2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2025  
2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Motion Pictures, BA (MOPIC-BA)


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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 B.A. Program

Students who are interested in the B.A. program generally follow the same program of study for the first year as the B.F.A. students, except without taking MP 1800 . At the end of the freshman year, B.A. students should indicate to the faculty their intention to return to the program by submitting a Letter of Intent. A B.A. degree in motion pictures can be thought of as a general liberal arts degree, preparing one for entrance into professions requiring knowledge of contemporary culture. More specifically, the B.A. degree can prepare one for graduate study in film and subsequent employment as a professional writer or teacher in a university; other job options include working for a film archive, festival, library, museum, arts council, or publisher.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to: 

  • 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: 

  • Understand motion pictures history, theory, and criticism, including the concepts of authorship and genre.
  • Understand 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. 

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours


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. 

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

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. 

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.

II. Major Requirements: 39 Credit Hours


27 Additional Credit Hours


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

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

III. Related Requirements: 15 Credit Hours


  • Two courses from PHL beyond the Methods of Inquiry course Credit Hour(s): 6
  • Three courses from: ART (History), PLS, REL, TH, WMS Credit Hour(s): 9

IV. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours


Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours


Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one foreign language: 

American Sign Language (ASL)*, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, or other foreign language. 

*Note: all language classes above are 3 credit hours each, except for the ASL classes which are 4 credit hours each. 

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Credit Hours


V. General Electives: 8-12 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. 

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