Discover the film studies curriculum
Film Studies at USD was developed with the nature of film — a diverse and multivalent cultural and aesthetic form — at its core. Our interdisciplinary approach helps students to develop a critical literacy of many types of moving image media.
In taking a variety of film courses across the disciplines, students discover interests in film criticism and research which contributes to their work in various creative endeavors. Film studies students develop visual analysis skills, as well as critical thinking and writing skills.
The Film Studies Minor
18 units total, including at least 9 upper-division units. The minor requires two Film Studies courses (FILM 101, FILM 301). The other four courses must be taken from at least two of the following departments: Art, Architecture + Art History; Communication; English; History; and Languages, Cultures and Literatures.
Students are required to take the following: | ||
FILM 101 | Introduction to Cinema | 3 |
or ARTH 144 | Introduction to Cinema | |
FILM 301 | Introduction to Film Theory | 3 |
Select at least 12 units from the following list. Courses must be taken from at least two different departments. At least six units must be upper-division. | 12 | |
Art, Architecture + Art History | ||
ARCH 355 | Architecture, Film & Media: The Space of the Screen | |
ARTH 345 | The Avant-Garde and Mass Culture: Art and Politics | |
ARTH 356 | Race, Ethnicity, Art and Film | |
ARTH 357 | Global Film and 'Asia' | |
ARTH 358 | Mexican Cinema | |
ARTV 104 | Introduction to Animation | |
ARTV 108 | Introduction to Video Art | |
ARTV 308 | Virtual Reality and 3D Studio | |
ARTV 320 | Topics in Video Art | |
ARTV 323 | Film and the Female Gender | |
ARTV 324 | Intermediate / Advanced Video Art | |
ARTV 355 | Architecture, Film & Media: The Space of the Screen | |
Communication | ||
COMM 321 | Advanced Video Production | |
COMM 432 | Film and Cultural Politics | |
COMM 433 | American Independent Cinema | |
COMM 434 | Documentary Film | |
COMM 437 | Writing for Screen Media | |
English | ||
ENGL 372 | Film Studies | |
History | ||
Some HIST offerings may be film courses. See below. | ||
Languages, Cultures and Literatures | ||
CHIN 347 | Chinese Cinema:Postsocialism and Modernity | |
ITAL 403 | Studies in Italian Film | |
SPAN 430 | Studies in Hispanic Film | |
Total Units | 18 | |
Additional courses may be used to satisfy the elective requirement in the Film Studies minor, if the topic is appropriate. Examples include: ARTH 494, COMM 494, ENGL 385, FREN 394, HIST 155, HIST 362, HIST 375, LANG 194, SPAN 427. Consult the Program Director for information about these courses.