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••• FAQ •••

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ADVISOR INFORMATION

How do I find out who my advisor is?
Login to myBanner > STUDENT RECORDS > VIEW MAJOR AND ADVISOR INFORMATION

Once I know who my advisor is, how do I find his/her office and open office hours?
On this Film & Video website, go to:  FACULTY .  The office hours for each faculty member are listed.
    
How can I change my advisor?
Login to myBanner > STUDENT RECORDS > CHANGE MAJOR
     
What should I take with me to an advising session?
It is recommended that you take a completed Checklist  with you to your advising session.  You will want to visit your myPath evaluation in order to properly fill out your checklist.

Additionally, you should take all of the advising materials from previous advising sessions including notes, emails, transcripts, etc.  This is especially true for transfer students.

 

We highly recommend that you keep a folder with all advising notes and information in order to stay organized and to reference past conversations with all advisors.

What other resources are available for advising Film & Video majors?
The CLAS Academic Advising Center is located in C-1-140 MAK. To schedule an appointment, go into the Center, or give them a call at 616-331-8585.

Visit their website at:  http://www.gvsu.edu/clasadvising/
     

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REGISTRATION

 

When can I register?

Courses fill quickly, so it is very important that you register at the earliest time and date you are allowed.  To find your registration date and time, go to:  http://www.gvsu.edu/schedule/

 

HOT TIP!  Once you have noted all the courses you plan to register for, gather the CRN numbers and place them along side each of your choices (and back-up choices.)  

 

At the bottom of the ADD/DROP menu are boxes for the CRN #s you want to register for.  Simply place those numbers in each box and submit!  You are registered!  This means that you don't have to go into each discipline, find the course, and select the box and register, which takes a long time when courses are filling fast!

 

If there is a problem, the feedback will tell you how to handle it.

 

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SECONDARY ADMISSION 

Do I have to take all of the School of Communications Core classes before applying to the Film & Video Production major?
No.  Only the three Film & Video Production pre-admission courses are required before applying to the major.  CFV 123, CFV 124, and CFV 125.

 

How do I apply to the Film & Video major once I've taken the pre-admission courses?
On this site, go to: Admission Policy and Guidelines in the main menu.  Your pre-admission course instructors will also discuss the application process each semester.
 

Is it okay to register for 200-level and above courses if I haven't applied to the Major yet?

Yes and No.  Since GVSU registers for the entire year at once, you'll want to plan carefully.   You should register with the assumption that you will get into the major once you are ready to apply.  So, If you are taking your pre-admission course in Winter, then you should sign up for CFV 226 and other upper-level courses for the Summer or Fall.  And if you plan to finish taking your pre-admission courses in the Fall semester, then you should register for upper-level courses for the following Winter.

 

If you are denied admittance into the major, then you will discuss your schedule with your advisor at that time.

 

What should I take first?

It's important to take CFV 226 Media Production II right away so try to get that course first.  Then you'll want to become aware of when courses are offered.  For instance, Animation I is only offered in the Fall semester, so you'll want to take that right away if you are interested in Animation.  Then you will be ready to take it in the Winter semester.

 

Try to get into your Foundation courses first (CFV 226, 261, and CBR 281) as outlined on the Checklist.

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EMPHASIS AREAS

 

How do I declare an emphasis area?
Login to myBanner > STUDENT RECORDS > CHANGE MAJOR

When should I declare my emphasis area?
We recommend that you discuss this with your advisor as soon as you are formally admitted into the major.  Remember that your myPath Evaluation will not be accurate until you have declared your emphasis area.  (The five courses for the emphasis will be missing from your requirements.)

 

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GEN-ED AND THEMES

 

Which Theme should I choose as a Film & Video major?

We recommend that our Film & Video majors not choose Theme 3: "Society and the Media."  Much of the content  in that Theme is closely related to the coursework within our own major.   The benefit of theme courses is that students have an opportunity to explore content from other disciplines.  This ultimately results in better filmmaking ideas.

     

Many of our students have benfited greatly from the opportunity for foreign travel by choosing Theme 24: Custom Study Abroad.  Visit the Padnos International Center at 130 LOH, or click here for more information.

 

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SWS REQUIREMENT

 

NOTE: You must receive a "C" or better (not C-) in order to fulfill the SWS requirement.

 

How do I choose my SWS courses?  
Keep in mind that your two required SWS courses may not be taken from the same discipline.  One must be from outside the student's major unit.

 

Double-dips: As part of the SOC Core requirements, you could choose COM 215 Story Making.  You would receive credit for the SWS and Core requirements.

 

In addition, the Film & Video Foundation requires a History/Theory/Criticism course, so you may want to consider CFV 348 Film Theories. 

 

Both of these courses are great choices as a Film & Video major.  

  

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B.S. AND B.A. COGNATE REQUIREMENT

 

MyPath states that I have to take SS 300 for the B.S. Cognate, but I can't find it on the schedule.
This requirement has changed.  You are now required to take COM 300 instead.  

 

MyPath will likely not update this change on your records until you are ready to graduate.  If you see SS 300 on your myPath report, just make sure that you register for COM 300.  If you have already taken COM 300 and the SS 300 is still showing up, simply check your FREE ELECTIVE category on myPath to make sure that COM 300 appears there.  When your graduation audit is done, the Records office will make the correction.

 

(Some of you may have taken COM 375 or COM 380 in place of SS 300, which were interim courses used to fulfill the requirement for a few semesters.)

 

Which degree should I choose, a B.S. or a B.A.?

This depends upon your interest and aptitude for speaking a foreign language.  The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a three-semester proficiency in a foreign language.  Many students with high school experience with a language enjoy the opportunity to improve their knowledge and speaking skills with that language and to learn more about the corresponding culture/s.  Others choose a different language, having demonstrated an aptitude for speaking foreign languages.  This is a good choice if you plan to continue your studies to attain a Graduate or PhD degree.

 

The Bachelor of Science degree requires that you complete a three-course cognate.  For Film & Video Production, you must complete either CS 150 Introduction to Computing or PHI 103 Logic, STA 215 Statistics, and COM 300 Foundations of Communication Research. 

 

NOTE!  PHI 103 and STA 215 are options for GenEd Math requirement so you can double-dip with these courses.

 

SENIOR THESIS/PROJECTS

 

How do I register for Senior Thesis/Projects?

Students must complete a proposal and detailed timeline and submit it to the instructor prior to registration.  A permit is required for registration. See the Senior Thesis/Project menu for a full description of requirements.

Is it better to do a Senior Project or an Internship?
There are benefits to both, so this is a personal decision.  Senior Thesis/Projects offers the opportunity to strengthen your reel of personal work, or to finally write that research paper or script that you've been contemplating.  This is a good choice for those who want to take full advantage of being in college as making personal films becomes much more challenging once you have graduated.

An Internship provides the opportunity to connect with people in the industry and to observe an organization first hand.  This is a good choice for those who are ready to network and begin applying their skills in a professional environment.

If you plan to take Senior Thesis/Projects, you must propose your thesis paper, script, or film before you can register.  See the Senior Thesis/Project menu for a full description of requirements.

How many credits is a Senior Thesis/Project?
1 to 6 credits are possible with Senior Thesis/Project.  You'll want to discuss this with your advisor and consider how intensive the project is and also how many credits you still need to graduate.  120 credits are required to graduate, so plan accordingly.

INTERNSHIPS

How do I register for an Internship?
Once you have found an employer for your internship, you begin the process online.  Once you and your employer complete the online process, you will be notified as to when you are able to register.  Go to the Internship menu for full details.

Is it better to do an Internship or a Senior Project?
There are benefits to both, so this is a personal decision.  An Internship provides the opportunity to connect with people in the industry and to observe an organization first hand.  This is a good choice for those who are ready to network and begin applying their skills in a professional environment.

Senior Thesis/Projects offers the opportunity to strengthen your reel of personal work, or to finally write that research paper or script that you've been contemplating.  This is a good choice for those who want to take full advantage of being in college as making personal films becomes much more challenging once you have graduated.

How do I find an internship?
There are several ways to approach this.  You can begin by going to the Career Services office to receive help in preparing your resumé and cover letter, and to peruse the collection of internship opportunities that they have collected.

There are times when employers contact individual faculty and many times those are emailed to all FV students.  Other times faculty are aware of students who are looking for an internship and connect the employer and the student.  It's good to let all of your professors know that you are looking for an internship and what type of internship you would prefer.

The bottom line is that you are responsible for finding the internship and being resourceful and assertive will serve you well.

How many credits is an Internship?
1 to 6 credits are possible with an Internship.  This is directly related to how many hours you will work for your employer.  You'll want to discuss this with your employer and consider how intensive the internship will be and also how many credits you still need to graduate.  120 credits are required to graduate, so plan accordingly.  Go to the Internship menu for full details.