34 Film Studies Course Programs

The Film and Media Studies Interdisciplinary Minor promotes the development of multimedia literacy among our students, providing an interdisciplinary understanding of the history, theory, language, and cultural aspects of film and other screen media. Combining introductory and advanced courses in film and media studies with electives from the humanities and the social sciences, the interdisciplinary minor seeks to create critically sensitive readers of film and media while fostering insight into one of the principal forms of art and communication in the contemporary era.

Courses in Film Studies, and focus either on theory or production. Film theory encompasses an analysis of film history, genre, and natural culture, as well as an appreciation of the filmmaking process. Studying film production centers on the preparation of film and video, focusing on topics like documentary, digital art, and color and motion.

Film Studies is an interdisciplinary program of inquiry bringing a range of analytical methods to bear upon films, film audiences, and the social and industrial contexts of film and media production, distribution and exhibition. The courses that comprise the minor in film studies reflect the diversity of approaches in the academic study of cinema. The minor is anchored by core courses in formal analysis, history and theory. Elective courses in particular film styles, directors, national cinemas, genres, areas of theory and criticism, video production, and issues in film and media culture add both breadth and depth to this program of study.

Film Studies is an interdisciplinary program of inquiry bringing a range of analytical methods to bear upon films, film audiences, and the social and industrial contexts of film and media production, distribution, and exhibition. Our courses reflect the diversity of approaches in the academic study of cinema. The program invites unique opportunities for interdisciplinary study with English, History of Art, Italian, German, Russian, Spanish, History, and the Creative and Performing Arts, giving students access to a range of interpretive methodologies, national cinemas, and film styles and genres.

The study of film and visual media is a central aspect of our idea of liberal arts as a “useful education.” The six-course film & media studies minor brings together critical analysis and creation of media and is distinguished by its flexibility and diversity. As an interdisciplinary program, we offer students a wide range of courses from numerous disciplines.

The Film Studies Program at Barnard was formally established in 2002 for students interested in the history, theory and practice of film and filmmaking. The educational goal of the film major is to provide a solid grounding in the history and theory of film and as well as place the study of film in relation to other art forms. Students are introduced to visual storytelling, film technology, and the economic and sociopolitical context of the film industry. While the course of study is rooted in film history and theory, all majors take workshops in screenwriting and filmmaking and produce a script and a short film.

While completing a minor in film studies, you will learn the basic techniques of creating films in a variety of formats—from 30-second TV commercials and YouTube videos to documentaries and feature films. More important, you will also discover how these films can affect society’s perceptions of the world—and how your own media creations can educate, shape opinions and affect cultural values. With a minor in film studies, you will be able to harness the power of film to create a career that is uniquely yours. This minor is valuable in a variety of fields, including: Film and television production

A major focus is on the development of a workable film vocabulary as well as critical thinking skills so that students can intelligently discuss and analyze influential works of cinema. Film screenings teach students to watch and listen carefully, while following group discussions help students develop the confidence to share their ideas with others. Film Studies students may find employment in the arts at film institutions and/or festivals in the form of programming, curating, and producing.

Film and media studies is increasingly essential to a rigorous liberal arts education. Our program integrates critical studies with creative practice, preparing students to understand moving images, harness media technology, and participate actively in a swiftly changing media landscape. Students study cinema and media history and theory, while pursuing creative work in a variety of forms. Building on Colorado College’s history of innovation in liberal arts education, the Film and Media Studies Program produces students who are engaged thinkers, thoughtful and collaborative practitioners, and who have achieved success in film and media industries as well as many other fields.

Film and Media Studies seeks to understand the moving image—something that we engage with, use to communicate, and are entertained by, almost every day. Simply watching lots of media does not teach us how media works, and how media works on us—as individuals and as a culture. Film and Media Studies deals with the study of the moving image in everything from cinema to television to video art to the internet to video games and well beyond—any moving image that can be seen on any kind of screen.

The Film and Media Studies major at Whitman College allows you to learn the basics of film editing and production, work with professional film equipment, and work closely with other students and faculty as you unpack the history and theory of global media communication. You’ll be challenged to consider the impact of film, television, the internet and other media on how we live as you acquire technical skills and the critical media literacy necessary to launch an exciting media career.

UFSC Film Studies Program was created in 2005 – the first in the field of Arts to be offered at UFSC. It aims to prepare professionals qualified to carry out various activities in the audiovisual field and related areas, as well as to contribute to the students’ insertion in academic research. The program offers a broad training that allows students to choose their own academic paths among a wide and diverse set of elective courses. It also provides contact with a number of technical specialties, introducing the student to the handling of equipment and software and to group practices. Covering a diverse set of knowledge involved in the audiovisual production chain, the program stimulates the creative process and the contact with contemporary forms of artistic expression, besides offering a solid background in film theories and critical reflection.

Trinity’s interdisciplinary approach to film and media combines courses selected from sixteen departments to create a flexible major that lets you design a distinctive experience through exploration and creation. We provide the guidance, the spaces, the resources, and the places to help you find your individual voice…and create a Film major experience that is uniquely your own.

The film and media studies concentration will prepare digital native students for the ever-changing media landscape of the 21st century. Grounded in theory, while emphasizing practice along with Grinnell’s core value for social responsibility, the program will push you to discover your original creative voice, making meaning through the generation and critical interrogation of moving images and related forms.