About the Program
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Events in Cinema
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Professor Albert Sbragia, Director (sbragia@u.washington.edu)


The Cinema Studies Program offers a degree track within the Comparative Literature major that allows a specialization in the study of film.

Cinema Studies allows students to develop their understanding of how films function as a distinctive mode of transmitting and critiquing cultural values and practices.

The program is structured around two series of core courses devoted to film theory and film history. Students are required to complete at least fifteen credits from among these six course. The core is complemented by upper-division film elective courses taken from Comparative Literature or any UW department in consultation with the Comparative Literature undergraduate advisers.

Prerequisites

  • minimum 2.0 overall g.p.a.
  • completion of one course fulfilling either the College of Arts and Sciences English composition requirement or the "W" (writing) requirement (5 credits)
  • completion of C LIT 270 or the equivalent.
Major Requirements - 50 credits from course groups listed below

15 credits from Cinema Studies core courses, with at least one course in film theory and one course in film history:
  • C LIT 301 Theory of Film: Analysis (5 credits)
  • C LIT 302 Theory of Film: Critical Concepts (5 credits)
  • C LIT 303 Theory of Film: Genre (5 credits)
  • C LIT 310 History of Film: 1895-1929 (5 credits)
  • C LIT 311 History of Film: 1930-1959 (5 credits)
  • C LIT 312 History of Film: 1960-present (5 credits)
10 credits from Comparative Literature core courses:
  • Choice of C LIT 300 or 400
  • one course from C LIT 320, 321, 322, 323

A minimum of two years of foreign language study (e.g. German 203 or equivalent); one national cinema course*; remaining credits to be earned in approved 300-400-level cinema elective courses offered by Comparative Literature or other UW departments.

*Note: The national cinema course should correspond with the foreign language selected (e.g. German language/German cinema). Students who are native speakers of a language other than English should contact the departmental adviser regarding the second year of foreign language requirement.

A minor in the Cinema Studies option is not available.

Other Cinema Credit Options:

  • C LIT 490, independent studies: students can develop special projects related to cinema such as research on a special topic in cinema studies for maximum of five credits towards the elective requirements.
  • C LIT 491, internship: students can pursue internship opportunities in the film industry for a maximum of five elective credits towards the major requirements.
  • C LIT 495, honors thesis: students can prepare a cinema-related honors thesis for an additional 5 credits beyond the major requirements.
For information on the program, contact the Comparative Literature Undergraduate Adviser:

Kathy Holliday
B-534 Padelford
(206)685-1642
kholl@u.washington.edu