Film Studies Major Requirements

How to Declare

Students who wish to declare a Film Studies major should first fill out a major declaration form through Slate. Once submitted, Julissa Acosta will assign a major adviser. The majority of students will be assigned Meg McLagan, a Visiting Professor in Film Studies. Students should then send the major form to the Registrar's Office via email.  

Film Studies Major Requirements

Please note that Columbia courses have been renumbered and retitled, but content remains the same.

The major requirements a total of 36 credits, namely twelve 3-point courses. However, only seven courses are required and five are electives. Six of the courses must be taken at Barnard or Columbia. Moreover, we will no longer separate survey courses into “American” and “International.” Please note that most classes are offered only one semester per academic year.

TWO INTRODUCTORY-LEVEL COURSES:

1. FILM BC3201 (or FILM UN1000):  Introduction to Film and Media Studies (prerequisite for further Film and Film Studies courses at Columbia and Barnard. Open to first-year students.)

2. FILM GU4000: Film and Media Theory. PLEASE NOTE THAT FILM AND MEDIA THEORY IS OFFERED ONLY IN THE FALL TERM.   

TWO OF THE FOLLOWING, ONE OF WHICH MUST BE CINEMA HISTORY 1 OR 2:

FILM UN2010: Cinema History 1: Beginnings to 1930
FILM UN2020: Cinema History 2: 1930-60
FILM UN2030: Cinema History 3: 1960-90
FILM UN2040: Cinema History 4: After 1990

LABS IN CRITICAL/CREATIVE PRACTICE – 1 REQUIRED:

FILM UN2410: Laboratory in Writing Film Criticism
FILM UN2520: Laboratory in Nonfiction Film-Making
FILM UN2420: Laboratory in Screenwriting
FILM UN2510: Laboratory in Fiction Filmmaking
FILM BC3119: Screenwriting
FILM BC3120: Feature Film Screenwriting
FILM BC3200: Production
FILM BC3260: Inside the TV Writers' Room
FILM BC3275: Non-Fiction Digital Video Production

INTERNATIONAL CINEMA REQUIREMENT:

One course on a non-American cinema (from Film Studies or other departments)

SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR:

Choose either:

FILM UN3900: Senior Seminar in Film Studies
or the English/Film Senior Seminar given by the Barnard English Dept.

ELECTIVE COURSES – CHOOSE 5 in either Film Studies or in related departments that will help you construct your Film Studies major (to be approved by Professor Reagan). These courses include but are not limited to:

FILM UN2310: Documentary Tradition
FILM UN2190: Topics in American Cinema
FILM UN3925: Narrative Strategies in Screenwriting
FILM UN3930: Seminar in International Film
FILM UN2400: Script Analysis
FILM UN2290: Topics in World Cinema: Arab and Africa
FILM UN3910: Senior Seminar in Filmmaking
FILM UN3920: Senior Seminar in Screenwriting
FILM UN3925: Narrative Strategies in Screenwriting
FILM UN3900: Senior Seminar in Film Studies
FILM BC3245: American TV Drama

Please Note:

1. The prerequisite for all classes is FILM BC3201 (or FILM UN1000) Introduction to Film and Media Studies, open to first-year students.
2. Film Studies does not offer Independent Study.
3. There is no minor in Film Studies.
4. Regretfully, auditors are not allowed in Barnard Film Production or Screenwriting classes.