Requirements BFA Film & TV | Directing

Bachelor of Fine Arts 2023 through2024

Film and Television

About the Program

Directing Concentration

Students majoring in the BFA Film and Television program are forbidden from double-majoring in the BA Film and Television program; as well as from minoring in Digital Cinema and Television Production.

Curriculum Requirements

First Year

  • FILM 101
  • FILM 105
  • FILM 110
  • FILM 131
  • FILM 170
  • MCS 274
    OR SCWR 110
  • POST 110
  • SCWR 101
Liberal Studies Requirements
  • LSP 110
    OR LSP 111
  • WRD 103
  • WRD 104
  • MAT 120

Second Year

  • DOC 224
  • FILM 130
  • FILM 210
  • FILM 250
  • FILM 279
  • FILM 283
  • FILM 284
  • POST 128
  • 4 Major Elective Credit hours selected from any course in ANI, CP, DOC, FILM, POST, SCWR or VFX
Liberal Studies Requirements
  • LSP 200
  • 1 Arts & Literature
  • 1 Scientific Inquiry Lab

Third Year

  • FILM 115
  • FILM 232
    OR FILM 282
  • FILM 235
    OR FILM 236
  • FILM 285
  • FILM 384
  • SCWR 308
  • 4 Major Elective Credit hours selected from any 200-level or 300-level course in ANI, CP, DOC, FILM, POST, SCWR or VFX
  • 8 Open Elective Credit Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements
  • 1 Arts & Literature
  • 1 Experiential Learning
  • 1 Philosophical Inquiry

Fourth Year

  • CP 310
    OR CP 340
    OR CP 360
    OR CP 366
  • FILM 290
  • FILM 385
  • FILM 387
  • FILM 398
  • VFX 200
    OR VFX 330
  • 4 Major Elective credit hours selected from and 200-level or 300-level course in ANI, CP, DOC, FILM, POST, SCWR, or VFX
  • 8 Open Elective Credit Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements
  • 1 Historical Inquiry
  • 1 Religious Dimensions
  • 1 Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry

Major Electives

See program requirements above for Major Elective requirements


Open Electives

Open Electives may be taken from any unit at DePaul. These are the only courses that may be taken under the pass/fail option. Students must earn a grade of D or higher in all open elective courses. Courses that satisfy a CDM minor or other minors are normally credited as open electives.


Liberal Studies

The Liberal Studies program is the general education portion of the curriculum at DePaul University. Students must earn a grade of D or better in all courses taken to satisfy these requirements. The only exception is the Capstone course which is considered also a major requirement and WRD 103 and WRD 104 in which students need to earn a C- or better.

Students may choose to take some CDM courses that carry Liberal Studies credit but they cannot double count them if they are part of the major requirements. A complete list of courses that carry Liberal Studies credit can be found on the Liberal Studies website along with an overview of the Liberal Studies requirements for this program. Students can search for courses that satisfy a particular Liberal Studies requirement on campusconnect.

Although students are free to take course requirements in any order they choose, provided they have mastered the course-specific prerequisites, it is strongly recommended that students follow these year-by-year suggestions, especially regarding the first-year major courses.

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements.

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree must meet the following requirements

  • Complete a minimum of 192 credit hours
  • Earn a grade of C- or higher in WRD 103, WRD 104, and all Major and Minor courses
  • Earn a grade of D or higher in all other Liberal Studies and Open Elective courses
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

Students who earn a cumulative DePaul University GPA

  • Between 3.500 and 3.699 will graduate Cum Laude
  • Between 3.700 and 3.849 will graduate Magna Cum Laude
  • of at least 3.850 will graduate Summa Cum Laude

For DePaul's policy on repeat courses and a complete list of academic policies see the DePaul Undergraduate Handbook in the Course Catalog.