The School of Film, in conjunction with the Honors Tutorial College, offers exceptional students the opportunity for practical and scholarly study of film combined with a broad liberal arts education. The program culminates with an honors thesis and leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in film. Enrollment is limited; only nine students (2-3 per year)can be enrolled in this program at any given time.

Admission Requirements

An applicant is expected to rank in the top 10 percent of your high school class and have a minimum ACT composite score of 30 or a combined SAT score of 1300. Additional admission requirements include: (1) a current resume, (2) three letters of recommendation, (3) a writing sample, (4) a 500-word personal essay describing your passion for studying film, and--for all applicants interested in the production concentration--(5) a portfolio of creative work demonstrating significant accomplishments in any area of the fine arts.

The Tutorial Program

There are four elements to the tutorial program in film:

1. Twelve individual tutorials on topics in film studies and film production are required. Possible topics in production include all aspects of film and video pre-production, production, and post-production; screenwriting; producing; directing; and special topics in film/video production. Possible tutorial topics in film studies include film theory, criticism, history (including history of experimental, documentary, and narrative film and video), historiography, film and society, research methods, and international cinemas. The honors thesis is also taken as a tutorial.

2. Liberal Arts education. The nature of the film medium requires a broad background in liberal arts and a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Students are expected to select 15 to 18 elective courses in film, history, English, telecommunications, comparative arts, foreign languages, and other disciplines.

3. Production and scholarship courses in film. Breadth of understanding can often best be achieved through practical courses in film and video production and courses in film scholarship. Because film is a collaborative art, you will join other students in the appropriate courses. In the third year, you will select an area of specialization within one of two overall areas: film studies or film/video production. All students are expected to complete an Honors Thesis in their chosen area of specialization.

4. Minor area of specialization. The studednt will plan a cognate minor consisting of four courses of sixteen credit hours outside the School of Film. These courses will be chosen according to an individual plan that you develop with the Director of Studies. Students wishing, for example, to enter a career in producing or arts administration, you should complete a cognate minor such as management, accounting, or business.

5. The Honor Thesis in Film. Each student is required to complete an Honors Thesis. This may take the form of a completed film, video, feature-length screenplay, or a major research thesis.

   In addition, students are encouraged to seek internship opportunities in film and related fields.

   The School of Film Committee (Director of Studies, Director of the School and two tutors) oversees the program. The Director of Studies assigns tutors in accordance with the student's interests and, in consultation with the student, develops an individual plan of study leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film

   Evaulation
   Papers and creative work developed as part of each tutorial are discussed and evaluated by the tutor. The Director of Studies also consults with tutors about your progress, and the strenghts and weaknesses of individual students so that subsequent tutorials can address problems and build on existing strengths. A description of each tutorial as well as an informal evaluation is filed by the tutor in the college office and School of Film office as the close of the quarter.

   Honors Thesis
   Tutorial Students prepare and defend an original thesis during the fourth year. This may be either a written thesis or a studio thesis resulting in a film, video, or screenplay. The topic and scope of the thesis is approved by the tutorial committee no later than the end of Fall Quarter in the third year of the student's program. The thesis should reflect the student's interest in her/his chosen area of concentration.

   Application
   The deadline to apply for admission is December 15. Please submit all artwork on labeled slides or videotape; the School cannot accept original artwork.

Sample Programs

Year 1
                    Film istory I, II, III           12

                    Tutorials (3)                    12

                    Electives                        20

                    Minor Cognate                     4

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Year 2
                    International Cinemas I, II       8

                    Production I, II, III             8

                    Tutorials (3)                    12

                    Electives                         9

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Year 3
                    Adv. Cinematography               4 

                    Adv. Editing                      4

                    Sound                             4

                    Tutorials (3)                    12

                    Electives                        16

                    Minor Cognate                     8

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Year 4
                    Tutorials (including Honors
                    Thesis)                          30

                    Electives                        18

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Program Total--192 hours

Film Scholarship Option

Year 1
                    Film History I, II, III          12

                    Tutorials (3)                    12

                    Electives                        20

                    Minor Cognate                     4

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Year 2
                    International Cinemas I, II      12

                    Theory and Criticism I, II        8

                    Tutorials (3)                    12

                    Electives                        12

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Year 3
                    Seminar I, II, III               12

                    Tutorials (3)                    12

                    Electives                        16

                    Minor Cognate                     8

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Year 4
                    Tutorials (including Honors
                    Thesis)                          30

                    Electives                        18

                    Subtotal                   48 hours

Program Total--192 hours

Minor in Film

The School of Film offers a 30 credit-hour minor for those students majoring in other fields but wish to expand their knowledge of film.

Students wishing to declare a minor in film must (1) receive permission from the head of undergraduate studies in film and (2) receive permission from the Dean's office in the College of Fine Arts to pursue the program.

Any student wishing to declare a minor in film must have a minimum g.p.a. of 2.5.

Core Courses (required):

FILM 201            Introduction to Film I            4

FILM 202            Introduction to Film II           4

FILM 203            Introduction to Film III          4

FILM 340            Film Techniques                   4

FILM 343            Scriptwriting                     4

Film Electives at least 10 hours from the following):

FILM 421            International Film I              4

FILM 422            International Film II             4

FILM 423            International Film III            4

FILM 431            Film History I                    4

FILM 432            Film History II                   4

FILM 433            Film History III                  4

FILM 451            Theory I                          4

FILM 471            Film Topics Seminar             1-5

FILM 472            Film Topics Seminar             1-5 

FILM 473            Film Topics Seminar             1-5