For more information about graduate degrees in cinema studies, see the departments of the participating faculty.
Cinema Studies
Michael G. Aronson, Program Director
541-346-8104
541-346-8144 fax
201 McKenzie Hall
6223 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-6223
info@uoregon.College
The cinema studies major gives students the opportunity to study moving-image media as multicultural, transnational, and humanistic phenomena. Because cinema is inherently multidisciplinary, the major spans the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, and the School of Journalism and Communication, and includes a diverse array of courses in the history, theory, and aesthetics of cinema as well as in film production.
Based in the liberal arts, the bachelor of arts in cinema studies provides its graduates with a sound foundation for entering their chosen professions or continuing their education in graduate school. It also gives them the critical and analytic skills to adapt to the changes that are likely to occur in their professions throughout their lifetimes.
Students are encouraged to study overseas in programs that immerse them in different cultures and languages and, more specifically, in the study of cinema. They are also encouraged to work with faculty members to seek internships in their chosen areas of expertise.
Executive Committee
Michael G. Aronson, English
Richard Herskowitz, arts and administration
Lesli A. Larson, library
Gabriela Martinez, journalism and communication
Daisuke Miyao, East Asian languages and literatures
Kate Mondloch, history of art and architecture
Priscilla P. Ovalle, English
Kartz Ucci, art
Janet Wasko, journalism and communication
Participating Faculty
Michael Allan, comparative literature
Steven T. Brown, East Asian languages and literatures
Carl R. Bybee, journalism and communication
Kenneth S. Calhoon, comparative literature
John Fenn, arts and administration
Alisa D. Freedman, East Asian languages and literatures
Sangita Gopal, English
Colin H. Ives, art
Kathryn Rowe Karlin, English
Dong Hoon Kim, East Asian languages and literatures
David Leiwei Li, English
Katharina E. Loew, German and Scandinavian
Debra L. Merskin, journalism and communication
Daniel L. Miller, journalism and communication
Jon Palfreman, journalism and communication
Elizabeth M. Peterson, library
Jenifer Presto, comparative literature
John T. Ryan, art
Biswarup Sen, journalism and communication
Carol Stabile, journalism and communication
Ying Tan, art
Emeriti
William Cadbury, English
Julia Lesage, English
Sharon R. Sherman, English
Undergraduate Studies
The bachelor of arts in cinema studies consists of 56 credits divided among four categories: fundamentals, production, core courses, and electives. The major includes the option of graduating with honors. A bachelor of science degree is not offered.
Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade, and students must earn a grade of mid-C or better for credit toward the major. At least 28 credits must be taken in residence at the University of Oregon.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Fundamental Courses 1 | ||
| J 201 | Media and Society | 4 |
| ENG 260 | Media Aesthetics | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| History of the Motion Picture | ||
| History of the Motion Picture | ||
| History of the Motion Picture | ||
| Production Courses | ||
| Select one of the following Production A courses: 2 | 4 | |
| Introduction to Documentary Production | ||
| Introduction to Production | ||
| Introduction to Narrative Cinema Production | ||
| Select one of the following Production B courses: | 4 | |
| Time-Based Digital Arts | ||
| Interactive Digital Arts | ||
| Digital Video Production | ||
| Introduction to Animation | ||
| Experimental Animation | ||
| Documentary Production | ||
| Core Courses 3 | ||
| Choose from course list on the program website, cinema.uoregon.edu/2014-2015-course-lists | 24 | |
| Electives 4 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Introduction to Media Studies | ||
| Gender, Media, and Diversity | ||
| Politics and Film | ||
| Russian Literature and Film | ||
| Samurai in Film | ||
| International Communication | ||
| Film and Folklore | ||
| Total Credits | 56 | |
| 1 | Fundamental courses must be completed before entry into production courses. |
| 2 | After successful completion of a Production A course, students are eligible to register for Production B courses. |
| 3 | A total of 24 credit hours is required. At least two courses must have the CINE subject code. See the program website or an academic advisor for a complete list of approved courses. |
| 4 | Any of the courses listed for electives or any listed in the categories in the course list would fulfill this requirement. Titles will change from year to year; consult an advisor with questions. |
Cinema Studies Categories
Fundamental courses introduce majors to three central approaches to cinema studies: historical, social-institutional, and aesthetic. The production requirement offers majors a chance to learn the essentials of media production. The required courses in fundamentals as well as a selection of upper-division core courses strengthen students’ understanding of cinema as a dynamic, multicultural, and transnational phenomenon. Electives allow students to broaden their exposure to cinema and media studies, and are not focused exclusively on cinema but instead study it in relation to other modes of inquiry such as philosophy, literary studies, and sociology.
Students must complete six core courses, with at least one course from each subcategory: core A (institutions); core B (theory and criticism); and core C (national, regional, and transnational cinema). For students who declared the cinema studies major in fall 2013 or later: two courses in the core (8 credits out of the required 24) must have the CINE subject code.
Term Course Lists
For a list of courses that satisfy each category above, please consult the Term Course List for the current or future term.
Honors
Students receive program honors at graduation if they have a final cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 in cinema studies course work.
Please contact Shauna Riedel-Bash, academic advisor, with any questions: info@uoregon.College.
Certificate in Film Studies
The certificate in film studies requires 36 credits in courses chosen from four groups:
- Introduction to Film Studies
- Aesthetics, Theory, and Methods of Film Studies
- Film and Society
- Electives
| Introduction to Film Studies | ||
| ENG 265–266 & ENG 260 | History of the Motion Picture and Media Aesthetics | 12 |
| Aesthetics, Theory, and Methods of Film Studies 1 | ||
| At least one course from English, music, journalism and communication, or other schools or departments on media production and industries, film history, music, genres, and other topics emphasizing the aesthetic aspects of film | 8 | |
| Film and Society 1 | ||
| At least two courses from foreign-language departments, English, the social sciences, journalism and communication, or other departments and schools on national cinemas—China, France, Germany, Russia or other nations—and other topics emphasizing the social aspects of film | 8 | |
| Electives 1 | ||
| At least two electives in film studies area 2 | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| 1 | As many as four credits in independent study may fulfill requirement. |
| 2 | Selected in consultation with advisor, these courses can be in a related field, such as theater arts, or another film course. |
Students must earn a grade of mid-C or better in required courses, including independent studies.
Courses
CINE 320. Beginning Screenwriting. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the basics of writing for the screen. Provides students with an organized strategy for writing a feature film.
Prereq: ENG 260, J 201; two from ENG 265, 266, 267; one from ARTD 256, ENG 270, J 208.
CINE 330. Film Festivals. 4 Credits.
Takes students behind the scenes of the Cinema Pacific film festival. Surveys histories of film festivals in relation to their forms, functions, operations, marketing, curatorial missions, and social impacts.
Prereq: one from J 201, ENG 260, ENG 265, ENG 266, ENG 267.
CINE 350. Gender and Sexuality in European Cinema. 4 Credits.
Examines questions of gender and sexuality within the transnational and national contexts of Europe, including its diverse cinematic landscapes, traditions, and star imagery.
CINE 360. Film Theory. 4 Credits.
Introduction to theoretical debates about film as a medium of artistic expression in a transhistorical and global framework.
CINE 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable. Topics include Copyright and the Creative Commons, Films of Alfred Hitchcock, Films of Billy Wilder, Global Blockbusters, Global Reality Television, Hip-Hop and Screen Culture, Italian Postwar Film, Transnational Asian Cinema, Women in Film Noir.
CINE 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
CINE 404. Internship: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable for a maximum of 12 credits; only 4 credits may count toward the cinema studies major.
CINE 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable for a maximum of 12 credits; only 4 credits may count toward the cinema studies major.
CINE 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.
CINE 408. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
CINE 410. Experimental Course. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.
Prereq: one from ENG 110, 260.
CINE 420. Advanced Screenwriting. 4 Credits.
Provides advanced screenwriting students with an organized strategy for writing a feature film screenplay. Sequence with CINE 320.
Prereq: CINE 320 with grade of B– or better.
CINE 425. Cinema Production: [Topic]. 4 Credits.
Exploration of intermediate to advanced techniques used in cinema production—from music videos to digital sound recording to 16-millimeter film. Topics include Directing, Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera Production, Music Video Production. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes.
Prereq: ENG 260, J 201; two from ENG 265, 266, 267; one from ARTD 256, ENG 270, J 208.
CINE 508. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
CINE 510. Experimental Course. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.
CINE 520. Advanced Screenwriting. 4 Credits.
Provides advanced screenwriting students with an organized strategy for writing a feature film screenplay.