Digital Filmmaking: Writing/Directing (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Digital Filmmaking
Emphasis: Writing/Directing
Program Code: 1304
About This Major...
The Digital Filmmaking: Writing/Directing major prepares and develops students for entry-level production and management jobs in the film, broadcast, and documentary video industries. Writing/Directing is all about storytelling. Students write scripts, plan and shoot productions, and complete their projects in postproduction. Majors use common research skills, collaborate, direct talent and crew, set up lighting and sound, and perform non-linear video editing and compositing. They also learn essential entrepreneurial business practices such as budgeting, scheduling, and forming their own video production company.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Perform the required skill sets to fulfill entry-level employment needs in the film and video production industries. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Apply the physics of light, sound, and electricity to meet the film industry’s technical job requirements. (Quantitative Fluency)
- Apply business communication using listening, verbal, written, and electronic forms needed for entry-level employment with a production company or as a freelance creator. (Communications Fluency)
- Research, evaluate, synthesize, and apply information/data relevant to above- or below-the-line production careers. (Critical Thinking)
- Demonstrate ethical, civic, and workplace responsibility as part of professional behavior for the film and video production industry. (Applied Learning)
- Define and apply film and video terminology, symbols, business practices, principles, and application of technical skills. (Information Literacy)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this degree:
- 61 semester hours total for the AAS, Digital Filmmaking: Writing/Directing.
Essential Learning Requirements
(15 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| English Composition II-GTCO2 | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Speechmaking | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 110 | Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 (or higher) | 3 |
| Other Essential Learning Core Courses | ||
| THEA 141 | Theatre Appreciation-GTAH1 | 3 |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, or Humanities course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
Other Lower Division Requirements
(2 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirement | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one Activity course | 1 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 2 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(44 semester hours, must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher.)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FILM 110 | Film Expression | 3 |
| FILM 120 | Film Script Analysis | 3 |
| FILM 130 | Short-Form Screenwriting | 3 |
| FILM 139 | Professional Documentary Production | 3 |
| FILM 141 | Film Production Assistant I | 1 |
| FILM 142 | Film Production Assistant II | 1 |
| FILM 144 | Sound Design for Film | 3 |
| FILM 150 | Episodic Screenwriting | 3 |
| FILM 170 | Short-Form Production | 3 |
| FILM 200 | Directing Film Actors | 1 |
| FILM 209 | Production Budget and Scheduling | 3 |
| FILM 225 | Cinema Capstone I | 3 |
| FILM 230 | Episodic Production | 3 |
| FILM 265 | Producing Indie Films | 3 |
| FILM 270 | Cinema Capstone II | 4 |
| FILM 299 | Internship | 1 |
| THEA 150 | Fundamentals of Acting | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 44 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| FILM 110 | Film Expression | 3 |
| FILM 120 | Film Script Analysis | 3 |
| FILM 130 | Short-Form Screenwriting | 3 |
| FILM 139 | Professional Documentary Production | 3 |
| FILM 141 | Film Production Assistant I | 1 |
| THEA 150 | Fundamentals of Acting | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FILM 142 | Film Production Assistant II | 1 |
| FILM 144 | Sound Design for Film | 3 |
| FILM 150 | Episodic Screenwriting | 3 |
| FILM 170 | Short-Form Production | 3 |
| FILM 209 | Production Budget and Scheduling | 3 |
| MATH 110 | Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FILM 200 | Directing Film Actors (First Mod) | 1 |
| FILM 225 | Cinema Capstone I | 3 |
| FILM 230 | Episodic Production | 3 |
| FILM 265 | Producing Indie Films | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| Select one KINA Activity course | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| THEA 141 | Theatre Appreciation-GTAH1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| English Composition II-GTCO2 | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Speechmaking | ||
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, or Humanities course | 3 | |
| FILM 270 | Cinema Capstone II | 4 |
| FILM 299 | Internship | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 61 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.