Cinema Studies Minor Course Plan
The MCA Minor in Cinema Studies consists of 15 credits. This includes two required courses within the MCA Department: MCA 121: Introduction to Film Studies and MCA 221: Film History I. In addition, students must take three additional elective critical studies courses in MCA or other departments. Each term the Program Director will establish a list of accepted electives
These courses may include selections from Anthropology, Art, Asian Studies, Black Studies, Comparative Literature, English, Foreign Languages & Literature, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American & Latino Studies, Media & Communication Arts, Philosophy, and other disciplines.
Past courses have included, among many others:
- Visual Anthropology
- Japanese Film
- Shakespeare on Film
- Feminist Literature & Film
- Post War Italian Cinema
- The Holocaust & Film
- Indian Cinema & Popular Culture
- Film History II
- Documentary Film
- Film Noir
- Science Fiction
- Philosophy & Film
Suggested Course Sequence
Semester 1
MCA 121 Introduction to Film Studies 3 credits (offered every term)
Semester 2
MCA 221 Film History I 3 credits (offered fall semester only)
and/or
ELECTIVE
Semester 3
MCA 222 Film History II 3 credits (offered spring semester only)
and/or
ELECTIVE
Semester 4
ELECTIVE
Learning Outcomes
Students who Minor in Cinema Studies will be able to:
- Identify key developments in the history and aesthetics of film;
- Analyze the role of social, technological, and historical forces in the shaping of cinematic representation;
- Compare and contrast the classical Hollywood style of cinema and other Western and non-Western culturally specific models of cinema;
- Test popular notions of film history against scholarly concepts;
- Demonstrate visual and narrative literacy through film analysis skills;
- Practice critical thinking about the role of moving images in our society.
