2010/2011-12
PROPOSED MANDATE FOR UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
TITLE: B.A., Major Program in Theatre and Film, Minor in Theatre Studies, Minor in Film Studies
OBJECTIVE: To establish the new major of “Theatre and Film” and the Minors of “Theatre Studies”
and “Film Studies,” in the new Department of Music, Theatre and Film.
REASONS FOR PROPOSED MANDATE:
1. To provide a rigorous program in the Film and Theatre Arts that fosters intellectual
curiosity, understanding, awareness and nurtures creative expression.
2. To equip student with the necessary creative, technical, and analytical tools for subsequent
study in film and/or theatre and adequately prepare those student for professional work in
the field.
3. To educate students not only in the demands of their discipline, but in the understanding of
how their work fits into the broader creative, social and historical context.
4. To provide a major the meets the educational norms of the College of Arts & Sciences,
encouraging breadth of engagement as well as a specified focus for advanced work.
5. To advance the major offerings of Saint Joseph's University and provide a prominent new
program, valuable for recruiting a broader applicant pool and raising the University’s
profile as an educator in the Arts.
RECOMMENDED FOR STUDY BY WHICH BODY?
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Faculty Senate:
Academic Policies and Procedures Committee
Faculty Senate:
Faculty Policies and Procedures Committee
College Council:
College of Arts and Sciences
College Council:
Haub School of Business
Standing Committee on Student Affairs, Full-time Undergraduate
Standing Committee on Student Affairs, Part-time Undergraduate/Graduate
Administrative/Staff Council
Signature:
_____________________________ Date:_____________________
Deron Albright & Renee Dobson
14 March 2011
Please forward to the Provost who serves as Chair of the University Council, along with complete
documentation to substantiate the need for the proposed mandate.
Department of Music, Theatre, and Film
Proposed B.A. Major Program in Theatre and Film, Minors in Theatre Studies and Film Studies
INTRODUCTION
The B.A. major program in Theatre and Film, and associated minors in Theatre Studies and Film
Studies, proposes to be one of two majors (the other being a B.A. in Music) in the newly formed
Department of Music, Theatre and Film, and aims to create a rigorous and highly visible new program
at Saint Joseph's University. Built on the praxis of analysis and creation, the major explicitly targets
the SJU Plan 2020 goal of Academic Distinction through curricular innovation, student research, and
experiential learning. Furthermore, the major directly engages Plan 2020’s goal of creating a
Transformative Student Experience by building a program that implements transformative learning
goals, develops engaging new programming and building a cohesive educational community in
Theatre and Film - where none has previously existed.
The B.A. Major Program in Theatre and Film, and associated Minors in Theatre Studies and Film
Studies proposed here have been unanimously approved by the members of the Department of Music,
Theatre, and Film, 4-0-0 (Associate Professors Albright, Dobson, Sorkin and Assistant Professor
Morgan)
RATIONALE
General Description
The Department of Music, Film and Theatre will offer a B.A. major in Theatre and Film; associated
with the major program will be associated minors in Theatre Studies and Film Studies. At the core of
all degree programs are the shared values of historical insight, analytical rigor, technical proficiency,
and creative expression.
Objectives
The proposed program in Theatre and Film aspires to bring the following to Saint Joseph's University:
1. A rigorous program in the Film and Theatre Arts that fosters intellectual curiosity,
understanding, awareness and nurtures creative expression.
2. A program that equips student with the necessary creative, technical, and analytical tools
for subsequent study in film and/or theatre and adequately prepare those student for
professional work in the field.
3. A program that educates students not only in the demands of their discipline, but in the
understanding of how their work fits into the broader creative, social and historical context.
4. A program taht meets the educational norms of the College of Arts & Sciences,
encouraging breadth of engagement as well as a specified focus for advanced work.
5. A program that expands curricular offerings of Saint Joseph's University and provides a
prominent new platform for recruiting a broader applicant pool and raising the University’s
profile as an educator in the Arts.
Evidence of Need and Demand
Interest in Theatre and Film is clearly evident in some of the following facts:
 Each semester, over 100 students enroll in Film courses offered by the Department of Fine
and Performing Arts alone


Each year, anywhere between 100-125 students participate in theatrical performance on
campus as either on-stage talent or off-stage production staff or in the orchestra pit for
musicals.
Our Cap & Bells Scholarship is one of the most competitive on campus, providing
scholarship assistance to students who perform (onstage or as backstage crew members) in
the mainstage Bluett Theatre university theatre season.
Yet despite these numbers, the curriculum currently in place in the Department of Fine and Performing
Arts does not allow for concentrated study and thus pushes serious pursuit of Theatre and Film into
more of an extracurricular activity. A dedicated major program will allow students to pursue their
interest in a context much more to their personal and educational goals.
Secondly, the University has made a major commitment to programs in the Performing Arts through
the renovation of Bluett Theatre, the opening of the Music Studio Buildings on the Maguire Campus,
and the commitment of renovation of the Merion Theatre (Maguire campus) into a Performing Arts
facility complete with production stage/theatrical black box; recital hall/cinema, editing and design lab,
offices and classrooms.
Finally, offering a major with specific tracks in Theatre and Film bring Saint Joseph's University much
more in line with both its Jesuit peer institutions and “comparison group” of schools, the
overwhelming majority of which have dedicated programs in both Theatre and in Film, even if they are
not always housed together. (For example, Theatre and Film are separate majors housed in the
Department of Visual and Performing arts at Fairfield University, are separate majors in separate
departments of Communications and of Theatre at Fordham University, and are separate majors in
departments of Communication and of Fine Arts at Loyola, MD.) In short, the proposed major in
Theatre & Film will offer an attractive program that makes SJU significantly more competitive in
recruiting students with committed interests in the performing arts.
CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES
The major program in Theatre and Film models itself on both successful programs at peer institutions
such as Franklin & Marshall College and Notre Dame (see “Comparison Programs” below) and a
respected major already in place at SJU in the Department of English. Students begin with a unified
core that combines historical study, theoretical analysis, and creative expression, before moving to a
specific track appropriate to their personal, educational and professional goals.
In the curriculum outlined below, courses are noted as follows:
EC: existing course, fully staffed and supported
NC: new course, able to be staffed and supported with current resources
NX: new course requiring additional staffing and/or resource
Each course is also followed by a number indicating the number of times the course would be offered
in a typical 4 semester cycle. For example, an existing course taught every semester would be labeled
“EC4,” while a new course offered only in spring semesters would be marked “NC2.” Following the
course list is a tentative 4-semester schedule of courses offered to meet the requirements of the major.
Major in Theatre and Film
Each student is required to take the following five Theatre & Film common courses:
MTF 160
Introduction to Theatre
EC2
MTF 260
Acting I
EC2
MTF 191
Introduction to Film
EC4
MTF 284
Digital Filmmaking (formerly Film & Media Production) EC4
MTF 495
Senior Project
EC2
Students then select a track in which to complete the major.
Track 1 – Theatre Track (five courses)
MTF 267
Theatre Design
MTF 264
Acting II
MTF xxx
World Theatre History
MTF 261
Performance Practicum
MTF 265
Directing for the Stage OR
MTF 268
Musical Theatre History & Performance
EC1
EC2
NC1
EC4
EC2
EC2
Track 2 – Musical Theatre Track (five courses)
MTF 151
Music Fundamentals
MTF 251
Music Theory I
MTF 264
Acting II
MTF 268
Musical Theatre History & Performance
MTF xxx
Musical Theatre Dance Styles
EC2
EC2
EC2
EC2
NC4
Track 3 – Film Track (five courses)
MTF 282
Screenwriting I
2x
Elective Cinema Studies courses
2x
Elective Production Workshop courses
Film Concentration Courses
Production Workshops
MTF 383
Film Directing
MTF 382
Screenwriting II
MTF 384
Digital Cinematography
MTF 385
Audio for Digital Media
MTF 386
Editing & Digital Post Production
MTF 288
Documentary Workshop
MTF 3xx
Animation Workshop
MTF 2xx
Producing & Business of Film
Cinema Studies Courses
MTF 292
European Cinema (rotating)
MTF 293
Asian & Pacific Cinema (rotating)
MTF 294
World Cinema (rotating)
MTF 291
American Film (rotating)
MTF 295
Major Figures in Film (rotating)
MTF 393
Special Topics in Film (rotating)
MTF 391
Film Theory and Criticism
EC2
(see list below)
(see list below)
EC1
EC1
NC1
NX1
NC1
NX1
NX1
NX1
EC1
EC1
EC1
EC2
EC2
EC1
EC1
Typical Course Rotation – for EC and NC courses, able to be implemented immediately
Fall Year 1
Spring Year 1
Fall Year 2
Spring Year 2
Core:
Intro to Film
Intro to Film
Intro to Film
Intro to Film
Digital Filmmaking Digital Filmmaking Digital Filmmaking Digital Filmmaking
Production:
Screenwriting I
Producing
Screenwriting I
Audio for Media
Cinematography
Screenwriting II
Editing & Digi Post Film Directing
Cinema Studies:
American Film
Major Figures
American Film
Major Figures
European Cinema
Topics/Theory&Crit Asian Cinema
World Cinema
Finally, students are required to complete the following Common Requirements
Applied Practicum (3x 1 credit)
Department Seminar (4x 1 credit)
Integrated Learning Component
As part of the GEP, all majors in Theatre & Film will complete the following Integrated Learning
Component:
ART Art Studio Course
ART Art History Course
ENG Literature or Dramaturgy Course
The program in Theatre and Film also proposes to offer two distinct Minor programs – a Minor in
Theatre Studies and a Minor in Film Studies. The curricula are as follows:
Minor in Film Studies (six courses total)
Required Courses:
MTF 191
Introduction to Film
MTF 282
Screenwriting I
MTF 284
Digital Filmmaking (formerly Film & Media Production)
Elective Courses:
Three Other Film Courses of the Students Choosing
Common Requirement:
Department Seminar (2x 1 credit)
Minor in Theatre Studies (six courses total)
Required Courses:
MTF 160
Introduction to Theatre
MTF 260
Acting I
MTF 265
Directing for the Stage
Elective Courses:
Three Other Theatre Courses of the Students Choosing
Common Requirement:
Department Seminar (2x 1 credit)
COMPARISON PROGRAMS
In researching the development of the major program in Theatre and Film, we were surprised to find a
somewhat limited number of direct comparisons to the curriculum we are proposing. Further research
showed that this was due principally to the significant size of both Theatre and Film programs at a
single university rather than some kind of radical programmatic divergence. In short, it was the
success of the individual elements of the program that generated a need for further division. And, in
fact, separate majors in Theatre and Film continue to be frequently housed in the same department, just
as Departments of Theatre and Departments of Film are frequently housed in the same university
college. It also should be noted that a unified major of Theatre and Film seems to be more normalized
at Canadian Universities, with the University of Winnipeg, University of British Columbia, and
McMaster University all offering a major similar to the one proposed here.
The programs with a single major that we did find, however, are extremely popular and successful on
their respective campuses, and we have every reason to believe that the same will be the case at SJU.
(For detailed program descriptions, please see Appendix I: Comparison Programs below.) Franklin
and Marshall College offers a B.A. in Theatre, comprising unified major with tracks; the University of
Notre Dame offers a B.A. Film, Television and Theatre with tracks; the University of Colorado,
Denver offers a unified B.A. in Theatre, Film and Television, as well as a BFA degree in both Theatre
and Film; Saint Augustine’s College offers a B.A. Theatre and Film, unified major with tracks; and St.
Mary’s College, MD offers a B.A. in Theatre, Film & Media Studies, unified with tracked majors.
RELATION TO OTHER PROGRAMS ON CAMPUS
As was stated above, the Major in Theatre and Film is one of two new majors (alongside Music) in the
newly formed Department of Music, Theatre and Film. The rather autonomous functioning of these
areas under the previous umbrella of “Fine and Performing Arts” allows for a both a smooth transition
to an independent program and continued good relations with colleagues across the breadth of the Arts.
In addition, Theatre courses will continue to remain a significant part of the English track in
Drama/Theatre Studies, while the Film Production courses provide a core element (Digital
Filmmaking) and numerous electives for the new major in Communication Studies, making possible
the pooling of production and facility resources across programs.
IMPACT ON GEP
As with other 10-course majors in the humanities, students will have significant choice in filling out
their educational program and should find no significant difficulty in fulfilling the demands of the
GEP. The major in Theatre and Film is happy to connect its ILC with courses in Studio Art and Art
History, as well as afford students the opportunity to pursue further study in English Literature or
Dramaturgy. For each ILC selection, there are a great number of courses, available each semester, so
we believe the impact will almost entirely positive (in terms of curricular goals) relative to impact.
As part of the division of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, it was determined that courses
in EITHER of the new departments would continue to fill the GEP ART/LIT requirement, so the major
(and department) looks forward to continued enrollments of significant size. And finally, the major is
flexible enough to develop courses that meet the Non-Western/Diversity/Globalization requirement of
the new GEP (such as the already approved World Cinema: Sub-Saharan Africa course) as well as
service learning (such as a Documentary workshop focusing on Community Mediamaking, Urban
Theatre Workshop, etc.)
STATEMENT ON BUDGET AND RESOURCES
At present, music, theatre, and film curricula and programs are funded through the Department of Fine
& Performing Arts’ administrative budget and income from course-related fees, as well as
supplemental budgets for Cap & Bells (Theatre), the University Singers (Music) and Cultural Affairs.
The administrative division of F&PA into departments of Fine Arts and Music, Theatre, and Film
presumed a relatively continuous flow of budget and resources.
 The Administrative Assistant will be shared between the two departments
 The administrative budget will be split between the two departments
 Current offices and classrooms will be maintained until new space (already planned) is
ready on Maguire Campus (following same plan as established by F&PA
 New classroom and production space developed as part of same plan established by
F&PA
 Continued GEP arrangement maintains similar income of course-related fees
One notable change will be a more integrated relationship with ITDL for equipment and lab
management, especially as the “film” part of the program works in confluence with the developing
program in Communication Studies.
While current needs are (and will be met) by the budgetary structure currently in place in is our hope
that a new mechanism will be developed that recognizes the larger facility and infrastructure needs of a
serious program in the performing arts.
APPENDIX I
COMPARISON PROGRAMS
FRANKIN AND MARSHALL
Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
www.fandm.edu/theatre-curriculum-overview
Curriculum Overview
The theater program at F&M integrates theory and practice as students develop historical knowledge and critical
thinking skills and combine them with current practices in performance, playwriting, directing, design and
studies in drama.
Introductory courses, as well as departmental productions, are open to all college students, including those
without previous theater experience.
Theater Major Requirements
Theater majors take a core of eight courses in the following areas: acting, technical theater, textual, critical,
theoretical and historical study and theatrical media. Majors also select a concentration either in performance,
design, film or theater studies and gain practical and creative experience working on departmental productions.
A major in Theater consists of a minimum of 11 credits and the successful completion of at least two crew
assignments. The following eight courses are required of all theater majors:
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TDF 105 and 106 - World Theater 1 and 2
TDF 221 - Stagecraft
TDF 286 - Beginning Acting Workshop
TDF 311 - Seminar in Theatrical Media
TDF 385 - Performance Seminar (two at .5 credits each)
TDF 495 - Senior Seminar
One elective (any one-credit TDF course)
Also required is a concentration, consisting of three courses in one of the following areas:




Theater Studies (211, 250, 251, 340, 383, 485 or 489)
Performance (287, 288, 289, 386 or 388)
Design (225, 228, 229)
Film (165 and either 213, 267, 365, 370 or 373 and either 168, 361 or 362)
To be considered for honors in theater, graduating seniors must meet the College's general requirements for
honors, with a project approved by at least two members of the theater faculty.
Theater Minor Requirements
A minor in Theater consists of the successful completion of six courses (one each in theater studies, design and
performance), 311, two electives and one crew assignment.
Film and Media Studies Minor Requirements
A minor in Film and Media Studies consists of six courses, approved by the department chairperson. These six
courses will ordinarily include one textual analysis course, one film or television history course, one course in
video production or dramatic writing and one upper-level theory course.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Department of Film, Television & Theatre
http://ftt.nd.edu
Welcome to the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre!
Majors in film, television, and theatre at Notre Dame get more than an excellent liberal arts education—they also have the
advantage of being in a department with a high degree of student-faculty interaction, a wide variety of hands-on courses,
and state-of-the-art work and performance facilities. And we didn’t even mention the networking opportunities with ND
alums already in the entertainment industry...
FTT offers one of the most unusual academic opportunities anywhere. An external review praised the seamless integration
of critical studies and production coursework. The curriculum provides the intellectual breadth and rigor that one would
expect in any humanities major alongside courses that teach the practical skills of film, video and theatre production. We
actively encourage students to consider FTT as a component of a double major. Who says that accounting and acting don’t
mix? Perhaps this is why the department hosts one of the most diverse and lively combinations of students in the College of
Arts and Letters.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The primary goals of the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre are to inspire intellectual inquiry and nurture
creativity.
We offer both a scholarly and a creative context for the general liberal arts student at Notre Dame as well as those students
seeking intensive preparation for advanced study in these fields.
The hands-on nature of our curriculum, coupled with a very high degree of student-faculty interaction, provides students
with a singular educational opportunity at a university known for its teaching excellence.
Majoring in FTT
The Department of Film, Television, and Theatre offers a single major in film, television, and theatre. Ten
courses are needed to complete the major. Within the major, students choose from one of three concentrations...
Theatre Concentration – 10 courses
4 required core courses
 20703 Theatrical Production
 20704 Theatre History & Society
 20705 Performance Analysis
 20900 Script Analysis and Dramaturgy
Plus 6 Electives (see: http://ftt.nd.edu/major/)
At least 1 course from each of 3 groups: Performance, Theatre Studies, Theatre Management
3 other Electives
Film Concentration – 10 courses
4 required core courses
 10101/20101 Basics of Film and Television
 30101 History of Film I
 30102 History of Film II
 40101 Film and Television Theory
Plus 6 Electives (see: http://ftt.nd.edu/major/)
3 @ 30000 level (Production Courses)
3 @ 40000 level (Film Studies), including 1 International elective
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, DENVER
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/CAM/programs/tfvp/Pages/index.aspx
The Department of Theatre, Film & Video Production (TFVP)
Theatre, Film, and Video Production Classroom
All entering students beginning their studies are enrolled in an integrative course sequence designed to establish a
collaborative educational context and create a foundation for advanced study that is informed by allied disciplines and an
understanding of complementary areas of concentration. This cross-disciplinary sequence is an experience in the varying
techniques and modes of live and recorded drama, from conception to creation. Topics are woven together in coursework
to incorporate both theory and practice, and include studies in:






Performance
Dramatic and cinematic literature
Camera equipment and techniques
Production design
Costume design
Criticism and analysis

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


Collaborative creation
Scriptwriting
Playwriting
Directing
Staging
No matter what campus a student studies at, or what track they decide to endeavor down, each and every course provides
students with the fundamental understanding of technical, creative, and storytelling issues, and endows them with the
opportunity to focus and hone their craft, find their own expressive voice, and graduate with a portfolio of professionalquality accomplishments.
BA in Theatre, Film & Television
Theatre/Film Foundations Courses** 38 credits
FILM 1050
FILM 1060
FILM/THTR 1100
THTR 1110
FILM/THTR 1550
FILM/THTR 1611
FILM 2090
THTR 3540
FILM 3820
FILM 3820
THTR 3820
THTR 3820
FILM/THTR 3910
FILM/THTR 4910
Production/Post-Production I or 4
Camera/Multi-media Production 3
Intro to Theatre, Film & Television 3
Production Design 3
Scriptwriting I 3
Acting Lab I 3
Production Management 3
Directing: Text & Analysis 3
Production Process 2
Production Process 2
Production Process 2
Production Process 2
BA Junior Project 1
BA Senior Project 1
Theatre/Film Elective Courses 15 credits
Theatre, Film & Television Minor
REQUIRED COURSES (15 credits)
THTR/FILM 1100
Intro to Theatre, Film & TV
THTR/FILM 1050 Production/Post-Production I
CHOOSE ONE:
THTR/FILM 1611 Acting Lab I
THTR/FILM 1100 Production Design
FILM 2090 Production Management
CHOOSE TWO:
THTR 3610 Theory/History/Criticism I
THTR 4610 Theory/History/Criticism II
ENGL 3070 History of Silent Film
ENGL 3080 History of Sound Film
SAINT AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE
http://www.st-aug.edu/Academics/divisions/lae/visual-performing/theatreandfilmcurriculum.htm
Theatre and Film Major
The Theatre and Film Program provides academic, creative, and practical instruction for students seeking
careers in the entertainment industry. Students gain academic knowledge and develop analytical skills from the
critical study of classical and contemporary plays, and narrative and documentary films. Students develop their
art while learning the crafts of directing, dramatic writing, and acting for both stage and screen. Practical
experience is gained through active participation in theatrical and film/video productions. Students receive
hands-on instruction in theatre technology, cinematography, and film/video editing. Students may earn a
Bachelor of Arts degree or a minor in Theatre and Film. Students prepare for advanced study at graduate and
professional levels and for employment in the theatrical and film industries.
Core level courses in Theatre and Film introduce students to both disciplines. As students advance, they may
select their area of concentration. Class sizes are small enough to offer individual attention to all students. The
facilities include a 300-seat proscenium theatre, soundstage, and editing suite. State of the art equipment
provides opportunities for practical, hands-on experience in production for both stage and film/video.
Theatre and Film Curriculum
The following requirements must be met in order to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Film.
Courses
Hours
General Education Requirements
Liberal Arts Requirements
PHIL
231
Introduction to Philosophy
CIS
240
Microcomputer Software Application
Literature Course
Visual and Performing Arts Course
Total Liberal Arts Requirements
47
3
3
3
3
12
Theater and Film Major Production Core Requirements
Students take ALL of the courses below:
TDF
110
Introduction to Theater
TDF
111
Film Appreciation
3
3
TDF
120
Acting I
TDF
150
Technical Theatre
TDF
180
Theatre Production I
TDF
231
Introduction to Screenwriting
TDF
251
Camera and Lighting
TDF
280
Theatre Production II
TDF
281
Motion Picture Production I
TDF
285
Documentary I
TDF
360
Theatre Directing
Total Theater and Film Major Production Core Requirements
3
3
1
3
3
2
3
3
3
30
Major Electives Sequence I
(Select five (5) - one (1) must be from Theater and one (1) from Film)
TDF
220 Acting II
TDF
230 Playwriting
TDF
322 Voice and Movement for the Actor
TDF
324 Acting for the Camera
TDF
335 Feature Screenwriting I
TDF
340 Theatre History and Criticism
TDF
361 Motion Picture Directing
TDF
380 Theatre Production III
TDF
381 Motion Picture Production II
TDF
385 Documentary II
15
Major Electives Sequence II
(Select three (3) from the courses below)
TDF
320 Acting III
TDF
326 Make-Up for the Actor
TDF
337 Feature Screenwriting II
TDF
345 Film History and Criticism
TDF
351 Advanced Camera and Lighting
TDF
355 Motion Picture Editing
TDF
390 Internship
TDF
392 Special Topics
TDF
428 Auditioning
TDF
431 Advanced Screenwriting
TDF
455 Advance Editing
TDF
480 Theatre Production IV
TDF
481 Motion Picture Production III
Electives
Grand Total Theatre and Film Major Requirements
9
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
9
122
SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE (MD)
Department of Theatre, Film & Media Studies
http://www.smcm.edu/tfms/theprogram.html
About the Program
Liberal Arts Setting
Our approach to the study and practice of theater, film, and media is grounded in a liberal arts environment that values
interdisciplinary and culturally plural perspectives. The lively exchange of ideas and practices across disciplines sparks our
activities in classrooms, on stage and screen, and in the studios.
Innovative Curriculum
Our curriculum includes not only the study of literature, screen media, and history, but also a full range of theater,
film, and media arts, including: acting, directing, dance, scriptwriting, technical theater, computer-aided drawing
(CAD), computer graphics, digital filmmaking, scenic, costume, and lighting design. Core courses are continuously
updated to keep pace with latest developments, and topics courses provide coverage of cutting-edge scholarship,
techniques, and technologies.
Requirements for the Theater Studies Major
In addition to satisfying the general college requirements, students majoring in theater studies must complete 48 credithours of course work in the TFMS department. Following is a list of required and elective courses that satisfy the theater
studies major. Courses are four credit-hours, unless otherwise noted; those courses marked with an asterisk should be
completed by the end of the sophomore year.
1. Required courses:
*TFMS 170: Stagecraft
*TFMS 171: Elements of Design
*TFMS 200: Theater in History
*TFMS 220: Introduction to Film and Media Studies or TFMS 221: Film and Media Production Modes
*TFMS 230: Acting I
*TFMS 250: Movement I
TFMS 300: Modern Theater
TFMS 371: Production Lab (one credit-hour): Majors must complete a minimum of four credit-hours
2. One course chosen from:
TFMS 251: Introduction to Traditional African Dance
TFMS 255: Modern Dance I
TFMS 258: Dance in History
TFMS 260: Topics in Dance/Movement
TFMS 350: Movement II
TFMS 355: Modern Dance II
TFMS 360: Dance Improvisation and Composition
TFMS 460: Advanced Topics in Dance/Movement
3. One course chosen from:
TFMS 310: Shakespeare
TFMS 315: Japanese Film
TFMS 325: Documentary Practices
TFMS 326: World Cinema
TFMS 420: Mediated Bodies: Gender, Race, and Class on Stage and Screen
Any topics or experimental course numbered 300 or higher and cross-listed in TFMS
4. One course chosen from:
TFMS 340: Directing
TFMS 374: Lighting Design
TFMS 375: Costume Design for Stage and Screen
TFMS 376: Scenic Design for Stage and Screen
5. Senior Experience:
Requirements for the Film and Media Studies Major
In addition to satisfying the general college requirements, students majoring in film and media studies must complete 48
credit-hours of course work in the TFMS department. Following is a list of required and elective courses that satisfy the
film and media studies major. Courses are four credit-hours, unless otherwise noted; those courses marked with an asterisk
should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
1. Required courses:
*TFMS 130: Idea into Performance
*TFMS 200: Theater in History or TFMS 300: Modern Theater
*TFMS 220: Introduction to Film and Media Studies
*TFMS 221: Film and Media Production Modes
TFMS 320: Film History
TFMS 371: Production Lab (one credit-hour): Majors must complete a minimum of four credit-hours
2. Two courses chosen from:
ANTH 304: Anthropology of Media
HIST 447: History of Russian and Soviet Cinema
ILAS 350: Latin American Cinema
TFMS 315: Japanese Film
TFMS 326: World Cinema
TFMS 420: Mediated Bodies: Gender, Race, and Class on Stage and Screen
Any topics or experimental course numbered 300 or higher and cross-listed in TFMS
3. Two courses chosen from:
ART 214: Introduction to Digital Imaging
TFMS 171: Elements of Design
TFMS 228: Media Production I
TFMS 230: Acting I or TFMS 234: Acting for the Camera
TFMS 340: Directing
TFMS 346: Screenwriting
TFMS 374: Lighting Design
TFMS 375: Costume Design for Stage and Screen
TFMS 376: Scenic Design for Stage and Screen
4. One course chosen from:
ARTH 410: After Modern Art, 1945 to the Present
ENGL 230 (Literary Topics): History of American Film
ENGL 400 (Studies in Genre): Film Genre
TFMS 325: Documentary Practices
TFMS 425: Advanced Topics in Film and Media
5. Senior Experience.
Minor in Theater Studies
Students choosing to minor in theater studies are responsible for designing a cohesive area of study in consultation with a
member of the department faculty. The minor in theater studies is 20 credit-hours. Each course is four credit-hours, unless
otherwise noted. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1. TFMS 130: Idea into Performance
2. TFMS 200: Theater in History or TFMS 300: Modern Theater
3. An additional 12 credit-hours chosen from course offerings in the theater studies focus area, including any
approved topics or experimental courses that are cross-listed in TFMS. Four credit-hours must be at the 300- or
400-level. Students may include TFMS 290/490: Practicum (1-2 credit-hours).
Minor in Film and Media Studies
Students choosing to minor in film and media studies are responsible for designing a cohesive area of study in consultation
with a member of the department faculty. The minor in film and media studies is 20 credit-hours. Each course is four credithours, unless otherwise indicated. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
1. TFMS 220: Introduction to Film and Media Studies or TFMS 221: Film and Media Production Modes
2. TFMS 320: Film History or TFMS 326: World Cinema
3. An additional 12 credit-hours chosen from course offerings in the film and media studies focus area, including any
approved topics or experimental courses that are cross-listed in TFMS. Four credit-hours must be at the 300- or
400-level. Students may include TFMS 290/490: Practicum (1-2 credit-hours).