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Cinema Program Transfer Guide
Students interested in transferring into the BA in Cinema Degree in the Fall of 2007 from other VCU majors should consider the following:
Admission to the BA in Cinema is highly competitive and is based on high school GPA, SAT or ACT scores, advanced placement courses, VCU and other college GPA especially in GE courses, and an essay demonstrating a strong interest in filmmaking as well as interest in other fields that will become the basis for a second major.
The School’s Art Foundation courses, other than non-Arts GE courses, will not apply directly to Cinema BA requirements.
Students in the Cinema BA are expected to also enroll in a second major, generally selected from Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) programs in the College of Humanities & Science or the School of Business. These second majors require the investment of considerable (and traditional) academic effort, which can be substantially different from the student expectations for BFA programs.
The BA in Cinema provides only one-third of total course work in film or film-related courses. In contrast, the BFA in Film provides nearly twice the amount of course work in film or film-related courses as the BA degree.
Students transferring from one of the School’s BFA programs will generally need to spend at least one extra year and possibly more to graduate. Note the curriculum sequence below.
The second and third years of the BA in Cinema curriculum require a year-round program of Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Several weeks of vacation are available in those years at the end of each semester and summer term.
Production work in the Cinema BA is only offered during the 8-week Summer term Production Intensives.
All production courses in the Cinema BA focus exclusively on digital technology and no work with traditional 8- or 16-millimeter film (traditional celluloid film) is provided.
Students who have some reasonable competency in a foreign language from study during their high school years are encouraged to continue development of those skills while pursuing the Cinema major.
Information for non-VCU Students
*A VCU application and recommendation form must be completed and sent to Undergraduate Admissions.
In addition, the following items are required and should be sent to Carolyn Henne's address below:
1) A resume detailing activities other than classes and also showing VCU ID# (if currently enrolled at VCU), phone/address/email;
2) A statement discussing your interests in filmmaking, and your fields of interest outside of the arts that you might select for a second major.
Change of major information for current VCU students
Current VCU students interested in changing their majors to Cinema, should submit unofficial transcripts from VCU and transcripts from any other schools attended.
High School transcripts and SAT or ACT scores must be submitted if they were submitted in your original application packet to the university. Photo copies of these documents can be obtained from your current department.
If you want to change your major, you are also required to submit:
A resume
A Personal Statement outlining your interest in and experience with film, and a brief discussion of your intended secondary major should you be admitted.
A VCUarts Undergraduate Reference Form, ideally completed by a current VCU professor who can attest to your academic capabilities, talent and potential for success in the Cinema Program.
A second essay which in 200 in 200 words of less, describes a story you would some day like to tell on film.
Change of Major Supplemental Materials:
If you have written a screenplay, we ask that you send the first 10 pages and title page as an additional writing sample.
Extra Undergraduate Reference Forms (up to 3 in total) may be submitted but only one is required.
Send all Change of Major/Transfer student materials to:
Undergraduate Admissions, 821 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23284-2526
Note: For animation and experimental video BFA, see Kinetic Imaging. For documentary and narrative film BFA, see Photography & Film.
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