Academic Advising Resource Center

Cinema and Media

Why take courses in Cinema and Media?

​​The Department of Cinema and Media introduces students to the craft, history, and cultural meaning of film, television, and digital media. Students work with faculty mentors and with their peers to become thoughtful media storytellers and to make festival-quality non-fiction, animated, experimental, and live-action fiction films. They also study media and cinema from a variety of critical perspectives, exploring our current visual culture and learning how that culture has been shaped by past traditions of visual representation. 

What kinds of questions does Cinema and Media explore?

  • What are media and cinema, really, and how do they work?

  • Are documentaries actually more “real” or “truthful” than fictional films?
  • What is a story, how does it work, and why is it so essential in movies?
  • What gives movies and television shows so much cultural and political power?

 

What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Cinema and Media?

Understanding how movies are made (and trying it yourself!) will enhance your critical understanding of cinema, just as a knowledge of the history and theory of cinema will make you a stronger filmmaker. For both students with prior experience and those new to the field, our courses integrate the creative and critical study of cinema and media to help you make first-rate films and acquire the intellectual formation to understand why they matter.

Taking Courses

Courses for non-majors or general interest

  • All 100- and many 200-level courses are open without prerequisites and are a good place to start if you’d like to see if this field interests you.

Getting started in the major

Students interested in majoring in cinema and media should plan to take CIME 290 What is Cinema? by the end of their sophomore year, but they can also begin with CIME 115 Film Production Studio, CIME 211 What is Media?, CIME 295 Cinematic Storytelling, or any other 100- and 200-level courses

    Advanced Placement Credit 

    Cinema and Media does not accept AP/ HL-IB credits. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores. 

    Majoring in Cinema and Media

    Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.

    Sample Four-Year Plans
      Fall Spring
    Y1 CIME 1XX CIME 2XX
    Y2 CIME 290 CIME 326
    Y3 Study Away  
    Y4 CIME 3XX CIME 3XX
      Fall Spring
    Y1    
    Y2

    EAST 2XX

    CIME 1XX

    		 CIME 211
    Y3

    ENGL 3XX

    CIME 2XX

    		 CIME 3XX
    Y4

    ENGL 3XX

    THEA 3XX

    		 CIME 3XX

     

    Related Areas of Study

    Africana Studies, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, East Asian Studies, Languages, Studio Art, Theater

    Learn More

    Cinema and Media Major Requirements
    Cinema and Media Department