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Courses | B.A. in Cinema and Media Arts

Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.

General Requirements

Every year, all Cinema and Media Arts majors participate in faculty advisor reviews to evaluate their progress in the department. Student portfolios being built semester to semester are assessed using a variety of criteria, such as a sophisticated usage of technology, proficiency in storytelling, team communication that speaks the truth in love, requisite hours on set or in post production, creative ability to problem solve.

All CMA majors who entered as “Production” students but who wish to declare an area of concentration (i.e., directing, cinematography, editing, etc.), must do so before earning the requisite 56 units and before registering for the intermediate course in the designated area of concentration. 

All Cinema and Media Arts majors must achieve a minimum grade of C in all major courses taken at Biola. Anyone receiving a lower grade must repeat the course and receive a C or better.

CMA students may be required to purchase computer equipment and/or software as may be applicable for their respective degrees. While we understand the financial strains of such equipment expenditures, we also recognize that these technologically driven majors involve costs well beyond the textbooks that serve as the essential tools for many other undergraduate departments. Contact the department for specific equipment recommendations.

Curriculum Requirements

Program Courses
CNMA 101Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling3
CNMA 102Visual Aesthetics3
CNMA 104History of Cinema 1, 23
or CNMA 105 History of Television and Digital Media
CNMA 203Screenwriting I3
CNMA 210Internship Seminar1
CNMA 240Production I: Directing in Narrative, Documentary and Short Form3
CNMA 245Production II: Media Lab3
CNMA 280The Power of Media2
CNMA 302Production Management3
CNMA 440Cinema and Media Arts Internship1
CNMA 456Senior Portfolio3
Total Credits28
1

In the Sound Design concentration only, students may take CNMA 314 in place of CNMA 104 or CNMA 105

2

In the Visual Effects and 3D Animation concentration only, students may take CNMA 140 in place of CNMA 104 or CNMA 105.

Concentrations

The production concentrations below offer students a thorough grounding in, and overview of, the key creative components of film, television, audio and digital media. Students are encouraged to develop their creative and technical skills, training for positions as directors, cinematographers, gaffers, editors, sound designers, recording engineers, production designers and many others.

All production concentrations generally take the same courses during the first two years and then developing a comprehensive specialization in a profession in the last two years of study. The production concentrations are cinematography, directing, editing, production, and visual effects. While the focus is professional, it is combined with a strong liberal arts background through Biola’s core curriculum and courses from other schools' programs in critical studies, writing, producing, and interactive media. 

Cinematography

Program Courses28
CNMA Upper-Division Electives6
Concentration Courses
CNMA 303Intermediate Cinematography3
CNMA 358Motion Picture Pre-Production3
CNMA 359Motion Picture Production3
CNMA 460Advanced Cinematography3
Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits120
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Directing

Program Courses28
CNMA Upper-Division Electives6
Concentration Courses
CNMA 317Intermediate Directing Techniques3
CNMA 358Motion Picture Pre-Production3
CNMA 359Motion Picture Production3
CNMA 465Advanced Directing for Film & TV3
Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits120
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Editing

Program Courses28
CNMA Upper-Division Electives6
Concentration Courses
CNMA 315Intermediate Editing3
CNMA 358Motion Picture Pre-Production3
CNMA 359Motion Picture Production3
CNMA 464Advanced Editing3
Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits120
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Sound Design

As of Fall 2024 this concentration is in teach-out phase; it is not open to new or readmit students.

Program Courses29
CNMA Upper-Division Electives6
Concentration Courses
CNMA 307Sound Design3
CNMA 358Motion Picture Pre-Production3
CNMA 359Motion Picture Production3
CNMA 451Sound Mixing3
Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits121
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Production

Program Courses28
CNMA Upper-Division Electives12
Concentration Courses
CNMA 358Motion Picture Pre-Production3
CNMA 359Motion Picture Production3
Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits120
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Visual Effects and 3D Animation

Program Courses28
CNMA Upper-Division Electives6
Concentration Courses
CNMA 308Digital 3D Modeling3
CNMA 310Visual Effects and Motion Graphics3
CNMA 318Character Modeling and Animation3
CNMA 345Virtual Production Fundamentals3
Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits120
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Entertainment Business

The Entertainment Business concentration is designed to prepare students for careers as producers and executives of film, television, and new media. The curriculum places emphasis on both the creative and managerial, to enhance and develop artistic skills and judgment while providing a sound background in business essentials. The producing courses are continually updated to ensure that the Entertainment Business concentration remains responsive to the ever-changing film, television, and new media landscape, and prepare students for careers as creative decision-makers in those fields. By combining classes in mass media and business, students are equipped to serve as producers or as development and marketing executives, en route to corporate management.

Program Courses
CNMA 101Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling3
CNMA 104History of Cinema3
or CNMA 105 History of Television and Digital Media
CNMA 203Screenwriting I3
CNMA 204Entertainment Business3
CNMA 210Internship Seminar1
CNMA 302Production Management3
CNMA 382Film Financing3
CNMA 392Principles of Advertising3
CNMA 433Mass Media Law and Ethics3
CNMA 440Cinema and Media Arts Internship1
CNMA 456Senior Portfolio3
Concentration Courses
CNMA 103Introduction to Digital Media Production3
CNMA 355Television Programming and Content Strategy3
CNMA 420Coverage and Development for Film and Television3
Select 8 credits of elective courses from the following (3 credits must be upper-division)8
Introduction to Marketing 1
Global Marketing Management
Entrepreneurship and New Venture Formation
Financing the Entrepreneurial Venture
The Power of Media
Advanced Studies in Media Production
Cinema and Media Arts Practicum
Cinema and Media Arts Seminar
The Role of the Producer
Program & Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 274
Total Credits120
1

The prerequisite for BUSN 230 is MATH 190 or MATH 210.

2

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Creative Producing

The Creative Producing concentration (formerly Entertainment Producing) introduces students to the business principles that drive the entertainment industry. Media managers make strategic decisions regarding what films get produced and what TV shows get broadcast. By combining classes in mass media and business, students are equipped to serve as producers or development and marketing executives, en route to corporate management.

Because producers are creative and entrepreneurial filmmakers, the required courses in the creative producing concentration are varied from courses in Cinema and Business. A total of 46 credits is required to complete the concentration.

Program Courses
CNMA 101Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling3
CNMA 104History of Cinema3
or CNMA 105 History of Television and Digital Media
CNMA 203Screenwriting I3
CNMA 204Entertainment Business3
CNMA 210Internship Seminar1
CNMA 280The Power of Media2
CNMA 302Production Management3
CNMA 382Film Financing3
CNMA 392Principles of Advertising3
CNMA 433Mass Media Law and Ethics3
CNMA 440Cinema and Media Arts Internship1
CNMA 456Senior Portfolio3
CNMA Upper-Division Electives6
Concentration Courses
CNMA 103Introduction to Digital Media Production3
CNMA 420Coverage and Development for Film and Television3
CNMA 449The Role of the Producer3
Program & Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 174
Total Credits120
1

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

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