses requires completion of the four FMA Foundation courses with a grade of C or better.
At the completion of the Foundation courses, students will choose to enter either the General sequence (a self designed program with no thesis required), the Media Studies Thesis, or the Creative Thesis (leading to a supervised Senior Project or a feature length screenplay).
Creative Thesis Sequence
Mark Rosenthal, Sequence Director: 215-204-3395 or mark.rosenthal@temple.edu
This sequence educates prospective media makers, writers, and new technology practitioners to take creative control of their own work. It emphasizes students’ initiative in creating individual or collaborative projects that serve as an expression of their personal vision and voice. Students can enter this sequence to work on their own project or as a collaborator with equal creative responsibility as screenwriter or director.
The Creative Thesis sequence builds to a two-semester senior capstone course in which each student, working with close faculty guidance, finishes an advanced film/video project and production book or a feature length screenplay. Media work must be presented publicly at the end-of-the-year program screenings.
Students may enter this sequence if they earn a 3.0 or higher in the FMA foundation courses and in all of their other FMA classes. Completion of this sequence requires Senior Project I and II or Screenwriting Master Class I and II and is based on the grade requirements listed above, along with faculty acceptance of the Senior Project application portfolio (which includes a proposal or script and a work sample) submitted in April of the student’s junior year).
Creative Thesis Sequence (Production)
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
FMA
2241
2242
2451
Filmmaking, or
Videography, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
4
FMA
2396
Media Writing I
4
FMA
2000 level
(or above)
FMA Production Elective
4
FMA
2000 level
(or above)
FMA Studies Elective
3 or 4
FMA
4241
Senior Projects I
4
FMA
4242
Senior Projects II
4
FMA
Advanced Writing Intensive Elective
4
for total credit hours:
28
Creative Thesis Sequence (Screenwriting)
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
FMA
2241
2242
2451
Filmmaking, or
Videography, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
4
FMA
2396
Media Writing I
4
FMA
2000 level
(or above)
FMA Studies Elective
4
FMA
3000 level
(or above)
FMA Studies Elective
3 or 4
FMA
3396
Writing for Media II
4
FMA
4397
Screenwriting Master Class I
4
FMA
4398
Screenwriting Master Class II
4
for total credit hours:
28
Senior Projects
Application Due: April of Junior Year
Application packet must include:
Senior Projects Approval Form (available in the FMA office)
1-2 page Approach Statement: a summary of the reasons for producing this project and its importance for you and others
Work sample – include only your strongest work (only 10 mins will be reviewed)
For narrative projects:
Script (20 page limit)
For documentary / experimental projects:
Project proposal, which must include:
“Story” overview
Visual treatment
Anticipated and/or completed research
Project budget
Deliver completed application to FMA Office (Room 120).
Note: Please label your application clearly with name and project title. For more information or questions please contact Professor Eran Preis at 215-204-6991 or epreis@temple.edu.
Media Culture Thesis Sequence
Paul Swann, Sequence Director: 215-204-1735 or pswann@temple.edu
This sequence explores the role of media in American and international cultures. The critical exploration of technology, ethics, economic and legal factors, social history, and institutions highlights the processes through which media culture affects identity construction and social change. Students who choose this sequence develop critical, analytical, and organizational skills in linking media culture to such arenas as community-based organizations and museums, schools, media resource centers, and the multicultural community of independent film and video producers.
The Media Studies Thesis sequence builds to a two-semester capstone course in which each student completes a written research-based thesis on media culture criticism and/or history or a producible script for research-based media programming. Students may enter this sequence if they earn at least a 3.0 GPA in the FMA foundation courses.
Students who do not meet the above requirement may petition to enter this sequence based on a review of their written work. The petition must be received by the Media Studies sequence director no later than the seventh week of the semester prior to the semester when the student would be taking the senior thesis course.
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
FMA
2241
2242
2396
2451
Filmmaking, or
Videography, or
Media Writing I, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
4
FMA
3671
Theory & Practice of Media Culture
4
FMA
2000 level
(or above)
FMA Production or Studies Electives
(with advisor’s approval). A middle-level Writing-Intensive course is required (FMA 2396 would fulfill this requirement)
4
FMA
2000 level
(or above)
FMA Production or Studies Elective
(with advisor’s approval)
4
FMA
3000 level
(or above)
FMA Production or Studies Elective
(with advisor’s approval)
3 or 4
FMA
4671
Senior Media Culture Thesis I
4
FMA
4696
Senior Media Culture Thesis II (serves as required advanced writing
intensive course)
4
for total credit hours:
28
General Sequence
Allan Barber, Sequence Director: 215-204-8399 or allanbar@temple.edu
This sequence is designed for students who wish to have a more general approach to the major or wish to conclude the degree with something other than a year-long capstone film, feature length screenplay or a supervised written thesis. After completing the FMA core, students must take one production or writing course in either Filmmaking, Videography, Experimental Video or Media Writing, along with one 2000-level or higher studies course. Students then design their own program with approval of their advisors, choosing a range of middle- and upper-level courses that complete a balanced approach to media study and production or a self directed emphasis in camera, lighting, sound, animation, directing, writing, producing or new media studies or production. The program requires at least one middle-level writing-intensive course, one advanced writing-intensive course, one advanced studies course and one advanced course in studies or production. Students may progress through the General sequence if they have a 2.0 cumulative average and grades of C or better in the FMA foundation courses.
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
FMA
2241
2242
2396
2551
Filmmaking, or
Videography, or
Media Writing I, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
4
FMA
2000 level (or above)
FMA Studies Elective
4
FMA
2000 level (or above)
Two FMA Studies or Production Electives
6 to 8
FMA
3000 level (or above)
Advanced Writing Intensive Studies Elective
4
FMA
3000 level (or above)
Studies Elective
3 or 4
FMA
3000 level (or higher)
Production or Studies Elective for which the student has completed the prerequisites (with faculty advisor’s approval)
Make your equipment reservation at the 24-hour Equipment Office reservation website.
Undergraduate Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts degree may be conferred upon a student majoring in Film and Media Arts by recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory
completion the following requirements:
Please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin for more information on the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts (including Suggested Semester by Semester Plans).
Maintaining Program Performance
Prerequisites to entrance and graduation from the Creative and Media Studies Thesis sequences require students to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 calculated in all courses taken in the university. Students who have earned at least a 2.0 GPA may enter and graduate in the General sequence. Students with an average under 2.0 may not continue in the FMA program. Students may take up to four of the 42 FMA credits in the FMA Internship Program.
FMA Foundation Courses
Film and Media Arts students will complete the following courses by the end of the sophomore year:
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
Transfer students and Honors students may petition to take FMA 1143 in lieu of FMA 1141 and 1142.
Eligibility to enroll in 2000 level or above FMA Courses requires completion of the four FMA Foundation courses with a grade of C or better.
At the completion of the Foundation courses, students will choose to enter either the General sequence (a self designed program with no thesis required), the Media Studies Thesis, or the Creative Thesis (leading to a supervised Senior Project or a feature length screenplay).
Creative Thesis Sequence
Mark Rosenthal, Sequence Director: 215-204-3395 or mark.rosenthal@temple.edu
This sequence educates prospective media makers, writers, and new technology practitioners to take creative control of their own work. It emphasizes students’ initiative in creating individual or collaborative projects that serve as an expression of their personal vision and voice. Students can enter this sequence to work on their own project or as a collaborator with equal creative responsibility as screenwriter or director.
The Creative Thesis sequence builds to a two-semester senior capstone course in which each student, working with close faculty guidance, finishes an advanced film/video project and production book or a feature length screenplay. Media work must be presented publicly at the end-of-the-year program screenings.
Students may enter this sequence if they earn a 3.0 or higher in the FMA foundation courses and in all of their other FMA classes. Completion of this sequence requires Senior Project I and II or Screenwriting Master Class I and II and is based on the grade requirements listed above, along with faculty acceptance of the Senior Project application portfolio (which includes a proposal or script and a work sample) submitted in April of the student’s junior year).
Creative Thesis Sequence (Production)
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
2242
2451
Videography, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
(or above)
(or above)
Creative Thesis Sequence (Screenwriting)
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
2242
2451
Videography, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
(or above)
(or above)
Senior Projects
Application Due: April of Junior Year
Application packet must include:
1-2 page Approach Statement: a summary of the reasons for producing this project and its importance for you and others
For narrative projects:
For documentary / experimental projects:
Deliver completed application to FMA Office (Room 120).
Note: Please label your application clearly with name and project title. For more information or questions please contact Professor Eran Preis at 215-204-6991 or epreis@temple.edu.
Media Culture Thesis Sequence
Paul Swann, Sequence Director: 215-204-1735 or pswann@temple.edu
This sequence explores the role of media in American and international cultures. The critical exploration of technology, ethics, economic and legal factors, social history, and institutions highlights the processes through which media culture affects identity construction and social change. Students who choose this sequence develop critical, analytical, and organizational skills in linking media culture to such arenas as community-based organizations and museums, schools, media resource centers, and the multicultural community of independent film and video producers.
The Media Studies Thesis sequence builds to a two-semester capstone course in which each student completes a written research-based thesis on media culture criticism and/or history or a producible script for research-based media programming. Students may enter this sequence if they earn at least a 3.0 GPA in the FMA foundation courses.
Students who do not meet the above requirement may petition to enter this sequence based on a review of their written work. The petition must be received by the Media Studies sequence director no later than the seventh week of the semester prior to the semester when the student would be taking the senior thesis course.
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
2242
2396
2451
Videography, or
Media Writing I, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia
(or above)
(with advisor’s approval). A middle-level Writing-Intensive course is required (FMA 2396 would fulfill this requirement)
(or above)
(with advisor’s approval)
(or above)
(with advisor’s approval)
intensive course)
General Sequence
Allan Barber, Sequence Director: 215-204-8399 or allanbar@temple.edu
This sequence is designed for students who wish to have a more general approach to the major or wish to conclude the degree with something other than a year-long capstone film, feature length screenplay or a supervised written thesis. After completing the FMA core, students must take one production or writing course in either Filmmaking, Videography, Experimental Video or Media Writing, along with one 2000-level or higher studies course. Students then design their own program with approval of their advisors, choosing a range of middle- and upper-level courses that complete a balanced approach to media study and production or a self directed emphasis in camera, lighting, sound, animation, directing, writing, producing or new media studies or production. The program requires at least one middle-level writing-intensive course, one advanced writing-intensive course, one advanced studies course and one advanced course in studies or production. Students may progress through the General sequence if they have a 2.0 cumulative average and grades of C or better in the FMA foundation courses.
Dept
Course #
Course Name
Hours
2242
2396
2551
Videography, or
Media Writing I, or
Experimental Video and Multimedia