About the Major

As our national and international cultures become increasingly dominated by visual culture, we acknowledge the need to study those forms, which provide our chief sources of entertainment and information. This need speaks to our desire to become critical viewers, knowledgeable in the history of the most popular art forms of our cen-tury and possessing the analytical skills to understand and interpret visual forms of ex-pression.
The undergraduate major in film and media studies requires the rigorous study of his-tory and aesthetics in an attempt to understand the creative force of an individual art-work, its relation to other artistic production, and its place in culture. Furthermore, be-cause film and media creations are most often produced within an industrial context, the student of film and media must also study industrial and business practices.
Complementing the critical studies curriculum, courses in production will provide an intimate understanding of the kinds of choices that film and media artists confront, fur-ther refining students’ abilities to view critically. In order to explore the film and media artist’s tools analytically, students in film and media studies need to gain the same kind of insider’s understanding of the tools of the trade that literature students learn by writ-ing. Courses in production will not aim to provide students with professional instruc-tion in film and media. It is not the purpose of this program to train students for pro-fessional work.

Students, who gain skills in writing and analysis, as they should in any rigorous course of study in the humanities, can work in many professions, such as journalism and pub-lishing, business, law, medicine, social work, and teaching. Film and media majors who seek careers in the entertainment and information industries will certainly gain an intel-lectual perspective on these forms that should enhance their professional lives. But this major will also benefit any student looking at other possible professions because it shares the aim of a liberal arts curriculum to train students in rigorous analytical think-ing and provide them with historical knowledge.

Although Film and Media Studies is an independent program, many of its courses are cross-listed with American Culture Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature, Eng-lish, Germanic Languages and Literature, and History.

Requirements for the Major

The following are required courses for the Film and Media Studies Major:

  • Film 220 Introduction to Film Studies – Offered Every fall 3 credits
  • Film 230 Moving Images and Sound - Offered Every Semester 3 credits
  • Film 330 History of American Cinema – Offered Every spring 3 credits
  • Film 340 History of World Cinema – Offered Every fall 3 credits
  • Film 350 History of Electronic Media – Offered Every spring 3 credits
  • Film 420 Film Theory – Offered Every spring 3 credits

In addition to these required courses, students must take twelve credits in advanced electives (300 or higher). Electives in critical studies may be drawn from courses on individual directors, genre study, limited historical periods, study of individual crafts, such as acting, and so on. Students with an interest in production may count two additional production and/or screenwriting courses towards the major.

Please note: the following production elective course that will be offered in fall 2008 is: Film 352 – Introduction to Screenwriting.
All students must take one elective that focuses on a national cinema other than the United States. Please note: the national cinema course offered in fall 2008 is: Film 325 – French Film Culture.

Requirements for the Minor

The following are required courses for the Film and Media Studies Minor:

  • Film 220 Introduction to Film Studies – Offered Every Fall 3 credits
  • Film 330 History of American Cinema – Offered Every Spring 3 credits
  • Film 340 History of World Cinema – Offered Every Fall 3 credits
  • Film 350 History of Electronic Media – Offered Every Spring 3 credits

In addition to these required courses, students must also take a 3 credit advanced elective course to complete the minor. Courses that are internships or independent study are not available for the minor.