Film and Media Arts Pathway Guide

Preparation for Transfer as a Film and Media Arts Major

The following sequences are suggested courses to take in your semesters prior to transferring to SMU as a film and media arts major.  For students attending a Texas public community college or university, Texas Common Course Numbers (TCCNS) are listed.  If you are transferring from a college or university outside of Texas, click on the SMU course for a course description which may be used to select/compare courses at your current institution.

CC listings refer to SMU’s Common Curriculum, which all undergraduates are required to complete. Refer to the Common Curriculum Transfer Guide  for a list of courses satisfying CC components. Interactive equivalency guides organized by transfer institution are available on the Transfer and Transition Services’ website.

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Start A Movement

Welcome to the Meadows School of the Arts! We’re excited that you’re interested in transferring to SMU and majoring in Film and Media Arts. Established in 1969, the Meadows School is a nationally recognized arts education institution offering degrees the visual, communication and performing arts.

Meadows graduates are found in top positions around the globe, such as creatives and executives at companies such as 20th Century Fox, DDB Worldwide and Burson-Marsteller; the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts; dance and theatre company founders and Oscar and Tony award winners; news producers and reporters for major networks; singers for the Met and musicians for major metropolitan symphonies; directors of museums and galleries; artists whose work is shown in major museums and galleries and more.

The Division of Film and Media Arts

In Meadows’ Division of Film and Media Arts, students cultivate their artistic vision to become directors, producers, screenwriters, editors, media executives or artistic directors. The program combines technical instruction, critique and discussion with creative practice and hands-on production experience.

The Meadows Advantage

Located in Dallas, Top-Five Media Market

Led by a faculty of renowned scholars and award-winning makers of film, video and digital media, the Division offers B.A. and B.F.A. degrees with plenty of curriculum choices and guidance about the industry, including production training and courses covering the historical and theoretical aspects of film and media. Ambitious and motivated students can pursue internships in Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and other major cities.

Throughout the year, major figures in the industry visit, participating in discussion panels, screenings and classroom talks with students.

Students also have the opportunity to enter a number of film and video festivals, giving them the ability to present their work—and the individual creative perception they have developed—to larger audiences.

Our Alumni

Many Meadows alumni are Academy, Emmy, Peabody and Telly Award winners. Alumni work around the globe on projects such as:

• Warcraft
• The Hateful Eight
• Whiplash
• Lincoln
• Justice League
• Jurassic Park
• Free Birds
• The Late Late Show with James Corden
• Supernatural
• King of the Hill

Other recent graduates continue their education in graduate schools, gaining acceptance to programs at USC, UCLA and the American Film Institute, among others.

Internships and Directed Studies

The Division helps place students in internships that enable them to work under the guidance of professionals in the motion picture, television, cable and other electronic media industries. Students have interned at:

• American Film Institute
• HBO
• Sony
• Sundance Film Festival
• Time Warner
• Universal Pictures
• Dallas Film Society
• Paramount Pictures

The Student Filmmakers Association

SFA is an organization of film-loving students and alumni who produce films and connect each other with internships and work opportunities.  Twice yearly, SFA presents an off-campus SFA Film Festival.

B.A. in Film and Media Arts Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students planning to major in film and media arts must complete 24 hours of college-level work and the following core classes with a 2.75 or better GPA:

• WRTR 1311 - Foundations of Writing  or equivalent 
• WRTR 1312 - Introduction to Academic Writing  or equivalent
• FILM 1301 - Art of Film and Media  
• FILM 1302 - Contemporary Media Industries  

Transfer students must complete equivalent courses and obtain the equivalent GPA in those courses from their prior institutions if they want to transfer directly to the major at the time of transfer.  Upon acceptance into the major, students are required to pass the following courses with a grade of C- or better to receive their degree: FILM 1304 - Production 1 , and FILM 3351 - International Film History .  

B.F.A. in Film and Media Arts Admission Requirements

To be provisionally admitted to the B.F.A. prior to matriculation at SMU, students must submit a portfolio of film/video work, which will be reviewed by a faculty committee. This portfolio can consist of a variety of media, and should showcase your best work.  The portfolio must include at least one film/video sample in which you were a primary creative voice (such as writer or director) and no more than five works.  Media can include:

• short scripts
• samples of editing
• visual projects such as short films/videos or photography                        
• audio animation
• film stills
• motion graphics    

Portfolios should be submitted through an online portal.  Clear directions for submitting portfolios are found here.

Upon matriculation, students must complete the following core classes with a 2.75 or better GPA:

• FILM 1304 - Production 1  
• FILM 2354 - Screenwriting 1  
• WRTR 1311 - Foundations of Writing  or equivalent 
• WRTR 1312 - Introduction to Academic Writing  or equivalent

Transfer students must complete equivalent courses and obtain the equivalent GPA in those courses from their prior institutions if they want to transfer directly to the major at the time of transfer. 

Majoring in Film and Media Arts

The Division of Film and Media Arts offers B.A. and B.F.A. degrees.

The B.A. in Film and Media Arts  requires 33 credit hours within the major and is designed to prepare students for careers in the media industries or post-graduate work in film and media studies.

The B.F.A. in Film and Media Arts  requires 51 credit hours within the major and emphasizes developing the unique creative voice of each student. The B.F.A. is designed to prepare students for careers in media production and to develop their creative abilities in the art form.  The major culminates in the production of either a collaborative or an individual thesis film/media project. Admission is limited and requires application through a selective process, which includes a portfolio.  Check out our website for more information.

Minoring in Arts Entrepreneurship

Many filmmakers freelance or start their own business. The Minor in Arts Entrepreneurship  helps prepare the filmmaker for the marketplace by providing an overview of how to develop and launch a new venture, build a business plan, identify funding and build your brand.

Minoring in the History of Visual and Performing Arts

The Minor in the History of Visual and Performing Arts  provides students with a broad multidisciplinary engagement with the arts in their historical contexts. Students complete 18 credit hours in art history, music, dance, theatre and film history.

Preparing for a Smooth Transition

Transfer students who take time to prepare for their transition to Meadows are some of the most successful students. Following are a few important points to remember:

• The second language requirement of the Common Curriculum  may be satisfied by 1) transferring two terms of college courses in the same world language, 2) placing out of four terms of world language by taking an SMU placement test or through AP or IB credit, or 3) being literate in a native language other than English.
• SMU accepts AP scores of 4 or 5.
• Compare Course Descriptions   found in SMU’s University Catalog to course descriptions at your current institution to maximize your awarded transfer credits. 
• For additional information on film and media art majors, visit the department homepage.
• For more information about transferring to SMU, click here or call 214-768-3417.

SMU Degree

A degree from SMU is typically comprised of a minimum of 122 hours, 60 of which must be completed through SMU. Components of the degree include:

• Courses in your major.
• Courses required for the Common Curriculum (CC) .  
• Elective courses.  These electives may be used to add a second major or minor.

The Common Curriculum (CC)

The Common Curriculum is required of all undergraduate students and consists of three main components: 

1. Foundations - 6 hours of Writing courses, 3 hours of Quantitative Reasoning courses, proficiency in a second language. 
2. Breadth - 7 Breadth courses which may double count with majors and minors.
3. Proficiencies and Experiences - 8 Proficiencies and Experiences requirements, met through coursework or approved, noncredit activities.                                                                                                                         

NOTE: If you transfer with 23 or fewer credit hours and/or transfer in your first year out of high school, transfer work earned prior to high school graduation (dual/concurrent credit) will not satisfy CC requirements.

Apply Now!

Click here for more information about transferring to SMU.