Offered in: Chicago

Students interested in film may complete this six-course sequence that emphasizes the visual language of film and the medium's role in representing culture since its emergence in the 20th century. The core courses in the curriculum highlight the particular ways in which film engages its content, the varieties of interpretive elements and strategies that film entails, and the relationship between the historical development of the medium and the histories of the cultures in which it is embedded. Advanced electives include interdisciplinary courses in African-American Studies, English, History, Journalism and Media Studies, Philosophy, and Women's and Gender Studies covering topics related to specific cinematic themes and genres.

Requirements

Students must take FILM 201 FUNDAMENTALS OF FILM STUDIES and FILM 205 FILM HISTORY. After completing these two courses, students may choose an additional four courses from among a wide array of courses cross-listed between a range of departments, including Creative Writing, Communication, English and Philosophy, among others. Students pursuing these cross-listed Film Studies courses should register for them under the FILM designation. Since many of these are topics courses, it is possible to take the same course number more than once, as long as the topic is different in each instance.

Sample special topics courses include:

• Comics and Film
• Lens on Earth
• Philosophy in Film
• Dark Comedy in Film and Fiction
• History and Film
• Politics Goes to the Movies

Standards

Students will earn the Film Studies minor with a GPA of 2.5 in all eligible FILM courses; only grades of C- or higher will count toward the minor. Students must take at least one FILM course at the 300-level to earn the minor. Transfer students must complete at least three FILM courses at Roosevelt, and one of those three courses must be at the 300-level.