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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| CNMA 101 | Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| CNMA 102 | Visual Aesthetics | 3 |
| CNMA 104 | History of Cinema 1, 2 | 3 |
| or CNMA 105 | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| CNMA 203 | Screenwriting I | 3 |
| CNMA 210 | Internship Seminar | 1 |
| CNMA 240 | Production I: Directing in Narrative, Documentary and Short Form | 3 |
| CNMA 245 | Production II: Media Lab | 3 |
| CNMA 280 | The Power of Media | 2 |
| CNMA 302 | Production Management | 3 |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship | 1 |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Portfolio | 3 |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 303 | Intermediate Cinematography | 3 |
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production | 3 |
| CNMA 460 | Advanced Cinematography | 3 |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.
Directing
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 317 | Intermediate Directing Techniques | 3 |
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production | 3 |
| CNMA 465 | Advanced Directing for Film & TV | 3 |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.
Editing
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 315 | Intermediate Editing | 3 |
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production | 3 |
| CNMA 464 | Advanced Editing | 3 |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 29 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 307 | Sound Design | 3 |
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production | 3 |
| CNMA 451 | Sound Mixing | 3 |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
- 1
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.
Production
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 12 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 358 | Motion Picture Pre-Production | 3 |
| CNMA 359 | Motion Picture Production | 3 |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.
Visual Effects and 3D Animation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 28 | |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 308 | Digital 3D Modeling | 3 |
| CNMA 310 | Visual Effects and Motion Graphics | 3 |
| CNMA 318 | Character Modeling and Animation | 3 |
| CNMA 345 | Virtual Production Fundamentals | 3 |
| Concentration Course Requirements: 18 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| CNMA 101 | Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| CNMA 104 | History of Cinema | 3 |
| or CNMA 105 | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| CNMA 203 | Screenwriting I | 3 |
| CNMA 204 | Entertainment Business | 3 |
| CNMA 210 | Internship Seminar | 1 |
| CNMA 302 | Production Management | 3 |
| CNMA 382 | Film Financing | 3 |
| CNMA 392 | Principles of Advertising | 3 |
| CNMA 433 | Mass Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship | 1 |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Portfolio | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 103 | Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 |
| CNMA 355 | Television Programming and Content Strategy | 3 |
| CNMA 420 | Coverage and Development for Film and Television | 3 |
| 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 | ||
or CNMA 450 | Cinema and Media Arts Practicum | |
or CNMA 470 | Cinema and Media Arts Seminar | |
| The Role of the Producer | ||
| Program & Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 2 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
- 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| CNMA 101 | Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| CNMA 104 | History of Cinema | 3 |
| or CNMA 105 | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| CNMA 203 | Screenwriting I | 3 |
| CNMA 204 | Entertainment Business | 3 |
| CNMA 210 | Internship Seminar | 1 |
| CNMA 280 | The Power of Media | 2 |
| CNMA 302 | Production Management | 3 |
| CNMA 382 | Film Financing | 3 |
| CNMA 392 | Principles of Advertising | 3 |
| CNMA 433 | Mass Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| CNMA 440 | Cinema and Media Arts Internship | 1 |
| CNMA 456 | Senior Portfolio | 3 |
| CNMA Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CNMA 103 | Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 |
| CNMA 420 | Coverage and Development for Film and Television | 3 |
| CNMA 449 | The Role of the Producer | 3 |
| Program & Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 1 | 74 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.