The Film and Video Studies Program offers a multidisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in cinematic arts production. We emphasize Directing, Producing, Cinematography, Screenwriting, Sound Design and Editing, along with business, ethics, history, and theory of film and media. Students engage with many genres of cinematic storytelling, including short fiction, documentary, video art, television, web series and interactive video.
Students take most of their courses in Film and Video Studies with additional coursework in Film and Media Studies, Art, Communication, Computer Game Design, Music, Theater, and many other departments. Students engage with emerging technologies alongside entrepreneurship and industry standards to prepare for our vibrant, ever-changing field. Screening events, guest lectures, pitching competitions, and production work on a teaching film set (our Mason Film Lab) allow students to earn credits while they learn.
Film at Mason is a community of cinematic storytellers that fosters creativity, analysis, and diverse perspectives, professional practice and socially-conscious filmmaking. The Film and Video Studies Program is grounded in flexible thinking, critical engagement, interpersonal communication and regional storytelling. Graduates apply their skills on film sets, in corporate environments, and with community organizations with professionalism that is creative, entrepreneurial, and adaptable.
Program Faculty
Professors
Britt, Chesler
Associate Professors
Charles, Fuchs, Kraus, Steger, Thrasher
Assistant Professors
Alkassim, Jusu, Plakas, Ugarte
Adjuncts
Bellais, Cooper, Farr, Gebre-Egziabher, Kehoe, Kimball, Mohr, Santiago, Santos, Wingert-Jabi
Requirements
Portfolio
Admission to Film and Video Studies is considered separately from admission to the university and only through a digital portfolio review. Information about the portfolio process, including submission deadlines and portfolio application requirements, can be found on the program’s website or by calling the Film office at 703-993-3287. Admission to the university is determined by the Admissions Office.
Writing-Intensive
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated “writing-intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students seeking a BA in Film and Video studies fulfill this requirement by completing FAVS 304 Ways of Thinking: Film, TV, and Beyond, FAVS 380 TV Writing, or FAVS 498 Development for Senior Project.
Major GPA
All Film and Video Studies undergraduate students must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses in their major.
Policies
Upper-Level Credits
All undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division courses at the 300-499 level.
Termination from the Major
No Film and Video Studies course that is required for the major may be unsuccessfully attempted more than three times. A grade lower than a C constitutes an unsuccessful attempt in any given course. Those students who do not successfully complete such a course within three attempts will be terminated from the major. For more information, see the “Termination from the Major” section under AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Academic Policies
Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts for college academic policies.
Film and Video Studies (FAVS)
100 Level Courses
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
200 Level Courses
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Animation or Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
300 Level Courses
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (FAVS 250C or 250XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: ((FAVS 311C or 311XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS)).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: ((AVT 204C, 204XS, FAVS 204C or 204XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS)).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Audio Production or Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: ((ENGH 302C, 302XS, HNRS 360C, 360XS, 361C or 361XS) and (FAVS 250C or 250XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS)).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (FAVS 250C or 250XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (FAVS 250C or 250XS) and (FAVS 260C or 260XS) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 255C or 255XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisite: FAVS 204C.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: ((FAVS 250C or 250XS) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS)).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (FAVS 255C or 255XS) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: ((FAVS 250C or 250XS) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS)).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 280C or 280XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
400 Level Courses
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 352C, 352XS, ENGH 302C, 302XS, HNRS 360C, 360XS, 361C or 361XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior, Senior Plus or Senior.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 331C or 331XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 333C or 333XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Audio Production or Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 260C or 260XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (FAVS 375C, L375C or 375XS) and (FAVS 260C, 260XS, 460XS or 460C) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 380C or 380XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 483C or 483XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Senior Plus or Senior.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 460C, 460XS, 431C, 431XS, 433C, 433XS, 311C or 311XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior, Senior Plus or Senior.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: ((FAVS 250C or 250XS) and (FAVS 255C or 255XS) and (FAVS 280C or 280XS) and (FAVS 260C, 260XS, 460C or 460XS)).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior, Senior Plus or Senior.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 498C or 498XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Film and Video Studies.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
500 Level Courses
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.