About the Program

Television and Film Arts
Buckham B112
(716) 878-6008
tvfilm.buffalostate.edu/

The Television and Film Arts (TFA) major at Buffalo State—an interdisciplinary program encompassing the Communication, English, and Theater departments—prepares students for a variety of careers in the entertainment industry, including screenwriting, producing, and directing for television, film, and streaming media.

The TFA program recognizes that creative content is essential in today’s multimedia landscape and, to that end, encourages its students to tell stories across various mediums. The program is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and cultural enrichment—providing TFA majors with a blend of criticism, theory, practical application, and real-world internship opportunities—passionately designed to help them succeed.

Required TFA Courses
This series of courses provides students with foundational skills needed for success in the TFA major. The lower-division courses emphasize the history of storytelling, screenwriting fundamentals, and basic television and film production. The upper-division courses concentrate on film criticism, collaboration across production roles, working independently as an auteur, and writing, producing, directing, and editing films exhibited in public forums.

In addition to required courses, TFA offers a variety of electives in criticism, producing, directing, and post-production.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the TFA program is highly competitive (approximately 15 students are admitted each year) and based upon a personal statement, letter of recommendation, and submission of creative work (including screenplays, short stories, and/or short films). All submitted materials are reviewed by the Television and Film Arts Admissions Committee.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. demonstrate knowledge of pre-production, production, and post-production—including all roles and responsibilities for single camera productions shot on digital media
2. evaluate screenplays, films, and television programs with an understanding of structure, character, dialogue, and theme
3. understand and create a classical, three-act structure as it relates to writing for television, film, and streaming media
4. understand the business of the entertainment industry, and be able to market themselves and their creative work to launch careers in their chosen field

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. 12
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
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 227 ACTING II: SCENE STUDY
THA 234 INTRODUCTION TO THEATER DESIGN
THA 400 ADVANCED VOICE TOPICS
All College Electives
39-45 credit hours 39-45
Total Credit Hours 120