Film and Television (BFA)

Program Description

Dual Degree Program

Note: First-year students cannot apply directly to the dual degree program.

The Kanbar Institute of Film and Television offers a dual degree with the NYU Stern School of Business. See Dual Degree Program-FAQ for more information.

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply. 

Program Requirements

The program requires the completion of 128 credits, comprised of the following:

Sample Plan of Study

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have:

1. Basic professional conduct.
2. Proficiency in written communication and critical thinking.
3. The ability to carry out the creative processes of their craft.
4. Mastery of the technical skills and conventions of media.
5. The ability to engage content in a manner that exhibits, depth, breadth and a creative, personal and supportable point of view.
6. The ability to choose the most appropriate and effective means for integrating form and content to create a piece that is an organic whole.

Policies

Program Policies 

Auditing

We do not allow auditing of FMTV-UT courses under any circumstances. Students must be officially enrolled in the course before they are eligible to participate.

Course Repeatability

Courses in the Film & TV department are only repeatable for credit when there is a compelling academic reason and there are sufficient resources to allow a student to take the class more than once. Fundamental courses (such as first-year curriculum classes, Storytelling Strategies, Sight & Sound, introductory level Craft classes, etc.), and courses in which the material and syllabus are the same each semester (certain History & Criticism classes, certain Craft classes, etc.) are not repeatable for credit. Courses that teach new knowledge, evolve skills, or offer new insight into the material can be repeated for credit, one time. For instance, many of the upper level Screenwriting courses can be repeated so that a student can build upon their work. Courses that might offer new knowledge based on changes in the instructor, class content, changing industry, etc. are repeatable for credit only with permission from the Area Head.

The majority of the courses in the Production Area are only repeatable for credit with the permission from the instructor and Area Head to ensure that the student will be evolving his/her/their skills appropriately, and to allow other students to have the opportunity to take the class once, before allowing a student to take it twice. Other department policies on Intermediate and Advanced Core Production Enrollment must be considered when attempting to repeat a Core Production course.

These are general guidelines for repeatability. Please refer to this document to determine if it is repeatable for credit or not. As a note, sometimes students can enroll in a class more than once in Albert, but the department has control over whether or not a student can receive credit more than once. In other words, if the class is not repeatable for credit a student can still take it more than once, but will only receive credit for the class once. Students should consult their academic advisor before enrolling in/remaining enrolled in a course you have already taken and passed. The Area Head, or similar representative, must bring any changes in the repeatability guidelines for a particular class to the Curriculum Committee.

Department Laboratory/ Equipment and Insurance Fees 

The department charges nonrefundable laboratory/equipment, projection, and insurance fees each semester, including the summer, to all students in the department regardless of course selection and regardless of enrollment status (i.e., full time or part time) based solely on their status as Film & TV majors. This is done to spread the cost of insuring and supplying students over their stay in the department. Special students and students from other departments and schools are also assessed the fees when registered for relevant courses in the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television. These fees must be paid at the time of registration and are subject to yearly increase. In addition, the department requires students to purchase insurance coverage for NYU equipment that will be used on location. This insurance also covers the students’ personal property, such as laptop computers and photographic equipment. This can be purchased at a modest price and students can find more information at this link: www.collegestudentinsurance.com.        

During the summer, the nonrefundable laboratory/equipment, projection, and insurance fees are assessed for each production class for which a student is registered. 

Liability Insurance for Production: All students enrolled in Kanbar Institute of Film and Television production classes are required to participate in the school’s liability insurance program at a modest cost (through the laboratory/equipment, projection, and insurance fees). In addition, all students who are engaged in production are required to file all necessary insurance paperwork with the NYU Department of Insurance and Risk Management before working with any third party, such as a shoot location or equipment rental house. Information about this insurance program is published on the Production Center’s Website.    

Day-One Attendance Policy in Camera and Cinematography and Core Production Courses

Per the Area Head for Camera and Cinematography and the Area Head for Production, there are no additions to courses in these Areas after the first class meeting without Department Consent. Students who remain on the waitlist after the first class meeting are not eligible to enroll without permission of both the instructor and department. Additionally, students who are absent the first class meeting of any Camera and Cinematography or Core Production course are subject to de-registration from their class section. This is because missing the first class session amounts to missing 4 or more hours of instruction, including required introductory tech and teaching time that cannot be made up. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the instructor via email if they are unable to attend the first class session due to circumstances outside of their control to avoid being de-registered.

Intermediate and Advanced Core Production Enrollment Policy

In order to make access to live action Core Production classes at the Intermediate and Advanced level more equitable for all UGFTV majors, students will be permitted to take only one Core Production class at the Intermediate level and one Core Production class at the Advanced level inside the department. As always, students are limited to one Core Production course per semester, at any level.

This policy applies to the following Intermediate Core Production courses, where all students who meet the standard for a production allotment receive one: FMTV-UT 1040 Intermediate Narrative Production Workshop; FMTV-UT 1046 Intermediate Experimental Workshop; FMTV-UT 1041 Intermediate Documentary Production Workshop: Docs Inside and Out; FMTV-UT 1061 Intermediate Documentary Production Workshop: Sports Documentary; FMTV-UT 1076 Intermediate TV Bootcamp¹; FMTV-UT 1222 Children’s TV Production Workshop².

This policy applies to the following Advanced Core Production courses, where all students who meet the standard for a production allotment receive one: FMTV-UT 1053 Advanced Production Workshop I³; FMTV-UT 1245 Narrative Workshop; FMTV-UT 1147 Advanced Experimental Workshop; FMTV-UT 1080 Advanced Documentary Production Workshop⁴, FMTV-UT 1777 Advanced TV Production Workshop⁵.

^{1,2, & 5} The policy applies differently to students enrolling in FMTV-UT 1076 Intermediate TV Bootcamp, FMTV-UT 1222 Children’s TV Production Workshop, and FMTV-UT 1777 Advanced TV Production Workshop. Students who enroll in these courses in a supporting crew role are not subject to this policy and remain eligible to take an additional Core Production course from the respective lists above. However, students who enroll as a showrunner in FMTV-UT 1076 or FMTV-UT 1222 will not be eligible to take another Intermediate Core Production course from the list above. Similarly, showrunners in FMTV-UT 1777 will not be eligible to take another Advanced Core Production course from the list above. Prospective showrunners must confirm their eligibility before submitting scripts for consideration. Students who have already taken another course from the respective list will not be eligible to enroll as a showrunner.

³ FMTV-UT 1054 Advanced Production Workshop II should still be taken in sequence if a student is offered an allotment in FMTV-UT 1053 Advanced Production Workshop I.

⁴ Students can take FMTV-UT 1080 Advanced Documentary Production Workshop for two consecutive semesters with the intention of continuing with a single capstone project. Students will not receive an additional production allotment for the second semester.

Additional Exceptions & Course Options
Intermediate Core Production classes that are offered through Tisch Special Programs global offerings and courses in the Animation Area are open to you in addition to the one course you may take within the department. 

Transfer students who would prefer to take two live action Intermediate level classes instead of one Intermediate and one Advanced class to complete their four Core Production course requirements (20 credits) will be permitted to do so. In this situation, you can request an exception with your academic advisor, with the understanding that you will then not be eligible to take an Advanced level Core Production class. 

Non-Curricular Projects 

The Undergraduate Department of Film and Television defines a non-curricular project as any project that is made independently of the curriculum, which includes the course syllabus and the production approval process applicable to that course, regardless of whether or not the project originated as a curricular or course-related project. Non-curricular projects are not eligible for financial allotments or insurance coverage and may not use school equipment or school facilities including but not limited to our soundstages, studios, and post production facilities. Non-curricular projects cannot be submitted for course credit and cannot be graded or evaluated by the course instructor. 

Furthermore, non-curricular/independent projects are not eligible for any student film festivals, including the Sight & Sound Showcase, New Visions New Voices, Fusion Film Festival, or the First Run Film Festival. They are not eligible for Student Academy Award consideration, BAFTA Student Awards, or any festival or institution that requires school verification.

Non-Major Enrollment

Undergraduate Film and Television majors are given priority in all FMTV-UT coursework. Some FMTV-UT courses are not available to non-major students under any circumstances, including all Core Production courses at the Intermediate and Advanced levels. Please visit this page for our policies, procedures, and the current Open Access List for enrollment in FMTV-UT courses as a non-Film and Television major.

Policies for Advanced-Level Core Production Courses

Advanced-level production courses (FMTV-UT 1053 Advanced Production Workshop I; FMTV-UT 1054 Advanced Production Workshop II; FMTV-UT 1245 Narrative Workshop; FMTV-UT 1147 Advanced Experimental Workshop; FMTV-UT 1080 Advanced Documentary Production Workshop) are designed to mirror the professional development of a film from concept to completion. These capstone experiences foster a classroom culture grounded in mutual respect, trust, and intellectual engagement. Critique is positioned as a communal, reflective process that teaches students not only to analyze their own work rigorously but also to provide thoughtful, constructive feedback to their peers.

One of the primary goals of these courses is to help students cultivate a sustainable creative process that allows them to reimagine their work, collaborate effectively, and strengthen their individual voice as filmmakers. This professional mindset extends beyond creative practice to include accountability, reliability, and adherence to shared commitments that enable collective learning.

Enrollment in an Advanced-Level production course represents a significant commitment. Students should only enroll if they are fully prepared to meet all course requirements as stated. These courses are not designed to accommodate individual exceptions or alternative timelines, and students who are uncertain about their ability to meet the expectations outlined below are encouraged to defer enrollment until they can do so fully.

Commitment and Responsibility

Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism throughout the academic year. Class attendance is mandatory, with the only exceptions being a student’s own Production Week or when serving in a key role on a classmate’s film. Students must notify the Instructor in advance of any crewing-related absence.

All allotments are awarded at the discretion of the Instructor and are contingent upon consistent attendance, punctuality, participation in class discussions, and engagement in constructive critique. Allotment privileges may be revoked if a student fails to meet the expectations and obligations outlined in the syllabus.

Adherence to Course Parameters

Students are expected to create work within the parameters and timelines of the semester. This includes meeting all deadlines for assignments, script drafts, and pitch materials, and completing production within the allotted time frame. In the Fall-Spring sequence of FMTV-UT 1053 Advanced Production Workshop I & FMTV-UT 1054 Advanced Production Workshop II, students are expected to shoot their projects in the Spring semester. In the Spring-Fall sequence of FMTV-UT 1053 Advanced Production Workshop I & FMTV-UT 1054 Advanced Production Workshop II, students are expected to shoot their projects in the Fall semester (filming in summer/winter or during the first half of the course is not permitted). FMTV-UT 1245 Narrative Workshop and FMTV-UT 1147 Advanced Experimental Workshop  must film by the end of the term the student is enrolled in the course. 

Requests to extend production beyond the scheduled allotment period will not be considered except in extraordinary, documented circumstances. Students should plan their projects with the clear understanding that extensions are not part of the course structure.

Transfer Student Policies and Credit Equivalency for the Film and Television Major

The following courses may be accepted for transfer credit toward the Film and Television major:

• History and Criticism - Up to two courses
• Screenwriting / Television Writing - Up to two courses
• FMTV Core Production - One course (available only to external transfer students who completed a Core Production course equivalent prior to matriculation) 
• General Education
• Electives

Transfer students who complete a total of 19 credits across 4 Core Production courses, including a 3-credit Core Production course equivalent transferred prior to matriculation, will have met the Core Production requirement. However, they must still complete a minimum of 54 total credits for the major. 

For transfer students, one semester of Expository Writing is required (EXPOS-UA 5) toward the program's General Education requirements, which can be completed by transfer credit if a student has taken an equivalent course elsewhere prior to matriculation. If a student has not taken an equivalent course but qualifies for a waiver of EXPOS-UA 5, they will still need to take 44 credits total of General Education. Because transfer students do not take ASPP-UT 2 Advanced Writing and Research in the Arts, beyond the required minimums for Humanities and Science & Social Science, they generally must complete a minimum of 6 additional courses in Humanities or Science & Social Science totaling 24 credits, to reach the minimum of 44 credits total. 

All transfer credits must comply with Tisch and NYU University transfer credit policies in order to be accepted. For additional transfer credit policies at the school level, please refer to the Tisch Policies section of the NYU Bulletin.

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Tisch Policies

Additional academic policies can be found on the Tisch academic policy page.