Film and Media Studies, B.A.
Film and Media Studies focuses on nurturing our diverse student body and our students’ varied backgrounds and interests. Courses reflect an interdisciplinary and historically grounded approach to the study of moving images, on big and small screens alike. From parsing the history of television policy to writing for video games, our students get a unique interdisciplinary education in the historical and social background of the study of film, television, and new media. Our outstanding faculty are engaged in innovative research on topics like globalization, gender studies, queer theory, broadcast studies, intellectual history, new media and critical game studies, history of photography, and national cinema approaches to the analysis of Film and Media Studies, and our courses give our students access to this cutting-edge research. In our production and screenwriting courses, students get hands-on experience creating short films, television pilots, webisodes, computer games, and other visual media.
Requirements for the B.A. in Film and Media Studies
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Departmental Requirements for the Major
| A. Complete the following: | |
| FLM&MDA 85 | Introduction to Film and Visual Analysis |
| FLM&MDA 86 | Introduction to Television Analysis |
| FLM&MDA 87 | Introduction to New Media and Digital Technologies |
| B. Select three of the following: | |
| History of Film I: The Silent Era | |
| History of Film II: The Studio Era | |
| History of Film III: The Contemporary Era | |
| History of Radio and Television | |
| History of Digital Media | |
| C. Complete either: | |
| Film and Media Theory | |
| or | |
| Film and Media Theory and Practice | |
| D. Select one of the following: | |
| Introduction to Screenwriting | |
| Writing Television I | |
| Basic Production | |
| E. Select four of the following: | |
| Topics in Genre Study | |
| Topics in Narrative/Image | |
| Topics in Authorship | |
| Intermediate Screenwriting 1 | |
| Writing Television II 1 | |
| Intermediate Production 1 | |
| Production Workshop 1 | |
| Multicultural Topics in the Media | |
| Writing on Film and Media | |
| Critical Theory of Television | |
| Studies in New Media | |
| Topics in Popular Culture and Media | |
| Topics in Sound Studies | |
| Topics in Audiences and Reception | |
| Topics in Documentary and Experimental Film and Media | |
| National/Regional Cinemas and Media | |
| Global/Transnational Cinemas and Media | |
| Topics in US Cinema | |
| Topics in Television and New Media | |
| Special Topics in Film and Modern Media | |
| Special Topics in Critical Practice | |
| Special Topics in Advanced Film Production | |
| Special Topics in Advanced Screenwriting | |
| Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies | |
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Only two of the courses marked may be applied toward this requirement.
Residence Requirement for the Major: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.
Film and Media Studies at UC Irvine prepares students for graduate study and professional life in the Film and Media Studies areas. Our students have been admitted to Ph.D. and M.F.A. programs at UCLA, USC, New York University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Film and Media studies majors have gone on to law school and to get Ph.D.s in a variety of fields. Alumni also make careers in all aspects of the entertainment industry, finding work in the film, television, and game industries in Southern California and beyond. Film and Media Studies students find careers in directing, cinematography, editing, journalism, advertising, marketing, and distribution. Our students’ diverse backgrounds have enabled them to work in bilingual or global media outlets. The Department encourages all qualified students to do professional internships. Visit the internship page on our website for more information about the diverse array of internships that you can do for credit.
The UCI Division of Career Pathways provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on résumé preparation, job search, and interview techniques. See the UCI Division of Career Pathways website for additional information.