The School of Film and Photography

The School of Film and Photography is committed to preparing students to meet the challenges of an expanding media environment as informed critical thinkers and professionally trained creative artists. We challenge our students to develop their own voices as tomorrow’s leaders through a hands-on exploration of motion picture, photography, theatre and new media production.

The School of Film and Photography (SFP) offers two distinct options leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Film or in Photography, as well as a minor in Photography.

Both the Film and Photography options are in heavy demand. Therefore in order to preserve the integrity of student education, GPA-based "gates" are in place, allowing only a certain number of students to continue in each program beyond the first year. For more information about the gate requirements in each program see the individual program descriptions below.

Transfer Students

For both the Film and the Photography options, there are specific classes that are offered only in sequence. Any prospective transfer student should send a list of courses that he/she has completed elsewhere or is in the process of completing, for evaluation by the School of Film and Photography well in advance of registering at MSU. Students who intend to transfer to SFP should seek prior approval of credit taken elsewhere in order to be certain that these credits will count toward the degree in Film or Photography. In no case may a class completed with a grade below "C" elsewhere be applied toward the departmental requirements for the degree in either Film or Photography. Any class submitted by an entering student in the Film option for transfer toward any of the first-year requirements must be approved by the SFP Director or Advisor on the basis of a review of the syllabus of the course taken elsewhere. A challenge exam may be required for any transfer credit at the discretion of the SFP Director or Advisor. All students enrolled in The School of Film and Photography will be assigned a faculty academic advisor after acceptance to the sophomore year.

Course and Program Fees

Course fees are assessed to all students enrolled in MTA 102 and MTA 103. Students who have declared a major in either option or a double major which includes Film or Photography are charged a program fee per semester (subject to annual increase) beginning in the sophomore year.

THE FILM OPTION (Formally MPVT)

The Film option curriculum begins with first-year foundation courses emphasizing an understanding and analysis of motion pictures and theatre and introduces students to the actual production process. In the second year, students complete a series of eight skills classes related to film and theatre production. In the third year, qualified students who have attained a minimum 3.0 GPA in their SFP requirements in the first two years, build upon these basics in production process workshops in required of all students in fiction film, non-fiction film and stage production. Additional course work in advanced film studies as well as professional practices courses and internship options compliment the upper division requirements. The individual student's capstone senior project is approved by the entire faculty and developed in consultation with a team of faculty advisors assigned to the project through a workshop process.

Film Option Gate Requirements

The Film option will accept no more than 48 students into the sophomore year based in part on the students GPA for the required freshman Film courses and for two core courses selected from outside the School, including WRIT 101 College Writing I, and the students' choice for satisfying the university seminar (US) core requirements.

Admission to the sophomore year also requires submission of a portfolio. The portfolio will consist of one film selected from the individual projects shot in MTA 102 and a written statement. Candidates must submit a completed application form by April 30th for admission to the sophomore year the following fall semester. Portfolios are due on the last day of spring semester finals week. The department will notify students for the following semester on or before May 30th. When any of the five required first-year Film courses have been attempted at MSU, a student's grade may change only by retaking that specific course in Film (i.e., no transfer credits or other substitutions for the specific course are permitted). In addition, admission to the upper division 300 - and 400 - level courses in Film requires a combined GPA of 3.0 in all departmental classes required at the 100 - and 200 - levels.

Curricula in The School of Film and Photography

• Film Option (Formally MPVT)
• Photography Option
• Photography Minor (Non-Teaching)

FILM OPTION CURRICULUM (Formally MPVT)

The following is a recommended course plan for Film majors. Variations may occur in a student's schedule. The freshman year requirements must be successfully completed before a student may enroll in sophomore year courses. The sophomore year requirements must be successfully completed before a student may enroll in junior year courses.

*MTA 102, WRIT 101W and University Seminar are offered both fall and spring semesters and may be taken in either semester. The sophomore year requirements must be successfully completed before a student may enroll in junior year courses.

All required MTA first and second year courses must be completed with a minimum average GPA of 3.00 in order to advance to upper division, 300-400 level classes in this curriculum.

MTA 371 and MTA 372 are offered both fall and spring semesters, and may be taken in either semester. Multiple sections are taught by different instructors so that students may choose the section that best matches their interests. MTA 494 is only offered in Fall, must be taken then.

**MTA 472 and MTA 474 are offered both fall and spring semesters. These courses may be taken in either fall or spring semester. MTA 474 is a co-requisite of MTA 472 and must be taken concurrently.

Electives

In addition, the department requires that each student take a minimum of 9 elective credits taken from any of the following:

*MTA 382, MTA 401, MTA 333, MTA 492 and 498 are repeatable courses.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OPTION

The curriculum in the Photography option offers both artistic and applied approaches to the medium, providing a solid foundation for those entering a professional field and those choosing to pursue postgraduate education. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Photography option sets high standards for production and is one of the few comprehensive four-year photography degree programs in a sizable geographical area of the north central and northwest United States. Coursework covers everything from traditional silver-based darkroom techniques to alternative processes as well as emphasis in digital technologies across the curriculum.

Photography Option Gate Requirements

Students pursuing the Photography Option will take MTA 103 Understanding Photography, in fall semester; and MTA 106, Intermediate Photography, in spring semester. Students who earn a grade of B or better in MTA 103 and MTA 106 will be eligible for faculty review of their MTA 106 portfolios the end of spring semester. Portfolio submissions will be accepted immediately after the scheduled critique of lab assignments in MTA 106. Following a successful portfolio review, students will be registered for second-year classes. Students will be notified of results of the review in a timely manner as well as computer requirements for fall semester.

PHOTOGRAPHY OPTION CURRICULUM

Those accepted into the program after the freshman year will be required to purchase their own MAC
laptop computer that meets the specifications of the department by the fall semester of their sophomore year. Students will be notified of these specifications upon a successful portfolio review outcome in May.

To advance to upper division junior courses, students must complete first and second year photography classes with a minimum average GPA of 2.75.

*All students must complete both MTA 303 and MTA 304. Because these courses are offered spring semester only, alternating years it is important to take them immediately. The senior year consists of two semesters of weekly seminars for critique and discussion of independent capstone projects. Students are registered for these classes only if they meet the project proposal deadlines and specifications the semester before admittance, and if project proposals are approved by the photography faculty through written and verbal presentations.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.

PHOTOGRAPHY MINOR CURRICULUM (NON-TEACHING)

The School of Film and Photography offers a photography minor on a space-available basis. The minor consists of 28 credits. Due to the sequential nature of the photography classes, a minor will require a minimum of 2 1/2 years to complete. Photography majors/minors will both complete the same sequence of Photography classes their first year, MTA 103 in the fall and MTA 106 in the spring. At the end of spring semester of that year, a portfolio review for acceptance into the program is conducted. All applicants who have maintained a B average in MTA 103 and MTA 106 are welcome to apply. A panel of faculty will assess and rank the student work presented in the portfolios. After the 36 seats are filled in rank order, remaining applicants who still have a successful portfolio review outcome can choose to be wait listed for the immediate fall semester only and notified should vacancies occur. When all vacancies are filled for that fall semester, the wait list will be retired. Accepted majors/minors are required to purchase a MAC laptop of their choosing upon entrance into the fall semester classes of their second year.

> Back to Table of Contents

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 6/09/06