Film and Visual Media, B.A.
The B.A. in Film & Visual Media
The Film & Visual Media major trains students through a combination of coursework in:
- visual media,
- film history and analysis,
- screenwriting,
- and production of film and other visual media.
This major offers a comprehensive education in film and visual media, from theoretical framing and historical-cultural contextualization to training skills in both creating and analyzing film, as well as the development of a complex blend of creative, professional and technical competencies.
CMU's Department of English is an ideal home for the Film & Visual Media major due to the department’s combination of creative writers, film and media studies scholars, film makers, digital humanities, and visual communication researchers.
Program Learning Objectives
- Describe the broader context (from history and cultural-national traditions to market trends and media industry) in which media emerge and function and in which films are produced, distributed, and consumed.
- Identify film structure and elements of screenplay composition through creating full-length screenplays as well as short screenplays to film and edit.
- Explain the ways in which the act of production affects both the creation and reception of visual media through the act of creating films.
- Engage with technology so as to redefine properties of narrative and visual media as they evolve into a variety of digital forms, including but not limited to Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Artificial Intelligence.
Curriculum
In additional to satisfying all of the Dietrich College degree requirements for B.A. candidates, Film & Visual Media majors must complete 12 courses for a minimum of 108 units in six areas:
- Introductory Film Studies and History
- Screenwriting
- Film Production
- Digital Media
- Literary & Cultural Studies
- Topics in Film & Media Studies
Note: courses cannot double count between areas. For example, if you take 76-429 Introduction to Computational Humanities for the Digital Media area, you cannot also count that course for your Literature & Cultural Studies area.
Required courses (5 courses)45 units
| Required Courses | Units | |
| 76-239 | Introduction to Film Studies | 9 |
| 76-259 | Film History | 9 |
| 76-269 | Introduction to Screenwriting | 9 |
| 76-292 | Introduction to Film Production | 9 |
| 76-469 | Screenwriting Workshop | 9 |
Production elective (1 course)9-12 units
Courses include but may not be limited to the following (as new courses may become available over time):
| Production Elective Courses | ||
| 51-368 | Moving Pictures | 9 |
| 54-191 | Acting for Non-Majors | 9 |
| 60-110 | Foundations: Time-Based Media | 10 |
| 60-125 | IDeATe: Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline | 12 |
| 60-141 | Black and White Photography I | 10 |
| 60-143 | Photography Can Be Fun! | 10 |
| 60-166 | Photography in the Dark | 10 |
| 60-218 | Intermediate Studio: Real-Time Animation | 10 |
| 60-220 | IDeATe: Technical Character Animation | 10 |
| 60-224 | Intermediate Studio: Expanded Cinema | 10 |
| 60-241 | Black and White Photography II | 10 |
| 60-245 | Portrait Photography | 10 |
| 60-375 | Large Format Photography: Antiquarian Avant-Garde | 10 |
| 60-415 | Advanced ETB: Animation Studio | 10 |
| 60-416 | Advanced ETB: Documentary Storytelling | 10 |
| 62-141 | Black and White Photography I | 10 |
| 62-282 | Staged Photography | 10 |
| 62-375 | Large Format Photography: The Antiquarian Avant-Garde | 10 |
| 76-212 | Introduction to TV Writing | 9 |
| 76-310 | Advanced Studies in Film and Media | 9 |
| 76-313 | Creative Visual Storytelling in Film Production | 9 |
| 76-320 | The Writer's Room: TV Writing | 9 |
| 76-358 | Making the Documentary | 9 |
| 76-374 | Mediated Narrative | 9 |
| 76-381 | AI Filmmaking and Creative Arts Lab | 12 |
| 76-394 | The Video Essay: Theory & Practice | 9 |
| 76-481 | Introduction to Multimedia Design | 12 |
| 82-265 | Third Cinema: People, Language, and Culture in Documentary Storytelling | 9 |
Digital Media Courses (2 courses)18-20 units
Courses include but may not be limited to the following (as new courses may become available over time):
| Digital Media Courses | ||
| 15-104 | Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice | 10 |
| 51-229 | Digital Imaging | 9 |
| 60-120 | Foundations: Digital Media | 10 |
| 60-125 | IDeATe: Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline | 12 |
| 60-142 | Digital Photography I | 10 |
| 60-202 | Intermediate Studio: Animation Fundamentals | 10 |
| 60-212 | Intermediate Studio: Creative Coding | 12 |
| 60-218 | Intermediate Studio: Real-Time Animation | 10 |
| 60-219 | Intermediate Studio: Stop-Motion Animation | 10 |
| 60-220 | IDeATe: Technical Character Animation | 10 |
| 60-222 | Intermediate Studio: 3D Animation | 10 |
| 60-224 | Intermediate Studio: Expanded Cinema | 10 |
| 60-228 | Intermediate Studio: Art & Generative AI | |
| 60-242 | Digital Photography II | 10 |
| 60-281 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 10 |
| 60-333 | IDeATe: Animation Rigging | 10 |
| 60-415 | Advanced ETB: Animation Studio | 10 |
| 62-142 | Digital Photography I | 10 |
| 62-150 | IDeATe Portal: Introduction to Media Synthesis and Analysis | 10 |
| 76-314 | Data Stories | 9 |
| 76-374 | Mediated Narrative | 9 |
| 76-381 | AI Filmmaking and Creative Arts Lab | 12 |
| 76-388 | Coding for Humanists | 9 |
| 76-394 | The Video Essay: Theory & Practice | 9 |
| 76-429 | Introduction to Computational Humanities | 9 |
| 82-183 | AI for the Humanities: Learning, Reflection, and Creative Practices | 9 |
| 82-250 | Digital Realities: An Introduction to Immersive Storytelling | 9 |
Literature & Cultural Studies Courses (2 courses)18 units
Courses include but may not be limited to the following (as new courses may become available over time):
| Literary & Cultural Studies Courses | ||
| 60-356 | Critical Studies: Once Upon a Time: A Survey of International Folk & Fairy Tale Film | 9 |
| 76-207 | Special Topics in Literature & Culture | 9 |
| 76-210 | Banned Books | 9 |
| 76-217 | Literature & Culture of the 20th and 21st Century | 9 |
| 76-220 | Mystery! From Detective Fiction to True Crime | 9 |
| 76-221 | Books You Should Have Read By Now | 9 |
| 76-230 | Literature & Culture in the 19th Century | 9 |
| 76-236 | CMU Prison Education Project: | 12 |
| 76-241 | Introduction to Gender Studies | 9 |
| 76-242 | American Woman Writers | 9 |
| 76-244 | Immigrant Fictions | 9 |
| 76-245 | Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories | 9 |
| 76-247 | Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances | 9 |
| 76-268 | Comic Books & Pop Culture | 9 |
| 76-275 | Introduction to Critical Writing | 9 |
| 76-278 | Japanese Film and Literature: The Art of Storytelling | 9 |
| 76-295 | Russian Cinema: From the Bolshevik Revolution to Putin's Russia | 9 |
| 76-296 | 20th Century Russian Masterpieces | 9 |
| 76-299 | 19th Century Russian Masterpieces | 9 |
| 76-312 | Crime and Justice in American Film | 9 |
| 76-314 | Data Stories | 9 |
| 76-317 | Contemporary American Fiction | 9 |
| 76-326 | Contemporary Global Fiction | 9 |
| 76-329 | Performing Race in Early Modern Drama | 9 |
| 76-337 | Intersectional Feminism | 9 |
| 76-339 | Topics in Film and Media | 9 |
| 76-341 | The Age of Jane Austen | 9 |
| 76-342 | Love: A Cultural History | 9 |
| 76-347 | Major Fiction | 9 |
| 76-348 | Adaptation: Fiction to Film | 9 |
| 76-350 | Critical Theories about Literature | 9 |
| 76-353 | Transnational Feminisms: Fiction and Film | 9 |
| 76-362 | Reading in Forms: Nonfiction | 9 |
| 76-363 | Reading in Forms: Poetry | 9 |
| 76-364 | Reading in Forms: Fiction | 9 |
| 76-367 | Fact Into Film: Translating History into Cinema | 9 |
| 76-370 | Independent Study in Literary and Cultural Studies (instructor permission required) | Var. |
| 76-376 | Crafting Race in 19th-Century Britain | 9 |
| 76-382 | Media: Past, Present, and Future | 9 |
| 76-392 | Special Topics in Literature & Culture | 9 |
| 76-401 | Hollywood vs. the World | 9 |
| 76-407 | Topics in Literary & Cultural Studies | 9 |
| 76-409 | History of German Film | 9 |
| 76-410 | The Long Eighteenth Century | 9 |
| 76-414 | Decolonial Imaginaries | 9 |
| 76-423 | Transnational Feminisms | 9 |
| 76-424 | Theories of Social Class | 9 |
| 76-429 | Introduction to Computational Humanities | 9 |
| 76-431 | Gender Play in Early Modern Drama | 9 |
| 76-434 | Literature & Social Change in the 19th Century | 9 |
| 76-439 | Seminar in Film and Media Studies | 9 |
| 76-442 | Black Lives in Pre-1900 Britain | 9 |
| 76-445 | Milton | 9 |
| 76-446 | Revenge Tragedy | 9 |
| 76-450 | Law, Culture, and the Humanities | 9 |
| 76-452 | Generations and Culture | 9 |
| 76-453 | Literature of Empire | 9 |
| 76-454 | Rise of the Blockbuster | 9 |
| 76-455 | The Pittsburgh Review of Books (PRoB) | 9 |
| 76-461 | Refugee Stories: Literature, Art and Film | 9 |
| 76-467 | Crime Fiction and Film | 9 |
| 76-468 | Space and Mobilities | 9 |
| 76-482 | Rise of the Art Film | 9 |
| 76-493 | Science Fictions/Speculative Futures: Utopian/Dystopian Visions in Film & Media | 9 |
| 76-495 | Other People's Words: The History, Theory, and Practice of Interviews | 9 |
| 82-253 | Korean Society through Film and Literature | 9 |
| 82-268 | Introduction to Italian Film | Var. |
| 82-278 | Japanese Film and Literature: The Art of Storytelling | 9 |
| 82-279 | Anime - Visual Interplay between Japan and the World | 9 |
| 82-293 | Russian Cinema: From the Bolshevik Revolution to Putin's Russia | Var. |
| 82-294 | 19th Century Russian Masterpieces | Var. |
| 82-295 | 20th Century Russian Masterpieces | Var. |
| 82-296 | From Augustine to Avatars: Personal Narratives Across Media | Var. |
| 82-297 | Russian and Soviet Science Fiction | Var. |
| 82-298 | Radicals, Heretics, Hackers: Russian Outlaws in History, Literature, and Film | Var. |
| 82-313 | Topics in Modern Arabic: Contemporary Arab Cinema | 9 |
| 82-355 | Tpcs in Hispanic Std: Beyond the Film Screen: The Hispanic World Through Film | 9 |
| 82-380 | Podcasting in Spanish: Unlocking Cultural Storytelling | 9 |
| 82-428 | History of German Film | Var. |
| 82-439 | Black Myth: Wukong and the Journey to the West | 9 |
Topics in Film & Visual Media Studies Courses (2 courses)18 units
Courses include but may not be limited to the following (as new courses may become available over time):
| Topics in Film & Media Studies Courses | ||
| 54-342 | Costume Design for TV and Film | 7 |
| 60-356 | Critical Studies: Once Upon a Time: A Survey of International Folk & Fairy Tale Film | 9 |
| 60-378 | Critical Studies: Science Fiction Film | 9 |
| 60-391 | Critical Studies: Korean Flicks: A History of Contemporary Cinema | 9 |
| 76-207 | Special Topics in Literature & Culture Fall 2026 only | 9 |
| 76-212 | Introduction to TV Writing | 9 |
| 76-278 | Japanese Film and Literature: The Art of Storytelling | 9 |
| 76-295 | Russian Cinema: From the Bolshevik Revolution to Putin's Russia | 9 |
| 76-312 | Crime and Justice in American Film | 9 |
| 76-320 | The Writer's Room: TV Writing | 9 |
| 76-334 | Pitching to the Business of Entertainment | 9 |
| 76-339 | Topics in Film and Media (Can be taken more than once for credit, provided the course topic is new each time). | 9 |
| 76-348 | Adaptation: Fiction to Film | 9 |
| 76-353 | Transnational Feminisms: Fiction and Film | 9 |
| 76-367 | Fact Into Film: Translating History into Cinema | 9 |
| 76-382 | Media: Past, Present, and Future | 9 |
| 76-401 | Hollywood vs. the World | 9 |
| 76-409 | History of German Film | 9 |
| 76-439 | Seminar in Film and Media Studies | 9 |
| 76-454 | Rise of the Blockbuster | 9 |
| 76-456 | Independent Study in Film & Media Studies (instructor permission required) | Var. |
| 76-461 | Refugee Stories: Literature, Art and Film | 9 |
| 76-467 | Crime Fiction and Film | 9 |
| 76-482 | Rise of the Art Film | 9 |
| 76-501 | Semester in Hollywood Program: Story | 12 |
| 76-502 | Semester in Hollywood Program: How to Pitch | 6 |
| 76-503 | Semester in Hollywood Program: Inside Hollywood | 6 |
| 79-220 | Screening Mexico: Mexican Cinema, 1898 to Present | 9 |
| 79-225 | West African History in Film | 9 |
| 79-309 | The Chinese Revolution Through Film (1949-2000) | 9 |
| 79-316 | Photography, the First 100 Years, 1839-1939 | 9 |
| 79-319 | India Through Film | 9 |
| 79-328 | Photographers and Photography Since World War II | 9 |
| 79-339 | Juvenile Delinquency & Film: From Soul of Youth (1920) to West Side Story (1961) | 6 |
| 82-248 | Introduction to Latin American Film and Visual Arts | 9 |
| 82-253 | Korean Society through Film and Literature | 9 |
| 82-268 | Introduction to Italian Film | Var. |
| 82-269 | Immersive Digital Storytelling:Using VR/AR to Explore, Language Culture Identity | 9 |
| 82-278 | Japanese Film and Literature: The Art of Storytelling | 9 |
| 82-279 | Anime - Visual Interplay between Japan and the World | 9 |
| 82-284 | Multicultural Pittsburgh: Storytelling with 360 Video | 6 |
| 82-293 | Russian Cinema: From the Bolshevik Revolution to Putin's Russia | Var. |
| 82-296 | From Augustine to Avatars: Personal Narratives Across Media | Var. |
| 82-313 | Topics in Modern Arabic: Contemporary Arab Cinema | 9 |
| 82-380 | Podcasting in Spanish: Unlocking Cultural Storytelling | 9 |
| 82-428 | History of German Film | Var. |
| 82-439 | Black Myth: Wukong and the Journey to the West | 9 |
Recommended Courses
While not required, the following courses are recommended as a part of the curriculum. They include:
| 76-310 | Advanced Studies in Film and Media | 9 |
| 76-374 | Mediated Narrative | 9 |
Double Counting
Students may double count up to two courses with other programs outside of the Department of English. NOTE: courses being used for the Dietrich General Education requirements do not have a double-counting limit.
Transfer Courses
Students may transfer up to two advisor-approved courses from other programs outside of Carnegie Mellon University toward the primary or additional major in Film & Visual Media Studies, with the exception of 76-239 Introduction to Film Studies and 76-259 Film History. If the two-course maximum is met, other related transfer courses will be considered for general education requirements and free electives for graduation. Please see the Dietrich College Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Policy for more information.
Recommended Curriculum Pathway: B.A. in Film & Visual Media
This plan is the recommended pathway for completing the B.A. in Film & Visual Media in four years. While it is not required for students to follow this pathway precisely, it is highly recommended for students to do so, and we recommend students begin the major’s courses as early as possible. Students in Dietrich College may declare their primary major as early as February 1. Students who have not declared their major in the Department of English may still take courses with us.
Students may also view the four-year plan (also known as a Pathway) for the B.A. in Film & Visual Media via the Stellic Degree Audit Application.
| First-Year | Second-Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| GEN ED: Foundations: Communication Course | GEN ED: Foundations: Data Analysis Course | GEN ED: Foundations: Scientific Inquiry Course | GEN ED: Foundations: Intercultural & Global Inquiry Course |
| GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities Course | GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Social Sciences Course | GEN ED: Foundations: Computational Thinking Course | GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Logic/Math Course |
| GEN ED: Grand Challenge Seminar Course | 76-310 Advanced Studies in Film and Media (recommended course, but not required) | 76-259 Film History | 76-469 Screenwriting Workshop |
| 76-239 Introduction to Film Studies (Also counts as GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: The Arts) | Literature & Culture Course #1 | 76-269 Introduction to Screenwriting | Digital Media Course #1 |
| Free Elective | Free Elective | 76-292 Introduction to Film Production | Topics in Film Course #1 |
| Third-Year | Fourth-Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking Course | Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Topics in Film Course #2 | GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Additional (Business, Design, Engineering) | OPTIONAL GEN ED: Senior Capstone OR Free Elective |
| GEN ED: Equity and Justice Course | Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR 76374 Mediated Narrative (recommended course, but not required) | Topics in Film Course #2 OR Free Elective | 76-374 Mediated Narrative (recommended course, but not required) OR Free Elective |
| Production Elective Course or 323 Text to Screen (which is a recommended course, but not required) | Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Free Elective | Free Elective | Free Elective |
| Literature & Culture Course #2 | Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Free Elective | Free Elective | Free Elective |
| Digital Media Course #2 | Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Free Elective | Free Elective | Free Elective |