Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts: Concentration in Screen Studies

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts.

Dr. Chris Cagle, Associate Professor
215-204-3859
chris.cagle@temple.edu

The B.A. in Film and Media Arts with a Concentration in Screen Studies is a liberal arts degree that allows students to study in depth the aesthetics, history, and cultural significance of moving-image media. It draws upon the fields of cinema studies and humanities-based disciplines of media studies and media arts theory, while also encouraging students to approach screen cultures from neighboring disciplines, such as cultural studies, area studies, art history, or visual studies.

Students who are interested in declaring a concentration in Screen Studies may do so at any time; please see an academic advisor for assistance. We encourage students from all disciplines to consider Screen Studies as a double major.

Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts: Concentration in Screen Studies

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

The Bachelor of Arts degree may be conferred upon a student majoring in Film and Media Arts with a concentration in Screen Studies by recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 121 credit hours. Students must complete:

  1. University requirements:
    • New students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
    • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed below and identified with the code "WI".
  2. No more than 21 FMA credits can be transferred to the major.
  3. A student must earn a grade of "C-" or better in all Film and Media Arts courses that count towards the degree.
  4. Students may take up to 8 internship credits in Film and Media Arts.
  5. Students may count a maximum of 66 FMA credit hours toward the 121 credit hours required for the degree.
  6. As noted below, students in the Screen Studies concentration must fulfill a foreign language requirement in addition to the FMA coursework and general university requirements.

FMA Foundation Courses

Film and Media Arts students will complete the following courses by the end of the sophomore year:

Select one of the following:4
Film, Video and Interactive Foundations I
Media Arts for Non-Production Majors
FMA 1171Media & Culture3
FMA 1172Introduction to Film and Video Analysis3
Total Credit Hours10

Concentration Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002. Ideally this requirement should be completed in the first or second year.

Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language (numbered 1003 in French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects) and/or pursue a Study Abroad opportunity.

Required Courses

Courses required after completion of Screen Studies Foundation Courses:

Select two history surveys:7-8
Survey of New Media
Film History I (1895-1950)
Film History II (1950-Present)
History of Experimental Film and Video Art
Select one theory course:4
Theory and Practice of Media Culture
Film Theory
Select two courses on film and culture:7-8
American Film
Contemporary Screen Studies
International Cinema
Anthropological Film/Media
Women Film/Video Artists
Topics in Media Culture
Select one 2000+ FMA elective3-4
Select two 3000+ writing-intensive courses:8
Writing Intensive Film Study
Advanced Film History
Writing-Intensive Study in Documentary Film
Two semesters of Foreign Language 18
Total Credit Hours37-40

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts: Concentration in Screen Studies

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year

Year 1
FallCredit Hours
FMA 1171Media & Culture3
Select one of the following:4
Film, Video and Interactive Foundations I 
Media Arts for Non-Production Majors 
One semester of Foreign Language (may be continuation of prior language study)4
ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]4
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
FMA 1172Introduction to Film and Video Analysis3
One semester of Foreign Language (continuation of language taken in Year 1 Fall)4
IH 0851 or 0951Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]3
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ]4
GenEd Breadth Course3
 Term Credit Hours17
Year 2
Fall
Select one of the following:3-4
Survey of New Media 
Film History I (1895-1950) 
Film History II (1950-Present) 
History of Experimental Film and Video Art 
IH 0852 or 0952Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]3
GenEd Breadth Course3
GenEd Breadth Course3
Elective3-2
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following:3-4
Survey of New Media 
Film History I (1895-1950) 
Film History II (1950-Present) 
History of Experimental Film and Video Art 
2000+ FMA elective3-4
GenEd Breadth Course3
GenEd Breadth Course3
Elective3-1
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
Select one of the following:4
Theory and Practice of Media Culture 
Film Theory 
GenEd Breadth Course3
Electives9
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
Select one of the following 3000+ Writing-Intensive courses:4
Writing Intensive Film Study [WI] 
Advanced Film History [WI] (3000+ Writing-Intensive Course) 
Writing-Intensive Study in Documentary Film [WI] 
GenEd Breadth Course3
Electives8
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Select two of following:7-8
American Film 
Contemporary Screen Studies 
International Cinema 
Anthropological Film/Media 
Women Film/Video Artists 
Topics in Media Culture 
Electives8-7
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following 3000+ Writing-Intensive courses:4
Writing Intensive Film Study [WI] 
Advanced Film History [WI] (3000+ Writing-Intensive course) 
Writing-Intensive Study in Documentary Film [WI] 
Electives9
 Term Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours: 121