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.

Performing and Cinematic Arts (Bachelor of Applied Arts, B.A.A.)
The Theatre, Cinema and Dance program offers unique opportunities for learning, performing, and design. The Bachelor of Applied Arts program in theatre and cinema is one of only a handful in the United States and the only one in the region. We provide students with an outstanding professional training and hands-on experiences that will prepare them for a successful career in the entertainment industry.
This Bachelor of Arts degree offers an outstanding integration of both cinema and theatre. Students decide which field to specialize in – theatre, musical theatre, or cinema – but will gain experience and knowledge in all three. The Dance Minor provides students with the opportunity to explore and develop their technique in beginning and advanced classes in jazz, tap, modern and ballet.
Each course in this program provides students with the professional training necessary to develop technical, creative and storytelling skills, allows them the opportunity to focus and hone those skills, and provides the environment in which they can discover and explore their own expressive voice.
Our graduates go on to successfully pursue master’s degrees in their respective fields and/or seek careers as actors, designers, editors, directors, cinematographers, audio engineers and more. Our degree programs give students the edge in today’s competitive job market.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
General Studies | ||
42-47 | ||
Core Requirements | ||
CIN 100 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
THR 140 | Production Participation | 4 |
ENT 201 | Entrepreneurship I | 3 |
THR 281 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
THR 228 | Acting I | 3 |
or CIN 340 | Acting for the Camera | |
THR 361 | Theatre Internship | 3 |
or CIN 361 | Cinema Internship | |
THR 480 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
Concentration | ||
Select one of the following concentrations: | ||
Cinema | ||
Musical Theatre | ||
Theatre |
Concentrations:
Cinema
Musical Theatre
Theatre
Cinema Concentration
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
CIN 130 | Digital Cinema Survey | 3 |
ART 190 | Digital 3D Fundamentals | 3 |
CIN 230 | Digital 2D fundamentals | 3 |
CIN 245 | Production I | 3 |
CIN 253 | Audio Production | 3 |
CIN 255 | Editing | 3 |
Two of the following courses | 6 | |
Greenscreen & Rotoscoping | ||
Matte Painting | ||
CGI Integration | ||
CIN 335 | Cinematography | 3 |
CIN 342 | Screenwriting | 3 |
CIN 345 | Production II | 3 |
CIN 377 | Producing | 3 |
CIN 477 | Directing | 3 |
CIN 430 | VFX Supervising | 3 |
or CIN 495 | Thesis | |
Pick three credit hours from the following Upper Division classes: | ||
Dynamics | ||
Motion Capture | ||
Matchmoving | ||
Editing II | ||
Commercial Production | ||
Cinematography II | ||
Advanced Screenwriting | ||
Cinematic Sound and Music | ||
Total Credit Hours | 45 |
Musical Theatre Concentration
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
MUS 109 | Functional Voice Class | 2 |
DAN 120 | Dance Performance | 1 |
DAN 110 | Tap Dance I | 2 |
or DAN 210 | Tap Dance II | |
DAN 111 | Jazz Dance I | 2 |
or DAN 211 | Jazz Dance II | |
MUS 189 | Applied Voice: Major Instrument | 2 |
THR 221 | Technical Production 1 | 3 |
THR 222 | Technical Production 2 | 3 |
THR 275 | Script Analysis | 3 |
MUS 289 | Applied Voice: Major Instrument | 2 |
DAN 312 | Dance Choreography | 2 |
THR 326 | Techniques of Musical Theatre Performance | 3 |
THR 348 | Directing for the Stage I | 3 |
THR 368 | History of Musical Theatre | 3 |
MUS 369 | Contemporary Vocal Techniques | 3 |
Pick eight credit hours from the following Upper Division courses: | ||
Acting II | ||
Acting for the Camera | ||
Stage Management | ||
Stage Makeup | ||
Concert Chorale | ||
Light Opera Workshop | ||
Theatre for Children and Youth | ||
Applied Voice: Major Instrument | ||
Advanced Stage Makeup | ||
Acting III | ||
Directing for the Stage II | ||
Dramaturgy | ||
Total Credit Hours | 42 |
Theatre Concentration
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
THR 221 | Technical Production 1 | 3 |
THR 222 | Technical Production 2 | 3 |
THR 224 | Voice and Diction | 3 |
THR 275 | Script Analysis | 3 |
THR 331 | Fundamentals of Design | 3 |
THR 367 | History of Theatre | 3 |
Pick eighteen credit hours from the following: | ||
Stage Movement Workshop | ||
Acting II | ||
Acting for the Camera | ||
Directing for the Stage I | ||
Stage Properties | ||
Costume and Makeup Design | ||
Stage Management | ||
Voice Over | ||
Stage Makeup | ||
Theatre for Children and Youth | ||
Playwriting | ||
Advanced Costume Techniques | ||
Period Styles | ||
Theatre History II | ||
Scenic Design | ||
Stage Lighting | ||
Sound Design | ||
Advanced Stage Makeup | ||
Acting III | ||
Directing for the Stage II | ||
Independent Project | ||
Dramaturgy | ||
Total Credit Hours | 36 |
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.75, a major GPA of 3.0 and a minimum 3.0 GPA in Education coursework.
University Graduation Requirements
- Have a valid and declared major on file (minors cannot be awarded in the same areas as the major, emphasis or concentration).
- Earn a minimum of 3 credit hours beyond the major, emphasis, concentration and/or general studies requirements.
- Earn a minor GPA of at least 2.0.
Are you ready to declare this major or minor? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the School of Fine Arts.
Mapping your degree plan is an important task for every student. You should consult with your academic advisor to create a plan for degree completion and monitor it regularly.