Film and Media Studies Concentration

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The Film and Media Studies Concentration promotes the development of multimedia literacy among our students, providing an interdisciplinary understanding of the history, theory, language, and cultural aspects of film and other audio-visual media. Combining introductory and advanced courses in film and media studies with electives from the humanities and the social sciences, the concentration seeks to create critically sensitive readers of film and media while fostering insight into one of the principal forms of art and communication in the contemporary era. Courses incorporate aesthetic, thematic, and theoretical analysis and include a variety of national cinemas in addition to the Hollywood tradition, promoting the multicultural sensitivity essential to mature world citizenship. Experience in film or video production helps to prepare students to function more effectively and participate more actively in the ever-developing multimedia culture of the 21st century.

Some departments offer seminars or permit independent studies in film and media. Check with the faculty liaison for specific approval (prior to enrollment) to include one of these in the concentration.

Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of six courses to include:

CIS 220 - Introduction to Film and Media Studies
A 400-level seminar in Film and Media Studies approved by the concentration

Four electives selected from the following courses:

2. No more than two production courses may be included in the concentration.

3. Only one independent study may be included in the concentration.

4. No more than two courses in the concentration may also be in the student’s major field of study.

5. No more than two courses taken away from Davidson may be counted toward the concentration.

6. A grade of “C-”or higher must be earned in all graded courses applied toward the concentration.

Application Procedure

The Film and Media Studies Concentration is administered by the Film and Media Studies Advisory Committee. The faculty liaison is Dr. Maggie McCarthy. Students submit a written application to the Advisory Committee by the last day of the fall semester of the junior year. The application will specify the courses to be used to satisfy the concentration requirements. If one of the proposed electives is an independent study, the student shall provide for the Advisory Committee’s approval a complete description of that course prior to the term of enrollment. Certification of completion of all the requirements for the concentration is made by the Registrar upon the recommendation of the Film and Media Studies Advisory Committee.