Requirements for the BA/BS in Film

Undergraduate majors in Film are expected to acquire basic skills in theory, history, criticism, and practice. Core requirements are met and electives are available through curricular offerings in the Department of Theater Arts. Students may also select electives from an approved list of courses in Art, Music, and Arts & Sciences. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of film and new media offerings at PCC-Cascade, Mt. Hood Community College, and Clackamas Community College, who partner with Portland State University in the Co-enrollment program. Students may also apply certain elective coursework (35 and 16 mm) taken at the Northwest School of Film.

Selective Upper Division Admission

Students will declare the major upon admission to the university. Students will formally apply to the Film major as they approach completion of 90 credits of undergraduate coursework. Our admission standards include a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 AND a minimum major GPA of 3.0

Undergraduate application procedures and materials are available via PSU's Admissions website: Undergraduate Admissions. Should you have any questions about the Film upper division major application procedures and forms   please contact us at theaterarts@pdx.edu.

Requirements for a Major in Film 2011-12

The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Film is designed to offer students the opportunity to major in a diverse film curriculum that prepares them for a variety of careers in visual expression and understanding. Students in the program will study all forms and genres of the moving image, ranging from the silent film era to present day cinema, television, and digital video production. The faculty are committed to providing strong emphasis on written, oral and visual expression and critical thinking, diverse and international perspective, and challenging creative experiences.

Requirements for the major in Film. In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the major in film will plan a program with a faculty advisor that meets the following minimum requirements:

TA 131 Understanding Movies ......................................................4
TA 301 Script Analysis ................................................................4
TA 381/2/3 History of Film I, II, III (4, 4, 4) ................................12
TA 480 Film Theory ................................................................... 4
16 credits chosen from the following: 
     TA 384/5 American Cinema and Culture I, II
     TA 474/5 Dramatic Writing I, II
     TA 484/5 Anatomy of a Movie I, II
     TA 486 Topics in Film and the Moving Image (max. 8 credits) .....16

*16 elective credits chosen from the Film curriculum including courses listed
below with at least 12 carrying numbers 300 or above .....................16

*Students may also seek program advisor approval to substitute elective coursework from other film courses in the university.

TOTAL 56

Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling major requirements. Additional courses may be required as prerequisites. All courses used to satisfy the major requirements must be graded C or above.

Graduation Pathways
Film majors who start their college career at PSU should follow the Early Declare Pathway to graduation in consultation with an FPA or Film advisor: BA in Film Pathway or BS in Film Pathway. 

Film majors who have completed the AA degree and/or entered PSU with 90 transfer credits should follow the Transfer Pathway to graduation in consultation with a Film advisor:BA/BS in Film Transfer Pathway

Specialization in the Film Major

In fulfilling the elective requirement, the film major, depending on area of interest and career aspirations, should select one of 3 options (with at least 6 credits carrying numbers 300 or above): the general option; the production or performance option; the film studies option. Coursework selected in addition to the 16 elective credits may be applied to other university graduation requirements, including the 72 hour upper division requirement and general electives.

Film Studies Option
The student who chooses the film studies option should select 16 elective credits from the following recommended courses with at least 12 credits carrying numbers 300 or above.
TA 370 Topics: Theater, Media, and Culture (4)
TA 374 Topics in Screenwriting (4)
TA 474/5 Dramatic Writing I, II (4, 4)
TA 484/5 Anatomy of a Movie I, II (4, 4)
TA 486 Topics in Film and the Moving Image (4)

Film Production Option
The student who chooses the production option should select 16 elective credits from the following recommended courses, with at least 12 credits carrying numbers 300 or above:
TA 257/258/359: Digital Video Production I, II, III (1-4)
TA 311 Scene Design I (4) [TA prerequisites required for this course]
TA 314 Lighting I (4) [TA prerequisites required for this course]
TA 321 Introd to Costume Design (4)
TA 360: Topics in Digital Video Production (4)
TA 374 Topics in Screenwriting (4)
TA 404: Internship
TA 408 Wksp: Documentary Field Production I, II, III (4, 4, 4)
TA 408 Wksp: Directing Actors for the Camera (3-4)
TA 454 Directing I (4) [TA prerequisites required for this course]
TA 474/5 Dramatic Writing I, II (4, 4)
Art 255 Two-dimensional Animation I (4)
Art 256 Three-dimensional Animation I (4)
Art 257 Video I (4)
Art 296 Digital Drawing and Painting (4)
Art 301 Processes and Practices of the Creative Industries (4)
Art 455 Time Arts Studio (4)

The student who chooses the performance option should select 16 elective credits from the following recommended courses, with at least 12 credits carrying numbers 300 or above:
TA 252 Makeup (2)
TA 144, 344 Voice for the Actor I & II (3) (3)
TA 147 Movement for the Actor (3)
TA 241, 242 Improvisational Acting I & II (3) (3)
TA 248 Acting I: Process (4)
TA 340/341/342 Acting II/III (4, 4) & Advanced Acting (4)
TA 346 Stage Dialects (4)
TA 348 Acting for the Camera (4)
TA 408 Wksp: Film/Video Performance (1-4)