Film and Media Studies Major

Major Requirements

The major consists of nine courses, as follows:

Foundational Course

FMST 200 - Introduction to Film and Media Studies

Media Practice Course

One course from the following:

Additional Courses (Six)

Six additional courses, at least three of which are at the 300-level or above, and at least two of which are FMST-prefix courses.

No more than three courses from a single department or program outside of FMST may be counted toward the major.

Students are welcome to choose the six courses from any (and as many) of the below categories as they wish; students are, however, strongly encouraged to take at least one course from the Film and Media in a Global Context category.

Film and Media in a Global Context


Media Practice


Film History and Theory


Media History and Theory


Sonic Media Theory and Practice


FMST 400 - Special Topics in Film and Media Studies   (variable focus)

Additionally, students may work with their major adviser to select up to two elective courses not listed here that constitute a focus area within film and media studies. In order to count towards the major, focus area courses must be approved by the major adviser and the program director. Examples of possible focus areas are: mass/popular culture, gender/sexuality, language, representation/subjectivity, narrative/narratology, digital and new media, etc. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of possible focus areas.

Senior Seminar Course

Additional Information

Courses comprising the major may be taken in any order; however, it is highly recommended that students take FMST 200 early in the program.

Students should be aware that certain courses have departmental prerequisites. It is the student’s responsibility to fulfill these prerequisites, even if those courses themselves do not count toward the major in film and media studies.

No more than one course counted toward this major may also count toward another major or minor.

Major Declaration

Students may declare the major after successfully completing FMST 200 with a grade of C or better.

Film and Media Studies Program

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the Film and Media Studies program catalogue page.