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Academics

Film Studies

College of Liberal Arts


 

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  Film Studies
  Requirements and Core Courses
  Careers in Film Studies
  Scholarships and Financial Aid
  Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
  Contact Information

Film Studies

Film studies explores how cinema both reflects and influences the facts, ideas, and activities of any given society. Film allows us to travel to most places in the world and become familiar with diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking. The film studies minor also teaches students how to discern the cinematic and narrative features that are used in cinematography and how culture can influence them. The study of film encourages critical thinking, respect for cultural diversity, and detailed knowledge of film as a text of facts and ideas.
• Offered at WSU: Minor
• Available at: Pullman

Requirements and Core Courses

The film studies minor involves most of the departments and programs of the College of Liberal Arts, including the School of Communication, Comparative Ethnic Studies, Criminal Justice, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Theatre Arts, and Women’s Studies. The minor requires a minimum of 18 hours of credit (9 in core courses and 9 in electives).

All core courses must be taken at WSU. After consultation with the film studies advisor, one elective course per semester, not to exceed two courses (one of which must be upper division), may be transferred to the film studies minor from accredited study-abroad and other university and college programs.

Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.

CORE COURSES
Three of the following:
     Engl 150—Introduction to Narrative Film
     For L 110—Introduction to Foreign Film [H]
     Soc 372—The Sociology of Film [M]
     Theat 150—Film History

ELECTIVES
Three of the following:
     CES 338—African American Cinema [H,D]
     CES 379—Native Americans in Film [H]
     CES 404 / Com 471—Stereotypes and The Media [T,D]
     Chin 111—Asian Film [G]
     Crm J / Pol S 381—Crime and Justice in the Movies
     Engl / FA 337—Digital Animation: Story, Narration, and Production
     Engl 339—Topics in Film as Literature
     For L 410—Topics in Foreign Film [T]
     Fren 110—French and Francophone Film [H]
     Ger 110—German Film [H]
     Phil 210—Philosophy in Film
     Rus 410— Russian Film [T,H]
     SHS 489—Disability and Society [T,D]
     Span 110—Spanish Film [H]
     Span 111—Latin American Film [G]
     Theat 462—Visual Communication in Theatre, Film and Television
     W St 340—Third World Women and Film [I]

     Fren 310—French Film (taught in French) [H]
     Fren 311—Francophone Film (taught in French) [G]
     Ger 310—German Film (taught in German)
     Span 310—Spanish Film (taught in Spanish)
     Span 311—Latin American Film (taught in Spanish)

Key to bracketed codes:
[D] = Meets WSU General Education Program requirements for American Diversity
[G], [I] = Meets WSU General Education Program requirements for Tier II Intercultural Studies
[H] = Meets WSU General Education Program requirements for Tier II Arts and Humanities
[T] = Meets WSU General Education Program requirements for Tier III course

Careers in Film Studies

The film studies minor brings together a broad range of interdisciplinary courses that can serve as both an ideal foundation for and a complement to most majors in liberal arts. The study of film enhances one’s ability to understand and address issues in areas as varied as aesthetics, human relations, the diversity of cultures, communication, advertising and consumption, socioeconomic concerns, and politics. Whatever the precise focus, all film courses provide firm, foundational knowledge about people, society, and the world, as well as the critical-thinking skills and human insights that are important for leadership in all professions.

Graduates with a film studies minor can enter every profession imaginable and are employed as teachers and professors on all levels, librarians, journalists, archivists, editors, photographers, advertising executives, public relations consultants, business people, lawyers, and television workers.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students minoring in film studies may apply for University-level scholarships and more than $50,000 in scholarships awarded by the College of Liberal Arts. In addition, departmental scholarships are available that may be applied to film studies. Students should inquire with the specific departments of their choice.

Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You

• Advertising
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• Asian Studies
• Broadcasting
• Communications
• Comparative Ethnic Studies
• Criminal Justice
• English
• Fine Arts
• Foreign Languages and Cultures
• History
• International Area Studies (within the General Studies Major)
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Speech and Hearing Sciences
• Theatre
• Women's Studies

Contact Information
Film Studies Program

Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Washington State University
PO Box 642610
Pullman, WA 99164-2610
ingeman@wsu.edu
509-335-8811
 

Strengths of the Program

  • This program incorporates courses from most departments in the College of Liberal Arts, including Comparative Ethnic Studies, English, Foreign Languages and Cultures, Sociology, and Theatre Arts.
  • The film studies minor is a strong complement with several majors that examine societal-related issues.
  • Learn to analyze the nature, history, and function of film in an interdisciplinary manner that broadens your horizons and provides training in critical thought.
  • Learn about modern communication techniques and develop your media literacy skills.
  • Courses in the minor can help you recognize cinematographic features that enhance film viewing.
  • Choose from a wide array of courses that will enhance both your perception of and respect for the diversity of cultures in this country and around the world.
  • Explore acclaimed national and international films, both commercial and independent, many of which are unavailable for rental.
Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us