undergraduate
Film and video studies
Best schools with film and video studies
What is a film and video studies major?
Film and video studies focus on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/video arts, as well as the basic principles of film making and film production. Specific courses include film and video writing, directing, and production; film studies; history of the documentary; research techniques; videography; editing; and business aspects of film production.
of students said the outlet for creativity was a highlight of this major.
of students found this major to be difficult.
of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.
of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.
of students said balancing many projects & deadlines was a challenging aspect of the major.
How much do film and video studies majors make?
This data isn't currently reported, but we're working on it!
The most common starting salary of surveyed students after graduation is $30,000 - $40,000.
How popular is film and video studies as a major?
Each year, around 3,990 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 160 students obtain an associate degree in film and video studies. In 2021, 4,231 students received a bachelor's degree and 188 students received an associate degree. This is relatively the same number of film and video studies majors as there were in 2020. Film and video studies is one of the most popular majors within film and photography.
Advice from film and video studies majors
Share your experienceRemember to think about the kinds of lives that most people going into the film industry live. There are many jobs that are very physically demanding, which can limit your options for a career as well as take away many internship opportunities if you are not able to meet certain demands. Along with that, Film is something that you can pretty much learn by yourself, so having experience is important in 1) determining if you even like Film and could do it as a career and 2) making yourself more valuable to potential employers in the future. So, if there's any volunteer options at maybe your church if you go there, or you just want to practice by yourself and make content for social media, remember to go actually do something to determine if this is what you want to do for the rest of your life. Also, remember that just because you have a major in a certain field doesn't mean you need to stay in that field career wise. Knowing how to use a camera and storytelling can go a long way.
Keep pushing to get the degree and focus on networking. The more people you know and the more projects you work on with friends the better it will be in the future.
