Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television

Whether your interest is in production, post-production, writing, and direction, or all of the above, Rider prepares you for a career in film, television, and new media.

Learn the secrets behind successful production in small, hands-on classes. Students begin working with industry-standard film equipment and produce their own work in their first year. In addition to class projects, internships and co-ops, students gain valuable experience in producing and directing short films, and television programs by participating in student-run television and film clubs. *Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Students majoring in Film and Television have access to a wide variety of courses that carefully integrate hands-on production practice with studies in film history, theory, and the work of major film artists. FTV students are taught best professional practices through small, interactive classes in the Department’s state-of-the-art digital film and television labs and editing suites. Through class projects and internships, students gain experience in screenwriting, editing, cinematography, and direction/performance methodologies for camera and screen, honing their aesthetic and technical skills in film and television production. To fully complement these skills, FTV students are encouraged to minor in Film and Media Studies, which is part of the FTV Department. In addition to traditional three-credit courses, students participate in the Department’s innovative one-credit workshops taught by practicing industry professionals. These courses not only expose students to specialized niches within the profession but also provide students with networking opportunities.

Beyond the classroom, students can also participate in a variety of film appreciation and production clubs, such as the Alternative Film Club and R.U.N., The Rider University Network. The Department of Film and Television’s central location offers students internship opportunities throughout New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Rider’s semester-long program in Los Angeles also allows students a valuable opportunity to live, learn, and intern in one of the major film and media development and production centers of the world.

Learning by doing

Rider’s film and television faculty bring their creativity and industry experience to the classroom, and build strong mentoring relationships with students, to challenge and inspire them to explore their artistic freedom and support them to take their ability to the next level.

Film and television faculty also provide individualized support and mentorship to ensure the program and experiential learning opportunities are tailored specifically to your creative goals, and offer assistance with internship placement.

Program highlights

Mentors take Rider students inside Hollywood

Semester in LA Program now pairs students directly with industry professionals.

Semester in Los Angeles

Put theory to practice with the opportunity to spend a semester working professionally and studying in the heart of Hollywood, the world’s center of media and entertainment, in our semester in the LA program.

The Film Symposium - Past & Present

Each year, the department’s annual Film Symposium focuses on different filmmakers and filmmaking genres and includes screenings, presentations, a student film festival and a screenwriting competition. During the Symposium, students have the opportunity to engage with professional filmmakers and leading film scholars.

Rider student creates docu-series on veterans

The $8,000 Kickstarter campaign helps fuel the creation of ‘A Two-Front War’ series

Students in the News

In Summer 2021, a production company used Rider University for locations on an upcoming movie, giving students filmmaking opportunities.

Students Make Movie Magic

With the mentorship of industry professionals, students are involved in every aspect of filmmaking, from script writing and location scouting to shooting and acting. When completed, each student will graduate with a professional film credit to their name.