Two Questions: Film programs w/ DL and ranking system for DL schools?

Hi, I just registered here. I'm a highschool graduate looking into distance learning. I bought the most recent Bear's guide to Distance Learning, and it was recomended I come here for advice, and I have been lurking and think this message board looks great!

I had a couple questions at this point in my search. I'm nowhere near narrowing the field down yet, too many good looking choices thus far, so I was wondering is there either a website or a book that ranks DL schools, as to how good they are, how valuable the degree, etc?

Also, I am hoping to find a certificate course, or possibly a degree program for film/cinema online, if possible. I don't know whether there are many of those available, but I hope to find something at least, to get me started working towards making movies. Though my major degree I am pursuing won't be in film, I don't think. I'm also hoping to get a Business degree, either an Associates or a Bachelor's.

Anyway, I appreciate any and all help that can be provided on the questions I'm pursuing. Thanks!

 

I guess my questions aren't as easily answerable as I thought.

Upping this again in case anyone can provide *any* information on these subjects. It would be appreciated, whatever advice or knowledge you might have. Thanks.

 

Hi Caitlan, sorry I have no idea about film/cinema classes either online or F2F.

As far as a ranking system, I don't know that there is one, at least not one that everyone would agree with. You could prioritize what you need (variables include cost, name-recognition, degree needed) and then post questions here when you've narrowed down your options.

There are some rankings (like magazines) but they mainly focus on B&M schools.

Good luck!

 

Caitlan, you may find DL courses in film studies, but film production is an inherently tactile discipline. Hands-on practice is essential, so DL offerings will be few.

The top film schools in the country are at NYU and USC.
Spike Lee teaches at NYU (from which both he and Ang Lee graduated), and Quentin Tarantino teaches at USC. Another highly regarded school is in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tisch_School_of_the_Arts
http://www.uscsummerfilm.com/index.cfm
http://www.film.ubc.ca/programs/programs_production.html

Here in Seattle we have a large filmmaking community, but it exists outside of academia. Film making and instruction is largely in the hands of a two well-regarded, well-funded, private non-profit arts organizations (i.e Northwest Film Forum, 911 Media Arts Center). The bar to entry is very low - anyone can become a volunteer, take classes, make contacts.

http://www.nwfilmforum.org/wiggly/workshops.php
http://www.911media.org/

Courses and workshops at the private organizations confer no formal academic credit, but I have to believe that if you were enrolled at another school such as the University of Washington, Seattle University, or Evergreen State University you could negotiate taking "Independent Study" courses toward fulfilling your general arts requirements, with the plan to complete a project through classes and workshops offered by the external private organizations. A lot of schools are very receptive to this sort of initiative on the part of their undergrad students (especially Evergreen).

 

WOW

Daniel gave some good info...

I drive by 911media arts whenever I go to my office (I normally telecommute).

Just another example of why this forum is so useful!

 

Thanks very much to both of you.

Your information on film schools was very appreciated, Daniel. That's what I was afraid of, and it's all right (you say...did I read this right, Tarantino teaches at USC?? He's my idol when it comes to filmaking), it just means it'll be a few more years before I can pursue film education. I will check out the schools you mentioned in Washington State and BC, as well as USC, in the meantime.

Thanks again for your help!

 

Well, now my face is red. I am sure I read somewhere that he was a USC adjunct, but I can't find any mention of him in the faculty or program advisor listings at the USC website.

Perhaps it was a limited engagement, or perhaps I'm just delusional.

At any rate, don't limit yourself to those two schools - find an area with a thriving indie film community and work your way in.

 

Well, if you read your Bears' Guide, you should find the following DL Film Studies degrees: Burlington College www.burlcol.edu (Bachelor's), Central Queensland University www.dtls.cqu.edu.au (Bachelor's), University of Melbourne www.unimelb.edu.au (Master's and Doctorate), and Queens University www.queensu.ca (Bachelor's). If you would lurk well enough, you would find the following old threads: http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23388 http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21281 http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19901

 

And these two blasts from the past are some old lists of undergrad distance business degrees I once posted.

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20645
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19783

 

Thanks once more for the information! I'll look into those schools.

And don't worry about it Daniel, I'll survive without courses from Tarantino.

 

Individual Classes Film Studies/Screenwriting

U of Alabama http://bama.disted.ua.edu
U of Alaska Fairbanks http://distance.uaf.edu
Auburn U www.auburn.edu
Bellevue CC http://distance-ed.bcc.ctc.edu
Bossier Parish CC www.bpcc.edu
Brevard CC www.brevardcc.edu
U of British Columbia http://det.ubc.ca
Burlington County C www.bcc.edu
U of California Extension http://learn.berkeley.edu
UCLA Extension www.unex.ucla.edu
Camden County C www.camdencc.edu
C of the Canyons www.coc.cc.ca.us
Carl Sandburg C www.sandburg.edu
Charter Oak State C www.cosc.edu
Citrus CC www.citrus.cc.ca.us
Daniel Webster C www.dwc.edu
Delaware County CC www.dccc.edu
Foothill C www.foothillcollege.org
Fullerton C http://wwwmedia.fullcoll.edu
Gennessee CC www.gennessee.suny.edu
Governors State U www.govst.edu
Grand Rapids CC www.grcc.edu
Green River CC www.grcc.ctc.edu
U of Illinois Urbana Champaign www.outreach.uiuc.edu
U of Kansas www.kuce.org
C of Lake County www.clc.cc.il.us
Lakeland CC www.lakeland.edu
Lake Michigan C www.lmc.cc.mi.us
U of LaVerne www.ulv.edu
Long Beach City C http://de.lbcc.cc.ca.us
U of Louisiana Monroe www.ulm.edu
Marylhurst U http://online.marylhurst.edu
U of Massachussets Lowell http://cybered.uml.edu
Mayland CC www.mayland.cc.nc.us
Metropolitan CC www.mccneb.edu
Minneapolis C of Art and Design http://online.mcad.edu
U of Minnesota Twin Cities www.idl.umn.edu
Mira Costa C www.miracosta.cc.ca.us
Moraine Valley CC www.morainevalley.edu
Nassau CC www.sunynassau.edu
Native American Educational Services C www.naes.edu
The New School www.dialnsa.edu
New York U www.scps.nyu.edu
North Carolina State U http://distance.ncsu.edu
Northeastern Oklahoma A & M C www.neoam.org
Northern Virginia CC http://eli.nvcc.vccs.edu
North Seattle CC www.virtualcollege.org
Ohio U Eastern www.eastern.ohiou.edu
Pikes Peak CC www.ppcc.cccoes.edu
Pueblo CC www.pcc.cccoes.edu
Richard Stockton C of New Jersey www.stockton.edu
Rogers State U www.rsuonline.edu
Rogue CC www.roguecc.edu
Sacramento City C www.scc.losrios.cc.ca.us
St. Petersburg JC http://e.spjc.edu
San Bernadino Valley C www.sbccd.cc.ca.us
Sandhills CC www.sandhills.cc.nc.us
San Diego State U www.sdsu.edu
San Jose State U http://online.sjsu.edu
C of San Mateo http://gocsm.net
Santa Monica C http://smconline.org
Seattle Central CC http://distantlearning.net
Skagit Valley C www.svc.ctc.edu
Skidmore C www.skidmore.edu
U of South Dakota www.usd.edu
Southwest Missouri State U http://ce.smsu.edu
Suffolk County CC www.sunysuffolk.edu
Temple U http://oll.temple.edu
Terra State CC www.terra.cc.oh.us
U of Texas Austin www.utexas.edu
Truckee Meadows CC www.tmcc.edu
Thompson Rivers U, fka Open Learning Agency www.ola.bc.ca
U of Utah http://ulearn.utah.edu
Volunteer State CC www.vscc.cc.tn.us
Walla Walla C http://you.wwc.edu
Westmoreland County CC www.westmoreland.cc.pa.us
West Valley C www.westvalley.edu

 

Found an online school for Motion Picture and Television production

Academy of Art University offers an AA and BFA in directing, screenwriting, production, cinematograpy, etc. I don't think they're RA but have accreditation and are able to process federal financial aid.

They also offer a wholly online MFA in Motion Picture and Television production. The MFA rates seem high, though, at 650 per credit for 63 credits.

Still, this is good for anyone looking for an online program like this. I looked at Miami International University and University of Miami (local to me) and their tuition was about the same.

 

Film School

I have a degree in Photography from AIU (Los Angeles); I understand that they are offering the upper level units for a BFA in digital design and media online. I did not go to the online school so I cannot comment on the quality of the program, however, the program I did in the B&M LA campus was pretty solid.

Just wondering - why not go the traditional route (if you are just out of high school?) Also, why film school as a second choice?

 

just wondering if anyone can share some information on a good PhD program in Film Studies/Media/Communications?

 

You might look at University of Southern California - I doubt if they have any DL programs
http://cinema.usc.edu/programs/

 

There's no PHD in Film Studies by Distance Learning in the USA that I'm aware of.

You do have MFAs online, like the one in my university, the Academy of Art University (although I'd strongly suggest to enroll on campus, because otherwise you will lose the direct contact with the San Francisco Film scene - what makes this program in some ways so much better than other more renown schools like NYU or UCLA).

Your best bet would be the PHD online from Exeter - a very prestigious university in England. They have two tracks for the online PHD: one for filmmakers (you have to produce films for your thesis) and another for scholar, Film Studies.

I'm really considering this PHD after I graduate from my MFA, because almost all Phds in Film in the USA are theoretical , not practical.

 

Looks like the University of Melbourne www.unimelb.edu.au has a dissertation-only doc in film studies.