2026-27 Edition

Film and Media Studies, Minor

Film and Media Studies provides students with a strong liberal arts background by combining theory and practice, giving our majors the tools necessary to navigate the complex film, broadcast, and digital media landscape. Led by award-winning faculty who are leaders in areas like TV and broadcast media, gaming, and new media, students gain skills in theoretical, visual, historical, and cultural analysis and broad knowledge of the history of moving image studies, broadcast policy, popular culture, and social media. Students are trained to actively read and explore audio-visual media through both theoretical and practical approaches. They strengthen their writing through active engagement with all aspects of cinematic, broadcast, and digital culture.

Requirements for the Minor in Film and Media Studies

Seven courses (28 units) are required for the minor.

A. Select four of the following:
Introduction to Film and Visual Analysis
Introduction to Television Analysis
Introduction to New Media and Digital Technologies
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
B. Select three of the following:
Media and Identities
Global Media
Film and Media Theory
Film and Media Theory and Practice
Topics in Genre Study
Topics in Narrative/Image
Topics in Authorship
Multicultural Topics in the Media
Critical Theory of Television
Studies in New Media
Topics in Popular Culture and Media
Topics in Sound Studies
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 Interdisciplinary Studies

Residence Requirement for the Minor: Four upper-division courses must be completed successfully at UCI. By petition, two of the four may be taken through the UC Education Abroad Program, providing course content is approved in advance by the appropriate department chair.