Pursue your passion for filmmaking just miles from New York City. Learn what it’s like to direct your own film using Hollywood-quality equipment. Master the ins and outs of film production. See why the Hofstra film program has been recognized by Variety as both a top school for media and entertainment professionals and as a "stellar" film program worldwide.
Curriculum
Four distinct degree options allow you to choose a course of study based on your interests:
BA in Film Studies and Production
Designed for the student who is interested in the creation and production of narrative or documentary feature or short films; you'll study writing, designing, directing, and editing films in traditional and digital formats.
BS in Television and Film
Prepares students for careers with a more technical, specialized approach to television, video, and film production; courses include advanced theatrical production, television technologies, multi-camera production, and a production practicum.
BFA in Filmmaking
Allows students to take a wider range of specialized courses in various aspects of the craft — such as cinematography, sound design, editing, digital post-production, and screenwriting.
BFA in Writing for the Screen
Provides instruction for dramatic writers across all platforms, offering deep study in professional writing practice in preprofessional settings to prepare our graduates to excel in “writing rooms” for all manner of screen media, new and old.
Learn from Experts
Meet Professor Russell Harbaugh
Writer/director Russell Harbaugh’s feature debut, Love After Love, won critical acclaim when it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and was ranked among 2018’s best films. He was named to Variety magazine’s 2020 list of top educators around the world, and teaches screenwriting and script analysis.
The Outlook
Hofstra film prepares students for many career options such as director, producer, editor, screenwriter, script supervisor, cinematographer, makeup or special effects specialist, location manager, light technician, art director, sound mixer, boom operator, set designer, and camera operator. According to a recent alumni survey:
97%
Job, grad school or both
$57K
Average salary for the first year following graduation
The Student Experience
Filmmakers at Hofstra University intern at prominent companies in nearby NYC, including Paramount Pictures, Sundance Film Festival, HBO, Marvel Studios, Vice Media, ABC, CBS, NBC, Viacom Media Networks, and The Walt Disney Company.
Express your creativity, explore potential career paths, sharpen your skills, and build a network of professional contacts through internships, study abroad, campus media outlets, and student organizations.
Alumni Success
Many Hofstra film graduates go on to careers in independent filmmaking, while others obtain positions with prestigious employers or continue their studies at top graduate schools.
Recent alumni work at companies such as:
- AMC Networks
- BuzzFeed
- Discovery Inc.
- HBO
- Marvel Entertainment
- Netflix
- Paramount Television
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Vice Media Group
- WWE
- YouTube Originals
Those pursuing graduate degrees study at:
- George Washington University
- New York University
- Brooklyn School for Screenwriting
- American Film Institute
- Chapman University
State-of-the-Art Learning Spaces
Hofstra filmmakers use the latest editing software, state-of-the-art cameras, and the School of Communication's three production studios. This is in addition to a post-production color correction suite, Foley/ADR audio studio, and a large screening room.
Bring your artistic vision to life!
Questions about our program?
Contact Us
William Jennings, MFA
Associate Professor and Chair
william.jennings@hofstra.edu
Nina Rivera
Department Secretary
nina.f.rivera@hofstra.edu