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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Second language (two semesters at Elements/First-Year level or demonstrated proficiency equivalent to one year of Elements/First-Year) 1 | 6-10 | |
| AS.061.140 | Introduction to Cinema, 1892-1960 | 3 |
| AS.061.141 | Introduction to Cinema, 1960-present | 3 |
| AS.061.150 | Introduction to Film Production | 3 |
| AS.061.145 | Introduction to Digital Video Production: Visual Language | 3 |
| or AS.061.152 | Introduction to Digital Video Production | |
| or AS.061.205 | Introduction to Screenwriting | |
| AS.061.226 | Special 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.061.440 | Senior Capstone Project: Production | 3 |
| or AS.061.441 | Senior Capstone Project: Critical Studies | |
| or AS.061.542 | Senior Capstone Project: Screenwriting | |
| Total Credits | 51-55 | |
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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 Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.061.140 | 3 | AS.061.141 | 3 |
| AS.061.226 | 3 | AS.061.205, 145, or 152 | 3 |
| One semester of a second language | 3-5 | One semester of a second language | 3-5 |
| 9-11 | 9-11 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.061.150 | 3 | One 300-level critical studies course (POS-Tag FILM-CRITST) | 3 |
| One 200-level critical studies film course (POS tag FILM-CRITST) | 3 | One 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 Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| Two 300- or 400-level critical studies courses (POS-tag FILM-CRITST) | 6 | Two Film and Media Studies Electives (AS.061.XXX)1 | 6 |
| 6 | 6 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.061.440, 441, or 542 | 3 | Two Film and Media Studies Electives (AS.061.XXX)1 | 6 |
| 3 | 6 | ||
| Total Credits 51-55 | |||
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At least two of the four Film and Media Studies Electives must be at the 300- or 400-level.