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Film and Video

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (B.A., B.S.)

Undergraduate Major

Allendale • Face to face (?) • 120 Credits

Film and video is a hands-on, immersive education in the art and craft of filmmaking through production, media history, theory, and criticism.

Overview

With an emphasis on experiential learning, students develop their personal expertise and interests through a diverse curriculum and practical experiences. Students are immersed in the entire production process, from conception to distribution, gaining experience behind the camera, understanding the intricacies of production, and developing an appreciation for the art.

Courses cover essential aspects of filmmaking, including animation, documentary, fiction, film studies, new media studies, scriptwriting, and sound design. Courses in visual and media arts, like darkroom photography and jewelry, enhance your perspective and skillset in the arts, while core courses provide a solid foundation in both the technical and creative aspects of film and video production.

Experienced faculty bring vast knowledge and experience to the program, offering opportunities for hands-on learning through internships, local production projects, and public screenings, allowing your skills to be cultivated in real-world settings. You can also produce projects for real clients in this program, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Student organizations like the radio, television, and film clubs provide the opportunity to collaborate with peers and mentors to create projects that showcase your unique style and artistic voice.

Admission Information

In order to maintain high-quality instruction, the film and video production major limits the number of students accepted each year into FVP 226FVP 227, and all 300- and 400-level film/video courses.

Students are required to have an overall GPA above 2.5 and complete the two film and video pre-admission courses (FVP 123 and FVP 125) with a minimum of 3.0 GPA in order to apply for admission to the major and take FVP 226/227 and 300- and 400-level film and video courses. Achievement of these minimum criteria does not guarantee admission (see below).

Having met these requirements, students will submit an admission application. Guidelines for the application are available on the film and video production website at www.gvsu.edu/filmvideo, and upon request from the Department of Visual and Media Arts office, 1105 Alexander Calder Art Center. Admission applications are accepted the first Monday of November, April, and August.

Students interested in the film and video production major are encouraged to complete the film and video production foundation requirements early in their course of study, and to maintain regular contact with their advisor to ensure proper course enrollment and steady progress toward full acceptance.

Department of Visual and Media Arts

gvsu.edu/filmvideo
1105 Alexander Calder Art Center
(616) 331-3486

Admissions and Recruitment Office

gvsu.edu/admissions

Career Opportunities

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

Top skills
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Active Learning
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 24,795.66 10%
$ 34,562.23 25%
$ 50,872.59 50%
$ 80,431.91 75%
$132,301.53 90%

Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

Top skills
  • Speaking
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Coordination
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 31,663.42 10%
$ 41,652.24 25%
$ 57,511.56 50%
$ 80,914.22 75%
$129,986.05 90%

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

Top skills
  • Active Listening
  • Coordination
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Judgment and Decision Making
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 26,281.13 10%
$ 32,935.19 25%
$ 46,836.37 50%
$ 63,631.75 75%
$ 88,659.14 90%

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Top skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 35,251.93 10%
$ 42,368.29 25%
$ 52,520.66 50%
$ 68,093.50 75%
$ 93,814.96 90%

Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

Top skills
  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 31,663.42 10%
$ 41,652.24 25%
$ 57,511.56 50%
$ 80,914.22 75%
$129,986.05 90%

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

Top skills
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Active Learning
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 28,664.61 10%
$ 41,920.48 25%
$ 64,901.62 50%
$102,136.14 75%
$159,943.56 90%

Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

Top skills
  • Speaking
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Coordination
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 37,119.65 10%
$ 54,040.40 25%
$ 78,277.37 50%
$125,439.20 75%
$200,538.87 90%

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

Top skills
  • Active Listening
  • Coordination
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Judgment and Decision Making
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 27,002.31 10%
$ 39,709.62 25%
$ 61,177.08 50%
$ 97,358.09 75%
$140,401.45 90%

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Top skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 36,957.09 10%
$ 45,901.70 25%
$ 60,314.50 50%
$ 80,353.28 75%
$114,385.19 90%

Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

Top skills
  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
Earnings statistics
Annual Earnings Percentile
$ 37,119.65 10%
$ 54,040.40 25%
$ 78,277.37 50%
$125,439.20 75%
$200,538.87 90%
"One of the Top Public Universities in America"
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94%
Graduates Employed
117K
GVSU Alumni in Michigan

Accreditation

The film and video production program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

Scholarships

Grand Valley State University offers a wide variety of merit-based scholarships. For information on all of the scholarships that are available to students, please visit Scholarships at GVSU.

Grand Valley offers myScholarships (a scholarship matching tool) to help admitted students match with GVSU scholarships, as well as external scholarship opportunities. myScholarships will prompt you to answer questions to help match you to scholarships for which you might qualify.

Student Organizations

Getting involved and staying engaged with our vibrant campus community help you make the most of your Grand Valley experience. Attending student life events, joining a student organization, or participating in campus recreation opportunities are all fantastic ways to maximize your college years:

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Page last modified May 20, 2025