Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Film and Media Studies
Why study film and media?
The Department of Film and Media Studies unites the inquiry of the academic with the practice and technique of the artist. Scholars and filmmakers work and study together in an environment of mutual encouragement and collegiality.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
The FMS major does not require an application, however, if a student decides to add the FMS major or change their major from an area of study outside of the School of the Arts, they will need to submit a Change of School form before the major can be added to their degree plan.
Film and Media Studies Programs
The film and media studies department is housed in Summerfield wherein students will gain experience in film/video production in newly renovated studio spaces. B.A. and B.G.S. requirements are quite different, so it is important to check with a department advisor. The B.A. in film and media studies introduces students to the overall field of film and media studies and prepares them for graduate study. The B.G.S. in film and media studies prepares students broadly in film/video production.
Film & Media Studies Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Film and Media Studies Core Knowledge and Skills | ||
| FMS 100 | Introduction to Film and Media | 3 |
| or FMS 101 | Introduction to Film and Media, Honors | |
| FMS 200 | Film and Media Aesthetics | 3 |
| FMS 275 | Basic Video Production | 4 |
| History. Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of the Silent Film | ||
| History of the American Sound Film | ||
| History of the International Sound Film to 1950 | ||
| History of the International Sound Film Post 1950 | ||
| FMS 340 | Film and Media Theory | 3 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| FMS 485 | Capstone in Film and Media Studies | 4 |
| Production or Culture & Studies Emphasis (see below) | 15 | |
| Electives. (Choose any FMS courses) | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Production Emphasis | ||
| Production | 9 | |
| Basic Screenwriting | ||
| Undergraduate Production Seminar in: _____ | ||
| Storytelling with Digital Media | ||
| Intermediate Screenwriting | ||
| Animation | ||
| Intermediate Video Production | ||
| Cinematography | ||
| Post-Production | ||
| Advanced Video Production | ||
| Sound Design | ||
| Experimental Production | ||
| Music Video Production | ||
| Game Development | ||
| Culture & Studies | 6 | |
| Undergraduate Studies Seminar in: _____ | ||
| History of the Silent Film | ||
| History of the American Sound Film | ||
| History of the International Sound Film to 1950 | ||
| History of the International Sound Film Post 1950 | ||
| History of African-American Images in Film | ||
| Survey of Japanese Film | ||
| Latin American Cinema | ||
| Anti-war Film | ||
| War and Memory in Asian Film | ||
| Studies in Italian Cinema | ||
| Contemporary Japanese Film | ||
| Indigenous Film and Media | ||
| American Popular Culture of: _____ | ||
| Documentary Film and Video | ||
| Experimental Film and Video | ||
| US Diversity in Visual Culture | ||
| International Women Filmmakers | ||
| Videogame Theory and Design | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culture & Studies Emphasis | ||
| Production | 6 | |
| Basic Screenwriting | ||
| Undergraduate Production Seminar in: _____ | ||
| Storytelling with Digital Media | ||
| Intermediate Screenwriting | ||
| Animation | ||
| Intermediate Video Production | ||
| Cinematography | ||
| Post-Production | ||
| Advanced Video Production | ||
| Sound Design | ||
| Experimental Production | ||
| Music Video Production | ||
| Game Development | ||
| Culture & Studies | 9 | |
| Undergraduate Studies Seminar in: _____ | ||
| History of the Silent Film | ||
| History of the American Sound Film | ||
| History of the International Sound Film to 1950 | ||
| History of the International Sound Film Post 1950 | ||
| History of African-American Images in Film | ||
| Survey of Japanese Film | ||
| Latin American Cinema | ||
| Anti-war Film | ||
| War and Memory in Asian Film | ||
| Studies in Italian Cinema | ||
| Contemporary Japanese Film | ||
| Indigenous Film and Media | ||
| American Popular Culture of: _____ | ||
| Documentary Film and Video | ||
| Experimental Film and Video | ||
| US Diversity in Visual Culture | ||
| International Women Filmmakers | ||
| Videogame Theory and Design | ||
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 40 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major, of which 8 must be at the junior/senior (300+) level.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 25 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Graduation Plan
With careful planning and commitment to a full-time course load, you can graduate in 4 years. For details please consult the department.
Sample 4-year plans for the BA degree in Film & Media Studies with the following concentrations can be found here: Culture and Studies and Production, or by using the left-side navigation.
Sample 4-year plans for the BGS degree in Film & Media Studies with the following concentrations can be found here: Culture and Studies and Production, or by using the left-side navigation.
Departmental Honors
An undergraduate interested in honors in film and media studies must present a written declaration of intention to the department’s honors coordinator as early as possible in the junior or senior year. The following are required:
- A grade-point average at the time of declaration and at graduation of at least 3.5 in film and media studies courses.
- Six hours in FMS 498 Honors Seminar. Enrollment in this course must be approved by the honors coordinator. Students in the honors seminar work under the direction of one instructor for each semester. The instructor conducts an examination at the end of each semester’s work and assigns a grade. Credit only is given to students who complete the work assigned for any semester but do not complete the requirements for honors. Students may change area of interest or instructor at the beginning of a semester with the consent of the honors coordinator.
- Satisfactory performance in a final oral examination given approximately one month before graduation.