Cinema Studies Minor Program Requirements
Please note that this constitutes the official description of the Minor. If you have questions concerning requirements you should always reach out to the Program Director or Undergraduate Director, rather than relying on Degree Navigator.
The interdisciplinary Minor in Cinema Studies consists of seven courses, completed with a grade of C or better, and with a minimum of three courses at the 300 level or above. The courses must be distributed as follows:
- Two introductory courses, Introduction to Film I, and Introduction to Film II (01:175:201 and 01:175:202). These courses are offered every year; generally, Intro I is offered in the fall, and Intro II is offered in the spring. Close Readings of Cinema (01:175:210 OR 01:354:210), offered occasionally, may be substituted for either 01:175:201 or 202.
- Four electives, from among the courses listed on the Cinema Studies preregistration flyer each semester and posted to the website, among other courses approved by the Program Director or Undergraduate Director. At least two of those electives must be at the 300 level or above. Courses counting as electives are offered every semester. Please see the note below regarding the limit of one filmmaking course for the minor.
- The Senior Seminar in Cinema Studies (01:175:425). Seminar: Film Theory (01:175:420) may be substituted for 01:175:425. The Senior Seminar is offered every year, generally in the spring. Seminar: Film Theory is generally offered every year in the fall.
Additional Information
A flyer listing qualifying courses is circulated during each preregistration period, and posted along with course descriptions on the program’s website.
Cinema Studies courses generally include an additional mandatory weekly meeting time for screenings, or require students to view films outside of class via streaming.
Transfer students and Study-Abroad students must obtain approval of courses for the Minor from the Program Director or Undergraduate Director.
Students pursuing a minor in Cinema Studies must select five courses for the minor that are outside their major. Exception: English majors who pursue a Cinema Studies minor may include more than two 01:354 courses in their minor program, but only two of those may be counted toward the major.
Only one production/filmmaking course may be counted towards the Minor (more are allowed for the Major). Cinema Studies minors are encouraged to complete several other courses in film history, analysis or theory before enrolling in a filmmaking course. This course may be selected from among the Mason Gross BFA in Filmmaking courses offered every semester, linked on this website (but ONLY the in-person courses; the online courses do not count for CS credit). One of the following "Writers House" courses offered through the English Department may also count for CS minor credit.
Please note that all declared CS majors and minors may send an email (to
- 01:351:303 Creative Writing: Screenwriting for Film
- 01:351:308 (ONLY when topic is “Experimental Filmmaking”)
- 01:351:309 Creative Writing: Digital Composition