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Creativity on the Cutting Edge

The American University School of Communication Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts provides you with a professional skill set in photography, film, video, and digital media.

Our undergraduates take advantage of the broad opportunities that Washington, DC offers with internships at national media organizations including USA Today, National Geographic Television, and PBS.

You'll be positioned on the forefront of social purpose filmmaking at nonprofits, NGOs, and government agencies such as the World Wildlife Fund, Smithsonian Institution, and the National Park Service. Graduates of our program go on to have successful careers in the media industry.

Selected
Technology
Bachelor's/Master's
Declaring within SOC
Minor in Communication

The School of Communication's state-of-the-art production facilities offer our students opportunities to develop professional skills critical to success in many of today's media and communication fields. You'll have access to a wide range of hardware and software in our computing labs, media editing suites, and photo lab that will serve your varied media production needs.

The combination of technology and equipment housed in three locations on the AU campus make our facilities, particularly the Media Production Center, some of the most advanced university-based production facilities in the region.

Some of these facilities include:

  • The Media Innovation Lab (MIL), which has a nine-screen programmable video wall and a three-camera HD studio and control room.
  • Two traditional photography darkrooms and a specialized photography classroom.
  • Twelve private digital video editing suites equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud software and Genelec speakers.

Save Time and Money

Get a head start on your advanced degree with SOC's combined bachelor's/master's program and have up to six credits from your bachelor's degree count toward your master's. You may apply for admission to the program during the second semester of your junior year. Students in any undergraduate major at AU are eligible for consideration. An undergraduate degree in communication is not required.

How to Apply

ALL OF AU IS OPEN TO YOU

When you apply to American University, you are applying to the university as a whole, not to a specific school or college within the University. 

You’ll be able to indicate your intended major on your application, but the admission decision will not be affected by the major you indicate. If you change your mind after you apply, that’s fine! Simply tell your academic advisor that you’ve changed your mind, and they will help you make the switch.

Because it’s so easy to change your major, we highly recommend that you indicate a major within the School of Communication, even if you’re not 100% certain. That way you’ll be acclimated to our community right away. The first class you’ll take for a major in the School of Communication is COMM 100, Understanding Media, which also happens to count as a general education requirement. This means that you’ll be fulfilling your first major requirement while also fulfilling one of the general education areas required of all AU students.

For current students, formal admission to this major requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale). You will need to declare a major in one of the School of Communication areas by the end of your sophomore year and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 in order to continue taking courses in the school after you have completed 60 hours of undergraduate credit. 

The same intellectual rigor that defines our bachelor's degree majors is also a hallmark of our Minor in Communication. Whether your interest is in journalism, public relations and strategic communication, film and media arts, or foreign language and communication media, this minor will build your practical professional skills, give you a broad-based understanding of communication theory, and afford you hands-on, real-world work opportunities.

Since you apply to American University as a whole, not to any specific school or college, you may choose any major, and you may also choose any minor offered by AU. Formal admission to the minor requires a cumulative GPA of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale). You'll need to complete 18 credit hours with grades of C or better, including two required courses (6 credits) and four electives (12 credits) across a range of communication disciplines. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above, and at least 12 credit hours must be unique to the minor.

The same intellectual rigor that defines our bachelor's degree majors is also a hallmark of our Minor in Communication. Whether your interest is in journalism, public relations and strategic communication, film and media arts, or foreign language and communication media, this minor will build your practical professional skills, give you a broad-based understanding of communication theory, and afford you hands-on, real-world work opportunities.

Since you apply to American University as a whole, not to any specific school or college, you may choose any major, and you may also choose any minor offered by AU. Formal admission to the minor requires a cumulative GPA of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale). You'll need to complete 18 credit hours with grades of C or better, including two required courses (6 credits) and four electives (12 credits) across a range of communication disciplines. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above, and at least 12 credit hours must be unique to the minor.

Erin McGoff Media in the Mix

Advice with Erin: Alumna Shapes Media & Careers

Recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30, hear from popular content creator Erin McGoff (SOC/BA'17) as she talks about her journey from documentary filmmaker to viral influencer on SOC's official podcast.

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At the Forefront of Visions & Realities

Frame by Frame

Anedra Edwards (SOC/MFA ‘15) took advantage of transformative opportunities at SOC which prepared her to venture into VFX, one of the most dynamic realms within the film industry. As an MFA student, Edwards immersed herself in a curriculum that bridged theoretical knowledge with practical application. From studying film production in Prague to participating in the Center for Environmental Filmmaking's Alaskan filmmaking expedition, her experiences highlight the program’s commitment to providing real-world exposure. This hands-on approach ensures our graduates are not just participants in the industry but innovators and leaders. Edwards' career trajectory, working on everything from Wakanda Forever to the Transformers franchise and the Apple TV+ show The Studio, showcases the breadth of opportunities available to our students upon graduation. 

Documenting Change

Matt Cipollone (SOC/MFA ‘18) stands as a testament to the expansive potential SOC offers to its students. His educational journey was enriched by opportunities that linked classroom learning to tangible industry experience. He participated in a Dean’s Internship at Interface Media Group and worked closely with faculty on their own professional film projects as a credited - and paid - collaborator, activities that highlight the program's emphasis on real-world applicability and professional portfolio developing. Cipollone’s professional path reflects the broad spectrum of opportunities accessible to students within the program. His work tackles significant social themes, emphasizing the role of documentaries in instigating change and awareness. This approach to filmmaking ensures that our graduates are equipped with a profound understanding of their craft and its impact on society.

Frequently Asked Questions

The School of Communication has a distinct advantage among comparable institutions for the wide variety of experiential learning opportunities offered to students. Internships are a way of life here. Undergraduate and graduate students can receive course credit for one internship, but most students have two or three, thanks to faculty and alumni who share their professional contacts.

We have an active and effective alumni mentoring program that will help you bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world. Through our Dean's Internships, we work with world-class partners to connect highly-qualified students with meaningful real-world assignments that create future pathways to jobs. And we have two full-time career advisors to help you land internships and plan your career!

The School of Communication offers a number of rare opportunities for hands-on learning that also allow you to showcase your own work. The Visions Awards celebrate the best in student visual work—documentary, fiction, digital and new media, screenwriting, and photography. Our partnership with the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague helps students develop their skills and portfolios in photography and super 16mm film. The Center for Environmental Filmmaking inspires a new generation of filmmakers and media experts whose commitment to environmental stewardship drives them to produce creative work that is informative, ethically sound, and entertaining. And our Center for Media & Social Impact empowers media that matters as an innovation incubator and research center that creates, studies, and showcases media for social impact.

No, you'll apply to American University as a whole. You'll be able to indicate your intended major on your application, but your admission decision will not be affected by the major you indicate. You can change your mind after you apply. Because it's so easy to change your major, however, we highly recommend that you indicate a major within the School of Communication, even if you're not 100% certain. That way you'll be acclimated to our community right away.

Still have questions? Send us an email: communication@american.edu