Cinematic Arts is a Bachelor Degree program offered by Keiser University in West Palm Beach, FL. The program takes 4 Years to complete, with a total tuition of $99,264.
Program Overview
Keiser University's Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts prepares students for careers in film production, media arts, television, and the entertainment industry. The program balances creative development with technical mastery, pairing coursework in film history, theory, and international cinema with hands-on training in cinematography, directing, editing, and screenwriting. Foundational courses in the business of film round out the degree so graduates understand both the craft and the commerce of visual storytelling.
The 120-credit-hour curriculum is built around project-based learning. Students move from foundational storytelling and production courses into advanced work, then choose a specialized upper-division track in production, post-production, or writing. Instruction takes place on campus at G-Star Studios in West Palm Beach, a facility with a professional sound stage, giving students extensive access to professional-grade equipment and production spaces.
The program culminates in a capstone internship or field placement and a senior group thesis project in which students create original work. Faculty who bring real-world film and media production experience serve as advisors, guiding students through portfolio development so they graduate with both a credential and a body of work to show prospective employers and collaborators.
What sets this Program apart
- Specialized upper-division tracks that let students focus on production, post-production, or writing.
- Hands-on experience through extensive use of professional equipment and facilities at G-Star Studios in West Palm Beach, home to a world-renowned sound stage.
- A capstone internship and senior thesis project in which students create original work.
- Faculty advisors with real-world film and media production expertise who guide students through portfolio development.
- One class at a time over focused terms, with small classes and personalized academic advising.
Admission Requirements and Process
Admission includes Keiser University's general requirements plus any program-specific requirements listed below, followed by the university's monthly-start application process.
School Information
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited institution means your education has met rigorous, independently reviewed quality standards designed to protect students.
This program: Keiser University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Eligible for federal Title IV financial aid
- Recognized by employers nationwide
- Credits earned toward a respected credential
General Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED); applicants with foreign credentials must have them evaluated by a NACES-member service
- Completed application with the one-time $55 application fee, plus a one-time $145 registration fee upon enrollment (subject to annual review)
- Meet with an admissions counselor and submit proof of prior education
- No entrance exam, SAT/ACT score, audition, portfolio, or prior filmmaking experience required for admission - the program welcomes students from all backgrounds
- Complete the FAFSA (School Code 015159) if applying for financial aid
- Willingness to attend on campus: the Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts is offered on-campus only at the West Palm Beach Flagship Campus
Application Process
- 1Submit ApplicationComplete the online application form with your personal information and educational background.Apply Now
- 2Submit TranscriptsProvide official high school transcripts or GED certificate. Some programs may require additional documentation.
- 3Financial AidComplete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal financial aid. Meet with a financial aid advisor to review your options.FAFSA Code for Flagship (Residential): 015159Complete FAFSA Application
- 4EnrollmentOnce accepted, complete enrollment paperwork, register for classes, and attend orientation.
Program Schedule
Keiser University uses a one-class-at-a-time model built on short, focused terms, with new classes starting every month and small classes averaging about a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts totals 120 credit hours across roughly 30 courses and takes about 40 months to complete; length varies for students who transfer in credit (up to 12 transfer credits may be accepted).
The program is delivered on campus at the West Palm Beach Flagship Campus (G-Star Studios), not online. Progression moves from lower-division major and general education courses into an advanced sequence: students select one upper-division track (production, post-production, or writing), complete cinematic arts electives, and finish with a capstone internship or field placement (6 credits) and a senior group thesis project (3 credits) in which they produce original work.
- September 28th, 2026
- October 26th, 2026
- November 23rd, 2026
- January 11th, 2027
- February 08th, 2027
- March 08th, 2027
- April 05th, 2027
- May 10th, 2027
- June 07th, 2027
- July 05th, 2027
- August 02nd, 2027
Curriculum
The curriculum blends major coursework in storytelling, film history, cinematography, directing, editing, and the business of film with a full general education core, specialized upper-division track courses, and a capstone internship and senior thesis. Representative courses are listed below.
Required Courses
| Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cinematic Arts Major Courses (33.0 credit hours) | |
| Foundations of Story | 3.0 |
| Film Production I | 3.0 |
| Film History I | 3.0 |
| Script Analysis I | 3.0 |
| Documentary History | 3.0 |
| Cinematography I | 3.0 |
| Directing I | 3.0 |
| Editing I | 3.0 |
| Literary Adaptation | 3.0 |
| Business of Film I | 3.0 |
| Business of Film II | 3.0 |
| General Education Courses (48.0 credit hours) | |
| American History Pre 1876 (History/Political Science) | 3.0 |
| American History Since 1876 (History/Political Science) | 3.0 |
| Political Science (History/Political Science) | 3.0 |
| Introduction to Psychology (Behavioral Science) | 3.0 |
| Sociology (Behavioral Science) | 3.0 |
| Communications (3.0 credit hours) | |
| Speech Communications | 3.0 |
| Computers (3.0 credit hours) | |
| Introduction to Computers | 3.0 |
| Economics (3.0 credit hours) | |
| Macroeconomics | 3.0 |
| English (6.0 credit hours) | |
| English Composition I | 3.0 |
| English Composition II | 3.0 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts (9.0 credit hours) | |
| American Literature | 3.0 |
| Contemporary World Literature | 3.0 |
| English Literature | 3.0 |
| Film Appreciation (required) | 3.0 |
| Mathematics (6.0 credit hours) | |
| College Algebra or… | 3.0 |
| College Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Statistics (required) | 3.0 |
| Natural Science (6.0 credit hours) | |
| General Biology | 3.0 |
| Environmental Science | 3.0 |
| Other Courses (6.0 credit hours) | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| General Education Elective | 3.0 |
| Upper Division Tracks (6.0 credit hours) | |
| Production Track – Cinematography II | 3.0 |
| Production Track – Film Production II | 3.0 |
| Post Production Track – Editing II | 3.0 |
| Post Production Track – Film Production II | 3.0 |
| Writing Track – Feature/TV Writing | 3.0 |
| Writing Track – Documentary Production | 3.0 |
| Cinematic Arts Electives (21.0 credit hours) | |
| Animation I | 3.0 |
| Cinematography II | 3.0 |
| Directing II | 3.0 |
| Editing II | 3.0 |
| Film Production II | 3.0 |
| Introduction to Sound | 3.0 |
| Advanced Sound for Film | 3.0 |
| World Cinema | 3.0 |
| American Cinema | 3.0 |
| Animation II | 3.0 |
| General Electives (3.0 credit hours) | |
| Elective | 3.0 |
| Capstone Courses (9.0 credit hours) | |
| Internship/Field Placement | 6.0 |
| Senior Group Thesis Project | 3.0 |
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition is charged per 16-week semester based on the credit hours scheduled. At full-time enrollment (12-17.99 credits), tuition is approximately $12,408 per semester per Keiser's Undergraduate Tuition & Fee Disclosure (subject to annual review). Completing the 120-credit program at a full-time pace works out to roughly 8 full-time semesters, or an estimated $99,264 in tuition. A one-time $55 application fee and a one-time $145 registration fee also apply. Keiser does not publish a program-specific lab or resource fee for Cinematic Arts that could be independently verified here; production courses use the university's professional equipment and G-Star Studios facilities. For a personalized estimate, use Keiser's Net Price Calculator at https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/NPC-index.html.
Eligible students may fund the program through a range of financial aid options, including:
- Federal Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
- Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans
- Federal Work-Study
- Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) and EASE for eligible Florida residents
- Institutional scholarships
- Veterans and military education benefits
Financial aid begins with the FAFSA (School Code 015159), which must be completed each year.
Estimated total program tuition of about $99,264 (full-time semesters at ~$12,408/semester); actual cost varies with pace and transfer credit.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts pursue creative and technical roles across film, television, streaming, advertising, and corporate media, including:
- Cinematographer / Director of Photography
- Video Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
- Film Producer / Production Assistant
- Sound Designer / Color Grading Specialist
- Documentary Filmmaker
- Content Creator / Social Media Video Producer
- Corporate Video Producer
The degree is an academic bachelor's rather than a licensure program, so there is no state license or national certification exam tied to it. Graduates instead demonstrate readiness through the portfolio and original thesis work they build during the program, and are positioned to continue into graduate study in film or media if they choose.
What to expect as a Keiser University student
Expect a hands-on, production-focused experience rather than a lecture-only degree. You will take one class at a time in short terms, working directly with cameras, editing systems, sound equipment, and the G-Star Studios sound stage from early in the program. Coursework is project-based, so you will be writing, shooting, directing, and editing your own material and collaborating with classmates on shared productions.
Because the program is offered on campus only in West Palm Beach, plan for in-person attendance. As you move into the upper division you will commit to a track - production, post-production, or writing - and then complete a capstone internship or field placement in a real production environment followed by a senior group thesis project. Throughout, faculty advisors with industry backgrounds help you assemble a portfolio of finished work to carry into the job market.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
School Information
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited institution means your education has met rigorous, independently reviewed quality standards designed to protect students.
This program: Keiser University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Eligible for federal Title IV financial aid
- Recognized by employers nationwide
- Credits earned toward a respected credential