filming music video

Film Crew Technology Admission Procedures

Admissions Process

  1. Applicant must meet the general requirements for admission to the college.
  2. Applicants must complete and submit the Application to Participate in the Film Crew Technology Form to the program director. Applications are currently being accepted.
  3. Applicants are not required but are encouraged to submit two letters of recommendation to the program director.
  4. Students must place at Competency 1 or higher or have completed reading and writing as determined by ACT sub-scores, the institutional challenge exam/placement process or an acceptable equivalent.
  5. Applicants who meet the stated admissions requirements will be invited to an on-campus oral interview. Students who live outside of Tennessee may be granted an exception to interview using video conferencing technology.
  6. Admission decisions will be made by June 30. Admitted students who complete registration requirements will begin the program in the fall semester.
  7. If the class has not reached capacity by the end of the summer semester, students completing the application requirements after May 1 may be considered for an interview on an individual basis.

Admissions Requirements

Due to enrollment limitations, applications are screened using the criteria outlined below:

  1. Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the college.
  2. Complete the Application to Participate in the Film Crew Technology Form.

Forms are also available upon request from the Film Crew Technology program. Please email david.smith@ColumbiaState.edu or call 615.790.4410.

  1. Students must place at Competency 1 or higher or have completed reading, writing, and math as determined by ACT sub-scores, the institutional challenge exam/placement process or an acceptable equivalent.
  2. Prior to admission in the program, students must be able to visually assess colors and be able to determine the difference between red, black, blue, green and white. 

Selection Criteria

  1. Applicants will be interviewed by an FCT panel. The panel will consist of the program director, a program alum and an industry employer or part-time faculty.
  2. Applicants must obtain a minimum of 3.0 out of 5 points from the oral interview to be eligible for admission into the Film Crew Technology program.
  3. Each member of the FCT panel will evaluate the applicant. The members will score the applicant using a scale of 1-5 points. The scores from each member will then be averaged to obtain an interview score.
  4. Students will be ranked by score and application date. The top 28 ranked students will receive admission to the FCT program.
  5. Once selected, students will be given a deadline to complete the registration process for the fall semester. Admissions will be granted to the next person on the ranked list if a student does not register by the deadline.

Continuation Requirements

  1. Maintain a passing grade of “C” or better in all FCT courses.
  2. Maintain professional conduct in the classroom and on outside assignments as outlined in the student code of conduct handbook.
  3. By the end of the spring semester, students must be able to meet the following physical requirements that are standard to crew positions in the motion picture industry:
    1. Climb a ladder of at least 20 feet.
    2. Be able to stand for a minimum of two hours.