A major in Film Studies provides you with the breadth of knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in the entertainment industry, in film archiving and preservation and in film festival programming. Individuals with a background in Film Studies also go on to work on the staffs of nonprofit organizations, as critics and arts journalists, as independent artists and as teachers.

Film Studies majors engage with the entire culture of cinema, learning to think and write historically, theoretically and critically about film. Film Studies is an interdisciplinary program, which draws on the research and teaching expertise of internationally-recognized faculty from departments across the humanities. Our majors complete core courses in world cinema and the fundamental tools of film analysis; fulfill requirements in early cinema, multicultural film studies and the documentary and experimental traditions; and go on to take a series of elective courses, eventually designating a three course focus area for their studies.

Why choose film studies?

The Film Studies Program draws on the expertise of award-winning and internationally-recognized scholars and practitioners. For example, Angus Fletcher is an award-winning screenwriter and Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting recipient who teaches students the skills needed to secure internships and to become professional screenwriters. Linda Mizejewski is the author of the award-winning Pretty/Funny: Women Comedians and Body Politics. She has also served on the board of directors of the Society of Cinema and Media Studies.

What can I do with this degree?

Traditionally, graduates with a BA in Film Studies pursue higher education in film studies or media-arts production, distribution, funding, archiving, research, journalism, arts criticism and traditional and non-traditional education at a variety of levels including P-12 education. They have been competitive in graduate school acceptance and in job searches nationally in these areas. Students are also prepared for the kinds of positions requiring critical and information-analytical skills in government, nonprofit organizations and industry that are open to other students majoring in the arts and sciences.