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:

1. Identify key developments in the history and aesthetics of film;
2. Analyze the role of social, technological, and historical forces in the shaping of cinematic representation;
3. Compare and contrast the classical Hollywood style of cinema and other Western and non-Western culturally specific models of cinema;
4. Test popular notions of film history against scholarly concepts;
5. Demonstrate visual and narrative literacy through film analysis skills;
6. Practice critical thinking about the role of moving images in our society.