Academic Program

Course Major | Course Minor | Honors Major | Honors Minor

Thesis/Culminating Exercise | FMST Catalog | Off-Campus Study

The Film and Media Studies Department offers a range of courses in critical studies and production, cross-lists film and media courses with other departments, and awards credit for majors and minors taking approved offerings from other departments and programs. Students may major or minor in film and media studies, including in the Honors Program. FMST 001 is the prerequisite for advanced work in the major or minor and is recommended preparation for any course in the department except first-year seminars. In addition to class meetings, most courses require weekly evening screenings. Production courses are limited enrollment.

Course Major

Requirements

Majors must take a minimum of 10 credits, among which the following 5 are required.

  1. FMST 001 (preferably taken in first year)
  2. 1 Production course (from list of production classes)
  3. 1 Course from “Classes with sustained critical attention to Medium Specificity” (preferably taken in sophomore year)
  4. 1 Course from “Classes with sustained critical attention to national, transnational, global or comparative approaches to Media Forms and Practices” (preferably taken in sophomore or junior year)
  5. FMST 090 taken in the senior spring focusing on one of the following deliverables:
    1. Research Paper
    2. Creative or Multimedia Project (Film, Video, Media Arts project etc.)
    3. Honors preparation (with another course or independent project plus SHS)

The remaining 5+ credits can come from other courses within these categories, from the list of additional FMST courses, and from credit-eligible Swarthmore electives, from courses taken abroad (maximum of 2 credits), at Penn or TriCo with approval. These should be selected for breadth and depth in the discipline and balance between critical studies and production courses. Courses in a major may include a limited number of credits drawn from film and media offerings at Bryn Mawr, Haverford, or the University of Pennsylvania; courses in the discipline taken abroad or at other U.S. institutions; or approved offerings from other Swarthmore departments and programs.

Acceptance Criteria

To be accepted as a major, students must have completed FMST 001 and have completed or be currently enrolled in at least one additional FMST course with an average grade of B or above. Haverford students interested in applying for the Swarthmore major should consult with the department chair and their Haverford advisor. Bryn Mawr students are encouraged to apply to the Film Studies Program at Bryn Mawr.

Course Minor

Students may add a minor in Film and Media Studies to any major.

Requirements

Minors must take a minimum of 5 credits, among which the following 3 are required. 

  1. FMST 001 (preferably taken in first year)
  2. 1 Course from “Classes with sustained critical attention to Medium Specificity” (preferably taken in sophomore year)
  3. 1 Course from “Classes with sustained critical attention to national, transnational, global or comparative approaches to Media Forms and Practices” (preferably taken in sophomore or junior year)  

The remaining 2+ credits can come from other courses within these categories, from the list of additional FMST courses, and from FMST credit-eligible Swarthmore electives, from courses taken abroad (maximum of 2 credits), at Penn or TriCo with approval. These should be selected for breadth and depth in the discipline and balance between critical studies and production courses. 

Acceptance Criteria

To be admitted to the minor, students must have satisfactorily completed one film and media studies course with a B or higher average.

Honors Major

Requirements

Students in the Honors Program may major in film and media studies by meeting the requirements for the major and by preparing for and taking three external exams. The exam preparations should include a combination of the following with the approval of the film and media studies chair:

  • 2 pairs of advanced 1 credit FMST eligible courses (4 courses total)
  • FMST 090 plus a 1-credit SHS attachment
  • 1 FMST seminar numbered 100 and higher, if offered
  • 1- or 2-credit thesis or creative project

Senior honors study (SHS) consists of a revised essay and/or short film submitted for a course or seminar in the preparation. No SHS is required for a thesis or creative project

Acceptance Criteria

Students wishing to complete the honors major must have received a grade of B+ or better in all film and media studies courses and be approved by the Film and Media Studies Department.

Honors Minor

Requirements

Students in the Honors Program may minor in film and media studies by meeting the requirements for the minor and by preparing for and taking one external exam. The exam preparations should include one or a combination of the following with the approval of the film and media studies chair:

  • One pair of 1 credit FMST eligible courses (2 courses total)
  • 1 FMST seminar numbered 100 and higher, if offered
  • 1- or 2-credit thesis or creative project

Acceptance Criteria

Students wishing to complete the honors minor must have received a grade of B+ or better in all film and media studies courses and be approved by the Film and Media Studies Department.

Thesis / Culminating Exercise

FMST 090  is considered the culminating exercise for majors, normally taken during the spring of senior year. As part of their preparation, seniors must complete a project proposal for the type of work that is to be their focus within the capstone by September 30 of their senior fall. This proposal should include a 250 word abstract, a working bibliography (10+ primary and secondary works), and for creative projects a treatment, timeline, equipment list, and budget estimation. FMST faculty will read and decide on the feasibility of the project proposal prior to spring enrollment.

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Credit

Consult with the department chair to determine eligibility of AP or IB work.

Transfer Credit

Students in any major may apply to receive film and media studies credit for courses in critical media studies or production taken abroad or on other campuses. We do not accept online courses for transfer credit. Please consult with your advisor as you plan your study abroad for recommended programs. Two approved credits may be applied to the FMST major or minor.

Off-Campus Study

Students in any major may apply to receive film and media studies credit for courses in critical studies or production taken abroad or on other campuses. Please consult with your adviser as you plan your study abroad for recommended programs. Two approved credits may be applied to the FMST major or minor. Make sure to save all relevant course materials before course ends since you cannot count on Moodle, Blackboard, or Canvas being active after courses end. The FMST Department always asks for a complete syllabus in order to give course credit. View list of off-campus study programs available here.