Overview

Key features

The Cinema BA program offered at San Francisco State University is committed to providing students with a broad liberal arts education focused on three intertwined values.

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Cinema program complete introductory courses in cinema history, theory, and production. They proceed to advanced classes across the field of cinema, including media and culture, animation, experimental film, documentary filmmaking, fiction filmmaking, and screenwriting.

Program Learning Outcomes

The B.A. in Cinema’s learning objectives strive to enable students to:

Acquire basic skills in the critical analysis of films, focused by the analysis of representative film texts from a range of periods and cultures.

Relate cinema to the production, distribution, and exhibition industries, the other arts, and to society.

Identify contemporary technological, artistic, and industrial trends in the cinematic arts.

Acquire the basic technical skills necessary for cinematic expression (animation, filmmaking, and screenwriting).

Locate personal voice in the creation of the cinematic arts.

Produce competent and sustained research papers evidencing knowledge of major topics, theories, and methods.

Career paths

Graduates of the Cinema programs go on to careers as independent filmmakers or as professionals working at the highest levels within the film and media industries — producers, directors, creative executives, cinematographers, editors, sound recordists and mixers, animators, and multimedia artists -- including Oscar and Emmy winners. Many B.A. graduates continue to advanced studies in animation, filmmaking, media, and culture, or screenwriting.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Cinema Studies

Filmmaking

Filmmaking Laboratory

Film History

Critical Studies

Writing About Cinema

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-05-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Francisco, United States

Disciplines

Film Studies Creative Writing View 756 other Bachelors in Film Studies in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Complete and submit the CSU Application

Students will be required to submit official, original or certified/attested copies of all original academic documents in the original language of issue

Applicants who are presently attending a college or university in the United States must, in addition to their international records, submit official transcripts of all work completed and in progress

Applicants must be qualified to enter a university in their home country and have a good scholastic record from an accredited/recognized school

All applicants for admission to the University must pay a $55.00 application fee

English language proficiency

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

8256 USD / year

≈ 8256 USD / year
Out-of-State

8256 USD / year

≈ 8256 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

8256 USD / year

≈ 8256 USD / year

Additional Details

Out-of-State and International students must pay $444.00 PER UNIT in addition to the tuition fees

Living costs

San Francisco

United States

2206 - 4119 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Cinema.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

San Francisco

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners