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University of Montana Catalog 2025-2026

Media Arts B.F.A

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information. 

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Media Arts

  • This major requires a minimum grade of C in all required courses. 

Course Requirements

Foundation Level Requirements
Complete all of the following courses:
MART 101LIntro to Media Arts3
MART 112AIntroduction to Film Editing3
Complete two of the following courses: 6
Introduction to Art History
Visual Language - Drawing
Visual Language - 3-D Foundations
Digital Imaging I
Creative Coding I
Intermediate Level Requirements
Complete the following course:
MART 210Creation of Media Story3
Complete two of the following courses: 6
History of Film
History of Digital Arts & Culture
Visions of Film
Complete 6 credits in Art (ARTZ), Film (FILM), Graphic Design (GDSN), and Media Arts (MART) at the 100 and 200 levels6
Complete 9 credits in Art (ARTZ) and Graphic Design (GDSN) at the 200 level and in Film (FILM) and Media Arts (MART) at the 200 or 300 levels9
Upper-Division Level Requirements
Upper-Division Media Credits Outside Area of Focus:
Complete 15 credits in Art (ARTZ), Film (FILM), Graphic Design (GDSN), Media Arts (MART), Creative Writing (CRWR), Dance (DANC), Journalism (JRNL), Music (MUSI), Music Technology (MUST), and Theatre (THTR) at the 300 and 400 level15
Upper-Division Media Credits in Area of Focus:
Complete 12 credits in Media Arts (MART), Film (FILM), and Graphic Design (GDSN) at the 300 and 400 levels 112
Upper-Division History and Criticism Requirement
Complete all of the following courses:
MART 450Topics in Film & Media Studies3
3 additional credits in Media History at the 300 or 400 level 23
Senior Thesis Capstone Requirement
Complete all of the following courses:
MART 480Professional Portfolio3
MART 499Senior Project3
Total Hours75
1

These courses should be in the same discipline to demonstrate an area of focus. Substitutions for courses in related disciplines outside of ARTZ, MART, or GDSN can be approved by supervising faculty. Consult with your advisor before selecting courses.

2

Consult with your advisor about which courses may fulfill this requirement. 

Digital Arts & Technology

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
AutumnHours
ARTZ 105A Visual Language - Drawing 3
MART 101L Intro to Media Arts 3
WRIT 101 College Writing I 4
Math Course 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours16
Spring
MART 120 Creative Coding I 3
MART 112A Introduction to Film Editing 3
GDSN 149A Digital Imaging I 3
ARTH 150H Introduction to Art History 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Autumn
MART 201H History of Digital Arts & Culture 3
MART 210 Creation of Media Story 3
MART 220 Creative Coding II 3
MART 255 Photoshop: Art and Design 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours15
Spring
MAR 251 Digital Video Production Technology 3
MART 302 Intro to Motion Design 3
MART 325 Introduction to Animation 3
General Education Requirement 6
 Hours15
Junior
Autumn
MART 256 Illustrator: Vector and Layout Design 3
MART 305 3D Animation I 3
MART 330 Principles of Sound Design 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours12
Spring
MART 340 Principles of Interactive Media 3
MART 341 Introduction to Web Design 3
MART 440 Technology and Interactive Media Design 3
General Education Requirement 6
 Hours15
Senior
Autumn
MART 416 Production Studio I 3
MART 441 Web Technologies 3
MART 450 Topics in Film & Media Studies 3
 Hours9
Spring
MART 445 Sound for Digital Media 3
MART 457 Production Studio II 3
MART 499 Senior Project 3
 Hours9
 Total Hours106

Last updated Autumn 2024

Digital Filmmaking

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
AutumnHours
MART 101L Intro to Media Arts 3
GDSN 149A Digital Imaging I 3
WRIT 101 College Writing I (or math course) 4
General Education Requirement 6
 Hours16
Spring
ARTZ 105A Visual Language - Drawing 3
MART 112A Introduction to Film Editing 3
WRIT 101 College Writing I (or math course) 4
General Education Requirement 6
 Hours16
Sophomore
Autumn
MART 120 Creative Coding I 3
ARTH 150H Introduction to Art History 3
MAR 251 Digital Video Production Technology 3
MART 210 Creation of Media Story 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours15
Spring
MAR 252 Screenwriting 3
MART 300 Visions of Film 3
MART 245 Sound Production & Design Fundamentals 3
MART 325 Introduction to Animation 3
200 level Elective 3
 Hours15
Junior
Autumn
MART 327 Intro to Cinematography 3
MART 336 Directing the Fiction Film 3
200 level Elective 3
General Education Requirement 3
MART 340 Principles of Interactive Media 3
 Hours15
Spring
MART 345 Sound for Film 3
MART 436 Producing 3
MAR 442 Experimental Film 3
200 level Elective 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours15
Senior
Autumn
MART 450 Topics in Film & Media Studies 3
MART 499 Senior Project 3
200 level Elective 3
General Education Requirement 6
 Hours15
Spring
MART 455 Visions of Documentary Film 3
MART 499 Senior Project 3
General Education Requirement 3
Elective 6
 Hours15
 Total Hours122

Last updated Autumn 2024