The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” 
. Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” 
.
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” 
which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” 
, be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
Film Studies introduces students to the history and development of cinema as an art, as an entertainment medium, as an object of philosophical study, and as a cultural and social phenomenon. The program examines film as a "text" which can be studied through diverse critical and theoretical perspectives. Students can enroll in a wide variety of courses in this area, including those in American and international film history, aesthetics and criticism, genre and gender studies, film in relation to society, literature into film, and cross-cultural film studies. Students can take courses in Film Studies to augment their liberal education through the acquisition of aesthetic and critical knowledge, or they may use their studies to gain entry into a wide variety of professions, including teaching, filmmaking, writing, archiving and preservation, advertising, film business & law, and production finance.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking and aesthetic judgment skills, both verbally and in writing, to the analysis of film as an art form and entertainment medium, utilizing and applying the specialized vocabulary of film studies as it has developed in the academic context and in the film industry. Students will also be able to identify and discuss the major historical developments, both artistic and technological, that have influenced the cinema throughout the twentieth century, as well as the social, economic and cultural factors that have shaped films from different gender and ethnic perspectives, and from domestic and international contexts.
General Education
Available Online
