If you are looking for a film program at a Christian college, you'll find that there are several options. Film programs can be found under several names, including film arts, cinema, film and media, film and animation, television and film studies, and film production. We'll explore programs at several schools that vary in size, cost, and location.
School Comparison
The following table provides the information on some Christian schools that offer film majors. Here, you can find denomination affiliations and tuition costs.
| School Name | Institution Type | Denomination | Location | Tuition (2021-2022)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biola University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Undenominational | La Mirada, CA | $44,382 |
| Houston Baptist University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Southern Baptist | Houston, TX | $35,500 |
| Sacred Heart University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Roman Catholic | Fairfield, CT | $45,230 |
| Boston College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Roman Catholic | Chestnut Hill, MA | $61,706 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Interdenominational | West Palm Beach, FL | $34,134 |
| Taylor University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Interdenominational | Upland IN, | $36,570 |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
Film Programs Overview
Typically, film programs will be capped off with a senior film project. Mostly, students are expected to write and film their own student film. The course offerings are diverse, and you can use those courses to help you decide which Christian college may work best for you.
Biola University
At Biola University you can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media. You can focus your program with concentrations in media producing, production, or writing for film and television. Only 20 miles from Los Angeles, earning a degree at Biola may allow you transfer those skills to your career with internships at well-known networks and studios. Film is a hands-on program, and Biola University has a 10,000-square foot production center and nearly $3 million of camera and recording gear.
Houston Baptist University
As mentioned before, having experience in Los Angeles is valuable for a film major. At Houston Baptist, your degree program can include a semester in Hollywood. Students will study film history as well as developing technology, and gain hands-on experience with current lighting, camera, and audio equipment. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts program offers one-on-one mentoring for students to gain intimate education from experienced filmmakers. Houston Baptist provides graduates with many resources, such as job placement and access to local film festivals.
Sacred Heart University
The Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts program at Sacred Heart University has three concentrations available, one of them being film, television, and media. Opened in 2015, the Martire Business and Communications Center houses the media arts classrooms, studios and production workstations. Classes for this program include media literacy, media culture, history of broadcasting, and the art of the moving image. Students can also travel abroad or complete internships for credit, and seniors will complete a capstone project based on their concentration.
Boston College
With more than 15,000 students, Boston College is the largest of the schools featured here. At the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, students can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies. Students are urged to not just focus on film studies, but to gear some of their electives toward art history, theater, art and communications. Boston College students can choose from several topic-specific courses such as maverick Hollywood directors, propaganda cinema, Korean cinema, comic films, film noir, and war films. Skills will be honed in classes for photography, digital technology, screenwriting, Adobe Premiere editing, animation, and sound design. A senior project will be graded by a panel of professors who will evaluate scriptwriting and production.
Palm Beach Atlantic University
This Florida school offers a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Arts. While the School of Communication & Media offers several arts majors, the film program focuses on hands-on learning and enhancing your skills with practical applications. Required courses in film at this university include dynamic visual storytelling, television production, cinematography, editing theory, non-linear editing and screenwriting fundamentals. This 120-credit program includes liberal arts general education requirements as well as a cinema-television production lab. The professors are experienced in filmmaking, and several have received awards for their work.
Taylor University
Taylor boasts a 91% job placement rate for graduates of its Film and Media Production program. Courses at Taylor University include documentary filmmaking, multi-camera production, working with clients, faith in film, and scriptwriting. Workshops using Steadicams, InDesign, and Photoshop are part of the program prior to completing a senior capstone project. Taylor University also has its own production company called Envision, through which students can get hands-on practice, as well as the opportunity to take part in various film festivals. Taylor offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Film and Media Production.
