A.A. in Film Studies

Film Studies introduces students to the history of film, exploring film as an artistic, cultural and social phenomenon. The program also provides students with a theoretical and practical foundation in film analysis and production. Students will have the opportunity to take a wide range of courses from film appreciation and history to acting, screenwriting and videography, providing students with both theoretical and hands-on experience in filmmaking and production. Film Studies will prepare students for transfer to a university and/or for various professions, including but not limited to, filmmaking, writing, acting, advertising, film business and film production. 

A.A. Degree Level Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Film Studies A.A. Degree will:

1. Critically analyze film, television and/or digital media works for formal, thematic and cultural meaning.

2. Evaluate the ways in which film is influenced by personal, cultural and/or societal expressions.

3. Understand and demonstrate basic skills in film production related to the area of emphasis.

Required courses:
ART 199Motion Picture Appreciation3
or ART 199H Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
ART 200History of Motion Pictures: 1895-19453
ART 201History of Motion Pictures 1945-Present3
Areas of Emphasis (select one)
Select one of the following areas of emphasis - Acting, Screenwriting, Production or History/Criticsm - and complete all required courses and electives within that area.
1) Acting
Required courses:
Camera Acting I - Beginning3.5
Camera Acting II - Intermediate3.5
Camera Acting III - Intermediate/Advanced3.5
Camera Acting IV - Advanced3.5
The Business of Acting
2) Screenwriting
Required courses:
Stage and Screenwriting - Beginning3
Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate3
Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate/Advanced3
Stage and Screenwriting - Advanced3
3) Production
Required course:
Video for Photographers3
Select three (3) of the following courses:
Intermediate Video for Photographers3
Introduction to Tech for Theatre, TV and Film3
Introduction to Lighting for Theatre, Television and Film3.5
Introduction to Live Video Event Production3
Stage and Project Management for Theatre, TV and Film3
Introduction to Production Management3
Introduction to Production Management Practicum3
4) History/Criticism
Required courses:
Cultural History of American Films3
Film as Literature3
Film as Literature - Honors
Two (2) courses from other emphases
6-7
Total Units21-23

2-Year Curriculum Map Examples
These maps represent four possible pathways through the program and are only for reference.

*It is highly recommended that you make an appointment to create a customized education plan that fits your needs.

Note: Co-requisite MATH course (2 units) and/or substitute ENGL 101E (5 units) may be needed based on placement.

Acting Emphasis Map:

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
REC 100 Survey of Entertainment Technology 4
REC 103 Introduction to Audio Engineering 4
THEA 211A Camera Acting I - Beginning 3.5
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
 Units15.5
Winter Term 1
MATH 144
Technical Mathematics
or Mathematics for Everyday Living - A Liberal Arts Course
or Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
 Units4
Spring Term 1
ART 200 History of Motion Pictures: 1895-1945 3
THEA 211B Camera Acting II - Intermediate 3.5
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
3
 Units12.5
Summer Term 1
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of the African-Americans to 1876
or History of the African-Americans since 1876
or History of Women in the United States
3
ART 199
Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
3
 Units6
Fall Term 2
ART 201 History of Motion Pictures 1945-Present 3
THEA 211C Camera Acting III - Intermediate/Advanced 3.5
ANTH 212 Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3
ANTH 212L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Lab 1
ENGL 290 Ethnic Voices in Film 3
 Units13.5
Winter Term 2
KIN 170
Fitness for Life
or Health and Wellness in Society
or Health and Wellness - Honors
or Introduction to Nutrition
3
 Units3
Spring Term 2
THEA 211D
Camera Acting IV - Advanced
or The Business of Acting
3
POLI 103
American Government and Politics
or American Government and Politics - Honors
3
SPCH 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
or Small Group Communication
3
ASTR 115
Planetary Astronomy
or Planetary Astronomy - Honors
or Life In The Universe
or Physical Oceanography
or Introduction to Forest Ecology
or Physical Geography
or Introduction to Weather and Climate
3
 Units12
 Total Units66.5

 Note: Course selections may affect total unit value. 

Screenwriting Emphasis Map:

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
THEA 204A Stage and Screenwriting - Beginning 3
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
MATH 160
Mathematics for Everyday Living - A Liberal Arts Course
or Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
ART 199
Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
3
 Units14
Winter Term 1
PHTO 102 Intermediate Photography 3
 Units3
Spring Term 1
ART 200 History of Motion Pictures: 1895-1945 3
THEA 204B Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate 3
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
3
 Units12
Summer Term 1
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of the African-Americans to 1876
or History of the African-Americans since 1876
or History of Women in the United States
3
 Units3
Fall Term 2
ART 201 History of Motion Pictures 1945-Present 3
THEA 204C Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate/Advanced 3
ANTH 212 Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3
ANTH 212L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Lab 1
ENGL 290
Ethnic Voices in Film
or Film as Literature
or Film as Literature - Honors
3
 Units13
Winter Term 2
KIN 170
Fitness for Life
or Health and Wellness in Society
or Health and Wellness - Honors
or Introduction to Nutrition
3
 Units3
Spring Term 2
THEA 204D Stage and Screenwriting - Advanced 3
POLI 103
American Government and Politics
or American Government and Politics - Honors
3
SPCH 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
or Small Group Communication
3
ASTR 115
Planetary Astronomy
or Planetary Astronomy - Honors
or Life In The Universe
or Physical Oceanography
or Introduction to Forest Ecology
or Physical Geography
or Introduction to Weather and Climate
3
 Units12
 Total Units60

 Note: Course selections may affect total unit value. 

Production Emphasis Map:

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
PHTO 101 Basic Photography 3
ART 199
Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
3
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
MATH 160
Mathematics for Everyday Living - A Liberal Arts Course
or Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
 Units14
Winter Term 1
PHTO 102 Intermediate Photography 3
 Units3
Spring Term 1
ART 200 History of Motion Pictures: 1895-1945 3
PHTO 102 Intermediate Photography 3
THEA 120 Introduction to Tech for Theatre, TV and Film 3
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
3
 Units12
Summer Term 1
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of the African-Americans to 1876
or History of the African-Americans since 1876
or History of Women in the United States
3
 Units3
Fall Term 2
ART 201 History of Motion Pictures 1945-Present 3
PHTO 204 Video for Photographers 3
ANTH 212 Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3
ANTH 212L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Lab 1
THEA 140
Introduction to Lighting for Theatre, Television and Film
or Introduction to Live Video Event Production
or Stage and Project Management for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Production Management
or Introduction to Production Management Practicum
3
 Units13
Winter Term 2
KIN 170
Fitness for Life
or Health and Wellness in Society
or Health and Wellness - Honors
or Introduction to Nutrition
3
 Units3
Spring Term 2
PHTO 207 Intermediate Video for Photographers 3
ENGL 290 Ethnic Voices in Film 3
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
POLI 103
American Government and Politics
or American Government and Politics - Honors
3
 Units12
 Total Units60

 Note: Course selections may affect total unit value. 

History/Criticism Emphasis Map:

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
COMM 136 Cultural History of American Films 3
MATH 160
Mathematics for Everyday Living - A Liberal Arts Course
or Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
ART 199
Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
3
 Units14
Winter Term 1
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of the African-Americans to 1876
or History of the African-Americans since 1876
or History of Women in the United States
3
 Units3
Spring Term 1
ART 200 History of Motion Pictures: 1895-1945 3
PHTO 204
Video for Photographers
or Intermediate Video for Photographers
or Introduction to Tech for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Lighting for Theatre, Television and Film
or Stage and Screenwriting - Beginning
or Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate
or Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate/Advanced
or Stage and Screenwriting - Advanced
or Camera Acting I - Beginning
or Camera Acting II - Intermediate
or Camera Acting III - Intermediate/Advanced
or Camera Acting IV - Advanced
or Introduction to Live Video Event Production
or Stage and Project Management for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Production Management
or Introduction to Production Management Practicum
3
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
3
 Units12
Summer Term 1
KIN 170
Fitness for Life
or Health and Wellness in Society
or Health and Wellness - Honors
or Introduction to Nutrition
3
 Units3
Fall Term 2
ART 201 History of Motion Pictures 1945-Present 3
ANTH 212 Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3
ANTH 212L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Lab 1
PHTO 204
Video for Photographers
or Intermediate Video for Photographers
or Introduction to Tech for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Lighting for Theatre, Television and Film
or Stage and Screenwriting - Beginning
or Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate
or Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate/Advanced
or Stage and Screenwriting - Advanced
or Camera Acting I - Beginning
or Camera Acting II - Intermediate
or Camera Acting III - Intermediate/Advanced
or Camera Acting IV - Advanced
or Introduction to Live Video Event Production
or Stage and Project Management for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Production Management
or Introduction to Production Management Practicum
3
ENGL 291
Film as Literature
or Film as Literature - Honors
3
 Units13
Spring Term 2
ENGL 290 Ethnic Voices in Film 3
SPCH 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
3
POLI 103
American Government and Politics
or American Government and Politics - Honors
3
ASTR 115
Planetary Astronomy
or Planetary Astronomy - Honors
3
PHTO 204
Video for Photographers
or Intermediate Video for Photographers
or Introduction to Tech for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Lighting for Theatre, Television and Film
or Stage and Screenwriting - Beginning
or Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate
or Stage and Screenwriting - Intermediate/Advanced
or Stage and Screenwriting - Advanced
or Camera Acting I - Beginning
or Camera Acting II - Intermediate
or Camera Acting III - Intermediate/Advanced
or Camera Acting IV - Advanced
or Introduction to Live Video Event Production
or Stage and Project Management for Theatre, TV and Film
or Introduction to Production Management
or Introduction to Production Management Practicum
3
 Units15
 Total Units60

 Note: Course selections may affect total unit value.  

Career Opportunities

There are a variety of careers you can do with this major.

 

To explore more about this major, schedule an appointment with a career counselor.