Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Please note that the requirements for the Film Studies Minor have been revised since the last college bulletin was published. See full requirements below.

The Film Studies Major (36 credits / Major code 040):

Majors must complete five required courses (15 credits) and seven electives (21 credits). At least two of the electives must be designated as “W” (writing intensive) courses.  Students must receive a grade of C or higher for a course to count toward the major.

Required Courses for Majors:

  • MEDST 143: History of Cinema 1 (1880-1930) [typically offered once per year]
  • MEDST 144: History of Cinema 2 (1930-1970) [typically offered once per year]
  • MEDST 200: Principles of Sound and Image [typically offered every semester]
  • MEDST 240: Styles of Cinema [typically offered every semester]
  • MEDST 341W: Film Theory [typically offered every semester]

 

The Film Studies Minor (21 credits / Minor code 42):

Students minoring in Film Studies must complete three required courses (9 credits) in addition to four electives (12 credits). These electives can include any of the elective courses listed below in addition to MEDST 200 or MEDST 341W.  Students must receive a grade of C or higher for a course to count toward the minor. Note: These new requirements apply to students who declare a Film Studies Minor as of Fall 2011. Film Studies Minors who joined the program prior to this date: see the requirements listed at the bottom of this page.

Required Courses for Minors:

  • MEDST 143: History of Cinema 1 (1880-1930) [typically offered once per year]
  • MEDST 144: History of Cinema 2 (1930-1970) [typically offered once per year]
  • MEDST 240: Styles of Cinema [typically offered every semester]

Electives:

The following courses are approved electives for the Film Studies major and minor. Additional approved courses may be offered during a given semester; please check the schedule listing frequently for updates and special offerings. Unless otherwise noted, all courses listed will be conducted in English. Some of these courses are variable topics classes, whose subject matter may change from semester to semester (e.g. Studies in Genre might be Melodrama one semester, and TV Sitcoms the next). Not all of these topics will be relevant to, or count toward, the Film Studies degrees; please check the Schedule page to verify topics in advance.

  • Comparative Literature 241: Literature and the Movies
  • English 280: Literature and Film
  • English 285: Studies in Literature and Film
  • European Languages 250/250W: European Cinema
  • French 250/250W: French Cinema
  • German 250/250W: German Cinema
  • History 370: Film and History
  • Italian 250/250W: Italian Cinema
  • Media Studies 146: History of Cinema 3 (1970-the present)
  • Media Studies 243: Introduction To Filmmaking [Formerly – – Digital Video Production: On Location]
  • Media Studies 245: Screenwriting
  • Media Studies 246: Art of the Adaptation
  • Media Studies 263:The American Film Industry
  • Media Studies 265: Producing Independent Films
  • Media Studies 281: Intermediate Studies in Media (check topics – not all sections are film courses)
  • Media Studies 310: Documentary Filmmaking [Formerly – – Advanced Video Production: Documentary & Fiction]
  • Media Studies 314: Directing [Formerly – – Television Directing]
  • Media Studies 317: Advanced Post-Production [Formerly – – Advanced Digital Editing]
  • Media Studies 318: Cinematography [Formerly – – Media Studies 244: 16MM Film Production]
  • Media Studies 342/342W*: Special Topics in Genre (check topics – not all sections are film courses)
  • Media Studies 343/343W: Non-Fiction Forms
  • Media Studies 344/344W*: National Cinemas
  • Media Studies 345/345W*: Great Directors
  • Media Studies 346/346W: African-Americans in American Film and Television
  • Media Studies 381/381W*: Advanced Studies in Media (check topics – not all sections are film courses)
  • Philosophy 105: Film/Philosophy/Politics
  • Political Science 228: American Politics and Film
  • Russian 244/244W: Russian and East European Film
  • Sociology 249: Sociology of Cinema
  • Spanish 47 Hispanic Film in English Translation
  • Spanish 291: Hispanic Cinema
    *May be taken twice for credit if course content changes.

 

OLD Film Studies Minor Requirements (for those who declared a minor prior to Fall 2011):

Core courses: MEDST 143, 144, and 200, plus 18 credit hours of Film Studies electives (including MEDST 240 and 341W).