Academic Programs
San Francisco State University’s School of Cinema offers students a dynamic, interdisciplinary education grounded in creative expression, critical thinking, and social engagement.
Undergraduate and graduate programs explore the full spectrum of cinematic forms—from mainstream and independent film to experimental media, television, and games—encouraging students to analyze, create, and engage with storytelling in diverse cultural contexts. With access to San Francisco’s vibrant film community, students benefit from visiting artists, festivals, and hands-on learning opportunities. An animation minor further expands creative pathways, emphasizing storytelling, documentary, and artistic experimentation for students across disciplines.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Cinema
The School of Cinema provides its undergraduate majors with a broad liberal arts education focused on three core values: creative expression, critical thinking, and social engagement.
Minor in Animation
The Animation Minor is open to all majors. The program is a production emphasis in creative storytelling, social issue documentary, and artistic experimentation.
Minor in Cinema
The Minor in Cinema is intended to give students an opportunity to further their interests in cinema in an organized manner.
Graduate Programs
Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies
Our Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies program prizes the rich diversity of cinematic expression — whether critical examination of “mainstream” media production or independent or foreign filmmaking, experimental works or other media including the televisual and videogames — the faculty strives to broaden our students’ experience.
Master of Fine Arts in Cinema
Our M.F.A. program offers rigorous, professional training in cinema production in conjunction with an understanding of cinema history, theory and aesthetics. The faculty supports production practice in diverse forms — narrative, experimental, documentary, animation or hybrid, and our graduate writers/directors become skilled in both traditional cinematic and emerging digital technologies.