Cinema and Television Arts B.F.A.
Chair: Professor Saltz
The Cinema and Television Arts B.F.A. is an intensive degree option for students who want to go above and beyond what they are able to do in the normal sequence of classes within the major (see Cinema and Television Arts A.B.). The major encompasses all forms of creative fiction and nonfiction storytelling through moving images and sound and provides foundational skills in writing, previsualization, aesthetics, audience analytics, diversity and inclusion, production, distribution and industry best practices. Students learn single and multi-camera production techniques and live event, studio- and reality-based programming.
Students in the B.F.A. program must complete the following additional requirements: 1) take eight additional hours of advanced coursework in the major; 2) participate in the Elon in LA summer or full-semester program while taking residential classes and completing a professional internship with an entertainment media company; and 3) complete a thesis project demonstrating advanced research, technical, and creative skills, fostered through experiential learning and one-on-one faculty mentorship.
The Cinema and Television Arts B.F.A. option requires 60 semester hours in CTA, COM, CDE, JOU, MEA or STC, plus 2 hours IDS 1150.
(See School of Communications for additional program requirements and course descriptions)
Major Requirements:
Required courses: 57-58 sh
| IDS 1150 | PUBLIC SPEAKING | 2 sh |
| COM 1000 | COMMUNICATIONS IN A GLOBAL AGE | 4 sh |
| COM 2000 | INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATIONS | 2 sh |
| CTA 2100 | INTRODUCTION TO CINEMA AND TELEVISION ARTS | 4 sh |
| CTA 2160 | WRITING FOR CINEMA AND TELEVISION | 4 sh |
| COM 2200 | CREATING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT | 4 sh |
| CTA 3000 | ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA BUSINESS AND PRACTICES | 4 sh |
| COM 3985 | COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP | 1 or 2 sh |
| COM 4000 | MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS | 4 sh |
| CTA 4975 | ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA ISSUES AND RESEARCH | 4 sh |
Select one of the following courses: 4 sh
| CTA 3240 | STUDIO, VARIETY, AND REALITY TELEVISION PRODUCTION | 4 sh |
| CTA 3260 | CINEMA PRODUCTION | 4 sh |
Select one of the following courses: 4 sh
| CTA 3550 | DOCUMENTARY AND NONFICTION AESTHETICS | 4 sh |
| CTA 3560 | NARRATIVE AESTHETICS | 4 sh |
Select one of the following courses: 4 sh
Select one of the following courses: 4 sh
Complete the following: 4 sh
Students take 2 hours of CTA 4970 in the fall semester of their senior year and 2 sh of CTA 4970 in the spring semester of their senior year.
Capstone Course: 4 sh
Choose one of the following capstone course options
| CTA 4550 | ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY AND NONFICTION PRODUCTION | 4 sh |
| CTA 4560 | ADVANCED NARRATIVE PRODUCTION | 4 sh |
Elon in L.A.
Complete Elon in LA full-semester or summer program, or upon recommendation of the BFA committee and approval of the department chair, complete an equivalent immersive experience.
Select additional courses to total at least 60 semester hours of courses from COM, CDE, CTA, JOU, MEA, or STC , not including IDS 1150.
REQUIRED MINOR, DOUBLE MAJOR OR SEMESTER ABROAD:
To promote academic depth, all students must complete a minor, double major outside of the School of Communications or a semester abroad (totaling 12 credit hours or more) in an Elon-approved program. Study USA programs do not qualify as a semester abroad.
Program Outcomes
Values:
1. Truth, accuracy and fairness: Students will be able to articulate the value of truth, accuracy, and fairness, and their relationship to advancing diversity; describe the importance of access to information to ensure these values; and apply these values in the discipline and professions.
2. Freedom of expression: Students will be able to identify and state the importance of the five freedoms in the First Amendment; distinguish expression that is and is not protected; recognize differences in global contexts and apply legal principles to media issues.
3. Ethical ways of reasoning: Students will be able to describe the philosophical underpinnings of ethical decision-making; recognize the symbiosis between law and ethics; and apply ethical principles to professional issues.
4. History and roles of media, communication professions and sport in society: Students will be able to identify significant diverse individuals and describe important milestones in the multicultural history of communications and sport; and analyze the role and impact of media on U.S. society.
5. Domestic and global diversity: Students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of diverse peoples and cultures, particularly those who have been historically disenfranchised in the United States of America; demonstrate culturally proficient communication with diverse domestic audiences; describe ways to communicate appropriately with global audiences; to work on and advocate for diverse and inclusive teams; and understand the consequences of the digital divide.
Competencies:
6. Write and speak clearly and effectively: Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in grammar, spelling, mechanics and organization; and write and speak with accuracy, clarity, cultural proficiency and style for different audiences across media platforms.
7. Employ the tools of today’s technology: Students will be able to describe how technologies shape the way people interact with the world; master communication tools and technologies; and produce print, audio, video, online and mobile content.
8. Use theory in producing meaningful content: Students will be able to identify and demonstrate communication theories, concepts and aesthetic principles that guide the creation of visual content and the presentation of images and information.
9. Engage in research and analysis: Students will be able to describe qualitative and quantitative research methods; evaluate primary and secondary sources; and write and present a scholarly paper appropriate for disciplinary professions.
10. Apply numerical concepts: Students will be able to perform basic numerical computations; interpret statistical data and analyze audiences; and demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts in appropriate communications professions.
11. Demonstrate creative and critical thinking: Students will be able to explain the creative elements in the work they do; understand the financial aspects of content creation; and draw rational conclusions as they analyze social and communications phenomena.
Department Student Learning Outcomes:
1. The student will be able to describe the operations of the entertainment industry as one that relies on content production, distribution, and exhibition.
2. The student will be able to understand and apply the rules and norms of creative audio-visual production while understanding the changing audience norms and industry standards.
Total Credit Hours: 60