Digital Innovation, Film, and Television
Program Details
Xavier's location in Cincinnati, Ohio centers students in the middle of a vibrant film industry, and what goes on behind the scenes is just as exciting as what's happening on the screen.
As a digital innovation, film and television major, you’ll master the art of visual storytelling while exploring the latest in digital media production and technologies. Here, you’ll gain experience through internships, paid work opportunities and community service and graduate ready for a career in creative/corporate film, television, broadcasting, producing, multimedia or content creation.
Xavier University is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 98 percent of our students, including those in the digital innovation, film and television major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2021).
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Digital Innovation, Film, and Television major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Dift 210: Art of Film............ 3cr.
- Core 100: First-Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- Philosophy 100: Introduction to Ethics............ 3cr.
- second language I............ 3cr.
Spring
- Mathematical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- Social Impact Sciences Elective............ 3cr.
- Theology 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- English 101: English Composition............ 3cr.
- second language II............ 3cr.
Fall
- Dift 213: Non-Fiction Film............ 3cr.
- Communication Arts 206: Writing for the Media............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- Philosophy 200: Philosophical Perspectives............ 0cr.
Spring
- Historical Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- Dift 215: Aesthetics and Technology in Post-Production............ 3cr.
- English 205: Literature and the Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- Dift 250: Screenwriting and Story Craft............ 3cr.
- Dift 254: Intro To Video Production............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Dift 354: Field Production and Story Telling............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspectives............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Dift Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- Dift 459: Senior Seminar Electronic Media: Advanced Production............ 3cr.
- Dift Elective E/RS Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Dift Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Dift 460: Senior Seminar Electronic Media: Advanced Production II............ 3cr.
- Dift Elective............ 3cr.
- Dift Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that’s both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the Digital Innovation, Film, and Television major at Xavier:
Screenwriting and Story Craft (DIFT 250) - Screenwriting focuses on the conceptualization, design, organization, communication strategies, and formatting of messages and experiences for television and film. Story craft focuses on the components of storytelling including drama, narrative and scene development, characterization, and literary techniques that apply to scriptwriting.
Advanced Video Editing (DIFT 454) - Teaches students how to use the AVID, non-linear editing system; also covers aesthetics and editor-client interaction. Pre-requisite: COMM 250.
Aesthetics and Tech Post (DIFT 452) - Rules and principles involved in the art of video post-production. Through practice and hands-on instruction, this course explores cinematic grammars and a variety of storytelling strategies and techniques.
Senior Seminar Advanced Digital Production I & II (DIFT 459 & 460) - A full year capstone experience and builds upon fundamentals acquired in the earlier courses. The majority of the time is spent producing individual films (either documentary or narrative) and one group narrative project. Each film must contain a Socially significant theme. Industry standard steps for pre-production, production, and post-production are implemented.
Student Clubs
Xavier Film and Television Club (FTC)
Film and Television Club is one of the most valued media outlets at Xavier University, and it is run solely by students. FTC engages in film events, competitions, podcasts, trainings and supports a weekly news broadcast, which includes a sports segment, entirely produced by students. The broadcast takes place in conjunction with the Digital Innovation, Film and Television program, in the Film and Television Studio. The FTC is a multidisciplinary club bringing students together to build community, collaborate on projects and share the love of Film and TV. Students receive hands on experience working in a digital film and television studio and the programing provides niche content in the greater Cincinnati area.
Career Outcomes
98% of Xavier students, including those in the digital innovation, film and television major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2021).
Top Jobs: Content creators in creative and corporate digital environments of film, television, web and broadcasting as Producers, Multimedia Journalists, Editors, Videographers, Filmmakers, Freelance production, Social Media Marketing and may others
Take the Next Step
Cincinnati: A City of Opportunity
Cincinnati, Ohio features some of the largest companies in the world, which means students have countless opportunities for careers, internships and mentorships at places like Kroger, Procter & Gamble and Fifth Third Bancorp. The city is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and the #15 Best Place to Start a Career (WalletHub).
International Study Abroad Programs
You can learn a lot on campus, but not everything. There’s a world out there, and we’ll help you to explore it. Xavier offers study abroad opportunities of all types: short-term, long-term, direct exchanges and programs sponsored by other providers. You’ll see and do things that will change your life. And you’ll have a lot of fun, too.
What is Jesuit Education?
A Xavier education is more than your typical college experience. Drawing on a Jesuit Catholic educational model 400 years in the making, students in the digital innovation, film and television major get the personal attention and support they need to succeed and make a difference in the world. The result is an education that’s as encouraging as it is challenging, and as enriching as it is demanding.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Digital Innovation, Film, and Television Major at Xavier University
Digital Innovation Film and Television is an academic major in which students learn the fundamental components of telling stories visually. The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Innovation Film and Television is a four-year program designed to not only teach students what it takes to be successful as professionals in digital media and production, but also how to apply the skills and principles they learn in the field. Explore all facets of the industry, including foundational technology skills, writing for production, video editing and more to take your credentials to the next level.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."