The B.A. in Film Studies is a very flexible, valuable major for the student of the 21st century. On the one hand, it develops the all-around strengths of a good liberal arts degree with strong emphasis on critical thinking, clear and engaging writing, and informed research and analysis. On the other hand, it provides a specific body of knowledge and skills pertaining to moving images—their history (aesthetic, industrial, social, etc.) and relationship to other cultural phenomena; theories about how they engage and communicate with viewers; and a range of critical tools for analyzing their meanings and effects.
In short, the Film Studies major offers crucial communication and analytical skills for most any profession as well as specific knowledge and skills beneficial to careers engaged with film and a range of related media forms (the internet, television, advertising, etc.).
While our major has only been up and running for a few years (although similar majors have grown increasingly popular at colleges and universities throughout the country for several decades), some of our students have gone on to work in film and media production, both independent and industrial, in Los Angeles, New York, and the Southeast. Others have entered graduate programs (at Emory, NYU, University of Pittsburgh, for example) to pursue further academic research and college-level teaching in film and media studies and related fields. Yet others have decided to go to law school or join the Peace Corps.
This diversity of paths is not insignificant. In light of the rapid development of moving-image media in most every conceivable field, the critical eye, strong communication skills, and advanced media literacy skills of a Film Studies major can be a tremendous asset in a wide range of careers.
Think, to get you started, of all the kinds of labor listed in the final credits of any given film. Add to this the wide range of media-savvy talent at work not only in the entertainment industry more generally, but also in archives and libraries of all kinds, in fields like marketing and publicity, journalism, communications and education, and the possibilities are tremendous.
Questions? Please feel free to call or stop by the Film Studies office and make an appointment to talk to a faculty advisor. Career LinksWhile any up to date internship or job search should take advantage of the latest, vast resources on the web, here are some good links to get you started. Arts and Sciences Career Development Program
