List of All U.S. Colleges with a Film Major

Film majors study the history and practice of filmmaking. College programs focus on giving students a holistic education, incorporating theory, still photography, editing, and practical production skills. 

In this post, we’ll discuss what to look for when you’re choosing a film program, which U.S. colleges have a film major, and your chances of getting accepted to the program of your choice.

Overview of Film Major

Film majors usually begin their studies with introductory courses that lay out the core concepts and practices in production, writing, and theory—all of which approach the medium of film from a different vantage point. Once students have been exposed to foundational ideas and processes, they can take courses in more specific topics: 

Production

• Sound design
• Lighting design
• Directing
• Editing
• Cinematography

Theory

• Genres
• History
• Critical approaches (i.e., feminism, realism, structuralism, psychoanalysis, cultural studies)

Some schools require students to choose a focus within the field in order to hone their skills, while others allow students to mix and match based on their own personal agendas.

What Does It Take to Succeed as a Film Major?

In general, film majors should understand the manifold nature of filmmaking and film studies. Because a film is made up of so many moving parts (literally), creating one is a vast undertaking, requiring a team effort, several pieces of equipment, settings or props, and editing to put it all together seamlessly.

Since film is a combination of several media forms, it’s important for film majors to thrive in an interdisciplinary environment, at least understanding (and preferably having practical experience in) all aspects of production.

The multimedia nature of film also means that there are a lot of technical skills involved in creating a film. Film majors should be comfortable with and highly motivated to learn technical skills. Those who lack technical aptitude might be able to focus on the screenwriting and theoretical aspects of film studies, but most film programs require all majors to take production courses.

One of the most important skills a film major can have is being able to work collaboratively. Films are a group effort; during production, each person’s individual role is fragmentary—satisfaction comes from the final product that emerges from a cooperative effort.

Finally, majoring in film requires a strong work ethic. Creating a film is a big time commitment that doesn’t always go according to schedule. When things go wrong, patience and problem-solving make troubleshooting and adapting much easier.

What About Grad School?

Because there is no single career path for a film major, the decision to go to grad school is largely personal. 

Film majors who focus on theory might be more inclined to go to grad school, or even make a career in academia. Otherwise, they may choose careers more geared towards humanities majors.

But the bulk of film majors aspire to careers in the film and television industry. In this case, it’s all about getting as much experience as possible. A degree is only worth what it provides in terms of training and practical experience. Going to grad school is useful for anyone looking for more specialized training or opportunities to build a portfolio.

What Can I Do With a Film Major?

Most film majors go on to careers in the film and television industry. Common roles include Director, Producer, Set Designer, Editor, Director of Photography, AV Technician, and Production Manager. These jobs have average or better projected growth.

What to Look for in a College as a Film Major

• Course offerings that allow for both a broad foundation and specialized training
• Hands-on approach to production courses
• Networking, internship, and experiential learning opportunities
• Resources, labs, studios, equipment, and funding/support for projects
• Access to archives
• Versatile location for shooting
• Filmmaking community (both academic and extracurricular)
• Professors who are industry experts

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Film Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Undergraduate film programs don’t typically require students to have any special film-related qualifications prior to application. Instead, grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays will determine the likelihood of acceptance.

• Most selective schools first screen applicants by their grades and test scores using a tool called the Academic Index. It is therefore important that your numbers fit or surpass those of previously admitted students.
• If your quantitative data looks good, the next step is to make sure your extracurricular activities and essay topics demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the school and film major. While it’s not necessary by any means, having a portfolio of film-related work can help your overall application and might give you an edge over other applicants who intend to study film.

If you want to know your personal chances of acceptance, we recommend using our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes into account a large portion of your individual profile, including academic stats and more qualitative factors like extracurriculars.