Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Lens-Based Media
The School of Film and Photography (SFP) prepares students to meet the challenges of a rapidly expanding media environment as creative artists and critical thinkers. Our students develop their own voices as tomorrow's leaders through intensive hands-on exploration of motion picture, photography, theatre and new-media production.
The School of Film and Photography offers a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) with concentrations (options) in Film or Photography, plus a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in Integrated Lens-Based Media.
The BA and BFA degree options share a common foundation dedicated to the relationships between film and photography. This integrated foundation permits students to take courses in Film or Photography while they complete the requirements of the option they have selected as their concentration. Students who pursue the BFA will be able to design their own curricular path in consultation with their advisor.
After the completion of a successful freshman year of introductory courses in media production, analysis, and history, students will continue to develop advanced skills and knowledge of filmmaking and photography over the next the three years.
Both degree options provide flexibility for students to broaden their education with course work outside of the School of Film and Photography. Our students are encouraged to study abroad, minor in another area of interest, and even double major.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Lens-Based Media in the School of Film & Photography at MSU-Bozeman provides students with an intensive, interdisciplinary course of study in cinematic and photographic media that culminates in the creation of a comprehensive capstone project. The BFA in Integrated Lens-Based Media prepares students to pursue graduate study and for careers as professional artists.
A minimum of 120 credits are required for the BFA degree. 42 of the 120 must be Upper Division (UD) credits (300 or 400).
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| FILM 101IH - Understanding Film and Media | 3 | |
| FILM 112 - Aesthetics of Film Production I | 3 | |
| PHOT 113RA - The Magic of the Darkroom I | 3 | |
| WRIT 101W - College Writing I | 3 | |
| US Core | 3 | |
| PHOT 213 - The Magic of the Darkroom II | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
ARTZ 105IA - Visual Language - Drawing | ||
ARTZ 109IA - Visual Language: Comprehensive Foundation | ||
ARTZ 110RA - Visual Language: Ideation and Creativity | ||
| University Core or Electives | 9 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| FILM 212 - Aesthetics Film Production II | 4 | |
| PHOT 258 - View Camera | 4 | |
| University Core or Electives | 7 | |
| PHOT 255 - Intro to Color Photography | 4 | |
| Choose one of the following (can be taken fall or spring): | 3 | |
FILM 201D - Film History I: Origins to the 1960s (F) | ||
FILM 202D - Film History II: 1960s to the Present (SP) | ||
| University Core or Electives | 8 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| PHOT 401 - Contemporary Issues in Photography | 3 | |
| Film Studies Elective | 3 | |
| Production Electives | 6 | |
| Additional Relevant Courses* | 3 | |
| PHOT 301 - Photography: Global Histories and Perspectives (SP) | 3 | |
| Film Studies Elective | 3 | |
| Production Electives | 6 | |
| Additional Relevant Courses* | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| Senior Capstone - choose one of the following:** | 5 | |
FILM 490R - Undergraduate Research | ||
FILM 499 - Senior Production | ||
PHOT 490R - Undergrad Research | ||
PHOT 499 - Senior Production Photography | ||
| Additional Relevant Courses* | 6 | |
| University Core or Electives | 4 | |
| Senior Capstone - Choose one of the following: | 5 | |
FILM 490R - Undergraduate Research | ||
FILM 499 - Senior Production | ||
PHOT 490R - Undergrad Research | ||
PHOT 499 - Senior Production Photography | ||
| Additional Relevant Courses* | 3 | |
| University Core or Electives | 7 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | |
Film Studies Electives - Choose two of the following:
| ARTH 391 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| FILM 381 | Studies in Film | 3 |
| FILM 481 | Advanced Studies in Film | 3 |
| GRMN 422IH | German Text & Cinema | 3 |
| JPNS 361IH | Japanese Text and Cinema | 3 |
| LS 451 | Film, Photos, and Culture: A Global Perspective | 3 |
| NASX 360IH | Native Americans and Cinema | 3 |
| PHL 328 | Philosophy and Film | 3 |
| PSYX 263CS | The Psychology of Film | 3 |
| SPNS 352IH | U.S. Latino Text & Cinema | 3 |
Production Electives - Choose four of the following, including two FILM and two PHOT courses:
| FILM 251 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| FILM 253 | Television Production | 3 |
| FILM 254 | Acting for Film | 3 |
| FILM 304 | Live Production and Camera | 4 |
| FILM 333 | Production Management | 3 |
| FILM 341 | Special Effects Makeup for Film | 3 |
| FILM 351 | Advanced Script Writing | 3 |
| FILM 352 | Editing | 3 |
| FILM 354 | Lighting | 3 |
| FILM 355 | Cinematography | 3 |
| FILM 356 | Production Design | 3 |
| FILM 357 | Directing | 3 |
| FILM 359 | Sound Design | 3 |
| FILM 370 | Color Grading for Film & TV | 3 |
| FILM 371 | Non-Fiction Film Production | 4 |
| FILM 372 | Fiction Film Production | 4 |
| FILM 373 | Experimental Film Production | 4 |
| FILM 494 | Seminar/Workshop | 1-4 |
| PHOT 331 | Prof Practices in Photography | 4 |
| PHOT 350 | Landscape and the Book | 4 |
| PHOT 352 | Advanced Lighting Practices | 4 |
| PHOT 355 | The Experimental Color Darkroom | 4 |
| PHOT 359 | Alternative Photographic Techniques | 4 |
| PHOT 371 | Portraiture | 4 |
| PHOT 373 | Image & Text | 4 |
| PHOT 374 | The Experimental B&W Darkroom | 4 |
| PHOT 494 | Seminar/Workshop | 1-4 |
*Discuss with your advisor which courses throughout the University will be relevant to your proposed course of study to fulfill a total of 15 credits. Courses can be SFP courses over and above the requirements of the degree or non-SFP courses.
**Entry into Senior Capstone requires senior standing in FILM, an accepted proposal, and completion of the Junior Production Requirement. If pursuing a role as Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Designer, Production Designer or Lighting Designer, please take the corresponding 300-level production elective prior to FILM 499. Entry into PHOT Senior Production requires senior standing. A research capstone can substitute for a Production capstone if desired; it is the student's responsibility to find a faculty member to oversee.
Some courses are only offered fall or spring, some every other year. Discuss a course plan with your advisor. Students must meet university requirements of 42 upper division credits (300-400 level courses).