Requirements and Electives

The minor consists of a minimum of 18 semester units distributed among a core (7 units) and a choice of electives (11 or more units).

Minor Core Requirements (2 courses, 7 units)

  1. COMS 320: Introduction to Film Studies (4 units)
  2. Multicultural Representations in Film (Students choose one of the following courses):
    • AMCS 392 Ethnic Images in Film and Media (3 units)
    • CALS 393 Chicano/Latino Cinema (4 units)
    • LIBS 204 Minorities in American Cinema (3 units)
    • NAMS 338 Native Americans and the Cinema (3 units)

Minor Electives (11 units minimum)

Students may complete the film studies minor by choosing at least 11 units of additional course work that incorporate film analysis, history, imagery, or cultural representation as a critical component of the course pedagogy. Note that any course taken in the core may not be repeated for elective credit. The following is a list of approved electives. However, this list of electives may not be exhaustive, as course offerings may change each semester. Students are advised to work closely with one of the faculty advisors listed above in order to ensure progress in the minor.

Note: Some of these courses are offered in departments that are impacted, and may not be open to all students.

  • AMCS 260 Ethnicity in the Arts, Culture, and Media (3 units)
  • AMCS 392 Ethnic Images in Film and Media (3 units)
  • AMCS 390 SFI Film Study (1-2 units)
  • CALS 393 Chicano/Latino Cinema (4 units)
  • COMS 275 21st Century Television as Art (3 units)
  • COMS 320 Movies and Cultures (4 units)
  • COMS 320 Workshop in Documentary (4 units)
  • COMS 320 Video Editing (4 units)
  • ENGL 377 Topics in Film Studies (1-4 units)
  • ENGL 430 Creative Writing: Select Genres (Screen writing) (1-4 units)
  • FR 201 Third Semester French (4 units)
  • GER 210 Intermediate German through Film (4 units)
  • LIBS 204 Minorities in American Cinema (3 units)
  • LIBS 209 Bollywood and Globalization (4 units)
  • LIBS 320 Documentary Ethics and Aesthetic (3 units)
  • LIBS 320 Bollywood (3 units)
  • LIBS 320: Coen Bros.' Film-Noir (3 units)
  • LIBS 390 SFI Film Study (1-2 units)
  • MLL 214 French Literature and Film (4 units)
  • NAMS 338 Native Americans and the Cinema (3 units)
  • PSY 413 Adolescent Development Through Film (4 units)
  • PSY 470 Psychology of Film (4 units)
  • WGS 285 Men and Masculinities (3 units)

Students are encouraged to enroll in the following course, Independent Film Study, for elective credit:

  • AMCS 390: SFI Film Study (1-2 units) 
  • LIBS 390: SFI Film Study (1-2 units)

Students will attend Sonoma Film Institute screenings or other film-related lectures or events on campus. Students will earn 1 unit of credit for every 6 film screenings attended. Students are also required to complete weekly reading assignments and submit a written film analysis incorporating these readings following each screening. Repeatable for up to 4 units. Satisfies GE, category C1.