Centered on the nature of storytelling in all its forms, the Film and Media Studies Major is an integrated curriculum that spans media literacy, theory, and business. Students can select one of four concentrations focusing on Film Producing, Film Marketing, Media Production, or Media Studies. Each concentration allows students to: explore media production courses where they gain technical expertise in the craft of narrative and documentary filmmaking, graphic and motion design, photography, and podcasting; hone critical thinking skills in media studies courses that provide the means to deconstruct and write about media forms; and develop requisite business skills in media industry courses where they learn how to promote, market, sell, brand, and/or distribute content. Additionally, English and Media Studies electives in the major teach how media texts operate at the creative, cultural, and industrial levels. New majors can join graduates whose careers span the many facets of media production, post-production, and distribution, as well as in such areas as media marketing and advertising, graphic design, media finance, entertainment law, and publishing. Students have screened their original short films at the Cannes Film Festival, interned at such companies as Disney+, Netflix, WGBH, NBC, Sony Music Entertainment, Dick Clark Productions, Allen & Gerritsen, Arnold Worldwide, and Marvel Comics, and have landed prominent positions with leading media firms and film studios in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles.
Students are required to complete either a media internship or capstone project and will have the flexibility to study abroad. The Film and Media Studies Lab houses professional equipment and software for screenwriting, film editing, sound mixing, animation, photography, and design. Our state-of-the-art classrooms and production studio provide students with hands-on experience in all forms of media production to develop their craft.
For further information about degree requirement policies and guidelines, see the Degree Requirements page.
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| EMS 200 | Introduction to Film, Literature and Media | 3 |
| EMS 240 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 |
| EMS 493 | Capstone Project in English and Media Studies | 3 |
| or EMS 492 | Internship in English and Media Studies | |
| Two Electives: Select any two courses from the English and Media Studies department. | 6 | |
| Select a concentration: | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
General Degree Requirements
Foundations for Success (15 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FDS 100 | Falcon Discovery Seminar | 3 |
| Communications and Writing | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| EMS 101 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| or EMS 101L | Critical Reading and Writing with Lab | |
| or EMS 102 | Critical Reading and Writing for Multilingual Students | |
| or EMS 102L | Critical Reading and Writing for Multilingual Students with Lab | |
| And one from: | ||
| EMS 104 | Multimodal Communication | 3 |
| or EMS 105 | Multimodal Communication for Multilingual Students | |
| Information Technology | ||
| CS 100 | Solving Business Problems with Information Technology | 3 |
| Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| MA 105 | Mathematical Foundations for Business | 3 |
| or MA 105L | Mathematical Foundations for Business with Lab | |
| or MA 107 | Applied Calculus for Business | |
| or MA 107L | Applied Calculus for Business with Lab | |
| or MA 131 | Calculus I | |
| or MA 131L | Calculus I with Lab | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Context and Perspectives (18 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take six courses, one in each category of Context and Perspectives: | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Business Dynamics/Business Administration Minor (18 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| All courses are required: | ||
| AC 115 | Introduction to Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| FI 118 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| LA 100 | Business Law | 3 |
| MG 116 | Human Dynamics in Organizations | 3 |
| ST 113 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Communication Intensive
All students are required to take a three-credit course designated as a Communication Intensive. This requirement can be met within a variety of course subjects in both Arts & Sciences and Business. Communication Intensive courses are designated with a "Communication Intensive" course tag in Workday. Transfer students with a minimum of 30 credits will be waived from the Communication Intensive requirement.
Please note that certain majors have an additional three-credit Communication Intensive built into their major requirements, separate from the general CI requirement.
Additional Requirements
Modern Language Requirement (6 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Modern Language courses (must be two semesters of the same language, regardless of proficiency level) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Unrestricted Electives (36 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 elective courses | 36 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Total: 120 Credits
Concentration Requirements
Film Marketing
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required media industry course: | ||
| EMS 402 | The Business of Media | 3 |
| Select one media studies elective: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cinema Studies | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Introduction to Mass Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Select two electives (one must be in EMS): | 6 | |
| Introduction to Photography | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Global Media | ||
| International Cinema | ||
| The Television Industry | ||
| Hollywood Convergence | ||
| Money, Power, Communication | ||
| Communication Design: Messages and Means | ||
| Fashion Photography | ||
| Designing Brands for Change | ||
| Cross-Cultural Understanding | ||
| Marketing Law | ||
| Entertainment Law | ||
| Marketing Essentials | ||
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Advertising | ||
| Digital Marketing | ||
| Strategic Brand Management | ||
| Media, Culture and Society | ||
| Sociology of Markets | ||
| Global Public Relations | ||
| Digital Public Relations | ||
| Total Credits: | 12 | |
Film Producing
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required production course: | ||
| EMS 434 | Film Producing | 3 |
| Select one media studies elective: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cinema Studies | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Global Media | ||
| International Cinema | ||
| Hollywood Rebels: A History of American Independent Film | ||
| Select two electives (one must be in EMS): | 6 | |
| Introduction to Video Production | ||
| Revisions and Retellings | ||
| Horror/Sci-Fi in Film and Television | ||
| Film and Television Genres | ||
| The Television Industry | ||
| Disney+: Content + Platform | ||
| The Business of Media | ||
| Hollywood Convergence | ||
| Hollywood Genres: Classical Forms and Contemporary Re-Inventions | ||
| Films, Franchises, and Fandom: Superheroes in Popular Culture | ||
| Money, Power, Communication | ||
| Documentary Production | ||
| The Art of Film Editing | ||
| Media Law | ||
| Entertainment Law | ||
| Leadership: Concepts, Competencies and Character | ||
| Supply Chain Management | ||
| Entrepreneurial Thinking | ||
| Negotiating | ||
| Popular Culture in Consumer Societies | ||
| Film and Society | ||
| Introduction to Public Relations | ||
| Public Relations Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Media Production
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one production elective: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Video Production | ||
| Introduction to Photography | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Documentary Production | ||
| Animation Production | ||
| Film Directing | ||
| Film Producing | ||
| Communication Design: Messages and Means | ||
| Podcasting | ||
| The Art of Film Editing | ||
| Fashion Photography | ||
| Designing Brands for Change | ||
| Select one media studies elective: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cinema Studies | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Introduction to Media Theory | ||
| Film and Television Genres | ||
| Great Directors | ||
| Select two electives (one must be in EMS): | 6 | |
| Introduction to Acting | ||
| Mythology and Folklore | ||
| Horror/Sci-Fi in Film and Television | ||
| Writing for Drama/Screen | ||
| American Cities in Film | ||
| Sitcom Nation: The American Family in Fiction and Film | ||
| Black Cinema | ||
| Women and Film | ||
| Wonder Women | ||
| The Male Image in American Film | ||
| Images of the Hero | ||
| Global Media | ||
| International Cinema | ||
| Youth Cultures in International Cinema | ||
| The Television Industry | ||
| Disney+: Content + Platform | ||
| The Business of Media | ||
| Hollywood Convergence | ||
| Hollywood Rebels: A History of American Independent Film | ||
| Hollywood Genres: Classical Forms and Contemporary Re-Inventions | ||
| Films, Franchises, and Fandom: Superheroes in Popular Culture | ||
| Money, Power, Communication | ||
| Video Game Studies | ||
| Popular Music Studies | ||
| Arts and Society | ||
| America and Its Arts | ||
| Cross-Cultural Understanding | ||
| Media Law | ||
| Entertainment Law | ||
| Media, Culture and Society | ||
| Popular Culture in Consumer Societies | ||
| Film and Society | ||
| Total Credits: | 12 | |
Media Studies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required media studies course: | ||
| EMS 221 | Introduction to Media Theory | 3 |
| Select one media studies elective: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cinema Studies | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Introduction to Mass Communication | ||
| Film and Television Genres | ||
| Select two electives (one must be in EMS): | 6 | |
| The Wonder of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Graphic Novel | ||
| Revisions and Retellings | ||
| American Landscapes | ||
| American Cities in Film | ||
| Sitcom Nation: The American Family in Fiction and Film | ||
| Black Cinema | ||
| Women and Film | ||
| Wonder Women | ||
| The Male Image in American Film | ||
| Queer and Trans Media Studies | ||
| Cultural Studies and the Body | ||
| Diasporic Literature and Culture | ||
| Images of the Hero | ||
| Global Media | ||
| International Cinema | ||
| Youth Cultures in International Cinema | ||
| The Television Industry | ||
| Disney+: Content + Platform | ||
| The Business of Media | ||
| Hollywood Convergence | ||
| Hollywood Rebels: A History of American Independent Film | ||
| Hollywood Genres: Classical Forms and Contemporary Re-Inventions | ||
| Films, Franchises, and Fandom: Superheroes in Popular Culture | ||
| Money, Power, Communication | ||
| Video Game Studies | ||
| Popular Music Studies | ||
| Directed Study in English and Media Studies | ||
| Cross-Cultural Understanding | ||
| Science, Technology & Society | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
| Latin American Cinema | ||
| Politics Through Film | ||
| Arts and Society | ||
| America and Its Arts | ||
| Law and Film | ||
| Chinese for Cinema | ||
| French Cinema | ||
| Italy through Films | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Love, Sex, and Robots | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Media, Culture and Society | ||
| Popular Culture in Consumer Societies | ||
| Film and Society | ||
| Total Credits: | 12 | |