Undergraduate Film Studies
What does it mean to study film at the university level?
- It means you have an interest in film as an art form and object of study, and that you want to develop skills in analyzing, theorizing, and historicizing cinema beyond the multiplex experience.
- It means you are eager to engage familiar films and genres through less familiar methodologies, and that you are open to films from different cultures, nations, and moments in time.
- It may also mean that you want to pursue screen writing and film-style production in conjunction with the study of film.
Regardless of the path you choose, the study of film will not only enhance your knowledge and appreciation of global cinematic culture, it will also help you to sharpen your critical writing skills, your powers of analytical thought, and your comprehension of how we construct meaning from the moving image. From Dakar to Hollywood, from the popular to the avant-garde, from the late 19th century to our contemporary moment, film studies classes explore a range of cinematic practices and ways of thinking about this international art form.
Graduates of this program are ready for graduate school in film and media studies, entry-level jobs in the film industry, or work in fields like advertising, public relations, and software development that draw upon their skills in visual studies, film language, and critical writing.
For students interested in the serious engagement of the cinematic arts, the Department of English offers three tracks of stud listed below.
PLEASE NOTE: The CAL Film Studies Specialization has been phased out and replaced by a Minor in Film Studies under the aegis of the Department of English. Students who were planning on graduating in fall 2009 or spring 2010 with a film studies specialization should contact Ruth Mowry(mowry@msu.edu) or Ellen McCallum(emc@msu.edu) about their status.
Specialization in Fiction Film Production
Students may also be interested in the Specialization in Documentary Studies
*Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read PDF documents.
