Film Studies

In Film Studies, students receive a thorough introduction to the many facets of moving image culture, including a background in film history, theory, and aesthetics. In this interdisciplinary program, students are exposed to a broad array of national and international films, as well as filmic translations of well-known works of literature. Students analyze film from a variety of theoretical perspectives and become critical viewers of what is now one of the most predominant forms of cultural representation. Film Studies currently offers a minor for those students who wish to learn more in this discipline without committing fully to the degree program.

Bachelor of Arts - English; Film Studies Option

College Humanities & Sciences

Catalog Year: 2014-2015

Degree Specific Credits: 45

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: Upon successful completion of the Pre-English requirements, students must declare the English major and choose a degree option. English majors with the option in Film Studies must earn 45-60 of their total credits in Department of English courses.

Foundational courses

Rule: Complete two courses (6 credits).

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description FILM 103L - Introduction to Film
Offered every term. The history and development of the film medium. Emphasis on critical analysis of selected classic or significant films.
 3 Credits
Show Description LIT 270L - Film & Lit
(R-6) Offered intermittently. Studies of the relationship between film and literature. Topics vary.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 6 Total Credits Required

Focus courses

Rule: Complete two courses (6 credits).

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description FILM 300 - History of Film
Offered every year. Prereq., FILM 103L, LIT 270L. Survey of film history.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 447 - Film Theory
Offered yearly. This course examines key approaches to film theory and criticism, and the theoretical roots of each. Classic and contemporary films will be assessed in the light of the theories covered.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 6 Total Credits Required

Film electives

Rule: Complete 9 courses (27 credits) from the following list.

Note: Special topics courses (FILM 191, 291, 391, 491) have a repeatability of 6 credits for each level; e.g. although the course prefix and number may be the same, different course titles will count toward major requirements and graduation requirements for up to six credits at each course number level (6 credits of FILM 191, 6 credits of FILM 291, etc.).

Film Genres (FILM 327), Studies in Film (FILM 381), Advanced Studies in Film (FILM 481), Film Directors (FILM 484), and Independent Study (FILM 492) have a repeatability of 9 credits.

PHL 427 Topics in Philosophy of Art can count toward the Film Studies major when the topic specifically includes film.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ENT 442 - Tchg Oral Lang & Media Lit
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq./co-req., LING 465, EDU 395, admission to Teacher Education Program, and consent of instr. Emphasis on preparation, implementation, and evaluation of teaching strategies and materials in grades 5-12. Includes learning objectives, teaching styles, unit plans, print and non-print media, and creative drama. Explores student-centered curriculum, with emphasis on developmental abilities in speaking, listening and viewing, and multigenre/multimodal communication. Teaching majors and minors in areas other than English should enroll in ENT 440.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 191 - Special Topics
(R-6) Offered intermittently.  Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
 1 To 6 Credits
Show Description FILM 262L - German Cinema
Offered intermittently. The development of the German film from its beginnings in 1895 through the contemporary New German Cinema.  Topics include Expressionism, New Objectivity, the Nazi film, the German contribution to Hollywood, the post-war film in East and West Germany, and film in unified Germany. Credit not allowed for LS 282L or MCLG 222L and 322L GRMN.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 291 - Special Topics
(R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
 1 To 6 Credits
Show Description FILM 308 - Russian Cinema and Culture
Offered intermittently.  Topically arranged introduction to the cinema of Russia and the former Soviet Union, with particular emphasis on contemporary Russian cinema.  Screening preceded by brief cultural and historical background lectures and followed by group and paired discussion.  All films screened with English subtitles.  No knowledge of Russian is necessary.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 327 - Film Genres
(R-9) Offered every other year. Prereq. FILM 103L. Intensive study of central works within one major film genre.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 363 - The French Cinema
Offered intermittently. An historical, aesthetic, and critical survey of the French cinema, from its beginnings in 1895 through the contemporary cinema (Muet, classical, Realism, Nouvelle Vogue, etc.) with an introduction to contemporary film criticism. Students taking the course for French credits are required to do research, reading, and writing in the French language.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 365 - Latin Amer Civ Thru Lit & Film
Offered in autumn odd-numbered years. The development of the traditional society of Latin American civilization through the interaction of European, Indian and African elements.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 381 - Studies in the Film
(R-9) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., FILM 103L or consent of instr. Studies in genres, directors, movements, problems, etc.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 391 - Special Topics
(R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
 1 To 9 Credits
Show Description FILM 448 - Documentary: Thry and Practice
Offered yearly.  Same as MAR 443. Designed to bring together Film Studies students (theorists) and Media Arts students (filmmakers) so they may draw from their respective fields to collaborate on the production of documentaries.  After exposure to both documentary history and criticism, students will work with a team of producers in learning the basic skills involved in documentary production.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 481 - Advanced Studies in Film
(R-9) Offered every other year.  Studies in film aesthetics, politics of  film, international cinema and comparative film analyses.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 484 - Film Directors
(R-9) Offered every year. Prereq. FILM 103L. Intensive study of the life and work of one major film director.
 3 Credits
Show Description FILM 491 - Special Topics
(R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics
 1 To 9 Credits
Show Description FILM 492 - Independent Study
(R-9) Offered every term. Pereq., consent of instr. and department chair, and junior or senior standing. Special Projects in film. Only one 492 may be taken per semester.
 1 To 9 Credits
Show Description FILM 495 - Practicum
R-6
 1 To 6 Credits
Show Description MAR 101L - Intro to Media Arts
Offered every term. Overview of the media arts and their interaction, integration and development in the creation of story beginning with the early years of photography and movie-making through the introduction of radio and television up to the digital revolution.
 3 Credits
Show Description MCLG 339 - Surv African Cinema
A diachronic survey of primarily Francophone African cinema accompanied by interpretation and evaluation of films through filmic critical theory.  Students taking the course for French credit must read and write in French. 
 3 Credits
Show Description NASX 360 - Native Amer and Cinema
Offered Autumn or Spring.  Same as ENFM 344. Surveys the image of Native Americans in American film with an emphasis on "revisionist," or "breakthrough" films.  Ultimate focus will be on films featuring Native American writers, directors and actors.
 3 Credits
Show Description PHL 102 - Topical Intro to Philosophy
(R-9) Offered yearly. An introduction to philosophy through examination of a selected topic (such as existentialism, philosophy of film, technology and the good life, science and society, philosophy of religion).
 1 To 4 Credits
Show Description PHL 427 - Topics in Philosophy of Art
(R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E, or consent of instr. Examination of philosophical problems related to particular arts and discussion of the nature of the arts. Topics considered may include music, visual arts, literature, and film.
 1 To 4 Credits
Show Description SPNS 359 - Span Amer Civ Lit & Film
Offered spring in odd-numbered years.  Prereq., at least one upper–division class in Spanish and SPNS 301.  Same as MCLG and LS 358.  The development of the traditional society of Spanish American civilization through the interaction of European, Indian, and African elements.  Credit not allowed for both LS/MCLG 358 and SPAN 359.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 27 Total Credits Required

Upper Division Writing Courses

Rule: Complete two courses (6 credits).

Note: LIT 300 is open only to English majors who have completed the Pre-English curriculum and have declared a major option.

Note: LIT 300 is the pre-requisite for most other 300- and 400-level LIT courses, including FILM 320.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description FILM 320 - Shakespeare and Film
Same as LIT 327. Offered once a year. Prereq., LIT 300 or consent of instr. A survey of selected Shakespeare plays emphasizing close reading of the texts and consideration of their dramatic possibilities in relation to film.
 3 Credits
Show Description LIT 300 - Literary Criticism
Offered every term. Prereq. or coreq., 12 credits of lower-division English courses. Study of various literary theories and their application to literary texts.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 6 Total Credits Required

Modern or Classical Language major requirement

Rule: Complete the 202-level proficiency in either a modern or classical language other than English

Note: Students may either take four sequential semesters (101, 102, 201, 202) of a modern or classical language or exemplify proficiency through examination (available through the Modern and Classical Languages and Literature Department).

Minimum Required Grade: Pass
4-18 Total Credits Required