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Courses + Requirements

Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

Courses

In addition to regularly scheduled academic and production courses, the program offers advanced study on a one-to-one basis with a professor. Recent tutorials include Film Sound; Buñuel, Almodóvar, and the Catholic Church; and LGBTQ Archiving​.

Visit the course list to see what's offered in the current semester.
Course List

See the College Catalogue for a sampling of courses over the last four years.
College Catalogue

Requirements

A student’s first year is devoted primarily to acquiring a historical and critical background. The focus in the sophomore year is on learning the fundamentals of production and working toward Moderation. In the Upper College, students choose one of two tracks: production or film history and criticism. The junior year is devoted mainly to deepening and broadening the student’s creative and critical awareness; the senior year to a yearlong Senior Project.

Production Track

  • Moderation Requirements
    1.     Film and Electronic Arts history course (AA)
    2.     Film and Electronic Arts history course (AA)
    3.     200-level film or video production course (PA) (sophomore year; not including elective courses such as Writing the Film)
    4.     200-level film or video production course (PA) (sophomore year; not including elective courses such as Writing the Film)

    Students must complete at least one film history course before they may take a production course. Production courses (PA) at the 200-level and above are not open to first-year students. Students can only take one production course per semester in the sophomore year. For Moderation, each prospective major in production presents to the board a creative portfolio (15–20 minutes of completed films, videos and/or other electronic artworks and, optionally, a short original script). 
  • Graduation Requirements
    5.     Film 208, Introduction to 16mm Film (or another 200- or 300-level production course, not including elective courses such as Writing the Film)
    6.     300-level film or video production course (PA)
    7.     300-level film history course (AA)
    8.     Senior Seminar I (no credit)
    9.     Senior Seminar II (no credit)
    10.   Senior Project I
    11.   Senior Project II

    The Senior Project can take a variety of forms: 1) a work in film or video, 2) a media installation, 3) a media-enriched live performance, or 4) an online project or new media work designed in conjunction with the adviser.
     

Film History and Criticism Track

  • Moderation Requirements
    1.     Film and Electronic Arts history course (AA)
    2.     Film and Electronic Arts history course (AA)
    3.     Film and Electronic Arts history course (AA)
    4.     200-level film or video production course (PA) (sophomore year; not including elective courses such as Writing the Film)

    For Moderation, prospective majors in film history and criticism present a 10-page historical/critical essay. 
  • Graduation Requirements
    5.     300-level film history course (junior year) (AA)
    6.     300-level film history course (AA)
    7.     a course outside the program related to proposed Senior Project work
    8.     Senior Project I
    9.     Senior Project II

    Additional upper level requirements for history and criticism are charted in consultation with one’s adviser. The Senior Project in history and criticism takes the form of an extended, in-depth historical/critical essay.