The Bachelor of Applied Arts in Performing & Cinematic Arts is a production-heavy program that incorporates both traditional film practices and current industry visual effects, providing a complete modern digital cinema degree.
Graduates will complete the program with a thesis-level film and a portfolio that reflects the career they wish to specialize in.
Careers
Develop the skills you need to specialize in any film industry discipline. You will build a portfolio that reflects the career you are looking for:
- Directing
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Screenwriting
- Producing
- Audio
- Visual Effects
- Compositing
- Matte Painting
- Script Supervising
- Visual Effects Supervising
- Creative Producing
Hands-on Learning Opportunities
Production Participation: Cinema requires a large number of creative minds to produce a modern film. Students enrolled in this program will enjoy a highly collaborative creative environment. Starting around the second year, students are required to enroll in Production Participation two times. During this course, students will work on upper-level thesis films while learning from peer mentors. When these students reach their upper-level thesis class, they will in turn have a cadre of underclassmen to work on their film, while mentoring them.
Old Saint Jo: A community-based video production opportunity focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use of social media. With the help of our community, staff, and interns, students interview, document, and create content for global viewing. Many students participate in this production as their internship which allows them to build portfolio content dedicated to their desired industry interest. For more information, contact Professor Lawrence at tlawrence7@missouriwestern.edu.
Griffon Production House (GPH): This applied learning opportunity provides students with real-world experience in multi-cam productions both on and off-campus. Clients include Missouri Western Music Programs, along with other campus organizations. Students will also work with community organizations as well, such as the St. Joseph Youth Chorale. Students participating in GPH will plan, produce, edit, and master industry quality products that will serve the needs of the client. This provides students with resume building experience, as well as content for their reel, and networking opportunities. Students at all levels of experience are encouraged to participate with GPH. For more information, contact Professor Brecheisen at tbrecheisen@missouriwestern.edu.
Griffon University: Students work with both faculty and the community to create interesting video content on topics of interest to the public. Productions provide students with industry-relevant content and opportunities. Intraprofessional collaboration is emphasized as students will coordinate and collaborate with animation, marketing, and journalism students to produce these films. For more information, contact Professor Brecheisen at tbrecheisen@missouriwestern.edu.
Fauxtoreality: A real-world post-production and finishing house that serves clients with various visual effects, coloring, and editing needs. Students who participate with Fauxtoreality work under the mentorship of Professor Brecheisen while creating post assets for professionals and students in the industry. Past projects include Love Goes Through Your Mind, The Eclipse, Do Not Disturb, and The Haunting at Death Valley Junction. For more information, contact Professor Brecheisen at tbrecheisen@missouriwestern.edu.
Esports Video Productions: Students will have the opportunity to work on video productions that support and highlight the esports program at Missouri Western. These students will coordinate, produce, film, edit, and master content used across the country to showcase esports captains and players, as well as provide tutorial content for aspiring players. Like GPH, this provides students with resume building experience, as well as content for their reel, and networking opportunities. Students at all levels of experience are encouraged to participate. For more information, contact Professor Brecheisen at tbrecheisen@missouriwestern.edu.

Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
General Studies | ||
42-47 | ||
Major Requirements | ||
ART 129 | Design Software Applications | 3 |
ART 190 | Digital 3D Fundamentals | 3 |
CIN 100 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
CIN 130 | Digital Cinema Survey | 3 |
CIN 190 | Cinema Structure & Aesthetics | 2 |
CIN 245 | Production I | 3 |
CIN 250 | Production Participation | 1 |
CIN 253 | Audio Production | 3 |
CIN 255 | Editing | 3 |
CIN 280 | Portfolio I | 1 |
Select two of the following courses: | 6 | |
Greenscreen & Rotoscoping | ||
Matte Painting | ||
CGI Integration | ||
CIN 335 | Cinematography | 3 |
CIN 340 | Acting for the Camera | 3 |
CIN 342 | Screenwriting | 3 |
CIN 345 | Production II | 3 |
CIN 361 | Cinema Internship | 1-3 |
CIN 377 | Producing | 3 |
CIN 430 | VFX Supervising | 3 |
CIN 477 | Directing | 3 |
CIN 480 | Portfolio II | 1 |
ENT 201 | Entrepreneurship I | 3 |
MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Electives - Three credit hours from the following Upper Division Classes: | 3 | |
Dynamics | ||
Motion Capture | ||
Matchmoving | ||
Editing II | ||
Commercial Production | ||
Cinematography II | ||
Advanced Screenwriting | ||
Cinematic Sound and Music |
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
