B.Sc. Film and Media Studies

Colleges and Faculties > Independent Faculties > Faculty of Social Sciences > Department of Mass Communication > B.Sc. Film and Media Studies

The B.Sc. Film and Media Studies programme trains you to understand, create, interpret, and critique film, television, and digital media content across diverse cultural and professional contexts. You will explore how visual storytelling shapes societies, drives public imagination, influences behaviour, and communicates ideas across generations.

The programme provides you with the conceptual grounding and practical skills needed to work creatively and analytically in the fast-growing media and entertainment industries. You will learn scriptwriting, cinematography, directing, editing, sound design, documentary production, media aesthetics, and digital content creation. By the end of your training, you will be able to produce compelling visual narratives that meet artistic, cultural, ethical, and professional standards.

Course Overview

The B.Sc. Film and Media Studies programme provides you with a comprehensive understanding of film language, visual culture, media technologies, and storytelling techniques. You will study the history, theory, and practice of film and electronic media while gaining hands-on experience in scripting, shooting, lighting, editing, and post-production.

Key study areas include:

  1. Film theory and criticism
  2. Scriptwriting and screen storytelling
  3. Cinematography and lighting
  4. Directing for film and television
  5. Digital video editing and post-production
  6. Documentary and feature production
  7. Sound design and audio aesthetics
  8. Media genres, styles, and narrative techniques
  9. Global, African, and Nigerian cinema
  10. Digital content creation and multimedia storytelling
  11. Media ethics and regulation

The programme duration is four years for UTME entrants and three years for Direct Entry candidates.

Course Curriculum

The curriculum is developed in line with the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) of the National Universities Commission (NUC). It combines theoretical grounding, critical analysis, and technical training, ensuring that you graduate with strong creative and production abilities. You will engage in studio practice, fieldwork, script labs, editing workshops, and research.

You begin by building foundational knowledge in communication and media studies:

  1. Introduction to Communication
  2. Introduction to Media Studies
  3. Writing for the Media
  4. Introduction to Film Studies
  5. Communication in English
  6. Nigerian Peoples and Culture
  7. Logic and Philosophy
  8. Introduction to Computer Applications

These courses help you understand how media systems operate and introduce you to the language of film and visual storytelling.

You deepen your understanding of media forms and begin hands-on creative training:

  1. Film Genres and Styles
  2. Fundamentals of Scriptwriting
  3. Media Aesthetics and Visual Communication
  4. Introduction to Cinematography
  5. Communication Research Methods I
  6. Film History (Global and African)
  7. Introduction to Directing
  8. Sound Design and Audio Production

This stage builds your knowledge of cinematic techniques and production processes.

You advance into specialized filmmaking and critical analysis:

  1. Cinematography and Lighting Techniques
  2. Advanced Scriptwriting
  3. Film Directing
  4. Documentary Production
  5. Digital Video Editing
  6. Communication Research Methods II
  7. Film Criticism and Theory
  8. Media Audience Analysis

Here, you gain deeper practical and analytical skills, preparing you for creative and scholarly work.

Your final year consolidates your creative and academic mastery:

  1. Advanced Film Production
  2. Media Ethics and Regulation
  3. Screen Entrepreneurship
  4. Digital Content Creation
  5. Seminar in Film and Media Studies
  6. Project/Dissertation

Your final-year project may involve an academic research dissertation, a short film, a documentary, or another approved creative-research output.

Entry Requirements

To gain admission into the B.Sc. Film and Media Studies programme, you must satisfy one of the following entry pathways approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Olabisi Onabanjo University.

UTME Admission (Four-Year Programme)

  1. At least five credit passes at O-Level, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings.
  2. A satisfactory score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with English Language and other relevant Arts or Social Science subjects.
  3. Successful participation in the OOU Post-UTME screening exercise.
  4. Your O-Level background should show strength in language, humanities, or creative subjects, as these support scriptwriting, analysis, and creative practice.

Direct Entry Admission (Three-Year Programme)

  1. Five O-Level credits, including English Language.
  2. Two A-Level passes in subjects relevant to communication, media, arts, or social sciences.
  3. OR a National Diploma (ND), Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), or equivalent qualification in Mass Communication, Media Studies, Theatre Arts, Film Studies, or related disciplines, with at least Upper Credit or Merit.

Submission of academic transcripts and supporting documents through the university admissions portal.

Why study at OOU?

Studying Film and Media Studies at Olabisi Onabanjo University gives you a rich blend of theoretical knowledge, creative mastery, and technical competence. You will benefit from:

  1. A curriculum that integrates theory and hands-on practice, enabling you to become both a thoughtful analyst and a skilled filmmaker.
  2. Experienced lecturers and industry-exposed practitioners who guide your creative and critical development.
  3. Access to production equipment, editing suites, and creative workshops for film, photography, sound, multimedia, and digital storytelling.
  4. Exposure to diverse media forms, including cinema, television, online streaming, animation basics, and documentary production.
  5. Opportunities to develop original films and scripts, supported through script labs, film studios, and production exercises.
  6. Training in media ethics, law, criticism, and audience analysis, helping you produce content that meets professional and cultural standards.

A strong academic foundation for postgraduate studies in Film Studies, Media Studies, Communications, Visual Culture, or related fields.

Research Project

In your final year, you will undertake a research project designed to demonstrate your ability to investigate, analyse, or produce film and media works at an advanced academic and creative level. Under faculty supervision, you will:

  1. Select a topic relating to film theory, criticism, production, digital media, documentary studies, or visual culture.
  2. Conduct theoretical, textual, or empirical research using appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods.
  3. OR undertake an approved creative project (such as a short film or documentary) accompanied by a critical written component.
  4. Present your findings or production in a structured, academically rigorous format.

This capstone project strengthens your creative independence, analytical capability, research skills, and professional confidence.

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Science in Film and Media Studies, you must fulfil the graduation requirements approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Olabisi Onabanjo University. These standards ensure that you graduate with the creative, analytical, and technical competence required for professional and academic engagement in film and digital media.

Academic Requirements

  1. Complete and pass all compulsory and elective courses prescribed in the programme.
  2. Earn the minimum credit load required for graduation:
    1. 120 credit units for UTME students
    2. 90 credit units for Direct Entry students
  3. Maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 1.00.
  4. Complete and successfully defend your final-year research or production project.

These academic standards confirm your readiness for the film, television, and multimedia industries.

Grading and Degree Classification

Your final classification is determined by your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), as follows:

Upon satisfying these requirements, you will be awarded the B.Sc. (Hons) Film and Media Studies, a qualification recognised for its relevance to creative production, critical analysis, and digital media innovation.

Career Opportunities

A degree in Film and Media Studies equips you with the creative, technical, and analytical abilities needed to thrive in Nigeria’s expanding film industry, global media organisations, digital production companies, and cultural institutions.

You may pursue roles such as:

  1. Film Director
  2. Scriptwriter / Screenwriter
  3. Cinematographer
  4. Film or Video Editor
  5. Documentary Producer
  6. Digital Content Creator
  7. Producer or Production Manager
  8. Sound Designer / Audio Engineer
  9. Visual Media Researcher
  10. Film Critic or Reviewer
  11. Media Consultant
  12. Art Director or Production Designer
  13. Creative Assistant for Television and Digital Platforms

You may work in:

  1. Film production companies
  2. Television stations and media houses
  3. Online content platforms and streaming services
  4. Advertising and creative agencies
  5. Cultural institutions, archives, and festivals
  6. Corporate communication and media departments
  7. NGOs and development organisations producing advocacy films
  8. Independent production studios
  9. Government information and cultural units

The programme also prepares you for postgraduate studies in Film Studies, Media Studies, Communication Studies, Digital Media, Cultural Studies, and related disciplines.

How to Apply?

UTME Admission (Four-Year Programme)

  1. Choose Olabisi Onabanjo University as your first-choice institution and select Film and Media Studies as your preferred programme.
  2. Sit for the UTME with English Language and other relevant Arts or Social Science subjects.
  3. Possess at least five O-level credits, including English Language, in not more than two sittings.
  4. Participate in the OOU Post-UTME screening and meet the departmental cut-off mark.

Direct Entry Admission (Three-Year Programme)

  1. Hold two A-Level passes in relevant subjects OR possess an ND, NCE, or related qualification in Mass Communication, Theatre Arts, Media Studies, Film Studies, or similar fields with at least Upper Credit or Merit.
  2. Have the required O-level credits, including English Language.
  3. Upload transcripts and supporting documents through the OOU Undergraduate Admissions Portal.

Course Coordinator

The B.Sc. Film and Media Studies programme is supervised by a team of dedicated academics and creative industry practitioners within the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences.

The current programme coordinator is:

Dr [Full Name]

Contact Information:

  • Email:  
  • Phone: 
  • Office: 

Course Overview

  1. Next Admission Process
  2. Current Academic Year
  3. Associated programmes = Undergraduate
  4. Course Duration = 4 Years
  5. Degree = Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
  6. Department = Mass Communication
  7. Course Type = Full Time
  8. Course Delivery = On campus
  9. Location = Faculty of Social Science, Main Campus
  10. Scholarship opportunities