About the Program
The Television and Film Arts major (TFA) at Buffalo State—an interdepartmental program encompassing the Communication, English, and Theater departments—prepares students for a variety of careers in the entertainment industry. The goal of the major is to teach the TFA student to hone his/her vision and storytelling skills, thus facilitating pursuits in such dynamic fields as screenwriting, producing, and directing.
The TFA program recognizes that creative content is paramount in today’s age of multi-media and to that end, encourages its students to tell stories across all media. The program is dedicated to excellence in teaching and scholarship, cultural enrichment, and service, providing TFA majors with an appropriate mix of criticism, theory, practical application, and real-life internship opportunities passionately designed to help them succeed.
Required TFA Courses
This series of eight courses provides students with the foundational skills needed for success in the TFA major. The lower-division courses emphasize the history of storytelling, writing fundamentals, film as a vehicle for literature, and basic television production. The upper-division courses emphasize film criticism; collaboration across production roles; working independently as an "auteur"; and writing, producing, directing, and editing professionally produced stories exhibited in a public forum.
In addition to required courses, TFA offers electives in storytelling, producing, directing, and post-production.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the television and film arts program is very competitive (approximately 15 students admitted each year) and based upon an application, letter of recommendation, and submission of creative work (including screenplays, short stories, and/or videos/films). All submitted materials are reviewed by the Television and Film Arts Advisory Committee.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
1. demonstrate a knowledge of pre/post-production including all roles responsibilities for single camera productions shot on digital media
2. evaluate films and television programs with an understanding of structure and a historical context of media
3. understand and create a classical, three-act structure as it relates to writing scripts for television, film, and various new media
4. understand the business of tv, film, & other media-related industries and be able to create a Personalized Marketing Plan to help obtain a job
Program Requirements
General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33
TFA Major Requirements (42 credit hours)
Required Courses (30 credit hours)
COM 312 BASIC MEDIA PRODUCTION 3
ENG 305 CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE 3
ENG 402 ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE 3
TFA 201 INTRODUCTION TO TELEVISION AND FILM ARTS 3
TFA 301 TV AND FILM CRITICISM 3
TFA 401 PRODUCING SHORT FILMS I 3
TFA 420 PRODUCING SHORT FILMS II 3
TFA 450 SENIOR PROJECT 3
THA 226 ACTING I 3
THA 350 DIRECTING I 3
Elective Courses (12 credit hours)
The elective requirement can be satisfied by completing 12 credit hours in any of the courses below.
COM 304 WRITING FOR BROADCAST (TV, RADIO, FILM)
COM 317 MEDIA MANAGEMENT
COM 329 INTERMEDIATE VIDEO PRODUCTION
COM 431 ADVANCED FIELD PRODUCTION
COM 432 ADVANCED POST-PRODUCTION
ENG 205 HISTORY OF CINEMA I
ENG 206 HISTORY OF CINEMA II
ENG 303 LITERATURE IN FILM
ENG 350 TWENTIETH-CENTURY DRAMA I
ENG 351 TWENTIETH-CENTURY DRAMA II
SPC 326 FILM ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
TFA 350 CINEMATOGRAPHY
TFA 460 ADAPTATION
TFA 470 CAREERS IN TELEVISION
TFA 480 ADVANCED DIRECTING/PRODUCING I
TFA 481 ADVANCED DIRECTING/PRODUCING II
TFA 488 INTERNSHIP (3-6)
THA 200 VOICE AND MOVEMENT I
THA 337 SET DESIGN I
All College Electives
39-45 credit hours 39-45
Total Credit Hours 120