Learn about the Film Studies Department's mission and the learning outcomes of its students.
The primary mission of the Department of Film Studies is to provide excellent undergraduate teaching in the study of cinema and the practice of making motion pictures.
The department advances the production and scholarly understanding of motion pictures by both employing experienced, talented film scholars and filmmakers as well as through activities in support of faculty and student scholarship, research, and creative work.
The department is founded on the principle that the study of cinema and the artistic production of motion pictures complement one another, and all film studies majors perform substantial work in both areas. In critical studies courses, students learn the history, aesthetics, business, and social significance of film and filmmaking. Film production courses teach students to make their own fiction and non-fiction works, under the guidance of professional filmmakers.
Courses in the Film Studies Department serve the university's liberal arts mission and develop knowledge and skills that students can apply to a variety of professions within and outside the film industry in addition to graduate study in film production, cinema studies, and other fields.
Students in the program develop knowledge and skills in filmmaking and cinema studies, critical thinking, persuasive and creative writing; research and analysis; business and budgeting; visual design; computer use; and oral presentation.
The Film Studies Department employs the resources of the university community and the regional filmmaking community in order to provide a variety of perspectives on the art of film. The department fosters interdisciplinary and international education through courses and cultural events that draw on the expertise of faculty from departments throughout the university and that teach students about cinema from around the world.
Film Studies also draws on local and visiting professional filmmakers to teach courses in specialized aspects of film production and to discuss, through guest lectures and workshops, their work in film and the film industry. Through its relationship to the local filmmaking community, the department offers internships and courses that give students opportunities to work on film productions in the Wilmington area, at EUE Screen Gems Studios, and at other film-related agencies.
Film Studies also seeks to disseminate knowledge of film and film history by sponsoring a variety of film festivals, film screenings, and lectures and symposia on campus and in the city of Wilmington.
Demonstrate that the critical study of cinema informs their filmmaking and that the study and practice of film production enhance their work as film scholars and analysts.
Demonstrate the relationship between film form and aesthetic effect through both film analysis and the creation of motion pictures.
Be able to conduct film research and compose cogent, persuasive, and valid essays about film.