Cinema

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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

School of the Arts

Program description

The Bachelor of Arts in Cinema is designed for students who desire a program with an emphasis in film production combined with the potential for a strong liberal arts component. Most candidates for the Cinema B.A. can complete an additional major or two minors.

The program focuses on the art and craft of narrative filmmaking with an emphasis on the practices of U.S. independent filmmakers. The Cinema B.A. offers an on-set experience that simulates the industry standard by placing the focus on Cinema as a collaborative art form. Internships with professional film organizations in the U.S. are available on a competitive basis.

The B.A. program requires three years (8 semesters) of study including two summers that are required following the first and second years' prerequisite coursework.

Career opportunities

A BA in Cinema affords students a well rounded understanding of technical skill, complex group dynamics and narrative filmmaking. This serves as their gateway to both Graduate candidacy or a wide range of entry level - mid level positions in the film and media industry. Cinema graduates have a unique understanding of the structure and protocols of major motion picture film sets. This praxis lends itself to a variety of professional environments in multiple fields. Additionally, the potential to complete a second major/double minor reinforces the ability to multitask and make connections across diverse professions.

Change of major requirements

Students must submit an application to VCUarts Admissions – It is required that students speak with program advisor Martha Harper by emailing harperma@vcu.edu before completing the application. Applications are only reviewed for entry in a Fall Term.

Bachelor-level job titles

Camera Assistants
Directors - Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio
Electrics/Lighting Technician
Film and Video Editors
Grips
Line Producer
Production Assistant/Technician
Screenwriters
Set PA
Talent Directors
UPM/Unit Production Manager

Graduate and professional level job titles

Art Director
Film Archivist
Film Professor
Independent Writer/Director
Journalist
Producer
Television Writer

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

Cinema, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Plan of study in Bulletin

Cinema, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Requirements

Highest level of math required

Quantitative Foundations requirement only

Science required

Natural Sciences requirement only

Foreign language requirements

Additional tuition/fees

GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

Transfer Maps

View Transfer Maps for this major

Contact information

Department name:

Cinema

Building/room location:

Pollak Building, Room 520

Phone:

(804) 828-7919

Email:

cinema@vcu.edu

http://arts.vcu.edu/cinema/

Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):

Monroe Park

Major map

Year 1

Explore

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Take CINE 100 and 110 Fall and CINE 101 and 111 Spring followed by first summer intenstive CINE 390 in the Summer (required).
Visit potential secondary major/minor advisors and ensure that they know of the three year length of the Cinema Program.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
Participate in film shoots led by Cinema upperclassmen such as the CINE 201 shoot.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to your field of study.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Plan for your Summer Housing during your Intensive. Will you live on or off campus for year 2, talk to your advisor if planning to move off campus.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
Declare a possible second Major/Double Minor and visit the correlating advisors.
Take CINE 200 in the fall and CINE 201 in the spring followed by second summer intensive CINE 490 in the Summer (required).

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
Apply for VCU Project Grants.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Get feedback from Cinema faculty and staff on your film resume.
Create a website to display your work.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
Consider creating small scale projects with your Cinema colleagues.
If necessary, complete second major or double minor coursework.
Take CINE 300 in the fall and CINE 301 in the Spring.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Design a community-engaged research project.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
Update your ePortfolio.
Apply to day play on large scale commercials/television/features.
Consider creating small scale projects with your Cinema colleagues.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
Begin reaching out to professional contacts, Cinema alums, and colleagues.
Talk to advisors, faculty, and VCU Career Services about graduate school versus a job.
Create a demo-reel of your work and back-up all the work you have done in Cinema to a personal hard drive for future access.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
Complete any remaining credits in the summer.
This year could be spent finishing a dual degree which takes 150 credits.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Consider Peace Corps Prep, or scholarship opportunities through the National Scholarship Office.
Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

Cinema

School of the Arts

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY	EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS	PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore	Year 1	Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals. Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. Take CINE 100 and 110 Fall and CINE 101 and 111 Spring followed by first summer intenstive CINE 390 in the Summer (required). Visit potential secondary major/minor advisors and ensure that they know of the three year length of the Cinema Program.	Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community. Consider applying to the Honors College. Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests. Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.) Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.	Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones. Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services. Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app. Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage. Participate in film shoots led by Cinema upperclassmen such as the CINE 201 shoot.	Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future. Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page. Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni. Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to your field of study. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor. Plan for your Summer Housing during your Intensive. Will you live on or off campus for year 2, talk to your advisor if planning to move off campus.
Experience	Year 2	Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience. Declare a possible second Major/Double Minor and visit the correlating advisors. Take CINE 200 in the fall and CINE 201 in the spring followed by second summer intensive CINE 490 in the Summer (required).	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit. Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.	Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake. Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value. Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work. Apply for VCU Project Grants.	Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest. Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships. Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans. Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Get feedback from Cinema faculty and staff on your film resume. Create a website to display your work.
Experience	Year 3	Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. Consider creating small scale projects with your Cinema colleagues. If necessary, complete second major or double minor coursework. Take CINE 300 in the fall and CINE 301 in the Spring.	Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions. Design a community-engaged research project. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.	Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience. Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor. Update your ePortfolio. Apply to day play on large scale commercials/television/features. Consider creating small scale projects with your Cinema colleagues.	Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center. Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship. Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility. Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. Begin reaching out to professional contacts, Cinema alums, and colleagues. Talk to advisors, faculty, and VCU Career Services about graduate school versus a job. Create a demo-reel of your work and back-up all the work you have done in Cinema to a personal hard drive for future access.
Excel	Year 4	Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree. Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. Complete any remaining credits in the summer. This year could be spent finishing a dual degree which takes 150 credits.	Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Consider Peace Corps Prep, or scholarship opportunities through the National Scholarship Office. Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field. Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.	Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps. Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers. Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.	Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter. Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey. Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities. Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.