Film Studies
Degree: BA
Campus: Columbus
College: Arts and Sciences
Film Studies is an interdisciplinary humanities major that explores cinema through theory, history and media analysis. Students engage with a wide range of topics, including screen histories, film genres and global screen cultures, while developing critical research, analytical and communication skills. The major also includes a focused subplan in Cinema and Culture, Film Production or Screenwriting, allowing students to tailor their studies to their interests and goals.
Film Studies is an open enrollment major with flexibility within the curriculum. Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in film studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students interested in film studies should consult with an Arts and Sciences advisor and with the program’s academic advisor as soon as possible. English 2263: Introduction to Film is a prerequisite for the major and fulfills part of the general education requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences. This prerequisite should be taken early by any student potentially attracted to this major.
Incorporating fields such as art, history, languages, popular culture and communications, the Film Studies major concentrates on cinema as an international social practice. Courses in early, multicultural and experimental traditions as well as related electives provide further exploration in the field.
Students also choose an upper-level subplan in Film Production, Cinema and Culture or Screenwriting. They also complete an intensive senior seminar during the last year of study.
Students complete the following degree requirements:
- Pre-requisite course, Introduction to Film (3 credit hours)
- Core courses in film theory, history, analysis (6 credit hours)
- Non-industrial and non-fiction film courses (6 credit hours)
- Global screen cultures course and screen histories course selections (6 credit hours)
- Film studies electives (9 credit hours)
- Focus area subplan in cinema & culture, film production, screenwriting (9 credit hours)
- Senior seminar (3 credit hours)
There is no foreign language requirement beyond the general education requirements, but all students, especially those whose focus area concentrates on a non-English speaking national cinema or topic, are encouraged to complete three semesters in a foreign language.
Internships are an important part of the academic experience and add important development opportunities for students pursuing careers in any aspect of film production and film studies.
In recent years, Film Studies and Moving-Image Production Majors have interned with:
- 3Arts Entertainment
- 4th Row Films
- Big10+ network
- Broadway Video
- CBS
- CM Rubin World
- Cohen Media Group
- Disney Professional Program/ABC
- Epicenter Literary Management company
- Groundswell Pictures
- OHD Studios
- OSU Department of Athletics
- Okay Goodnight
- Silver Pictures
- Sundance
- WOSU Public Media
- and more
Scholarships are departmentally awarded to students participating in film internships to support costs associated with tuition and participation.
Qualified students may seek to complete a senior honors thesis, in which they pursue an area of scholarship under the close supervision of a faculty member.
Students majoring in film studies may apply to either the Humanities Scholars or Arts Scholars programs. The Ohio State Scholars Program provides students opportunities to live and learn with students with similar interests and incorporates specialized workshops, programming, mentoring and advising.
Learn more about Honors and Scholars programs:
The Department of Theatre, Film and Media Arts embeds experiential learning and research as core pedagogical approaches, integrating these aspects into the curriculum.:
- Scaffolded coursework
- Faculty-mentored research
- Capstone projects
- Integrated archival research assignments
- Applied learning
- Study abroad
Assignments and structured, mentored experiences ensure that students are able to apply disciplinary knowledge in professional, creative and scholarly contexts prior to graduation with intentional reflection built into each stage.
The Ohio State University has student organizations focused on many aspects of film and media, including:
- Animation Club
- Art & Technology Club
- Business of Entertainment Club for arts/business students
- Cinéseries screening group
- Female Gaze Screening Club
- Film and Video Society discussion group
- Mad Royal Film Society collaborative filmmaking club
- Many other cinema and media related organizations, including gaming, film genre clubs, photography. sketch comedy and others
These groups offer film screenings, trivia nights, production opportunities, trips to film festivals and community for film interested students.
Film Studies students explore the historical, social and political dimensions of film, television, and culture broadly, with knowledge and practice in analysis, synthesis and expression that many employers find vital. Graduates of the program understand media objects, industries, aesthetics, and socio-political contexts.
Students are also trained in written and oral argumentation, audio-visual presentation and creative practice. Graduates are well-suited to a variety of careers in the arts, including:
- Teaching and higher education
- Marketing and public relations
- Film production/distribution/exhibition
- Archival, artistic or cultural management
- Civil service, consulting roles
- and more
Film Studies is a wonderful major for those who
- Want to teach or research media
- Desire to work with cinema and arts organizations (such as film archives and festivals)
- Seek humanities or communications-based careers.
Many of our students are successful in graduate programs for film, filmmaking, library sciences, humanities and law.