The University of Rhode Island prepares to launch a new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Media program aimed at students looking to broaden their horizons in the film department.
The BFA is described as intensive and experiential,“integrating elaborate creative practice with critical and historical study.” The program is designed for students searching for further experience and creative opportunities in film.
The major is meant to be a more elevated and opportunity-rich version of the current Bachelor of Arts program, allowing students to complete more credits and build a bigger, more impressive portfolio. The program focuses heavily on collaboration in film making, as well as a vast array of film theories.
“The professional degree has much more weight in the professional world than a B.A.,” Department Chair of Film/Media Rebecca Romanow said.
Romanow has worked with many other faculty members in the Film/Media department in getting this program off the ground over the past few years.
Romanow describes the process of creating the program as very intensive in terms of being reviewed and approved by different levels of URI faculty.
“URI has a very stringent curriculum approval process, which is really good,” Romanow said. “When you walk into a course, it has been thoroughly looked at and gone through at least two approval processes.”
The first step in creating the program involved writing a proposal that explains every course included in the new major, its structure and how it would fit within the program. This proposal is then reviewed by the Arts and Sciences curriculum committee. Once approved, the proposal is reviewed by the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee. Finally, the URI Board of Trustees approves it as a new degree offered by the university.
“I am really pleased that our proposal went through this very stringent process,” as it is a “wonderful addition not only to our major but to the Harrington School, the College of Arts and Sciences, and to the university,” Romanow said.
Once the major is officially available to students, the enrollment process will be the same as any other program. Incoming students can apply with the BFA as their major, and current B.A students, or any other student interested in transitioning into the BFA, will need to meet with their advisor in order to switch their major, just as it is with any other degree.
The program consists of several course requirements, including FLM 397, a one-credit BFA portfolio, and FLM 497, a capstone seminar in Film/Media Assistant Teaching Professor Nicholas Corsano expanded upon what these required courses look like.
“Students will take a portfolio review class that’s going to get [them] on track. To really think about who [they have] become as a filmmaker,” Corsano said.
Corsano believes that most students will start off with the B.A. major, and then enroll in the portfolio review class their junior year. From there, students will complete FLM 497, the final capstone course of the degree.
As the film/media department is currently finalizing the development of the BFA program.
