Digital Filmmaking A.S.

School: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Academic Dept: Arts and Communication
HEGIS: 5606

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2022 to Summer 2023. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

There’s never been a better time to prepare for a career in film. New York State tax incentives for the film and television industry have led to a boom in New York film and television productions in recent years, and demand for video on social media platforms has been growing exponentially.

The Associate of Science Degree in Digital Filmmaking prepares students to take advantage of the opportunities available in this rapidly-changing, multi-disciplinary field by providing them with foundational knowledge and skills in four key areas: film studies, cinematic storytelling, digital video production, and postproduction.

The A.S. Degree is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career in the film and television industry or to transfer to a four-year B.A. or B.F.A. program in film production or cinema studies.

Students enrolled in the program acquire a solid basis in cinema history and theory, film aesthetics, screenwriting, camera operation, lighting, digital editing, and acting. In addition to these core courses, students may choose from a wide range of electives, including courses in television production, visual effects, animation, and sound design. Production and postproduction courses are taught by practicing film professionals on advanced equipment. An optional internship offers students the opportunity to gain valuable experience working in the industry.

The program offers courses at the main campus in Valhalla and at several extension locations. Film production students have access to camera, lighting and audio equipment to work on their projects, and can take advantage of open lab hours to edit in our post-production facilities. The department sponsors an active Film Club, which is open to students of all majors. In addition, the Film Program holds its annual WCC Film Festival every April. Visit the WCC Film Festival website to watch trailers and full reels from previous years.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate a basic understanding and appreciation of film as an art form.
Demonstrate the ability to craft a cinematic story with a coherent narrative structure.
Demonstrate the ability to plan, shoot, and edit a short film.
Demonstrate competency and broad foundational knowledge in the general education curriculum as required by Westchester Community College.

Program Map

The academic map below presents the recommended plan of study and will guide you through your program in a timely manner. Click the course abbreviations for full course descriptions. A course may be critical because it is a pre-requisite, requires a minimum grade, or because it is only offered once a year. Missing a critical course may push back your graduation date. Meet with an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure you are on track to complete your program.

Critical Courses should be taken in the order shown to stay on track and graduate on time.

Semester 1

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
ENG 101	✔	✔	3
FILM 100	✔		3
FILM 130	✔		3
THEAT 111			3
Mathematics Gen Ed Elective		✔	3
Semester Total Credits			15

Semester 2

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
FILM 125	✔	✔	3
FILM 142	✔		3
FILM 101		✔	3
ENG 102		✔	3
Natural Sciences with Lab Gen Ed Elective			4
Semester Total Credits			16

Semester 3

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
FILM 102		✔	3
FILM 145		✔	3
American History or Western Civilization Gen Ed Elective		✔	3
Film Elective			3	✹
Film Elective			3	✹
Semester Total Credits			15

Notes:

✹ Choose one: FILM 103 , FILM 109 , FILM 113 , FILM 143 , FILM 160 , FILM 220 , ART 129 , ART 147 , ART 149A , COMM 101 , COMM 119 , COMM 121 , THEAT 113 , THEAT 117A , MUSIC 160 , MUSIC 163 , or MUSIC 165

Semester 4

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
FILM 140	✔	✔	3
FILM 150 or Film Elective		✔	3	✹
Film Elective			3	✹
Cinema Studies Elective			3	✹✹
Social Sciences Gen Ed Elective			3
Semester Total Credits			15

Notes:

✹✹ Choose one: FILM 103 , FILM 109 , FILM 113 , or FILM 220

Minimum Total Credits: 61

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Career Opportunities

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