Chair: Mary Desjardins
Professor A. Lawrence; Associate Professors M. Desjardins, J. K. Ruoff, M. J. Williams; Senior Lecturer J. E. Brown; Lecturer C. M. Nottage; Visiting Professors D. G. Ehrlich, J. E. Rapf; Visiting Associate Professor W. F. Phillips; Adjunct Instructor M. S. Hanitchak.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN FILM AND TELEVISION STUDIES
The Film and Television Studies department at Dartmouth College offers a wide range of courses in the theory, history, and criticism of film and television as well as a limited number of courses in film and video production and screenwriting. The major provides a common basis for all students in the theory, history, and criticism of film and television, while at the same time asking that students take at least one course with a production component. Beyond this, the major allows students to shape their own emphasis within it (for instance, history and criticism or screenwriting).
Prerequisites:
Film Studies 1 (Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen)
Film Studies 20 (History of Film I)
Requirements:
Ten major courses, exclusive of the prerequisites, as enumerated below:
1) Film Studies 21 (History of Film II)
2) Film Studies 22 (History of Film III)
3) Film Studies 40: (Theories and Methodologies). Film Studies 40 should be taken in the Sophomore year. It may be approved for the Junior year, if absolutely necessary, in consultation with the chair.
4) Film Studies 41: A Genre Course or 43 or 47.
5) A National Cinema Course: Film Studies 42 (National Cinemas). Courses on film offered in language departments can be used to meet this requirement. If an outside course is not cross-listed with Film Studies, request permission from the Film Studies’ Chair.
6) A Television Course: Film Studies 44 (Television: A Critical Approach); Film Studies 45 (US Television History); Film Studies 46 (Topics in Television).
7) One course in Production: Film Studies 30 (Documentary Videomaking); Film Studies 31 (Filmmaking I); Film Studies 33 (Screenwriting I); Film Studies 35 (Animation: Principles and Practice); Film Studies 36 (Experimental Videomaking); Film Studies 37 (Directing for the Camera).
8 and 9) Two Courses at an Advanced level. Advanced courses include Film Studies 32 (Filmmaking II); Film Studies 34 (Writing for the Screen II), Film Studies 38 (Advanced Animation); Film Studies 39 (Advanced Videomaking. Documentary and Experimental); any Film Studies course at the level of 40 and above, including Film Studies 50 (Topics in Film Theory); Film Studies 80 (Independent Studies); Film Studies 93 (Major Projects) a two term project; Film Studies 95 (Honor Projects). Film Studies 80, 93, and 95 may be in screenwriting, production, or a thesis in film or television history/theory. These require departmental approval and must be applied for in the preceding term.
10) A Culminating Experience Course (see below).
MODIFIED MAJOR IN FILM AND TELEVISION STUDIES
Students may modify Film Studies with another related discipline with the permission of the Chair of Film and Television Studies and that of the chair of the related department. Film can be either the major or the minor part of a modified major. If film is the minor part of the modified major, the only prerequisite is Film Studies 1: Introduction to Film. The requirements are four other film studies courses. If film is the major part of the modified major the two prerequisite courses must be taken. The other specified requirements for the modified major are as follows:
Prerequisite: Film Studies 1 (Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen) and Film Studies 20 (History of Film I)
1) One of the following: Film Studies 41 (Genre), Film Studies 42 (National Cinemas), Film Studies 43 (The Film Creator: Directors, Producers, Actors, Writers); Film Studies 44 (Television: A Critical Approach) Film Studies 45 (U.S. Television History) or Film Studies 46 (Topics in Television), or Film Studies 47 (Topics in Film).
2) One production course: Film Studies 30 (Documentary Videomaking); Film Studies 31 (Filmmaking I); Film Studies 33 (Screenwriting I); Film Studies 35 (Animation: Principles and Practice); Film Studies 36 (Experimental Videomaking); or Film Studies 37 (Directing for the Camera).
3) Film Studies 40: Theories and Methodologies of Film and Television Studies. Film Studies 40 should be taken in the Sophomore year. It may be approved for the Junior year, if absolutely necessary, in consultation with the chair.
4) One of the following: Film Studies 50 (Topics in Film Theory), or a selection from Film Studies 21, 22, 41-47. (Film and Television Studies courses at the level of 40 or above may be repeated when the topic is different.)
5) An advanced course: Film Studies 34 (Writing for the Screen II), Film Studies 32 (Filmmaking II), Film Studies 38 (Advanced Animation), Film Studies 39 (Advanced Videomaking, Documentary and Experimental), Film Studies 50 (Topics in Film Theory), Film Studies 80 (Independent Study), Film Studies 93 (Major Project) a two term project, Film Studies 95 (Honors Project).
6) A Culminating Experience Course (see below).
CULMINATING EXPERIENCE
The Culminating Experience requirement is designed to offer each student an opportunity to fulfill an enhanced and focused project related directly to her/his emphasis within the major. It is required of both Majors and Modified Majors. This course will be selected and declared by each individual student, but must meet department requirements and schedules.
Students will work with faculty to determine the optimal design for the Culminating Experience course. Students may propose the following courses to count as the Culminating Experience:
1) An advanced class already being offered by the department, for which the student will do extra work for the culminating experience, and which is not fulfilling another requirement for the major;
2) A pre-arranged independent study (Film Studies 80: Independent Study, Film Studies 93: Major Project, or Film Studies 95: Honors Project).
Students considering how and when to fulfill the Culminating Experience requirement should keep in mind the following:
A) All Majors and Modified Majors must identify and consult a possible advisor by May 1 of their Junior Year. The cover sheet for this proposal is available in the Department office. Each proposal must be worked out in consultation with a faculty advisor and the cover sheet must be signed by the advisor. Proposals for Summer or Fall Culminating Experience courses are due in the Department office May 15th. Proposals for Winter or Spring Culminating Experience courses are due October 15th.
B) All Majors and Modified Majors are required to take Film Studies 40 before they propose or enroll in a culminating experience course. (Film Studies 40 should be taken in the Sophomore year. It may be approved for the Junior year, if absolutely necessary, in consultation with the chair.) Students are expected to have completed Film Studies 1 and Film Studies 20 prior to their Culminating Experience, or to be enrolled in those courses in their senior fall.
C) Production projects will be assessed in relation to the probability of their completion and to the rest of the production curriculum. Regularly scheduled courses will have priority regarding equipment demands.
D) Students may not be enrolled in more than one production course per term, including independent study courses.
E) Each faculty member is only available during select terms of each academic year. Projects related to a specific faculty member must be arranged in conjunction with her/his teaching schedule.
F) Students enrolled in Culminating Experience courses will complete this requirement at a celebratory dinner, to be held at least once per academic year, typically in the Spring term. Each student will make a brief presentation of her/his culminating project.
MINOR IN FILM AND TELEVISION STUDIES
The minor in Film Studies consists of seven courses: Film Studies 1 (prerequisite) and six other courses. These six courses must be distributed as follows:
Film Studies 42 (National Cinemas): Topic dealing with a non-United States cinema. It can be satisfied also by courses in film offered by the language departments (e.g., Russian Film).
A Film History Course (Film Studies 20, 21, or 22).
A Film Genre Course (Film Studies 41).
A Television Course (Film Studies 44 or 45 or 46).
A Production Course (Film Studies 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and occasional topics under Film Studies 10), or Film Studies 40: Theories and Methodologies of Film and Television Studies, or Film Studies 50: Topics in Film Theory.
Another production, screenwriting, or theory course in line with the area of major interest.
HONORS PROGRAM
Students who have completed at least five major courses and who have an average in the major of 3.4 or higher (and a college average of 3.0 or higher) are eligible to apply for the Honors Program.
Students wishing to do a production project must submit a proposal to the Department in the term before the project is to begin. Honors projects that do not include production must be approved by the advisor and the Chair. Students with modified as well as standard majors may apply. The member(s) of the Department who will supervise the project will be confirmed at the time the proposal is approved. An Honors project usually extends through two terms and receives two major credits. For additional information, students should consult the Department Chair.
TRANSFER CREDIT
Permission of the Chair and a detailed description of the course will obtain provisional approval for transfer credit. Final approval will be granted on the basis of the Chair’s review of the syllabus and evidence of the student’s work in the course for which transfer credit has been requested. Three courses taken at other institutions may be substituted in fulfillment of the major requirements, provided that the program as a whole is consistent with the intent of the major. Of the three transferred courses, no more than two may be in film theory, history, and criticism, and no more than two may be in production.