2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Motion Pictures, BFA (MOPIC-BFA)

CIP Code: 500601

Program Description

The program in motion pictures provides a study of film as a fine art. The curriculum offers two options: the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre with a concentration in Motion Pictures Production and the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre with a concentration in Motion Pictures History, Theory, and Criticism.

The BFA Program

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is designed to give students pre-professional training for vocations closely related to film and video production, while simultaneously giving them an opportunity to develop their creativity. The BFA program follows an open admission policy for only the first semester; thereafter, students must progress according to department guidelines in order to continue. Prospective motion pictures BFA. students must take MP 1310 the fall semester of their freshman year and receive an A or B in order to proceed to any other classes as a major. Students successful in MP 1310 should register for MP 2310 in the spring semester. In order to be eligible to take MP 2320 in the fall semester of sophomore year, students must have completed 24 university credit hours, received a C or higher in MP 2310 , and achieved an overall minimum GPA of 2.25 by the end of freshman year. After completion of the spring semester of the freshman year, prospective BFA students must submit a Letter of Intent in order to continue into the sophomore year.

At the end of the sophomore year, BFA students must audition successfully for entrance into the junior and senior years of the program. This process, called the Junior Audition, is a comprehensive process involving meeting with faculty and reviewing work done in the program. Before students are accepted into the junior year, they must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in all film history/theory classes and a 2.25 overall GPA. Students must also have completed six film history/ theory courses, not including MP 1310 , and including MP 2320 and 2330, and have earned at least 56 credit hours. Students are required to submit original media work for faculty evaluation. To be accepted to the third year, students must show promise of benefitting from continuing education. In their third year, all production students are expected to demonstrate growth in film technique and earn additional credits in film history, theory, and criticism, as well as credits in General Education classes and electives.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Be proficient in the techniques of motion picture production, including the practice of independent filmmaking.
Understand motion pictures history, theory, and criticism, including the concepts of authorship and genre.
Understand national and international cinemas.
Understand the trends in contemporary cinema.
Understand employment and/or graduate school opportunities.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Demonstrate proficiency in the techniques of motion picture production, including the practice of independent filmmaking.
Demonstrate an understanding of motion pictures history, theory, and criticism, including the concepts of authorship and genre.
Demonstrate an understanding of national and international cinemas.
Demonstrate knowledge of the trends in contemporary cinema.
Demonstrate knowledge of employment and/or graduate school opportunities.

Honors Program

The honors program in motion pictures provides students of superior academic ability with the opportunity to broaden and demonstrate their skills. To earn a degree with honors, students must complete the departmental major requirements, maintain a superior GPA throughout their course of studies, and successfully complete a senior honors project, MP 4990 , sometime in their senior year. To be admitted to the honors program, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in their major and an overall GPA of 3.25. Both B.A. and B.F.A. students should contact the coordinator of the motion pictures area or the department chair for further details.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
ART 2140 - Themes in Visual Culture Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 2140 - Theatre in Western Culture Credit Hour(s): 3

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Requirements: 54 Credit Hours

MP 1310 - The Moving Image Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 1800 - Motion Pictures Production I Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 2310 - History of the Motion Picture I Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 2320 - History of Motion Picture II Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 2810 - Intermediate Motion Pictures Production I Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 2820 - Intermediate Motion Pictures Production II Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 3340 - Documentary Film: History and Theory Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 3810 - Advanced Motion Pictures Production I Credit Hour(s): 6
MP 3820 - Advanced Motion Pictures Production II Credit Hour(s): 6
MP 4360 - Studies in Motion Pictures Production Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 4810 - Senior Practicum in Filmmaking Credit Hour(s): 3 to 5

15 Additional Credit Hours

These are variable topics courses. Students will take the same courses with different topics to achieve the required number of courses.

15 additional hours in motion pictures history, theory, and criticism chosen from:

MP 3310 - Studies in Film History Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 3320 - Studies in Film Authorship Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 3330 - Studies in Film Theory Credit Hour(s): 3
MP 4350 - Advanced Studies in Media Credit Hour(s): 3

III. Related Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

Photography

One from:

ART 2070 - Photography I Credit Hour(s): 3
ART 2580 - Intro to Digital Photography Credit Hour(s): 3

Music

One from:

MUS 1140 - Fundamentals of Musicianship I Credit Hour(s): 3
MUS 1180 - Popular Musical Theatre Credit Hour(s): 3
MUS 2140 - Music in Western Culture Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. General Electives: 24 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

This GPS is valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and is subject to change. This GPS is a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.

Motion Pictures, BFA (GPS)