Admissions
Students must first gain admission to the University. Students must then complete the following courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA:
ENGL 1301 and 1302
FILM1301: Film/Media Aesthetics
FILM1302: Media and Culture
Approved liberal arts course (in Art History, or a 3 credit lecture course in Dance, Music, or Theatre, or a Dedman College course outside mathematics, statistics, or science)
Students transferring from other universities must have completed equivalent courses and obtained the equivalent GPA in those courses before they can be admitted to the major.
Portfolio Process
Prospective undergraduates interested in declaring as a Film and Media Arts pre-major in their first semester are required to submit a portfolio of work to supplement their SMU application. This portfolio can consist of a variety of media, but must include at least one film/video sample in which you were a primary creative voice (such as writer or director). Media can include short scripts, visual projects such as short films/videos or photography, film stills, or samples of editing, audio animation, or motion graphics in which you contributed the bulk of the creative work. Portfolios should be submitted through our online portal, but we suggest that large video files be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and linked to the submission forms in our online portal.
Pre-majors are guaranteed enrollment in FILM 1301 and FILM 1302, and are assigned a Film and Media Arts advisor. Pre-majors are still required to enroll in the required five foundational courses, and are subject to being dropped from the major if they do not fulfill the 3.0 GPA in those five courses.
Undergraduate students can declare the major without a portfolio by earning a cumulative 3.0/B average or better in the following courses: FILM 1301; FILM 1302; ENGL 1301; ENGL 1302; and one approved 3-hour liberal arts course.
View a full description of curriculum requirements of the Film & Media Arts Major.
Portfolio Deadlines:
First-Year Students- March 3, 2012
Transfer Students- Rolling Admission
Testing Process
By submitting a portfolio, candidates also have the option to test out of FILM 1301: Film and Media Aesthetics and FILM 1304: Production 1. Only applicants with considerable media studies and/or media technical experience can apply to test out of FILM 1301 and/or FILM 1304.
FILM 1301: Film and Media Aesthetics provides and introduction to the fundamental visual and audio techniques used in cinema, television and emerging media. Testing out of this course will entail a written exam to show the student’s proficiency in identifying and understanding these techniques. Students must receive a B or better to successfully test out of this course. Students who desire to test out of this course will be informed via email on how to schedule their exam.
FILM 1304: Production I provides practical training in the fundamentals of video and audio production techniques through lecture, hands-on exercises and individual and group projects. Testing out of this course will entail both a written exam and a hands-on practicum to show the student’s technical competency. Students must receive a B or better on each of these exams to successfully test out of these courses. Testing occurs on specific dates, and students who desire to test out of this course will be informed via email on how to schedule taking the exam.
Both of these introductory courses are required in the major. In addition to completing FILM 1301: Film and Media Aesthetics and FILM 1302: Media and Culture, students must complete ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302 and one approved 3-hour liberal arts course to declare a major in Film and Media Arts.
Questions?
Contact the Division of Film and Media Arts at 214-768-2129. If you prefer to mail your submission, you must complete the online submission form in addition to mailing your DVD. Please send submissions to:
Jo Ellyn Carrell
Administrator
Division of Film and Media Arts
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
214.768.2129
238 Umphrey Lee Building
PO Box 750113
Dallas, TX 75265-0113