2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Film and Media Studies Minor


Banner Code: FILM

Phone: 703-993-2768
Web: fams.gmu.edu

Faculty

Christensen, Fuchs (director), Gibson, Landsberg, Lont, Ricouart, Roan, Sample, Scarlata, Winkler

It is obvious that movies, television, and the Internet have become an important part of everyday life. However, we don’t think of them as “serious” in the way traditional academic subjects are, though ironically they have much greater impact on our lives. If you want to know how these media really work, how they move and inspire us, and how they purvey certain ideas of race, class, gender, and sexuality – or if you’re just fascinated by them and want to understand the basis of your fascination – consider a minor in film and media studies. This minor a great adjunct to virtually any major, especially for students contemplating careers in education or communication.

The interdisciplinary minor in film and media studies explores mass culture in its visual manifestations and helps students develop an informed awareness of culture and media, ideological tendencies, and effects on daily experience. Committed to interdisciplinarity, the program addresses the increasing complexity and multiplicity of visual cultures and offers students the tools with which to read a variety of texts, including film, television, video, and new media.

Most course work is offered through the Departments of Communication and English, with other courses available through the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the Program in Film and Video Studies. The two required courses provide an introduction to the languages of film and popular media and modes of analysis appropriate to each. They are prerequisites for all advanced work in the minor. Students select four additional courses designed to introduce a more specialized level of study. Students may decide to focus on film, television, or the study of mass culture, or they may choose some mix of courses that suits their interests.

This program of study is an interdisciplinary minor offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences .

For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies  chapter of this catalog.

Course Work


Two required courses (6 credits)


Four elective courses (12 credits):


Students need prior written approval of the FAMS director to apply these courses to the minor: ENGH 318, 319, 418, 419, 499 and FREN 470. FREN 470 also requires permission of the instructor.  ENGH 470, 472, and 474 may be repeated for credit and applied to the minor if the topic is different.

No more than 6 elective credits can come from a single department.

Choose 12 credits from:

Total: 18 credits