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Art & Design

Digital Filmmaking

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Capture your vision and share your story.

Director. Editor. Cinematographer. VFX or video artist. Art director. Dig deeper, and you’ll realize they’re all synonyms for storyteller. That’s what you’ll become as you grow into a career with an education from Lesley University's digital filmmaking program.

Here, you’ll create films that challenge conventional thinking, inspire action, or elicit emotion. With a foundation in cinematography, screen writing, lighting, and editing, and access to unmatched visual effects facilities, you’ll turn your vision into a story that can be produced and distributed.

You'll go beyond the classroom and gain professional experiences with a supported internship or apprenticeship in places like Pixar, FableVision Studios, Film Roman, and Cartoon Network. These experiences will launch you into a career in the rapidly-growing creative economy in film, TV, game design, and more.

As a digital filmmaking major, you'll examine contemporary and historical works. Collaborate with others as you master writing, planning, filming, recording, and post-production techniques. Gain the tools and vocabulary you need to bring your stories to life. And, with our reimagined general education curriculum, you’ll develop the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly complex, diverse, and global world.

Throughout the program, discover ways to evolve your skills and ideas through hands-on filmmaking. Pursue fictional narratives, documentary projects, web-based shorts, and experimental video in our state-of-the-art facilities. Plus, get experience working on professional film productions in Greater Boston through required internships. You'll be prepared for in-demand careers in advertising, broadcasting, publishing, motion pictures, and beyond.

Undergraduate Program Inquiry Form

Program Structure

Full-time or part-time on-campus program

120 Credits
Thinking about transferring here?

Log in to Transferology, add the courses you've taken, and see how they'll transfer to Lesley University.

student trying out VFX equipment in green screen room

Increase Career Opportunities with VFX Training

Our visual effects facilities are outfitted with state-of-the-art VFX and motion capture technology. Get access to the best facilities in New England and the hands-on experience needed to break into one of the highest-paying careers in the art and design industry.

Craft Creative Combinations
As a Digital Filmmaking major, you can pursue a second major or one of our 45+ minors—in art & design or a liberal arts subject—to expand your career opportunities.

Forge your own path with a creative combination:
270+
The number of productions that have been filmed in over 225 Massachusetts cities and towns since 2006.
(Source: Massachusetts Production Coalition, 2020)
Made in Mass
This is a great time and place to get a filmmaking degree. Boston is a hub for film production, with hundreds of local professionals working in a range of departments on film sets. With opportunities in camera, sound, set dressing, props, wardrobe, and more, there is an endless number of paths your film degree could take you.
1,026
The number of full-time film jobs created in Massachusetts during one season of production for Hulu’s Castle Rock.
(Source: Regional Economic Impacts in Massachusetts of Castle Rock’s First Season, Massachusetts Production Coalition, 2020)

Student Work

student working on art in studio

Small Art School, Big University

We're a premier art and design school of about 700 students, but we're also part of a dynamic university with a liberal arts college. This means you'll have the small studio, hands-on experience of a professional art school where you'll gain industry-specific knowledge. And, you'll benefit from a broader perspective of a liberal arts educational experience—something most art schools can't provide.

Nuno Pereira on his set directing actors
Digital Filmmaking
That's a Wrap!
Anni Abbruzzese, Adam Holguin, and Nuno Pereira, the first class of Digital Filmmaking students at Lesley’s College of Art and Design, had the unique opportunity to set their own path and cultivate an individual style of filmmaking. The new alumni reflect on the personal growth that came along with shaping a new and evolving program.
Careers
Jobs You Could Have
Professional opportunities in filmmaking are expanding, and Greater Boston is a great place to start your career. Some of the top job titles for someone with a Digital Filmmaking degree include:
doble campus during the fall

Cambridge is our campus. Boston is our neighbor.

Cambridge is one of the most creative cities in the country. In fact, there are about 96 art and culture events happening in the Greater Boston area every day. And while you'll benefit from our dynamic surroundings, you'll also be a big part of them. You'll take art and design classes in our $48 million Lunder Arts Center. And our $7 million Visual Effects (VFX) studio—a state-of-the-art facility where our VFX curriculum comes alive—is the only one of its kind in New England.

Faculty

Approximate cost, before financial aid, for one year of study in this undergraduate program.
Digital Filmmaking
Housing Options
Compare the cost of the program for students who live on campus in a residence hall with the cost for commuter students.
  • Tuition
    Fall Tuition
    $15,945
    Spring Tuition
    $15,945
  • Fees
    Fall Comprehensive Fee
    $445
    Spring Comprehensive Fee
    $445
  • Room & Board
    Fall Health and Wellness Fee
    $445
    Spring Health and Wellness Fee
    $445
    Fall Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,740
    Spring Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,740
    Fall Meal Plan
    $3,790
    Spring Meal Plan
    $3,790
    Housing Deposit (one-time fee)
    $300
  • Total cost before financial aid
Estimated Cost

Merit Scholarships & Financial Aid

It’s our goal at Lesley to break down financial barriers so that students who want to learn here, can learn here. That’s why we offer generous, customized aid packages for students based on their individual needs. In fact, more than 98% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. Learn more about Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Tuition & Fees

Other fees may apply. Review all undergraduate tuition and fees, and what they cover.

Tuition and fees are subject to change each year, effective June 1.

Housing Options
Compare the cost of the program for students who live on campus in a residence hall with the cost for commuter students.
  • Tuition
    Fall Tuition
    $15,945
    Spring Tuition
    $15,945
  • Fees
    Fall Comprehensive Fee
    $445
    Spring Comprehensive Fee
    $445
  • Room & Board
    Fall Health and Wellness Fee
    $445
    Spring Health and Wellness Fee
    $445
    Fall Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,740
    Spring Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,740
    Fall Meal Plan
    $3,790
    Spring Meal Plan
    $3,790
    Housing Deposit (one-time fee)
    $300
  • Total cost before financial aid
Estimated Cost

Merit Scholarships & Financial Aid

It’s our goal at Lesley to break down financial barriers so that students who want to learn here, can learn here. That’s why we offer generous, customized aid packages for students based on their individual needs. In fact, more than 98% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. Learn more about Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Tuition & Fees

Other fees may apply. Review all undergraduate tuition and fees, and what they cover.

Tuition and fees are subject to change each year, effective June 1.

Apply Now

Ready to get started? We're here to make the application process as smooth as possible. Just answer a few quick questions, and get your customized application guide.

Approximate cost, before financial aid, for one year of study in this undergraduate program. Tuition and fees are for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Use our step-by-step guide to apply for federal, state, and university funding. Scholarships, grants, Work-Study, and loans. It’s all right here.

Next steps to apply

Ready to get started? We're here to make the application process as smooth as possible. Just answer a few quick questions, and get your customized application guide.