Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts
Mission
The mission of Biola University's Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts (SCMA) is to impact the world through the media by sending out highly skilled graduates into all layers of the entertainment industry, to engage, educate, inspire and to transform lives.
Vision
Within the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts, we're more than just a film school. We're called to prepare students to be excellent at what they do, as the entertainment industry demands it, but we're also here to prepare them to be excellent at who they are, because the industry (and the world through it) needs to see and hear what faith looks like. It's our desire to prepare students to become powerful voices in the entertainment industry, for they are the next generation of storytellers, executives and influencers.
Overview
Located a short drive from the world's entertainment epi-center, SCMA has grown to become one of the world’s leading media schools, with Hollywood publications listing Biola University as housing one of the Top-50 film schools in the world and Top-25 in North America. Unlike any other ranked university, SCMA is recognized as “championing a sense of community” and emphasizing “collaboration over competition.”
Due to its location in Los Angeles County, the Studio Zone and nearby Orange County, students have unparalleled access to the industries of film, television, digital media and video games, together with the studios, agencies, networks, production companies and the corporations which operate them. This provides students a significant advantage for access to internships, guest speakers, networking, tours and other industry experiences.
Since its founding in 1977, the media school has prepared over 1,000 alumni now working in a broad variety of areas within the entertainment industry.
Campus facilities include over 55,000 square feet of production space and over $4 million of industry-grade equipment, which students can access beginning day one of their education. Our new 45,000 square foot studio facility brings together all aspects of content creation including ideation, pre-production, production, post-production and exhibition into one building. We deliver the best in facilities, equipment, educators, and faith integration because students should not have to sacrifice one to have the other.
SCMA is currently comprised of three majors and one minor. Majors: Cinema and Media Arts (with concentrations in Production, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Visual Effects and 3D Animation, Creative Producing, and Entertainment Business), Writing for Film and Television and Game Design and Interactive Media. Minor: Media Studies.
Admission into Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts requires a supplemental application in addition to admission to Biola University, as well as a per semester Snyder School fee. Please review the Cinema & Media Arts Admissions web page for more information.
Office of the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts
The Office of the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts serves the students and faculty of the SCMA program. It's responsible for the daily operations of the school including but not limited to course development, class scheduling, production management, events, budgeting, the Office of the Dean, and related day-to-day activities. It’s the starting point for all SCMA student questions, scheduling and production-related needs. The office is located on the top floor inside the Snyder School studio facility.
SCMA Production Office
The SCMA Production Office is tasked with assisting students with their production-related needs. This office serves to centralize the paperwork and logistical support required for student productions. The process begins with a “Greenlight” form, which is required for students to reserve equipment for projects, both for regular course assignments and extracurricular learning projects. Additional categories for support include, but are not limited to permit protocols for off- and on-campus locations, safety guidelines, talent and guild compliance, equipment protocols, contracts, purchase requisitions, along with ensuring student compliance with Campus Safety and Risk Management’s safety guidelines.
SCMA Events Office
In addition to weekly courses, SCMA hosts events throughout the year to provide students with an enhanced education. Events include the following: SCMA-specific chapels, seminars, celebrity guests, industry leaders, alumni panels, exclusive screenings, film camp and more.
SCMA Internship Office
Within the media industry in particular, internships are a critical component of a college education. They not only provide exposure to real-world operations, but will enhance a student’s educational experience. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, they provide students the opportunity to demonstrate to these media organizations how invaluable they can be as future employees. It’s for these reasons SCMA requires a minimum of two (2) credits total between the Internship Prep Seminar and the internship experience for each student within the program. If a student’s schedule will allow, we encourage multiple internships.
SCMA provides a full-time Internship Manager to assist students with finding the right placement. Together with the proximity to the LA hub of entertainment, students have access to some of the largest and most influential studios and production companies. Keep in mind, the most prestigious internships are highly competitive and have submission deadlines and application requirements.
We’re here to help. Contact the SCMA Internship Office or Biola's Career Center for assistance.
SCMA Alumni Office
Becoming a part of the SCMA family doesn’t end upon graduation. Alumni are celebrated and supported throughout their careers. We’re always here to help them! The walls of the SCMA's office and the Production Center are lined with alumni accomplishments as a continued reminder that their stories matter to us. Our alumni make us stronger as a school. They not only are Biola’s voice into the entertainment business, but they also give back to current students through guest teaching, mentorships, internships and job placement.
SCMA Office of Festival Relations
Students are encouraged to submit their work to appropriate festivals and competitions as we love to have their work showcased. In fact, recent student films were semi-finalists in the Student Academy Awards and the Television Academy Foundation's College Television Awards! We have an office dedicated to help with these submissions.
Torrey Honors College
The Torrey Honors College is Biola's undergraduate honors program. It’s dedicated to forming leaders through the study of the master works of Western civilization, with a special emphasis on the Bible and Christian authors. Students in the program, who come from a variety of majors, learn in a rigorous discussion group format to think and express themselves clearly in both verbal and written forms. This becomes an effective blend for SCMA students looking to fuel their imagination and refine their storytelling. Combining media studies with honors studies has produced some of our most successful graduates. For more information and to apply, visit the Torrey Honors web page.
Study Abroad Programs
Biola students can participate in a number of pre-approved off-campus programs. With these programs your tuition and most of your financial aid package remains the same as if you were on campus. For more information, visit the Study Abroad web page.
Scholarships
In addition to Biola University scholarships, SCMA also offers scholarships each year based on need and merit. Applications for the following academic year open up in January for new students and in March for current students. We encourage students to keep attentive to application deadlines.
Snyder School Chapel
SCMA students and faculty meet for a special time of worship, fellowship, testimony and prayer. This has become a meaningful and enriching time, and an essential part of our growth as a SCMA community.
Biola Women in Entertainment
Founded within SCMA, the mission of the organization, LAYR (Lift As You Rise), is to develop leaders amongst our SCMA women who ultimately will lift as they rise, creating more opportunities for talented, young media creators. Mentorship initiatives exist to promote more roles for women on SCMA productions from freshman to senior year, as well as to connect students to mentors in the entertainment industry.
Student Clubs
SCMA encourages student-led clubs based on interests, passions and pursuits. Each club allows students to interact outside of the classroom setting to discuss films, evaluate each other's work and collaborate.
Student Newsletters
SCMA publishes a weekly newsletter to keep its students informed of upcoming events, student and alumni accomplishments, deadlines, festivals and other pertinent information for their time here. Students should prioritize reading these as they provide key information to make your college experience the best it can be. As we want to help students with their career goals, SCMA also distributes a current job and internship newsletter that they will have access to as a SCMA student.
Additional Learning Opportunities
Sundance Study Tour
Students have the opportunity to spend a week at the Sundance Film Festival during January, where they have access to film screenings, filmmakers and industry workshops. In partnership with the Windrider Institute, students engage with other filmmakers from around the world on topics of faith, film and culture. This limited-capacity event has become a highlight for students each year. Incremental costs/fees apply and are subject to enrollment minimums.
International Study Tour
Every 1-2 years, students will have an opportunity to apply for an international production as part of their education, with the most recent having taken place in Tokyo, Japan. Students work closely with a faculty member in pre-production, where they prepare for the creative, cultural, and spiritual aspects of the experience. Once overseas, they produce a narrative short film in the country’s native tongue. Students learn the ins and outs of international production, the importance of collaboration, the art of visual storytelling, and service to their neighbor. Incremental costs/fees apply and are subject to enrollment minimums.
Production Facilities
Studio Facilities
In September 2026, Biola University opened a world-class studio facility for the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts. The three-floor, 45,000+ square-foot building rivals some of the best education facilities in the nation for media training – serving the needs of students as they prepare for careers in the film, television, and game industries.
Strategically placed between Biola’s School of Science, Technology and Health and the Crowell School of Business, together these three schools reflect a trifecta of influence into the worlds of science, business, and the media. Studio facility highlights include:
- 3,000-square-foot soundstage
- 280-seat theater
- Color grading suites
- Audio mixing suites
- Scoring and Foley recording stage
- New technology/motion capture stage
- Movie prop and memorabilia displays
- Collaborative editing spaces
- Private editing suites (8)
- Game design lab
- Classrooms
- Computer labs
- Faculty and staff offices
- Conference rooms
- Writers’ rooms
- Scenic storage
- Costume and make-up rooms
- Green room
- Production office
- Projection and audio control room
Production Center
In addition to the new studio facility, the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts maintains a variety of production support facilities for students. The Production Center is a 10,000 square foot facility that includes additional soundstages, edit bays, audio suites and much more. Production Center facility highlights include:
- Two soundstages – Studio A for larger sets and Studio B with a 12’ green screen cyclorama.
- Voice over booth used for ADR, Foley and instrument recording.
- Nine editing bays
- Surround sound mixing room
- Control room/screening room with stadium-style seating
- Screening Room – Theatre-style exhibition space with 7.1 surround sound.
Equipment Room
SCMA continues to grow the supply of industry-grade equipment for our students. Students can access a 4,000-square-foot equipment room featuring millions of dollars of industry-grade gear starting day one. Field gear for student use, including cameras, lenses, camera support, lighting, audio and all of the support equipment needed for field production.
Cameras from ARRI, RED, Sony, Canon. Additional gear from Steadicam, DJI Ronin, Neumann, Schoeps, Sennheiser, Atomos, Telefunken, Kinoflo, Porta-jib, Apurture, Quasar Science, Porta-jib, Tilta, Blue, Mole Richardson,Tiffen, Bartech, Anton Bauer, Satchler, Manfrotto, American Grip and many others.
Additional Resources
For more detailed information, visit the Production Center web page to access the student manual and other forms. Sound stages, screening rooms, studios and editing facilities are available 24 hours a day to current students.
General Requirements
Separate Application Required
In addition to the application and acceptance into Biola University, all majors within SCMA require a supplemental application to be considered for acceptance, while the Media Studies minor does not. Please review the Cinema & Media Arts Admissions web page for more information.
Course Substitution Policy
Under special circumstances, substitutions for a major requirement course are granted. Substitutions are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the SCMA Academic Office and the Registrar. Contact the SCMA office for more information.
Acceptance of Transfer Credits
The Snyder School of Cinema and & Media Arts may accept, upon review and subject to approval by the SCMA Academic Office and the Registrar, comparable courses from other institutions to fulfill degree and minor requirements.
Student Advisement
It’s the goal of SCMA that students move through their academic programs in a timely manner. Students are expected to meet with an advisor every semester to review their progress. Advisors are available to answer questions about degree programs, grades, and other matters. Academic course advising is provided through students' faculty advisors in the Office of Cinema & Media Arts, or through the university’s Advising Center and their peer academic advisor.
Minimum Grade Point Average Requirements
A minimum grade of C must be earned in all SCMA major required courses. Students may attempt to improve a grade lower than a C only one time by registering and retaking the specific course. Registrar approval is required in order to retake any course. Students will need to maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA across all degree requirements in order to stay in SCMA.
Snyder School Fee
All students enrolled in the Snyder School pay a program fee per semester.
Dean
Tom Halleen, M.A.
Professors
Lee, Yamada
Associate Professors
Hope, Klaustermeyer, Schmidt, Steffen
Assistant Professors
English, McCall, Taylor
Emeritus Professors
Fisher, Gonzales, Nash
