Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Advisor Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2025-2026 Catalog and Student Handbook Major: Visual Arts, Film Specialization, AAA

Visual Arts, Film Specialization, AAA

PURPOSE: This two-year degree prepares students for jobs in digital film and media production. This degree is offered at the Midlothian Campus. All career-technical degrees are guided by advisory committees comprised of local business leaders. 

CREDENTIALS:  An Associate of Applied Arts (AAA) degree is a major in an area related to the visual arts such as film, photography, and visual arts that takes two years for full-time students to complete. Although the purpose of an AAA degree is to gain skills for employment, some transfer institutions may accept some or all of the courses from an AAA major.

TRANSFER INFORMATION:  This program is not intended for transfer. Students desiring to transfer should consult their academic advisors and their intended transfer institutions for specific direction in program and course selection. More information can also be found at www.brightpoint.edu/academics/transfer/

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Students must meet Brightpoint admission requirements. New students should work with their New Student Navigator to get ready for their first semester. They can also email getstarted@brightpoint.edu for assistance. Continuing students should work with their faculty advisor on academic planning and graduation requirements.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: By the completion of this program, students will be expected to demonstrate an intermediate level of competency in the following skills:

  1. Critically evaluate personal studio art projects and those of other students, applying the process of critique.
  2. Write a professional resume, cover letter, and artist statement introducing themselves, their art, and their artistic philosophies.
  3. Gauge linear perspective and proportion in relation to drawing.
  4. Produce an edited film sequence utilizing various film editing and post production techniques.
  5. Execute a body of artwork utilizing various lighting and filmmaking equipment.
  6. Assemble a reel of specified projects.

Required Courses

Course NameCredits:Semester TakenNotes
SDV 100 - College Success Skills 1 credit
ENG 111 - College Composition I

Prerequisite(s): EDE 10, co-enrollment in EDE 11, or other placement measures.   

3 credits
ENG 112 - College Composition II

Prerequisite(s): ENG 111 or equivalent with a grade of C or better, or departmental approval.

3 credits
MTH 154 - Quantitative Reasoning Additional Course Option: MTH 161. 

Prerequisite(s): MDE 10, co-enrollment in MDE 54, or other placement methods.

3 credits
ART 101 - History of Art: Prehistoric to Gothic 3 credits
ART 121 - Foundations of Drawing 3 credits
ART 131 - Two-Dimensional Design 3 credits
PHT 120 - Screenwriting (Offered Spring only) 3 credits
ART 102 - History of Art: Renaissance to Modern 3 credits
PHT 150 - Film Production I Offered Fall only 3 credits
ART 132 - Three-Dimensional Design 3 credits
ART 130 - Introduction to Multimedia 4 credits

Art Elective (choose 2):  6 credits  

ART 150 - History of Film and Animation 3 credits
ART 180 - Introduction to Computer Graphics 3 credits
ART 203 - Animation I 3 credits
ART 208 - Video Techniques 3 credits

Art Elective (choose 1): 3 credits

ART 204 - Animation II

Prerequisite(s): ART 203. 

 

3 credits
ART 217 - Graphic Design I

Prerequisite(s): ART 180 

3 credits
ART 271 - Printmaking I 3 credits

Communications Studies and Theatre Elective (choose 1): 3 credits:

CST 100 - Principles of Public Speaking 3 credits
CST 130 - Introduction to the Theatre 3 credits
CST 140 - Acting for the Camera 3 credits
CST 151 - Film Appreciation I 3 credits

Photography or Film Elective (choose 1) 3 credits: 

PHT 105 - Basic Photography 3 credits

Additional Photography or Film Elective: ART 208, PHT 135, PHT 164. 

PHT 151 - Film Production II (Offer Spring only) 3 credits

Social/Behavioral Science Elective (choose 1) 3 credits:

PSY 200 - Principles of Psychology

Prerequisite(s): Eligible for ENG 111.

3 credits
SOC 200 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
HIS 111 - World Civilization Pre-1500 CE 3 credits
HIS 112 - World Civilization Post-1500 CE 3 credits
HIS 121 - United States History to 1877 3 credits
HIS 122 - United States History Since 1865 3 credits
HIS 127 - Women in American History 3 credits
HIS 141 - African-American History I 3 credits
HIS 231 - Introduction to Latin American History II 3 credits
HIS 281 - History of Virginia I 3 credits
PHT 274 - Digital Film Editing and Post Production Offered Spring only 3 credits
PHT 299 - Supervised Study (Offered Spring only) 3 credits

Total Minimum Credits to Complete: 62

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements can be found in course details.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete their ENG, MTH, and SDV requirements first.

Students should regularly meet with their faculty advisor and check their degree progress by accessing advisement reports in the Student Information System (SIS) in the myBrightpoint portal or the Academic Planner in Navigate.

Students may wish to review Device Considerations for Visual Arts Students on the Visual Arts Student Resources page of the college website. 

Notes: