BA vs. BFA in Film: How the Degrees Differ

Undergraduate film degrees come in three main awards: the Bachelor of Arts (BA), the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and, at some schools, the Bachelor of Science (BS). The letters are not interchangeable. At schools that offer both a BA and a BFA in film, the usual pattern is that the BFA puts more of your credits into film and the BA leaves more room for a minor, a second major or general electives. But the pattern is not a rule, and the only reliable way to compare is to read each program's catalog.

The general pattern, shown in catalogs

Schools that offer both degrees often describe the split in similar terms:

• Cleveland State University says its BFA students complete 72 credits in the major, taking nine

credits each semester over eight semesters and choosing two of seven concentrations in their third year. Its BA students complete 54 credits in the major, which the school says leaves more room for electives outside film and suits double majors and transfer students.

• Quinnipiac University describes a 63-credit BFA in Film, Television and Media Arts that does

not require a minor, and a 45-credit BA that requires a minor (typically 18 credits). Both require a minimum of 120 credits in total.

• The University of Tampa calls its BFA in Film and Media Arts a professional degree focused on

hands-on production, and its BA a liberal arts program that combines critical studies with production experience.

Notice the last row. At Quinnipiac both degrees need 120 credits; the difference is how the credits are divided, not how long the degree is.

A BA can still be a production degree

Do not assume a BA means film studies. Many BA programs are hands-on. USC's School of Cinematic Arts, for example, awards a Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts, Film & Television Production, whose production courses cover all aspects of filmmaking. Quinnipiac's BA ends in the same kind of two-semester senior capstone film as its BFA, and Temple University offers BA concentrations in Cinematography, Producing and Post Production alongside BFA concentrations in Directing and Screenwriting. At Temple, the choice between BA and BFA follows the specialization, not a simple practical-versus-academic split.

Likewise, a BA in film studies or cinema studies is an academic degree, while a BA in film production is a practical one. The award letters tell you about credit structure; the major name and the course list tell you about content. Our guide to film production vs. film studies explains that second distinction.

Where the BS fits

A few schools award a Bachelor of Science in film. Full Sail University's Film Bachelor of Science, for example, is described as a project-based bachelor's degree offered on campus that covers production and post-production. A BS is neither a BA nor a BFA, and we list it under its own award. As with the others, judge it by its course list, credit total and final project rather than the letters.

Some schools also offer a single BFA without a BA option, with a large share of film credits. NYU's undergraduate Film and Television program is a 128-credit BFA whose requirements include core production, craft, screenwriting, and history and criticism courses, plus general education and electives.

Admission can differ between the two

At schools that offer both degrees, entry rules sometimes differ:

• Columbia College Chicago states that all BFA applicants in Film and Television must take part in a

virtual interview, and its BFA asks for a creative submission in the chosen Directing or Cinematography concentration (or a visualization project).

• At Temple, students apply to upper-level concentrations later. In spring of the sophomore year

(60 credits) they may apply, with a portfolio and a 3.0 average in six foundational and intermediate courses, to BFA concentrations in Directing or Screenwriting or BA concentrations in Cinematography, Producing or Post Production.

So "admitted to the university" may not mean "admitted to the BFA" or "admitted to a concentration." Check whether a second review happens after enrollment and what happens if you are not selected.

Questions to ask about any bachelor's program

1. How many credits are in the major, and how many are in general education and electives?
2. Is a minor or second major required, allowed or hard to fit?
3. Is the BFA or concentration entered at admission or later, and on what criteria?
4. What is the capstone? A film, a script, a reel, a research paper?
5. What does it cost beyond tuition? Production programs often add equipment or lab fees, and

students may pay for their own projects. See our production costs page.

Which should you choose?

Choose a BFA if you want the largest share of your degree spent on film and are ready to apply with creative work. Choose a BA if you want a second field alongside film, plan to double major or transfer, or want a liberal arts degree that still includes production. Consider a BS on its own terms, by reading its curriculum.

Compare programs side by side in our bachelor's degree listings, for example Quinnipiac's BFA and BA in Film, Television and Media Arts. Credit totals and admission rules vary by school and change, so confirm them in the current catalog.