COLLEGE PARK — The University of Maryland’s nationally renowned Philip Merrill College of Journalism is launching the Video Production and Documentary Filmmaking minor at the start of the Spring 2026 semester.
The college’s second undergraduate minor offers UMD students the opportunity to gain hands-on training in the visual storytelling skills desired by nearly every professional industry, making it an ideal complement to all majors.
With ethical instruction from Merrill College’s accomplished, expert faculty, students will improve their ability to create content, develop informational videos for employers and produce documentaries. Click here to apply.
“An idea originally presented by faculty member Nathan Stevens, our faculty curriculum committee put together an excellent opportunity for students across campus to gain videography, photography and other in-demand skills that will make them more attractive to employers after graduation,” Merrill College Dean Rafael Lorente said. “We look forward to helping students studying the arts, sciences, government and a multitude of other subjects to become better visual storytellers while at the University of Maryland.”
Students will learn practical video production skills relevant in studio settings, documentary filmmaking, field production, streaming and more — as well as legal concepts and ethical media practices.
This minor is made for students who want to enhance their proficiency in storytelling using modern creative tools to better reach today’s audiences across social media, visual and other information-sharing platforms.
The Video Production and Documentary Filmmaking minor can include 15-24 credits, including nine credits in upper division courses. It includes three required courses — News Videography, a law and ethics course, and either Introduction to Studio Production, Advanced Studio Production or Documentary Video Production and Cinematography — and two to five electives. The college recommends that a student takes between two and four semesters to complete the five classes required for the minor.
Almost all classes required for the minor can transfer to the journalism major. Students who want to learn more about the minor, schedule an advising appointment or explore becoming a journalism major can contact the Merrill College Student Services team at jouradvising@umd.edu or 301-405-2399.
Click here for more information on the Video Production and Documentary Filmmaking minor.
For more information, contact:
Josh Land, Communications Manager
joshland@umd.edu