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Film and Media Studies

Interim Chair Professor L. A. Higgins

Professors M. Desjardins, M. Flanagan, J. Mack; Associate Professors R. Risam,  J. K. Ruoff, M. J. Williams, P. Young, J. D. Wernimont;  Assistant Professor I. Kwayana; Visiting Professor J. Rapf; Visiting Associate Professor W. F. Phillips; Affiliated Faculty G. Gemünden, D. Washburn, M. White Ndounou, T. Keaton, D. Garcia; Lecturers J. Bell, J. D. Chamberlain.  

 

To view Film and Media Studies courses, click here. 

 

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 number of courses in film and video production, animation, game design, digital media, data studies, and screenwriting. The major provides a common basis for all students in the theory, history, and criticism of film, television and new media, games, and digital humanities, and requires at least one course with a production component. Beyond this, the major allows students to shape their own emphasis (for instance, history and criticism, or screenwriting). The major requirements are as follows:

Two Prerequisites

1. One introductory course: FILM 1 Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen; or FILM 2 Introduction to Television; or FILM 3 Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture

2. FILM 20 Film History I (Silent to Sound)

Nine Required Courses

1. One film history course from the following: 

• FILM 21 Film History II (1930-1960)
• FILM 22 Film History III (1960-1990)
• FILM 23 Film History IV (1990-present)

2. One additional film or media history course from among the following:

• FILM 21 Film History II (1930-1960)
• FILM 22 Film History III (1960-1990)
• FILM 23 Film History IV (1990-present)
• FILM 45 U.S. Television History
• FILM 42's National Cinema

Students may also petition to the Chair to count specific offerings of the following topics classes for credit in this requirement:

• FILM 41's (such as FILM 41.09 History of Animation)
• FILM 46's  (such as FILM 46.01 TV and Histories of Gender)
• FILM 47's (such as FILM 47.05 History of Documentary)

3. FILM 40 Theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies

4. One television studies course from among the following:

• FILM 45 U.S. Television History

• FILM 46's Topics in Television/Broadcast Media

5. and 6. Two additional studies courses from among the following:

• FILM 41's Genre
• FILM 42's National Cinema
• FILM 43's Film Creator
• FILM 44's Theory Meets Practice
• FILM 45 U.S. Television History
• FILM 46's Topics in Television/Broadcast Media
• FILM 47's Topics in Film
• FILM 48's Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies
• FILM 50's Topics in  Media Theory

7. One production course from among the following:

• FILM 30 Documentary Videomaking
• FILM 31 Filmmaking I: Basic Elements of Film
• FILM 33 Writing for the Screen I
• FILM 35 Animation: Principles and Practice
• FILM 36's Videomaking
• FILM 37 Directing for the Camera
• FILM 51 Game Design Studio

8. and 9. Two courses at an advanced level, one of which must be the Culminating Experience:

• FILM 32 Filmmaking II
• FILM 34 Writing for the Screen II
• FILM 38 Advanced Animation
• FILM 39's Advanced Videomaking
• Any courses between FILM 41's—FILM 48's
• FILM 49's Practicum in Digital Culture and New Technologies
• FILM 50's Topics in Media Theory
• FILM 80 Independent Study
• FILM 93 Major Project
• FILM 95 Honors Project I

 

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 and Media Studies can be either the major or the minor part of a modified major. 

When Film and Media Studies is the major part of the modified major the requirements are as follows:

Two Prerequisites

1. One introductory course: FILM 1 Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen; or FILM 2 Introduction to Television; or FILM 3 Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture

2. FILM 20 Film History 1 (Silent to Sound)

Six Required Courses

1. One film or media history course from the following:

• FILM 21 Film History II (1930-1960)
• FILM 22 Film History III (1960-1990)
• FILM 23 Film History IV (1990-present)
• FILM 45 U.S. Television History
• FILM 42's National Cinema

Students may also petition to the Chair to count specific offerings of the following topics classes for credit in this requirement:

• FILM 41's (such as FILM 41.09 History of Animation)
• FILM 46's  (such as FILM 46.01 TV and Histories of Gender)
• FILM 47's (such as FILM 47.05 History of Documentary)

2. FILM 40 Theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies

3. One studies course from among the following:

• FILM 41's Genre
• FILM 42's National Cinema
• FILM 43's Film Creator
• FILM 44's Theory Meets Practice
• FILM 45 U.S. Television History
• FILM 46's Topics in Television/Broadcast Media
• FILM 47's Topics in Film
• FILM 48's Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies
• FILM 50's Topics in  Media Theory

4. One production course form among the following:

• FILM 30 Documentary Videomaking
• FILM 31 Filmmaking I: Basic Elements of Film
• FILM 33 Writing for the Screen I
• FILM 35 Animation: Principles and Practice
• FILM 36's Videomaking
• FILM 37 Directing for the Camera
• FILM 51 Game Design Studio

5. and 6. Two courses at an advanced level, one of which must be the Culminating Experience:

• FILM 32 Filmmaking II
• FILM 34 Writing for the Screen II
• FILM 38 Advanced Animation
• FILM 39's Advanced Videomaking
• Any courses between FILM 41's—FILM 48's
• FILM 49's Practicum in Digital Culture and New Technologies
• FILM 50's Topics in Media Theory
• FILM 80 Independent Study
• FILM 93 Major Project
• FILM 95 Honors Project I
  
  

Modifying another Major with Film and Media Studies

If Film and Media Studies is the minor part of the modified major, the requirements are as follows:

One Prerequisite

1. One introductory course: FILM 1 Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen; or FILM 2 Introduction to Television; or FILM 3 Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture

Four Required Courses

1.,2.,3., and 4.  Four film and media Studies courses from any category

Minor in Film and Media Studies

The minor requirements are as follows:

One Prerequisite

1. One introductory course: FILM 1 Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen; or FILM 2 Introduction to Television; or FILM 3 Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture. 

Six Required Courses

1. One film history course from among the following:

• FILM 20 Film History I (Silent to Sound)

• FILM 21 Film History II (1930-1960)

• FILM 22 Film History III (1960-1990)

• FILM 23 Film History IV (1990-present)

2. One television studies course from among the following:

• FILM 45 U.S. Television History

• FILM 46's Topics in Television/Broadcast Media

3. and 4. Two additional studies courses from among the following:

• FILM 41's Genre

• FILM 42's National Cinema

• FILM 43's Film Creator

• FILM 44's Theory Meets Practice

• FILM 45 U.S. Television History

• FILM 46's Topics in Television/Broadcast Media

• FILM 47's Topics in Film

• FILM 48's Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies

• FILM 50's Topics in  Media Theory

5. One production course among the following:

• FILM 30 Documentary Videomaking

• FILM 31 Filmmaking I: Basic Elements of Film

• FILM 33 Writing for the Screen I

• FILM 35 Animation: Principles and Practice

• FILM 36's Videomaking

• FILM 37 Directing for the Camera

• FILM 51 Game Design Studio

         Or one theory course among the following:

• FILM 40 Theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies 

• FILM 50's Topics in  Media Theory

6. One other production, screenwriting, or studies course  (any additional course from FILM 20 and above) in line with the area of major interest. 

 

Culminating Experience

The Culminating Experience requirement is designed to offer each student an opportunity to fulfill an enhanced and focused project related directly to their 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 may propose one of the following options to count as the Culminating Experience:

1. FILM 93 Major Project

   • A two-term commitment that can be pursued in studies, creation, or production.

   • Must attend the C.E. Seminar. The seminar instructor is the official advisor for all projects.

   • Available only in winter and spring terms.
     
     

2. FILM 95 and FILM 96 Honors Project I and II (See the Honors Program section below)

   • A more ambitious and higher caliber two-term commitment that can be pursued in studies, creation, or production. Must have an average in the major of 3.4 or higher (and a college average of 3.0 or higher).

   • Must attend the C.E. Seminar. The seminar instructor is the advisor for all projects.

   • Available only in winter and spring terms.
     
     

3. “extra work” in an offered advanced F&MS course

   • One-term commitment.

   • The F&MS course must be taught by a F&MS faculty member. 

   • The instructor of the course grants permission and is considered the project advisor.

   • The course cannot fulfill another requirement for the major.

   • This option may be pursued in any term.

Culminating Experience Seminar (Winter And Spring)

• Two-term project students are required to attend the C.E. Seminar, taught by a F&MS faculty member.

• Seminar attendance is recommended but not required for students pursuing their Culminating Experience Project as "extra work" in an offered F&MS advanced course during winter and spring terms.

• All students crafting Culminating Experience Projects are required to make brief presentations of their projects at the Senior Showcase held on week 8 of the spring term.

 

Project Advisors

Students for FILM 93 and FILM 95-96 don't need to seek advisors. The advisor will be the faculty assigned to the Culminating Experience Seminar for either winter or spring term. 

• Students may seek out faculty subject-matter experts across the department, but these mentoring sessions are limited to regular office hours from those faculty, or up to 2 special meetings a term.

• Students choosing the option "extra work" in an advanced F&MS course must contact the F&MS faculty member and receive permission to do "extra work" for the Culminating Experience Project within their class. The course's instructor will be considered the advisor for the project.

Requirements

BEFORE students propose or enroll for a Culminating Experience Project, they need to have taken:
FILM 1, 2, or 3
FILM 20
FILM 40

Note: If students are planning on taking FILM 40 in winter term of their senior year, they may only do a one-term culminating project.

• Proposals for summer or fall term Culminating Experience Projects "extra work" in an offered F&MS advanced course are due by May 15th of junior year. Proposals for winter or spring terms are due by October 15th of senior year.

• Attendance at the semi-annual Major’s Meeting  is required.

Proposal

All Culminating Experience Projects, whether one-term projects "extra work" in an offered F&MS advance course or two-term projects, must be proposed to the faculty and approved. The proposal template can be found on: https://film-media.dartmouth.edu/menufeature/undergraduate/major/culminating-experience

1. Write a description of the proposed culminating experience project (2-5 pages).

2. Briefly describe the format and goals of the project and how it represents the culmination of your major. Please be specific.

   • Does it extend work and interests developed in other classes?

   • Does it allow you to synthesize or isolate issues and ideas introduced in your major coursework?

   • Does it allow you to combine goals of the major with goals of your career or post-graduate academic work?

3. Indicate how long the project will be (in pages, minutes, etc.)

4. Indicate how long you expect it will take you to complete it

5. Indicate a budget if applicable.

For the option "extra work" in an offered F&MS advanced course, the course's instructor needs to assign the percentage of the course's final grade that the "extra work" would count for and sign the end of the Culminating Experience Cover Sheet form.

Reminders

• 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.
• Under extreme circumstances (such as medical leave), students may petition to alter or change their culminating projects, but approval is not guaranteed.
• Note that FILM 80 Independent Study is not an option for a Culminating Experience Project

Honors Program

Students who have an average in the major of 3.4 or higher (and a College average of 3.0 or higher) are eligible to pursue Honors in an ambitious two-term Culminating Experience Project. Students pursuing honors follow the same steps as detailed above. The rules for Culminating Experience Project Proposals apply.

Students with modified as well as standard majors may pursue Honors by enrolling in the FILM 95/96 sequence.  An Honors project may only be pursued in winter and spring terms and students receive two major credits.  If the finished project does not achieve a grade of 3.3 (B+) or higher, the FILM 95 Honors status will revert to FILM 93 (Major Project).  An 4 (A) grade in FILM 95 and FILM 96 may earn High Honors. For additional information, students should consult the Department Chair.

Transfer Credit
Permission of the Chair and a detailed description of the course is required for 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.