Film Studies

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Program Snapshot
Program Type
Minor
School
School of Arts and Humanities
Department
English
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Explore the Cultural, Historical and Storytelling Impact of Film 

Channel your love of movies into valuable career skills with a minor in Film Studies at St. Edward’s. You’ll gain deep knowledge in film history, theory and analysis across multiple academic disciplines. Engaging in Film Studies will enhance your critical thinking, writing, rhetorical and research abilities, positioning you for jobs in media, education, business and the arts. 

Why choose a Film Studies minor?

Movies present vivid pictures of diverse societies on local, national and global levels. Film Studies allows you to see the world through the eyes of others and to learn about different movements throughout the 130-year history of motion pictures. 

In our Film Studies program, students can study national cinemas, genres, directors, artistic movements and the ways movies have examined cultures. The Film Studies minor is also a great pathway for participating in Austin’s creative economy, which includes a thriving motion picture industry.

While the Film Studies minor does not include a filmmaking component, students will be immersed in the aesthetic and storytelling aspects of movies to understand how films convey meaning through narrative and visual language.

Learn More About a Minor in Film Studies

To complete this minor, students must satisfy the following 18 hours of minor requirements.

Required Courses 

  • Introduction to Film and Narrative – FILM 1301 (3 hours)
    This course examines film as a narrative art. Students will explore introductory approaches to film analysis and visual storytelling while developing skills in critical viewing. Topics also include the history of cinema and the way movies engage with and contribute to cultural narratives.
  • Literature and Film – ENGL 2317 (3 hours)
    This course explores the relationship between film and literature, including how novels, plays and memoirs get adapted into movies. In addition, the course emphasizes close textual reading in the study of film. Students learn vocabulary for analyzing motion pictures and relevant critical approaches. Courses have also been offered in Latino/a Cinema, French Cinema and German Cinema.

Required Electives

Students must complete 12 additional directed elective hours in Film Studies. At least 9 hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.

  • Special Topics in Communication (when topic is related to film) – COMM 2399 (3 hours)
  • Communication and Popular Culture – COMM 4310 (3 hours)
  • Film Theory and Analysis – COMM 4315 (3 hours)
  • Native American and Chican@x Film – COMM 4338 (3 hours)
  • Special Topics in Communication (when topic is related to film) – COMM 4399 (3 hours)
  • LGBTQ Literature and Popular Culture – ENGL 2315 (3 hours)
  • Topics in Film and Narrative – FILM 2398 (3 hours)
  • Advanced Topics in Film and Narrative – FILM 3399 (3 hours)
  • Topics in French and Francophone Literature and Film – FREN 3331 (3 hours)
  • Topics in German Language, Literature or Culture (when topic is German History Through Film) – GERM 3338 (3 hours)
  • Topics in Exploring Artistic Works (when topic is related to film) – HONS 2315 (3 hours)
  • Topics in Global Perspectives (when topic is related to film) – HONS 2324 (3 hours)
  • Topics in Exploring Artistic Works (when topic is related to film) – HONS 3315 (3 hours)
  • Topics in Global Perspectives (when topic is related to film) – HONS 3324 (3 hours)
  • Topics in Spanish (when topic is related to film) – SPAN 3399 (3 hours)

For course descriptions, view the current .

Informal Events

Student-run clubs and faculty-led film festivals on campus enrich the experience.

Austin’s Creative Culture

From indie films to Hollywood blockbusters, Austin is a leading location for movie, television and commercial productions. It’s an ideal city for students to enhance their studies and evaluation of films. 

Students can enjoy great resources beyond the hilltop, such as the Austin Film Society, founded by director Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Before Sunrise, Slacker, Bernie, among others), South by Southwest, the Austin Film Festival, AGLIFF (Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival), and many more.