The Film, Television, and Media Arts Program at Fairfield University takes a dynamic approach to the study of narrative media. FTMA majors and minors build skills in both critical analysis and hands-on production, acquiring a solid foundation in creating and reflecting on multimedia storytelling forms. In FTMA, students learn the skills and habits of mind needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

Since the Film, Television, and Media Arts Program exists within a comprehensive, liberal arts university, its curriculum strikes an appropriate balance between professional-quality film and television production, film and media history and theory, and analytic research and writing. Students learn the theory, analysis and collaborative practice of all aspects of visual storytelling: writing, moving-image design, producing, directing, cinematography, sound design, digital imaging, and editing. The program’s faculty members are scholars, artists, and working professionals, ensuring that students learn information at the cutting edge of the field.

The academic major is a good introduction for students interested in continuing as professionals in the film and television industries. Since Fairfield has an excellent reputation and is situated in the greater New York region, many opportunities exist for internships in media production and significant internships are available at the Media Center and in production companies throughout the metropolitan area. After graduation, many students in this program acquire solid entry-level jobs in various media fields or continue to develop their interest through graduate studies.

Students in Film, Television, and Media Arts courses should be able to:

Goals

• Produce thoughtful creative work
• Think critically about themselves as producers and consumers of media
• Develop skills in creative collaboration

Outcomes

• Analyze and interpret moving images
• Recognize key ideas, forms, and historical contexts in film and television
• Demonstrate media literacy through clear and effective writing
• Exhibit mastery of filmmaking craft and concepts in the service of communicating to an audience

Some courses require an additional materials fee.