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Cinema Arts Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Arts

Conservatory of Performing Arts

Flexible, Broad-Based B.A. Program Provides Hands-On Experience in Cinema Arts

The B.A. in cinema arts provides a more general approach to cinema arts, while still offering a creative and hands-on education. Students learn the basic skills and theories necessary to communicate their artistic vision, while offering a flexible schedule.

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Cinema Arts Focus Options

Three focus options are available in either cinema, animation or screenwriting. Along with a specific focus, a large offering of major electives allows a student to build their degree around their interest within cinema arts. With fewer required courses in the major, students can pursue a double-major, a minor, or complete their degree in less than four years, making it a good option for transfer students.

Additionally, the program:

Allows a student more flexibility in structuring their education, with fewer courses in the major, and no yearlong senior thesis requirement.
Has fewer required courses in the major, which allows students to take more general electives so that they can build their own interdisciplinary course of study.
Requires students to complete 120 credits.

Focus Course Requirements

Cinema: History of International Cinema, Production 1 and Visual Analysis

Animation: Digital Tools and Techniques, Motion Graphics, Fundamentals of Animation and History of Animation and Filmmaking

Screenwriting: History of International Cinema, Intermediate Screenwriting, Story Analysis and Acting/Directing for Writers and Filmmakers

Learn more: Cinema Studies minor | Course descriptions

Meet Our Faculty

Hanjin Park, assistant professor

"Point Park's cinema arts program offers hands-on filmmaking experience. You will have opportunities to direct, write, produce, shoot, edit and sound design a film. The courses will help you find your talent and foster the skills to succeed in the real world."

Meet Hanjin Park

Jonathan Trueblood, associate professor

"Our professors are working artists who continue to work in the field while teaching. We use this experience and knowledge to direct changes to the curriculum and ensure that our students are fully prepared to work in the field upon graduating."

Meet Jonathan Trueblood

Elise D'Haene, senior teaching artist

"I am engaged fully in each student's project. I LOVE analyzing and developing stories of all genres. I get super excited to work with students on developing their projects from the spark of an idea to its completion as a fully realized project."

Meet Elise D'Haene

Nelson Chipman, professor

"While the screenwriting program equips students with the necessary skills they need to find success as storytellers, we also help them gain what is needed for success in life, which is a foundational understanding of human nature and how their voices fit into the world."

Meet Nelson Chipman

Kelly Donnellan, associate professor

"I've been fortunate to have many real-world experiences in my career as an editor and as a teacher, all of which inform my teaching today. I create my lectures with the industry in mind so that the students will have the necessary skills when they graduate."

Meet Kelly Donnellan

Meet Cinema Arts Students & Alumni

Cinema Production Grad Highlights Work as a Visual Effects Editor on "The Mandalorian," "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew," and More

"Point Park quickly gave me the chance to collaborate and create. In my second semester, I was given hands-on opportunities to make short films."

Point Park University Animation Grad Treven Carter '23 Lands Fellowship with DreamWorks

"The objective of the fellowship is to build networks with industry professionals, attend workshops to extend knowledge within the animation industry and gain mentorship from individuals who work at DreamWorks."

Get Career-Ready with: Adam Snook, B.A. Cinema Arts Major

"I chose the B.A. cinema arts program because cinema students are on set their ﬁrst semester. This hands-on experience helps you discover so much about your future career path."

Get Career-Ready with: Cole Sholtis '24, Cinema Arts Major

"Point Park serves as a perfect school for expanding upon my creative and technical skills to tell a story in the cinema arts program, and also challenges me academically in the accounting program."

Cinema Production Alumna Ashley C. Stokes Receives Four Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards

"Having four regional Emmy’s under my belt after my first year working for PBS is humbling. It inspires me to continue to share stories that make a difference in our communities and eventually around the world."

Animation Major is a Motion Graphics Intern for the Pittsburgh Penguins

"As an immigrant, it's easy to feel out of place in a new country, but Point Park not only has given me the tools and support to become a better artist and animator, but also a place to call home."

Video Production Internship with Pittsburgh Opera Provides Hands-On Experience for Cinema Student

"My advice to any student considering Point Park is that they should just go for it. Point Park feels like a close-knit community that presents its students with a variety of different opportunities."

B.F.A. Screenwriting Major's Work Awarded at Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival

"The greatest experience I've had at Point Park is meeting so many people dedicated to the craft. It's one thing to know how to write a script, but it's another to have people to fall back on for input and support."

ViacomCBS Hires Cinema Production Alumna Mina Hoffman '18

"The most valuable thing Point Park gave me was a supportive network of people ... Additionally, having the hands-on filmmaking experience was priceless. Knowing set etiquette and general production speak is invaluable even in my role as a marketer."