Major

Major in Cinema Studies

The interdisciplinary major in Cinema Studies consists of eleven courses, completed with a grade of C or better, and with a minimum of five courses at the 300 level or above. Majors choose one of two options: “History and Theory” or “Production and Criticism.”

All majors must complete the following core requirements:

  1. Two introductory courses, Introduction to Film I, and Introduction to Film II (01:175:201 and 01:175:202). Close Readings of Cinema (01:175:210) may be substituted for either 01:175:201 or 202;
  2. Three electives, from the list of “approved electives” below, or from among other courses approved by the program director;
  3. The Senior Seminar in Cinema Studies (01:175:425). Seminar: Film Theory (01:175:420) may be substituted for 01:175:425.

Five additional courses are required for each option.

Options within the Major

A. “History and Theory” Option

In addition to the courses required of all majors, students pursuing this option must complete the following:

       1. Two survey courses: American Cinema I (01:175:315) and American Cinema II (01:175:316) OR World Cinema I (01:175:320)
           and World Cinema II (01:175:321);

       2. Two courses in Non-US Cinemas, from the following list:

      3. One Theory course: Seminar in Film Theory (01:175:420) OR Theories of Women in Film (01:354:385).

Students may include as electives additional courses listed as Non-US or Theory, if they are not used to fulfill core or option requirements.

B. “Production and Criticism” Option

In addition to the courses required of all Cinema Studies majors, students pursuing this option must complete the following:

  1. Two Survey courses: World Cinema I (01:175:320) and World Cinema II (01:175:321)
  2. One course in Auteur and Genre Studies, from the following list:

      3. Two production courses, from the following list; additional lists of available production courses from the Mason Gross BFA in  Filmmaking curriculum are included on preregistration flyers each semester:

Students may include as electives additional production courses, or courses listed as Non-US, Auteur/Genre, or Theory, if they are not used to fulfill core or option requirements.

MAJOR WORKSHEET

Additional Information

A flyer listing qualifying elective courses is circulated during each preregistration period, and course descriptions are posted on the program’s website. Cinema Studies majors are encouraged to complete other courses in film history, analysis, or theory before enrolling in a filmmaking/production course.

Cinema Studies courses generally include an additional mandatory weekly meeting time for screenings, or require students to view films outside of class at an on-campus facility such as the Douglass Library Media Services.

Courses that are primarily about film and may count toward the major and minor are listed under the subject codes 175 (Cinema Studies), 354 (English/Film Studies), 013 (AMESALL), 050 (American Studies), 082 (Art History), 195 (Comparative Literature), 420 (French), 470 (German), 560 (Italian), 565 (Japanese), 563 (Jewish Studies), 940 (Spanish and Portuguese) and 988 (Women’s and Gender Studies).

Transfer students and Study-Abroad students must obtain approval from the program director of courses for the major. Students are urged to consult the program director for further information.

List of Approved Cinema Studies Elective Courses for the Major (as of June 2019)