Communication
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Film and Media Arts Major in Pennsylvania
From classroom to clapboard, the film and media arts Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program at Messiah, one of the top private Christian universities in the U.S., will immerse you in both the technical and creative aspects of the growing field of film and media arts.
Study Film and Media Arts at a Christian University
Messiah’s well-regarded film and media arts program provides significant opportunities for internships at all levels of media production, and prepares you for a career in production, screenwriting, directing, editing or cinematography.
Messiah University is currently fully accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design), and the film and media arts program is one of the few programs within the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) where you will master both film and high definition video production.
As a film and media arts major at Messiah University, you'll be able to:
- Acquire training in digital production and editing, 16 mm film production, cinematography, basic directing, screen writing, and advanced filmmaking techniques such as lighting and sound.
- Explore documentary making, basic special effects and topics in new and digital media. Our coursework is constantly updated to reflect new advancements in the film industry.
- Create your own films during your time as student with the potential to screen it at the University's annual Humanities Symposium; at "Splice," the annual juried student film festival; or even submit to local and national festivals for consideration.
- Utilize our 1,740 square-foot media lab facility in Hostetter Chapel, which features an endless floor green screen (as well as several portable green screens); a control room; a Foley effects studio which includes a sound booth, Foley pits (for putting various materials inside and creating sounds), a large monitor, microphones, and a computer station with Pro-tools and audio mixing equipment; and new equipment such as Canons and five RED cameras in a variety of models (including a RED Epic, the same camera used to film "The Hobbit").
- Explore our Animation Suite, which includes specialized computers and software, drawing tablets for animations and a specialized light table.
- Learn from faculty members who are professionals in the film and media arts industry.
- Explore internship opportunities in Los Angeles.
As a graduate of the film and media arts program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Independent screenwriter
- Videographer
- Editor
- Production assistant
- Cinematographer
- Animation assistant
- Post-production director
- Post-production assistant
- Photography assistant
- Lighting lead
- Video producer
- Documentarian
- Audio/visual coordinator
- Production assistant
For more information on career planning for the film and media arts program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s nationally recognized internship program places students in a variety of film and media arts internships. A few examples include:
- Sony
- Warner Brothers
- Universal
- Paramount
- JPL Creative in Harrisburg, Pa.
Programs related to Film and Media Arts
Digital Media
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In the Film and Media Arts program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Film and Media Arts:
Film and Media Arts (B.A.)
Film and Media Arts careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Film and Media Arts program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Required internship
You will further enhance your professional skills and gain real-world experience through a required internship, which many students secure at a major film studio (Sony, Warner Brothers, Universal or Paramount) through internship opportunities in Los Angeles. Students also have access to locally based Pennsylvania internships.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
State-of-the-art facilities
A distinct resource for our film students includes our 1,740 square-foot media lab facility in Hostetter Chapel. The space includes studio cameras, news set, studio lights and a corner-placed, endless floor green screen (as well as several portable green screens); a control room with computer stations and monitors that control the audio, switcher, graphics, teleprompter and color correction; and a Foley effects studio for sound effects and other audio creation in film and media post-production—including a sound booth, Foley pits (for putting various materials inside and creating sounds), a large monitor, microphones, and a computer station with Pro-tools and audio mixing equipment. The renovation also includes new equipment resources, including field kits for sound and lighting, HD cameras, and cinematic-quality cameras including five Blackmagics and five REDs.