Film Studies Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of program is it?

The Film Studies program at Westminster emphasizes Film Literacy and Scholarship. We study film as a rich language composed of pictures, movements, sounds, and words. We learn the history of film world-wide and how it affects and represents cultures. Students receive a strong background in analyzing film and its relation to the arts, humanities and social sciences.

What’s unique about it?

The program includes emphases on the uniqueness of film as well as its relations to other fields, so it is both a specific field of study and an interdisciplinary one. The faculty includes scholars from the arts, humanities and social sciences. Filmmakers are often invited to campus to present their films and meet with students.

Why study films?

Film Literacy is an important component of Liberal Education because it includes so many art forms, including words, images, and music, relating them in its own rich and complex language.

Film has been an important component of world culture for over a century. It influences the arts, humanities, and social sciences, as well as playing an important role in social, political, and cultural developments.

Just as it is essential to read well in order to write well, it is necessary to read films in order to create them. A background in Film Literacy is a significant advantage for students interested in the production, business, or educational opportunites in film.

How does it relate to other studies?

The minor in Film Studies is an ideal accompaniment to a major in any of the humanities, arts, or social sciences. It is also offered as an emphasis in the Arts Administration major, for students interested in the business of film.

Do I get to meet movie stars?

We can’t promise that, but it could happen. You will have the opportunity to meet creative people working in studio and independent films.