Chair: Amy Lawrence
Professor M. Flanagan, A. Lawrence; Associate Professors M. Desjardins, J. K. Ruoff, M. J. Williams; Senior Lecturer J. E. Brown; Visiting Professor D. G. Ehrlich; Visiting Associate Professor W. F. Phillips; Adjunct Instructor M. S. Hanitchak; Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow P. Sundar.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
The Film and Media 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:
One Introductory course: Film Studies 1 (Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen) or Film Studies 2 (Introduction to Television )
Film Studies 20 Film History I (Silent to Sound)
Requirements:
One more survey film history course from the following:
1) Film Studies 21 History of Film II (1930-1960)
Film Studies 22 History of Film III (1960-1990)
Film Studies 23 Film History IV (1990-present)
2) One additional media history course from among the following: Film Studies 21, Film Studies 22, Film Studies 23, Film Studies 45 (U.S. Television History), Film Studies 42 (National Cinema); students may also petition to the department to count specific offerings of the following topics classes for credit in this requirement: Film Studies 41 (e.g. Genre: Animation History), Film Studies 46 (e.g. Topics in Television: Industrial Roots of the Information Superhighway) or Film Studies 47 (e.g. Topics in Film: Studio System or History of Documentary).
3) Film Studies 40 Theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies
4), 5), and 6) Three studies courses from among the following, at least one of which must be a Television Studies course ( Film Studies 44, Film Studies 45, Film Studies 46):
Film Studies 41 Genre
Film Studies 42 National Cinema
Film Studies 43 Film Creator
Film Studies 44 Television: A Critical Approach
Film Studies 45 U.S. Television History
Film Studies 46 Topics in Television
Film Studies 47 Topics in Film
Film Studies 48 Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies
Film Studies 50 Topics in Film Theory
7) One production Course form among the following:
Film Studies 30 Documentary Filmmaking
Film Studies 31 Filmmaking I
Film Studies 33 Screenwriting I
Film Studies 35 Animation: Principles and Practice
Film Studies 36 Experimental Filmmaking
Film Studies 37 Directing for the Camera
8) and 9) Two courses at an advanced level, one of which must be the culminat ing experience:
Film Studies 32 Filmmaking II
Film Studies 34 Screenwriting II
Film Studies 38 Advanced Animation
Film Studies 39 Advanced Videomaking
Any courses between Film Studies 41-48
Film Studies 49 Practicum in Digital Culture and New Technologies
Film Studies 50 Topics in Film Theory
Film Studies 80 Independent Study
Film Studies 93 Major Project
Film Studies 95 Honors Project
MODIFIED MAJOR IN FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
Students may modify Film and Media Studies with another related discipline with the permission of the Chair of Film and Media 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:
Prerequisites: One introductory course: Film Studies 1 Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen or Film Studies 2 Introduction to Television
Film Studies 20 Film History 1 (Silent to Sound)
1) One film or media history course from the following:
Film Studies 21 Film History (1930-1960)
Film Studies 22 Film History (1960-1990)
Film Studies 23 Film History (1990-present)
Film Studies 45 U.S. Television History
Film Studies 42 National Cinema
Students may also petition to the department to count appropriate Film Studies 41s (e.g.Genre: Animation History), Film Studies 46s (e.g., Industrial Roots of the Information Superhighway) or Film Studies 47s (e.g., Studio System, History of Documentary) for credit in this requirement.
2) Film Studies 40 Theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies
3) One studies course from among the following:
Film Studies 41 Genre
Film Studies 42 National Cinema
Film Studies 43 Film Creator
Film Studies 44 Television: A Critical Approach
Film Studies 45 U.S. Television History
Film Studies 46 Topics in Television
Film Studies 47 Topics in Film
Film Studies 48 Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies
Film Studies 50 Topics in Film Theory
4) One production course form among the following:
Film Studies 30 Documentary Filmmaking
Film Studies 31 Filmmaking I
Film Studies 33 Screenwriting I
Film Studies 35 Animation: Principles and Practice
Film Studies 36 Experimental Filmmaking
Film Studies 37 Directing for the Camera
5) and 6) Two Courses at an Advanced Level, one of which must be the culminating experience:
Film Studies 32 Filmmaking II
Film Studies 34 Screenwriting II
Film Studies 38 Advanced Animation
Film Studies 39 Advanced Videomaking: Documentary and Experimental
Any courses between Film Studies 41-48
Film Studies 49 Practicum in Digital Culture and New Technologies
Film Studies 50 Topics in Film Theory
Film Studies 80 Independent Study
Film Studies 93 Major Project
Film Studies 95 Honors Project
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 MEDIA STUDIES
The minor in Film and Media Studies consists of seven courses: Film Studies 1 Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen or Film Studies 2 Introduction to Television and six other courses. These six courses must be distributed as follows:
One Film History course from among the following:
Film Studies 20 Film History (Silent to Sound)
Film Studies 21 Film History (1930-1960)
Film Studies 22 Film History (1960-1990)
Film Studies 23 Film History (1990-present)
2), 3), and 4) Three studies courses from among the following, at least one of which must be a television studies course ( Film Studies 44,45 or 46):
Film Studies 41 Genre
Film Studies 42 National Cinema
Film Studies 43 Film Creator
Film Studies 44 Television: A Critical Approach
Film Studies 45 U.S. Television History
Film Studies 46 Topics in Television
Film Studies 47 Topics in Film
Film Studies 48 Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies
5) One Production Course
Film Studies 30 Documentary Filmmaking
Film Studies 31 Filmmaking I
Film Studies 33 Screenwriting I
Film Studies 35 Animation: Principles and Practice
Film Studies 36 Experimental Filmmaking
Film Studies 37 Directing for the Camera
Film Studies 49 Practicum in Digital Culture and New Technologies
Or
One Theory Course:
Film Studies 40 theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies
Film Studies 50 Topics in Film Theory
6) One other production, screenwriting, or studies course in line with 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.