Courses

FI 200: Elements of Film
Introduces the basic concepts of analysis of film as an art form as well as the field of film studies through examples from different national cinemas, genres, and directors.

FI 204A: The Horror Film
This course will explore the horror film, including its mythological and literary roots. We will view a wide range of films analyzing specific sub-genres of horror as well as cultural, historical, and psychological angles.

FI 206H: Film Genres
Focus on a traditional genre (such as comedy or the Western) in order to investigate how classification is understood in both film production and reception. May be repeated for credit, with different genres.

FI 210A: Introduction to Filmmaking
Introduction to the theories, concepts and techniques of cinematic video production and post-production. Students will produce short video projects that emphasize visual storytelling, technical proficiency, and creative authorship.

FI 224G: International Cinema
Study the history and diversity of world cinema as a reflection of the modern world, including the influence of geopolitical events on film style and cinema’s role throughout history as a force for social change. This course meets Tuesdays, 3:20-4:50 pm, for lecture followed by a film screening from 5:00 to 6:15 pm, and Thursdays, 3:20-4:50 pm, for discussion.

FI 230H: Film and Identity
This course engages with issues of gender, race, and sexuality as they apply to their representation in film. Focus on larger societal implications and the craft of writing about moving images.

FI 301: Documentary Filmmaking
Immersion into the world of short documentary production, including a wide variety of approaches, practices and issues in the documentary form. Students will develop and produce short documentaries. Prerequisites: FI 200 & FI 210A

FI 302: Narrative Filmmaking
Immersion into the world of short narrative film production with exposure to a wide variety of approaches, practices, and issues. Students will develop scripts and produce their own short films. Prerequisites: FI 200 and FI 210A

FI 303: Film Technique
This rotating course focuses on one particular skills-based aspect of film production. Possible topics could include: Editing, Cinematography, Sound Editing and Mixing, Producing, Archival Filmmaking, 16mm Film Production, and others. Prerequisites: FI 210A.

FI 304: Film & Media Industries
Film & Media Industries: L.A. is a faculty-led Spring into Summer course designed as an entertainment industry immersion experience. Students will form a broad understanding of how multiple facets of the entertainment and media industries operate with faculty who have industry experience, while simultaneously gaining more specific understanding of potential career paths, creative and business approaches to entertainment media, and the future of these related industries through site visits.

FI 304E: Film, Media & the Environment
Combining critical analysis and creative projects, this hybrid theory/practice course introduces students to key concepts and debates in eco-cinema and media studies with topics ranging from representations of nature to media's carbon footprint. Prerequisite: FI 210A or permission of instructor.

FI 306H: Theories of Film
Critical analysis of key texts and relevant films, both historical and contemporary. Topics include the relevance of genre and nationality, film history, film spectatorship, psychoanalysis, feminist film theory, and cognitive film theory. Prerequisite: FI 200 or permission of instructor.

FI 308H: Hitchcock: Master of Suspense
This course examines the career and legacy of director Alfred Hitchcock, the "Master of Suspense," as an auteur, film theorist, and provocateur who understood film as the premiere modern medium to terrify audiences.

FI 310H: Major Directors
Focus on the films of a major director in order to consider the role of the individual filmmaker within a wider artistic, social, and ideological context. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

FI 331H: Special topics

FI 410: Film Production Seminar
This capstone seminar for Film Studies majors focuses on the production of a creative thesis film project. Prerequisites: FI 210A; FI 301 or FI 302; FI 498, or permission of instructor.

FI 498: Methods and Issues in Film Studies
This seminar prepares majors to do original academic research and, in some cases, creative work for their senior projects. Prerequisites: FI 200, FI 224G or AM 310H.

FI 499: Senior Project

Banner photo by Lindsy Cox ’27