COURSE CURRICULUM

The Applied Film major at Fairleigh Dickinson University is a highly collaborative, production-focused program where students progress together as a cohort, developing professional filmmaking skills while creating projects throughout the program. The curriculum is designed to provide hands-on experience in every stage of film production, beginning with foundational courses such as FILM1005 Filmmaking I: Basic Production and FILM1501 Cinematic Storytelling, where students learn visual storytelling, camera operation, editing basics, and narrative construction. As students advance, they study post-production techniques, professional crew operations, cinematography, directing, and screenwriting through courses such as FILM2310 Post Production, FILM2208 Filmmaking II: The Professional Crew, FILM3214 Cinematography: Camerawork, FILM3363 Film Directing, and FILM2250 Screenwriting. The program emphasizes both creative artistry and technical proficiency, helping students gain expertise in lighting, composition, camera movement, audio production, editing workflows, production management, and storytelling structure. Specialized courses in advanced production skills and the business of filmmaking expose students to industry practices such as producing, film distribution, corporate video production, and freelance career development. Students also learn how filmmaking operates commercially and professionally through courses like FILM4465 Corporate Video Production: University and Community Outreach and FILM4005 Entering the Freelance World. The culmination of the program is the capstone thesis film experience, where students plan, produce, and direct their own professional-level film project through FILM4311 Producing and Directing the Thesis Film – Pre Production and FILM4312 Producing and Directing the Thesis Film II – Production. Additional special topics courses may include audio for film and video, producing, distribution, and film business studies. Applied Film majors may also complete the UNIV2001 requirement through CINE2360 Culture and History on Film. The program prepares graduates for careers in directing, cinematography, editing, producing, screenwriting, corporate media production, freelance filmmaking, digital content creation, and entertainment media industries while helping students build strong portfolios and real-world production experience.