9.20. Film and Media Studies

Programs offered:

  • B.A. in Film and Media Studies (TU)
  • Minor in Film and Media Studies (TU)

Film and Media Studies is an interdisciplinary program that is dedicated to the study of film, television, and new media. This program combines history, theory, and practice in order to provide students with the most effective foundation for entry into the field. The Film and Media Studies major encourages students to think critically about the media texts they consume while simultaneously recognizing the ideological structures that attempt to shape their experiences of these texts. The program provides a broad historical perspective on some of the aesthetic, cultural, economic, political, ideological, and technological trends impacting the media industries from their origins in the late 19th century through the present. Media plays a significant role in the social construction of identity (race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, etc.) and the creation of culture at large, so one goal of the program is to enable students to develop the theoretical tools and critical perspective to interrogate the media that saturates our lives. Furthermore, learning about the history and theory of the media will better prepare students to create content of their own. Through hands-on learning experiences, this program will familiarize students with the basic tools, language, resources, and techniques associated with multimedia production. Students will develop basic skills in production techniques including cinematography, lighting, and audio recording, and postproduction techniques including digital audio and video editing, graphics, and special effects. The Film and Media Studies program is designed in such a way as to ensure that students are equipped with both the technical skills and the knowledge necessary to pursue careers in the media industries, as well as a solid theoretical foundation on which to build in the event that they decide to continue their educational journey and move on to graduate-level coursework.

B.A. in Film and Media Studies (see Sec. 8.5.1. for a complete list of B.A. graduation requirements)

  1. Completion of these five required introductory courses:
    • FMS 125 History of the Motion Pictures
    • FMS 135 Aesthetics and Analysis
    • FMS 150 Introduction to Multimedia Production
    • FMS 275 Experimental Video for Artists
    • COM 250 Digital Storytelling
  2. Completion of any three of the following courses (with at least one course at the 300- or 400-level):
    • COM 120 Introduction to Media Studies
    • COM 380 Feminist Media Studies
    • COM 420 Media, Culture, and Society
    • COM 430 Race and Representation in the Media
    • COM 470 Globalization and the Media
    • ENG 340 Television and Reading: Critical Literacy and American Narratives
    • FMS 290 Special Topics in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 325 Television Analysis
    • FMS 345 Music for Film and Television
    • FMS 425 Critical History of Radio, TV, and New Media
    • FMS 435 Media Industries
    • FMS 445 Film Theory and Criticism
    • FMS 490 Advanced Special Topics in Film and Media Studies
    • FRE 404 Great French Actresses and Their Film Roles
  3. Completion of any three of the following courses:
    • ART 205 Documentary Filmmaking
    • FMS 175 Introduction to Web Design
    • FMS 200 Independent Study in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 285 Introduction to Animation
    • FMS 305 Sound Design
    • FMS 315 Lighting Design
    • FMS 335 Directing for the Camera
    • FMS 400 Advanced Independent Study in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 405 Advanced Digital Cinematography
    • FMS 495 Internship in Film and Media Studies
  4. Additional requirements and things to note:
    • A grade of “C-” or better is required in all courses contributing to the major.
    • At least one of the elective courses in area two must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.
    • One course contributing to the major can also be counted toward a minor or a second major in another discipline.

Minor in Film and Media Studies (TU)

  1. Completion of these two required introductory courses:
    • FMS 125 History of the Motion Pictures
    • FMS 150 Introduction to Multimedia Production
  2. Completion of any three elective courses from the following:
    • ART 205 Documentary Filmmaking
    • COM 120 Introduction to Media Studies
    • COM 250 Digital Storytelling
    • COM 380 Feminist Media Studies
    • COM 420 Media, Culture, and Society
    • COM 430 Race and Representation in the Media
    • COM 470 Globalization and the Media
    • ENG 340 Television and Reading: Critical Literacy and American Narratives
    • FMS 135 Aesthetics and Analysis
    • FMS 175 Introduction to Web Design
    • FMS 200 Independent Study in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 275 Experimental Video for Artists
    • FMS 285 Introduction to Animation
    • FMS 290 Special Topics in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 305 Sound Design
    • FMS 315 Lighting Design
    • FMS 325 Television Analysis
    • FMS 335 Directing for the Camera
    • FMS 400 Advanced Independent Study in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 405 Advanced Digital Cinematography
    • FMS 425 Critical History of Radio, TV, and New Media
    • FMS 435 Media Industries
    • FMS 445 Film Theory and Criticism
    • FMS 490 Advanced Special Topics in Film and Media Studies
    • FMS 495 Internship in Film and Media Studies
    • FRE 404 Great French Actresses and Their Film Roles
  3. Additional requirements and things to note:
    • A grade of “C-” or better is required in all courses contributing to the minor.
    • One course contributing to the minor can also be counted toward a major or a second minor in another discipline.