All courses are 3 units unless specified.

Overall total: 60 units

First Year

Fall Semester

  • PROD 500 - Directing the Short Film I: Vision and Exploration
  • PROD 541 - Intro to Cinematography
  • PROD 566 - Intro to Post-Production
  • SCWR 501 - Fundamentals of Cinematic Storytelling

Spring Semester

  • Select between:
    • PROD 530 - Intermediate Documentary Pre-Production
      OR
    • SCWR 530 - Screenwriting for Intermediate Production
  • PROD 550 - Directing the Short Film II: Visual Storytelling
  • PROD 570 - Production Planning
  • RECA 500 - Sound for Production

Second Year

Fall Semester

  • PROD 600 - Directing the Short Film III: Directing Actors (6 units)
  • RECA 567 - Seminar in Sound

Declaration of Specialization

Students declare one of the following specializations:

  • Second Year

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 633 - Developing, Selling, & Monetizing Digital Content
    • PROD 639 - Producing Master Class
    • FTVS 513 - Seminar in American Film

    Third Year

    Fall Semester

    • SCWR 685 - Entertainment Business Affairs
    • FTVS 514 - Seminar in International Film
    • Advanced Elective - Select from the following:
      • SCWR 560 - Feature Writing for Directors
      • SCWR 635 - Motion Picture Script Analysis
      • PROD 635 - Film & TV Development
      • SCWR 660 - Writing the Spec Drama
      • SCWR 670 - Writing the Spec Comedy
      • Others by permission of Coordinator

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 675 - Thesis Portfolio
    • Advanced Elective - See Above
    • FTVS Elective - Any 500 or 600-level FTVS course

    Final Deliverables

    • 25-60 minutes of content from PROD 650, PROD 490/492 and/or WPTV Thesis projects.  Other projects (e.g, PROD 600, music videos, films from other graduate institution thesis programs or professional work shot DURING applicant’s second and third year) accepted only at committee’s discretion. Must include a minimum of two projects.
    • A three-page reflection paper on your produced films
    • Complete a project consisting of a Bible, pitching material, business marketing strategy, and pitch presentation for industry and a look book.
    • A web series idea composed of either a written treatment and visual pitch OR a completed digital POC.
    • A rip/tone reel or visual sales tool for the web series, TV show or feature.
  • Second Year

    Spring Semester

    • FTVS 513 - Seminar in American Film
    • SCRW 620 - Writing the Narrative Production Thesis
    • Advanced Elective - Students choose the first of three advanced elective courses in Directing Fiction:
      • PROD 581: Production Design
      • PROD 633: Developing, Selling & Monetizing Digital Content
      • PROD 635: Film & TV Development
      • PROD 639: Producing Master Class
      • PROD 642: Intermediate Cinematography (Spring only)
      • PROD 664: Visual Effects (Spring only)
      • PROD 666: Advanced Editing
      • PROD 580: Music Video Production
      • PROD 680: Advanced Directing Seminar
      • PROD 684: Visual Design 
      • PROD 685: DIT Workshop (*note only 1 unit)
      • PROD 685: Post Prod Supervisor Workshop (*note only 2 credits, spring only)
      • PROD 685: Seminar in Directing
      • PROD 687: Working with Actors
      • PROD 688: Directing the Camera
      • PROD 695: Editing/Finishing Short (Spring only)
      • SCWR 560: Feature Writing for Directors
      • SCWR 660: Writing the Spec Drama
      • SCWR 670: Writing the Spec Comedy
      • Any other 3-units of Advanced Electives (AE) that are pre-approved by the coordinator

    Third Year

    Fall Semester

    • PROD 650 - Thesis Production
    • FTVS 514 - Seminar in International Film
    • Advanced Elective - Select from the list above

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 670 - Thesis Post-Production
    • Advanced Elective - Select from the list above
    • FTVS Elective - Any 500 or 600-level FTVS course

    Final Deliverables

    • Completed fiction film 8-15 minutes in length
    • Festival plan and promotional materials
  • Second Year

    Spring Semester

    • FTVS 513 - Seminar in American Film
    • PROD 626 - Pre-production for Documentary Thesis
    • Advanced Elective - Students choose the first of three advanced elective courses in Directing Non-Fiction:
      • PROD 581: Production Design
      • PROD 633: Developing, Selling & Monetizing Digital Content
      • PROD 635: Film & TV Development
      • PROD 639: Producing Master Class
      • PROD 642: Intermediate Cinematography (Spring only)
      • PROD 664: Visual Effects (Spring only)
      • PROD 666: Advanced Editing
      • PROD 580: Music Video Production 
      • PROD 680: Advanced Directing Seminar
      • PROD 684: Visual Design
      • PROD 685: DIT Workshop (*note only 1 unit)
      • PROD 685: Post Prod Supervisor Workshop (*note only 2 credits, spring only)
      • PROD 685: Seminar in Directing
      • PROD 687: Working with Actors
      • PROD 688: Directing the Camera
      • PROD 695: Editing/Finishing the Short Film (Spring only)
      • SCWR 660: Writing the Spec Drama
      • SCWR 670: Writing the Spec Comedy
      • Any other 3-units of Advanced Electives (AE) that are pre-approved by the coordinator

    Third Year

    Fall Semester

    • PROD 650 - Thesis Production
    • FTVS 514 - Seminar in International Film
    • Advanced Elective - Select from the list above

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 670 - Thesis Post-Production
    • Advanced Elective - Select from the list above
    • FTVS Elective - Any 500 or 600-level FTVS course

    Final Deliverables

    • Completed documentary film 8-20 minutes in length
    • Festival plan and promotional materials
  • Second Year

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 642 - Intermediate Cinematography
    • PROD 567 - Color Correction
    • FTVS 513 - Seminar in American Film

    Third Year

    Fall Semester

    • PROD 649 - Advanced Cinematography
    • FTVS 514 - Seminar in International Film
    • Advanced Elective - Students choose the first of two advanced elective courses in Cinematography:
      • PROD 688 - Directing the Camera 
      • PROD 580 - Music Video Production 
      • PROD 684 - Visual Design
      • PROD 666 - Advanced Editing
      • PROD 685 - DIT Workshop (*1 unit only)
      • PROD 685 - Post Production Supervisor Workshop (*2 units only, Spring Only)

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 675 - Thesis Portfolio
    • Advanced Elective - Select from the list above
    • FTVS Elective - Any 500 or 600-level FTVS course

    Final Deliverables

    • 2- to 4-minute cinematography reel
    • Online portfolio / website (reviewed by thesis committee)
    • A completed personal marketing package
    • 25-60 minutes of content from PROD 650, PROD 490/492 and/or WPTV Thesis projects. Other projects (e.g, music videos, PROD 600, films from other graduate institution Thesis programs or professional work shot DURING applicant’s second and third year) accepted only at committee’s discretion. Must include a minimum of three projects.
  • Second Year

    Spring Semester

    • FTVS 513 - Seminar in American Film
    • PROD 695 - Editing and Finishing the Short Film
    • Advanced Elective - Three units selected from the following:
      • RECA 568 - Advanced Post-Production Sound
      • PROD 664 - Visual Effects
      • PROD 642 - Intermediate Cinematography (Spring Only)
      • PROD 567 - Color Correction
      • PROD 685 - DIT Workshop (1 unit)
      • PROD 685 - Post-Production Supervisor Workshop (2 units, Spring Only)

    Third Year

    Fall Semester

    • PROD 666 - Advanced Editing
    • FTVS 514 - Seminar in International Film
    • Advanced Elective - Three units selected from the following:
      • RECA 568 - Advanced Post-Production Sound
      • PROD 664 - Visual Effects
      • PROD 642 - Intermediate Cinematography (Spring Only)
      • PROD 567 - Color Correction
      • PROD 685 - DIT Workshop (1 unit)
      • PROD 685 - Post-Production Supervisor Workshop (2 units, Spring Only)

    Spring Semester

    • PROD 675 - Thesis Portfolio
    • FTVS Elective - Any 500 or 600-level FTVS course
    • Advanced Elective - Three units selected from the following:
      • RECA 568 - Advanced Post-Production Sound
      • PROD 664 - Visual Effects
      • PROD 642 - Intermediate Cinematography (Spring Only)
      • PROD 567 - Color Correction
      • PROD 685 - DIT Workshop (1 unit)
      • PROD 685 - Post-Production Supervisor Workshop (2 units, Spring Only)

    Final Deliverables

    • 2- to 5-minute editing reel
    • Online portfolio / website
    • Trailers for completed films
    • 25-60 minutes of content from PROD 650, PROD 490/492 and/or WPTV Thesis projects.  Other projects (e.g. music videos, PROD 400/600, films from other graduate institution thesis programs or professional work completed DURING applicant’s second and third year) accepted only at committee’s discretion. Must include a minimum of two projects
    • Post-production schedules, budgets, and workflows for each project