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Major in Film

Undergraduates in Film are expected to acquire basic skills in theory, history, criticism, and practice. Core requirements are met and electives are available through curricular offerings in the Department of Theater Arts. Students may also select electives from an approved list of courses from Art, Music, and Arts & Sciences. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of film and media offerings at PCC-Cascade, Mt. Hood Community College, and Clackamas Community College, who partner with Portland State University in the Co-enrollment program. 

Advising

Please contact Mark Berrettini (mberre@pdx.edu) or William Tate (tatew@pdx.edu) for advising in the Major in Film.

Bachelor Of Arts/Bachelor Of Science In Film

The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Film is designed to offer students the opportunity to major in a diverse film curriculum that prepares them for a variety of careers in visual expression and understanding. Students in the program will study all forms and genres of the moving image, ranging from the silent film era to present day cinema, television, and digital video production. The faculty are committed to providing strong emphasis on written, oral and visual expression and critical thinking, diverse and international perspective, and challenging creative experiences.

Requirements for the major in Film. In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the major in film will plan a program with a faculty advisor that meets the following minimum requirements:

TA 131 Understanding Movies …………………………………..…4
TA 301 Script Analysis ………………………………………….….4
TA 381/2/3 History of Film I, II, III (4, 4, 4) ………………..……..12
TA 480 Film Theory ………………………………………….…… 4
16 credits chosen from the following: ………………………..…….16
TA 384/5 American Cinema and Culture I, II
TA 474/5 Dramatic Writing I, II
TA 484/5 Anatomy of a Movie I, II
*16 elective credits chosen from the film curriculum courses listed
below with at least 12 carrying numbers 300 or above ……........….16 ______ 

56

Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling major requirements. Additional courses may be required as prerequisites. All courses used to satisfy the major requirements must be graded C- or above.

Film Elective Options:
TA 135 Classic Movies (4)
TA 252 Makeup (2)
TA 311 Scene Design I (4)
TA 314 Lighting I (4)
TA 321 Introd to Costume Design (4)
TA 348 Acting for the Camera (4)
TA 370 Topics: Theater, Media, and Culture (4)
Shakespeare on Film
Film Genres
Hitchcock
1950s Media and Culture

Musicals
The Road Movie
Robert Altman
Film Goes to War
Independent Film
Gangster Films
Vietnam on Screen
The ‘70’s Film/TV Renaissance
Film Genres: The Western
Scorsese
Film Stardom
Gangster Films & Musicals

TA 384, 385 American Cinema and Culture I, II (4, 4)
TA 408 Wksp: Directing Actors for the Camera (3-4)
TA 408 Wksp: Film Production (1-4)
TA 408 Wksp: The Art of Screenwriting (4)
TA 454 Directing I (4)
TA 486 Topics in Film and the Moving Image (4)
Irish Theater and Film
Contemporary Irish Cinema
TA 474, 475 Dramatic Writing I, II (4, 4)
TA 484, 485 Anatomy of a Movie I and II (4, 4)
Art 255 Two-dimensional Animation I (4)
Art 256 Three-dimensional Animation I (4)
Art 257 Video I (4)
Art 296 Digital Drawing and Painting (4)
Art 301 Processes and Practices of the Creative Industries (4)
Art 455 Time Arts Studio (4)
ArH 291 History of Animation (4)
BSt 424 African-American/African Culture in Cinema (4)
BSt 425 Black Cinema: The 1970s (4)
BSt 426 Contemporary African-American Cinema (4)
BSt 427 African American Films and Film Makers (4)
ENG 304 Critical Theory of Cinema (4)
ENG 305 Topics in Film (4)

History of Cinema I, II, III
Hollywood in the Thirties
Hollywood in the Seventies
Films of Alfred Hitchcock
Films of Orson Welles
Film Noir
Independent Cinema and the Films of Sundance
Asian American Film and Video
Images of Disability in Literature and Film
Trading Places: Racial and Gender Transformations in Film and Visual Culture
Immigrant Experience in Literature and Film
Native American Cinema
Vampirism in Cinema
Science Fiction Cinema
The Films and Times of Charlie Chaplin
Women and Film
Civilized Nightmares: Utopia and Dystopia in Film
Film & Social Justice
War Culture & Film
Postmodern Popular Culture

ENG 367 Immigrant Experience in Literature and Film
ENG 494 Topics in Critical Theory and Methods: Feminist Film Theory (4)
WR 416 Screenwriting (4)
DANE 361 Danish Films from Dreyer to Dogmer (4)
FR 305 Topics in French Film (4)
GER 399 History of German Film (4)
GER 410 Modern German Film (4)
JPN 361 Japanese Literature through Film (4)
RUS 331 Russian Film (4)
SPAN 436 Cine-Lit: Latin American Film (4)
SOC 410Sociology Through Film (4)
SP 399 Media, Law and Politics (4)
SP 399 Film Studies, I, II, III (4, 4, 4)
SP 410 Women in Contemp Film (4)

*Students may also seek program advisor approval to substitute elective coursework from other film courses in the university.

Requirements for a Minor in Film Studies

To earn the Minor in Film Studies, students will be required to complete 28 advisor-approved film credits to include the following:

8 Credits:
TA 131 Understanding Movies or TA 135 Classic Movies (4)
ENG 304 Critical Approaches to Cinema (4)

20 Credits:
20 elective credits from the Film Elective Options with
at least 12 carrying numbers 300 or above _____

28

Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling minor requirements. All courses for the Minor must receive a letter grade of C or above. At least 16 credits of film studies courses must be taken in residence at Portland State University. Credits will be applicable to the student's major when appropriate.

Recommended courses in Theater Arts

Elective Credit Options:
TA 135 Classic Movies (4)
TA 252 Makeup (2)
TA 311 Scene Design I (4)
TA 316 Lighting I (4)
TA 321 Introd to Costume Design (4)
TA 348 Acting for the Camera (4)
TA 370 Topics: Theater, Media, and Culture (4)
 
  • American Cinema & Culture I, II
  • Shakespeare on Film
  • Film Genres
  • Hitchcock
  • 1950s Media and Culture
  • Musicals
  • The Road Movie
  • Robert Altman
  • Film Goes to War
  • Gangster Films
  • Vietnam on Screen
  • The ‘70’s Film/TV Renaissance
  • Film Genres: The Western
  • Scorsese
  • Film Stardom
  • Gangster Films & Musicals
TA 408 Wksp: Directing Actors for the Camera (3-4)
TA 408 Wksp: Film Production (1-4)
TA 408 Wksp: The Art of Screenwriting (4)
TA 454 Directing I (4)
TA 474, 475 Dramatic Writing I, II (4)
TA 484, 485 Anatomy of a Movie I and II (4, 4)
ART 255 Two-dimensional Animation I (4)
ART 256 Three-dimensional Animation I (4)
ART 257 Video I (4)
ART 296 Digital Drawing and Painting (4)
ART 301 Processes and Practices of the Creative Industries (4)
ART 455 Time Arts Studio (4)
ARH 291 History of Animation (4)
BST 424 African-American/African Culture in Cinema (4)
BST 425 Black Cinema: The 1970s (4)
BST 425 Contemporary African-American Cinema (4)
ENG 304 Critical Theory of Cinema (4)
ENG 305 Topics in Film (4)
 
  • Hollywood in the Thirties
  • Hollywood in the Seventies
  • Films of Alfred Hitchcock
  • Films of Orson Welles
  • Film Noir
  • Independent Cinema and the Films of Sundance
  • Asian American Film and Video
  • Images of Disability in Literature and Film
  • Trading Places: Racial and Gender Transformations in Film and Visual Culture
  • Immigrant Experience in Literature and Film
  • Native American Cinema
  • Vampirism in Cinema
  • Science Fiction Cinema
  • The Films and Times of Charlie Chaplin
  • Women and Film
  • Civilized Nightmares: Utopia and Dystopia in Film
  • Film & Social Justice
  • War Culture & Film
  • Postmodern Popular Culture
ENG 367 Immigrant Experience in Literature and Film
ENG 494 Topics in Critical Theory and Methods: Feminist Film Theory (4)
WR 416 Screenwriting (4)
DANE 361 Danish Films from Dreyer to Dogmer (4)
FR 305 Topics in French Film (4)
GER 399 History of German Film (4)
GER 410 Modern German Film (4)
JPN 361 Japanese Literature through Film (4)
RUS 331 Russian Film (4)
SPAN 436 Cine-Lit: Latin American Film (4)
SOC 410 Sociology Through Film (4)
SP 399 Media, Law and Politics (4)
SP 399 Film Studies, I, II, III (4, 4, 4)
SP 410 Women in Contemp Film (4)

Please Note: The Minor in Film Studies is an interdisciplinary prgram, available to all undergraduates admitted to PSU. Students may elect to pursue the minor in the Departments of Theatre Arts, Communication, or English and should consult their department advisor for a complete list of courses that would apply to the Minor from offerings in Theater Arts, English, Communications, and allied departmental offering.

 


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