Major in Film--35 hours Reference #667 (BA Degree) revised 6/2010

The major in film provides undergraduates a strong fundamental appreciation for cinema theory and criticism, as well as the practical skills to produce their own films. With the opportunity to complete coursework in a variety of disciplines, including English, broadcasting, theatre, and anthropology, the major features a strong interdisciplinary approach to the subject of cinema.

The major in film (reference number 667) requires a minimum of 35 credit hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The major is composed of required courses in both film production and film theory and appreciation, culminating in a 1-credit senior seminar and a pair of required 2-credit workshops/seminars. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required courses applied to the film major. One-half of the hours (18-hours) in the film major must be at the 300 or 400 level. Students are encouraged to participate in relevant study abroad opportunities.

A minor or a second major in another discipline outside the area of mass communication is required. No more than 6 hours in the film major may count toward a student’s minor.  Refer to the University catalog for more information.

http://www.wku.edu/undergraduatecatalog/

Required courses:  (Pre-requisites in parentheses)

1) Core (19 hours)

Students must take each of the following courses:

FILM 201    Introduction to the Cinema or BCOM 271 prior to fall 2010

THEA 101  Acting I

BCOM 350 Scriptwriting for Film & Television (FILM 201/BCOM 271 or BCOM 325)

BCOM 366 Video Editing, Aesthetics & Techniques  (BCOM 266 or FILM 201 or permission)

BCOM 367 Field Production (spring) (BCOM 366)

BCOM 376 Film Production for Television (fall) (BCOM 367)

FILM 485    Senior Seminar (1-hr) (capstone) (spring only) (major in film and senior standing)

2) Electives (12 hours)

Students must take four of the following courses, including at least two in the world cinema category and one in the genres & theory category. Other courses may be approved as a restricted elective upon approval of the faculty advisor in the major and the program coordinator.

Genres & Theory

ANTH 448  Visual Anthropology (Junior level or higher)

BCOM 378 Film Animation (fall)                                                                                                               Download the Film Major Brochure

ENG 309    Documentary Film (fall odd years) (ENG 200 or permission)

ENG 365    Film Adaptation (fall) (ENG 200)

ENG 465    Film Genres (spring) (ENG 200 and either FILM 201 or ENG 365)

ENG 466    Film Theory (fall odd years) (ENG 366, 365; FILM 201, or permission of instructor)

FILM 399    Special Topics in Film

World Cinema

BCOM 481 Problems in Mass Communication [Special Topic: World Cinema /Study Abroad]

ENG 366    History of Narrative Film (spring even years) (ENG 200)

ENG 368    Japanese Cinema in Translation (ENG 200)  (course suspended 2012)

FILM 369    World Cinema (FILM 201 or permission)

FREN 450  Topics in Francophone Cinema (ENG 200)

GERM 437 German Literature and Film (GERM 314 or equivalent)

PS 303        Politics and Film

SPAN 490   Hispanic Cinema (SPAN 370 or SPAN 371 plus one other 300-level class)

3) Workshop/Seminar (4 hours)

Students must take four credit hours from the following courses, either of which may be repeated:

FILM 482  Film Production Workshop (2-hr) (FILM 201)

FILM 483  Film Studies Seminar (2-hr) (18 hrs in major and senior standing)

4-year graduation plan 

 The following four-year table will help you plan your program in the film major. Every student will finish with a unique plan of their own, depending on their minor area of study or second major, electives selected, etc. This plan is an example, to help execute your degree program in consultation with your faculty advisor in the film major.  (rev. 8/2012)

                                       Fall semester                                                         Spring semester

Freshman Year	FILM 201 (30) ENG 100 or COMM 161 (Category A Gen. Ed.) Gen. Ed. MATH 109 or 116 or higher Foreign language (Category A Gen. Ed.) UC 175 (2 hrs) (optional) PE 101 (1-hr) (Category F Gen. Ed.) (15 hours)	THEA 101 ENG 100 or COMM 161 (Category A Gen. Ed.) HIST 119 or 120 (Category C Gen.Ed.) Category B general education Category D general education PE 101 (1-hr) (Category F Gen. Ed.) (16 hours)
Sophomore Year	BCOM 366 ENG Lit 200 (Category B Gen. Ed.)* Category D/L general education Category C general education Minor course (15 hours)	BCOM 367 World Cinema Elective Category B general education Category E general education Minor course (15 hours)
Junior Year	BCOM 376 Genres & Theory Elective ENG 300 Category A General Education Category C General Education Minor course (15 hours)	BCOM 350 World Cinema Elective Minor course Minor course General Elective (15 hours)
Senior Year	FILM 482 or 483 (2-hr) World Cinema or Genre & Theory Elective Minor course Minor course General Elective General Elective (17 hours)	FILM 482 or 483 (2-hr) FILM 485 (1-hr) (capstone) Minor course Minor course General Elective (12 hours)

*Note: ENG 200 Literature is a pre-requisite to many of the required and elective ENG courses in the major.