Film and Media Studies Major Requirements

(See also Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree.)

Because the program emphasizes the historical, cultural, and social context of cinema, Film and Media Studies is an excellent program for undergraduates interested in a broadly humanistic education as well as for those preparing for a career in the field. A departmental faculty advisor assigned to each undergraduate major helps plan individual courses of study. Undergraduates are encouraged to participate fully in all departmental activities. 

 All courses applied toward the major must be taken for a letter grade and a grade of C- or better must be earned. Courses taken at another institution that are not directly equivalent to a JHU course may not apply towards the major without permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

The requirements listed below are for students entering JHU in the Fall 2023 and later.  Students who entered prior to Fall 2023 should refer to their catalogue year of entry in the archived catalogues.  

Writing and Communication in the Major

Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication foundational ability coursework in one major. For the Film and Media Studies major, students would be able to fulfill this requirement by completing AS.061.226 Special Topics: Writing About Film, a required 3 credit course of the major, and by selecting one FMS course with POS-tag CRIT-ST or SCRWRT (at least 3 credits) that is designated as a Writing and Communications course. 

Second language (two semesters at Elements/First-Year level or demonstrated proficiency equivalent to one year of Elements/First-Year) 16-10
AS.061.140Introduction to Cinema, 1892-19603
AS.061.141Introduction to Cinema, 1960-present3
AS.061.150Introduction to Film Production3
AS.061.145Introduction to Digital Video Production: Visual Language3
or AS.061.152 Introduction to Digital Video Production
or AS.061.205 Introduction to Screenwriting
AS.061.226Special Topics: Writing About Film (or other Special Topics w/Writing Intensive designation)3
One 200-level critical studies film course (POS-tag CRITST)3
Three 300- or 400-level critical studies film courses (POS-tag CRITST)9
One 200- or 300-level production course (FILM-PROD) or One 200- to 400-level screenwriting course (FILM-SCRWRT) 3
Two Film and Media Studies Electives (AS.061.1xx-4xx)6
Two Upper-Level Film and Media Studies Electives (AS.061.3xx-4xx)6
AS.061.440Senior Capstone Project: Production3
or AS.061.441 Senior Capstone Project: Critical Studies
or AS.061.542 Senior Capstone Project: Screenwriting
Total Credits51-55
1

Languages that currently apply towards this requirement include: American Sign Language, Ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Yiddish.

Sample Program of Study

First Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
AS.061.1403AS.061.1413
AS.061.2263AS.061.205, 145, or 1523
One semester of a second language3-5One semester of a second language3-5
 9-11 9-11
Second Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
AS.061.1503One 300-level critical studies course (POS-Tag FILM-CRITST)3
One 200-level critical studies film course (POS tag FILM-CRITST)3One 200- or 300-level production course (POS-tag FILM-PROD) or one (1) 200- to 400-level screenwriting course (POS-tag FILM-SCRWRT)3
 6 6
Third Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
Two 300- or 400-level critical studies courses (POS-tag FILM-CRITST)6Two Film and Media Studies Electives (AS.061.XXX)16
 6 6
Fourth Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
AS.061.440, 441, or 5423Two Film and Media Studies Electives (AS.061.XXX)16
 3 6
Total Credits 51-55
1

At least two of the four Film and Media Studies Electives must be at the 300- or 400-level.