USC: Academic Bulletins

Overview

The Film Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program in the College of Arts and Sciences devoted to the critical study of moving image culture--its history, theory, and criticism. The major offers crucial knowledge and analytical skills in our increasingly media-saturated culture, as well as the core strengths of a liberal arts education. Courses in the program may apply to the fine arts, humanities, cultural awareness, and cognate requirements, as well as to the film studies major and minor.

FILM 180 is an introductory course designed for nonmajors. Students who might want to major or minor in film studies, or who would like to develop film analysis skills, are encouraged to begin their course work with FILM 240. FILML 566, 597, and 598 are topics courses open to all undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to our core faculty listed above, additional faculty offer film and media studies courses in departments throughout the college. For current topics and course descriptions of FILM courses, as well as the full menu of film and media studies courses being offered in a range of departments, students should consult the "Current Courses" link on the Fillm Studies Program Web site, www.cas.sc.edu/film.

Degree Requirements

(120 hours)

1. General Education Requirements (53-62)

For a general outline, see "College of Arts and Sciences."

2. Major Requirements

Prerequisite: FILM 240 Introduction to Film Studies (3 hours)

Major Courses (30 hours)

ARTH 365 {=ENGL 474 and THEA 480} History of Cinema I (3 hours) ARTH 366 {=ENGL 475 and THEA 481} History of Cinema II (3 hours) ENGL/PHIL 473 Film Theory (3 hours) THEA 581 Film as Performance (3 hours) 3 hours devoted to the study of film genres: FILM/ENGL 566 (the musical, the Western, crime films, science fiction films, etc.) or other appropriate special topics or Honors College course approved by the student's advisor 3 hours devoted to a course on national cinema outside the United States: FILM/CPLT 597, FILM/FORL 598, FREN 397, ITAL 412, JAPA 350, SPAN 380, ANTH 516, or other appropriate special topics or Honors College course approved by the student's advisor 3 hours additional devoted to film production or performance: THEA 370, THEA 587, ENGL 604, 605, MART 371, MART 490, or other appropriate special topics or Honors College course approved by the student's advisor 9 additional hours from the following list: ANTH 300 Comparing Cultures Through Film ANTH 516 Indonesian Culture Through Film ANTH 517 Anthropological View of Blacks in Films ANTH 570 Ethnographic Film ARTH 569 Topics in Film History ENGL 604, 605 Seminar in Composition for the Visual Media FILM 555 {=ARTH 555} History of Documentary Film FILM 566 {=ENGL 566} Topics in American Film FILM 597 {=CPLT 597} Comparative Studies in Film FILM 598 {=FORL 598} Topics in World Film FREN 397 The French Film Experience HIST 492F Film and History ITAL 412 Post-World War II Italian Cinema JAPA 350 Japanese Culture and Society through Film MART 371 The Moving Image MART 490, 590 Special Topics in Media Arts PHIL 336 Philosophy and Film POLI 357 Film, Politics, and Social Change PORT 301 Cultural Manifestations of Modern Brazil SPAN 380 Hispanic Film and Culture THEA 370 Intermediate Acting THEA 587 Film and Television Acting

Or other appropriate special topics or Honors College courses approved by the student’s advisor. Students should check with their advisor or with the director of the Film Studies Program for a complete list of film courses offered during a given semester.

3. Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)

See "College of Arts and Sciences."

4. Electives (7-22 hours)

For additional information, contact the Film Studies Program office at 803-777-2339.

Course Descriptions (FILM)

180 -- Film Culture. (3) How the film industry developed and the impact the movies have had on global popular culture. Does not count toward the film studies major.
240 -- Introduction to Film Studies. (3) Basic concepts of how films convey meaning to viewers and viewers ascribe meaning to films.
555 -- History of Documentary Film. [=ARTH 555] (3) History, theory, and practices of documentary film studied via screenings, readings, and lectures.
566 -- Topics in American Film. {=ENGL 566} (3) Intensive study of a specific topic concerning American film. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of courses by suffix and title.
597 -- Comparative Studies in Film. {=CPLT 597} (3) Topics in film from an international perspective. National cinematic traditions are compared and contrasted.
598 -- Topics in World Film. {=FORL 598} (3) Intensive study of a specific topic concerning films produced in a country other than the United States. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of courses by suffix and title.

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