Major & Minor
Major in Film Studies
The film studies major applies the liberal arts tradition to the present-day culture of images and technologies. Courses in film history, theory, and criticism enable students to become active, selective, and ethical participants in a world progressively more dominated by the media of visual communication.
Research-based studies in American and world cinema explore the mutual influence of the films and their respective diverse cultures and historic periods. Familiarity with several of the great films and filmmakers provides a basis for understanding the relationship between contemporary artists and industrial society. Each student will have an opportunity to apply this theoretical knowledge to the experience of film making and exhibition both through programs in scripting, photography, production, and digital editing; and through an extensive internship program in the Boston area.
Students are encouraged to widen and deepen their understanding of the medium through additional courses in art history, studio art, theatre, and communication. While this film studies major provides a solid foundation for further studies and professional involvement in the industry, it also offers the liberal arts student a broad-based preparation for other career options.
Students interested in majoring in film studies should contact Professor John Michalczyk, director of the Film Stuides Program, in Devlin 420 (617-552-3895).
Minor in Film Studies
The film studies minor enables students to develop a basic awareness of film as a contemporary medium of communication.
The minor consists of six courses: Introduction to Film Art, one course in history or criticism, one course in production, and three electives in film studies which enable a student to design a personalized area of concentration.
Students interested in the film studies minor may contact Professor John Michalczyk, director of the Film Studies Program.
Required Courses
- FILM2202 Introduction to Film Art
- One course in film production
- One course in history or criticism
The Film Studies Major tab provides lists of film production and film history/criticism courses. Check the online catalog to learn which film studies courses are being offered during the current and forthcoming semesters (select "Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences" from the "School" menu, and "FILM – Film Studies" from the "Subject" menu).
In addition to the three required courses as described above, film studies minors take three elective courses in the areas of filmmaking, digital editing, scriptwriting, photography, history of film, or film criticism.
The courses for the film studies minor can be taken over a four-year period in any order convenient to the student's schedule.
Internships
Contact Professor John Michalczyk, director of the Film Studies Program, to learn about available semester-long internships.
FILM2202 – Introduction to Film Art
AT LEAST TWO COURSES IN FILM HISTORY
- FILM2280 – American Film History I: Early Years
- FILM2281 – American Film History: Studio Era
- FILM2286 – Costa-Gavras: Political Thriller Film
- FILM2290 – American Film History: Pre-War Period
- FILM2292 – Post-Classical Period
- FILM3301 – Screenwriter
- FILM3310 – Independent American Film
- FILM3314 – Cinema / Greater Mid East
- FILM3320 – Korean Cinema
- FILM3325 – The Comic Film
- FILM3331 – Independent American Film
- FILM3332 – Maverick Hollywood Directors
- FILM3355 – The Cinema of Revolution & Revolt
- FILM3389 – American Directors Series
- FILM3392 – American Classical Period
- FILM3393 – American Classic Auteurs
This is a partial list. Other courses may satisfy the Film History requirement. Please consult with Professor John Michalczyk, the Film Studies Major Advisor.
AT LEAST TWO PRODUCTION COURSES
- FILM1161 – Photography I
- FILM1171 – Film Making I
- FILM2230 – Introduction to Video Art
- FILM2261 – Photography II
- FILM2273 – Film Making II
- FILM2274 – Digital Non-Linear Editing
- FILM2276 – Art and Digital Technology
- FILM2285 – Adobe Premiere Editing
- FILM2287 – Creative Webdesign
- FILM3303 – Advanced Screenwriting
- FILM3310 – The Working Cinematographer: On the Set
- FILM3313 – Animation and Experimental Filmmaking
- FILM3390 – Sound Design
- FILM4461 – Film Making III
This is a partial list. Other courses may satisfy the Production requirement. Please consult with Professor John Michalczyk, the Film Studies Major Advisor.
SIX ELECTIVES, AT LEAST TWO AT THE 3000 OR 4000 LEVEL
- FILM2277 – Russian Cinema
- FILM2282 – Political Fiction Cinema
- FILM2283 – History of European Film
- FILM2284 – Eastern European Film
- FILM3302 – Adaptation: Fiction/Film
- FILM3312 – World Cinema
- FILM3314 – Cinema / Greater Mid East
- FILM3315 – Film Noir
- FILM3333 – War is Hell: Combat Film
- FILM3380 – Latin American Cinema
- FILM3381 – Propaganda Film
- FILM3382 – Documentary Film
- FILM3383 – Film Criticism and Theory
- FILM3391 – American Film Genres
- FILM3394 – Documentary Film Production
- FILM4482 – Film Criticism and Theory
- FILM4495 – Contemporary Asian Film
This is a partial list. Additional Film courses may be offered from semester to semester. Check current offerings, and offerings for next semester (select "Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences" from the "School" menu, and "FILM – Film Studies" from the "Subject" menu).
FILM4400+ Senior Project
A student completing a Film Major in the context of Liberal Arts will be evaluated prior to graduation on the following points before a panel of two or three faculty members:
General View of Film: Based on the initial course in Introduction to Film Art
Film Production: Intermediate grasp of sound, lighting, composition
Film Editing: Digital editing for a film production (Final Cut Pro or Avid non-linear)
History: Solid grasp of American film( feature and documentary), basic knowledge of foreign film (European, Mid-East, Latin American, or World Cinema)
Criticism: Ability to grasp nuances in script, characterization, camera work, etc.
Written Expression: Clarity and proper grammar for essay writing; structure, for screenwriting, with a focus on narrative.
Research: Ability to do scholarly research and documentation
At the same time, as part of the requirement, the Film Major necessitates a student writing a thesis, completing a full-length screenplay, or producing a short film (feature or documentary) under close supervision of an advisor.
Student Learning Goals | Measurement Process | Review/revision mechanism |
| Develop an understanding of the history of film and the major themes and filmmakers who have shaped it. | Panel evaluates student work in film history, scriptwriting and production as part of the Senior Project. | Undergrad committee assembles ratings and reports program recommendations to department annually. |
| Ability to critique technical and plot elements of a film. | Panel discusses overall preparation and career options. | |