Throughout the history of America, the movies have acted as a powerful social, political, and economic force. In film studies, students have an opportunity to examine the cinema’s role in our culture and its development as both an art and a technology.

In addition to regular courses in American Movies, World Cinema and Documentary History and Theory, other special topics courses are scheduled on a frequent basis. Outside of the media and culture department, courses are offered such as Faith and Film, Chinese Culture through Film, French Film, and Cinema and Masculinity.

All of these courses encourage students to become more informed viewers and consumers of visual culture through close textual analysis and critical thinking.

The film studies minor is firmly rooted in a liberal arts education, drawing upon multiple disciplines and helping students make connections between them. It augments any major at the college, as it encourages students to take an active role in understanding one of our society’s foremost means of communication.

The film studies minor is housed in the media and culture department, but it is interdisciplinary, drawing upon film studies and filmmaking courses as well as courses from other departments.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and Randolph College within your first year

We live in a world that is saturated with visual imagery and messages. Knowing how to understand and evaluate these messages is crucial; knowing how to produce your own media is even more valuable.

Studying filmmaking helps cultivate a variety of skills:

Technical skills: Learn about the technical aspects of film and video production, such as script writing, shooting, lighting, editing, and sound design

Creative skills: Harness your imagination and see your ideas come to life; learn to appreciate the beauty of cinematic language

Analytical skills: Interpret visual texts and develop media literacy

Intellectual skills: Develop independent thought, intellectual initiative, and research skills; deepen your knowledge of different media, geographical contexts, and historical periods

Communication skills: Work with a team to come up with an idea and see it through to a final product; learn to listen to others and collaborate

Leadership skills: Take the lead on a project and cultivate empathy, integrity, and decisiveness; learn to mentor others and develop self-awareness

Problem-solving skills: Make decisions about how to use resources efficiently, build positive relationships with stakeholders and solve problems that arise

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Randolph College