Film Studies

BGSU’s multifaceted film program, first established in the 1970s, is now one of the most comprehensive in the country. The Film Studies major gives students a foundation in film history, aesthetics, and methods of analysis that illuminate global and cultural perspectives. Students in this major develop expertise in analyzing individual films, contemporary culture, and the film and media industry.

Admission Information

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Quality classroom experiences

The film program is guided by best practices developed by the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Teaching Media (EDIT Media) initiative, and students organize their projects with these principles in mind. Film students benefit from nationally recognized faculty, who bring years of research and experience to their teaching, and state-of-the-art classrooms and studio spaces in the Wolfe Center for the Arts. Affiliations with the Ray and Pat Browne Library for Popular Culture Studies, the BGSU Film Theater, and the Ralph Haven Wolfe Film Theater in 117 Olscamp ensure that Film Studies majors have a unique depth and breadth of resources.

Stand Out in courses like

Film History
Culture and the Moving Image
Film and Society
Genre and Auteur Cinemas
Animated Films

Curriculum

Students in the Film Studies major complete three foundation classes (Introduction to Film, Applied Aesthetics, Script Analysis), along with three courses that provide perspective on the field (Film History, Culture and the Moving Image, a film studies elective), and three high impact courses (Mid-Major Portfolio Review, Film Internship, Senior Portfolio Review). To develop their areas of expertise, Film Studies majors also take five electives in courses such as Film and Society, Animated Films, or Auteur and Genre Cinemas. Both lower and upper division courses in film are designed to develop skills in critical thinking and media literacy, to increase understanding of cultural histories, and to sharpen awareness of the complex interactions between film practice and its socio-economic contexts. Film Studies students select a minor that supports their career goals and creative interests.

Film Studies majors may apply to participate in the exchange program between the Department of Theatre and Film at BGSU and the Department of Theatre, Film, and Television at the University of Wales, one of the most respected film and media programs in the United Kingdom. Students accepted into the program spend a semester at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth.

The BGSU Film Appreciation Club hosts weekly screenings and discussions of films ranging from cult classics to international art cinema legends.

Internships and Careers

The Theatre and Film Department offers several student employment opportunities to qualified undergraduates. These positions are hired on a competitive basis, with students submitting applications and letters of recommendation, and completing an audition or interview. WBGU, our nationally recognized PBS affiliate, offers a range of internship opportunities.

Film Studies majors are active participants in all aspects of film culture on campus. Some students review movies for the campus newspaper, while others help faculty coordinate the International Film Series. Film Studies majors also participate in research panels presented at the Annual BGSU Film and Media Festival. The BGSU Film Appreciation Club, University Film Organization (UFO) and BG Reel are student organizations that coordinate film competitions, screenings and workshops on campus.

Go Far in your career

Casting Agent
Entertainment Lawyer
Film Archivist/Researcher
Film Critic
Film Festival Organizer
Film Preservationist
Publicist
Talent Manager

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$36,309* — BGSU Film Studies graduates average starting salary

80.95% of BGSU Film Studies graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

More Information

The Film Studies program is part of the Department of Theatre and Film in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

Admissions Information

The Film Studies major is open to all students admitted to BGSU. Students must have good writing and communication skills, and should acquire knowledge about film and media from different time periods and different countries.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Film Studies will be able to:

Critically evaluate film as an aesthetic form and cultural text.
Evaluate the social, economic, and technological factors that shape films from different historical periods, gender and ethnic perspectives, domestic and international cultural contexts.
Make aesthetic judgment through interpretation and critical thinking about fiction and nonfiction film, experimental and mainstream cinema, feature and short form narratives.
Demonstrate a sense of professionalism through creative and intellectual independence.

Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012-2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Film Studies program does not lead to professional licensure.

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 11/18/2020 04:14PM