FAQ

Film Studies is a fast growing discipline at American universities and colleges. Incorporating other fields such as art, history, languages, popular culture, and communications, film studies offers the student extensive possibilities for experience and knowledge.

Film studies majors learn to analyze, synthesize and discern important information—they learn to read and write effectively and look at the world with a critical eye, but most importantly, they develop a critical and audiovisual literacy. In a culture that increasingly relies on visual information, a comprehension of how meaning grows out of the moving image becomes essential to various areas of society.

The skills a film studies major receives are broad, extensive, and valuable. Students explore the historical, social, and political dimensions of film and culture; they learn to maintain creative concentration, work as a team, and they develop important interpersonal skills that many employers within and without film studies seek.

Many graduates of film studies find positions with film companies, film archives, festivals, or they work as art managers, critics, journalists, independent artists, and teachers at a variety of levels including P-12, academia, or non-traditional. Traditionally, graduates in Film Studies have pursued higher education in Film Studies, and majors have been competitive in graduate school acceptance and in job searches nationally in these areas. Students will also be prepared for the kinds of positions in government, not-for-profit organizations, and industry that are open to other students majoring in the humanities. Other more specific possibilities reside in the communications job market—public relations, technical writing, advertising and educational media are just a few other exciting career options open to majors of film studies.Top

Yes. It is a major and a minor. The major was approved Winter 2006. Top

The prerequisite for the major is English 263, "Introduction to Film," a GEC course offered every quarter by the English department. The core of the major includes introductions to world cinema (History of Art 260) and to film theory and analysis (Film Studies 270). The next area requires the major to choose one course about cinema before 1950, and one course about cinema outside of the American/European context. Film majors also take four electives, ranging from classes on various film genres, national traditions, individual filmmakers, and particular developments in film history.

Yes. Or art history, or performance, or a variety of areas related to Film Studies. While the Major in Film Studies concentrates primarily on the analysis and history of film and film criticism, production courses, particularly in video and animation, are available, and your Focus Area requirement can be built around production or another relative interest.Top

The class does not have to be taken before other courses, but it is recommended to do so before the core courses (Film Studies 270 and History of Art 260). English 263 is a GEC course as well and will also count for the Visual/Performing Arts requirement.Top

There is no language stipulation beyond the GEC requirement, but students whose elective area concentrates on a non-Anglophone national cinema or topic are strongly encourage to complete 201 in a foreign language (or its equivalent), particularly since some of the courses are not taught in English.Top

No. Though there are some courses that fulfill various areas of the requirements, doubling is not an option.

However, if the focus area is deemed sufficiently rich in film studies content, majors may be allowed to use one course (5 hrs) in the focus area to meet other film major requirements. The major requires 50 credit hours with such an overlap, 55 without. Top

In the area of film electives, no more than 5 hours can be taken at the 300 level or below and for the focus area, no more than 10 hours can be taken at the 300 level or below.Top

No. Unless it is a Film Studies Course, you must ask the instructor of the course or the chair of the department to sign the course permission form.Top

Yes, Film Studies majors articulate their own focus area in consultation with at least one film studies faculty member and choose a set of courses accordingly. The Focus Area must be approved by the Film Studies Director.Top

The focus area is meant to help students explore connections to potentially related disciplines and enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the Film Studies major. Think about an area or set of issues of particular interest to you and meet with a film studies faculty member whose subject is relevant. Together you should review courses from related areas of study, such as performance, art history, literature, etc, and identify a set of courses that would facilitate a concentrated exploration of the focus area. Remember, the focus area is to add breadth, depth, and specialization to the Film Studies major.

You should meet with a film studies faculty member to discuss your focus area no later than the early part of your junior year. After meeting with the film studies faculty member, download and fill out this Focus Area Form using Microsoft Word. Save the form as “[LastName].focus.doc” before emailing it to filmstudies@osu.edu. Please allow time for the Director to review your form. Here are two sample forms for your review.Top

Some examples of focus areas (and not already existing areas) could include:

Students wishing to pursue the Major in Film Studies should begin the academic advising process as soon as possible. The first step is a consultation with the Film Studies Program at Smith Labs, Room 4108. Please contact filmstudies@osu.edu or call 292-6044 to set up an appointment, and bring the attached information sheet and application form with you.Top

This is a guideline to complete the Film Studies B.A. in 4 years. You should also schedule an appointment with Arts and Sciences Academic Advising at 292-6961.

First Year- 45 hours

• English - Complete freshman composition course, English 110
• Foreign Language - Begin/complete
• Math - Complete GEC quantitative and logical skills, Part A
• Begin Prerequisite (English 263) and Core Courses (History of Art 260 and Film Studies 270)
• GEC - Complete 15-20 hours of Natural Science/Arts and Humanities/ Social Science GECs
• Begin prerequisite for minor (if applicable)
• Advising Conferences - have met with your Arts and Sciences academic counselor and with you major advisor

2^nd Year - 90 hours

• Writing - Complete GEC Second Writing Course
• Math - Complete GEC quantitative and logical skills, Part B
• Foreign Language - Complete
• GEC - Complete 15-20 hours of Natural Science/Arts and Humanities/ Social Science GECs
• Continue Major Courses - (from the categories: Pre-1950s Cinema, Multicultural Component, and Film Elective hours (with no more than 5 hours at the 300 level or below)
• Continue Minor coursework (if applicable)
• Advising Conferences- have met with your Arts and Sciences academic counselor and with you major advisor

3^rd Year - 135 hours

• Math - Complete GEC quantitative and logical skills, Part B
• GEC - Complete 15-20 hours of Natural Science/Arts and Humanities/ Social Science GECs
• Continue Major Courses - (from the categories: Pre-1950s Cinema, Multicultural Component, and Film Elective hours (with no more than 5 hours at the 300 level or below)
• Continue Minor coursework (if applicable
• Advising Conferences- have met with your Arts and Sciences academic counselor and with you major advisor

4^th Year – 191 (minimum degree hours)

• GEC - Complete remaining hours of Natural Science/Arts and Humanities/Social Science GECs
• Complete Major (15 hours of Focus Area Courses - chosen in consultation with you major advisor and approved by the Director of Film Studies)
• Complete Minor (if applicable)
• Be certain you have completed the 597 GEC contemporary world course
• Check for completion of all required degree hours (minimum of 191, will vary with each student)
• Make sure you have at least 60 upper – division hours (300 level and above)

Apply for graduation (with your Arts and Sciences academic counselor) one quarter prior to the quarter in which you anticipate graduating.

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