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Program Details

Students in the UNCW Department of Film Studies make more than 500 motion picture projects and exercises every year. A limited number of students are admitted to the department each semester.

You can apply to become a film studies (FST) major after completing FST 200 Introduction to Film Study. Courses cover narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation modes, and most every aspect of the creative and technical process from film analysis to screenwriting to producing to directing to cinematography to sound to editing.

Student Films & Media

UNCW film studies students produce expressive and acclaimed work. They create critical analysis of film, as well as write, direct and produce their own.

At UNCW, you can:

  • Submit your work to local, national and global film festivals
  • Participate in sponsored internships in Wilmington, New York, Los Angeles and Bristol, England
  • Get involved in a thriving local film scene

 

Wilmington Film Industry & Jobs

Ever since Screen Gems Studios president Frank Capra Jr. initiated our program 14 years ago, Film Studies has maintained an active relationship with Wilmington's film industry.

Our students intern on television and feature film productions, and with the many companies that support film production in Wilmington. Industry professionals guest lecture in Film Studies courses, mentor our students, and even serve on our faculty.

Wilmington is a thriving film production center, Cinespace Studios, which is the largest film production lot east of California. 130 feature films and over a dozen television series have been shot in and around Wilmington.

Wilmington is home to:

For an overview of the Wilmington's studios, services, crew resources and film and television credits, visit the Wilmington Regional Film Commission.

The commercial feature film and television industry is only one aspect of the Film Studies experience. The FST major offers a balance of critical studies and film production courses designed to provide all students with essential skills applicable to any career, including: research, analysis, problem solving, persuasive writing, and the creative process.

Our students pursue interests that reflect the diversity of the ever evolving motion-picture medium. They write movie reviews, design websites, publish research and commentary, edit a magazine, and produce a film festival and conference. They write screenplays, create video installations, direct documentaries, and make animation.

Admissions & Internships

Admission Requirements
Internship Application Process

Academic Gateway Requirements for the Film Studies Major

Admission to the major is based solely upon a student's grade in FST 200; students must receive a C or above to be considered for the major. For purposes of admission to the FST major, the department only credits students' first or second grade in FST 200 (i.e., students may repeat the course once, including graded audits).

Instructions for Declaring a PFST Major

Students seeking to major in film studies before completing FST 200 may declare a pre-film studies (PFST) major through the "Major Declaration" page in Seaport.

Instructions for Applying to the FST Major

Anytime after completing the course and receiving a C or above, students seeking to major in film studies may declare a film studies (FST) major through the "Major Declaration" page in Seaport.

Admissions Timeframe

The department can begin making admissions decisions in the week following the December and May Commencement ceremonies, after grades in FST 200 have posted.

Application Deadlines

  • June 1 for Fall semester
  • November 1 for Spring semester
  • March 16 for Summer sessions

Early applicants are given priority over those who submit after the stated deadlines. Late applications are considered, so you can still miss the deadline and apply, although that is not recommended.

Steps In Applying for an Internship

Please Note: If ALL steps are not followed properly, or if your application is incomplete, you will NOT be accepted for an internship.

  1. Check your eligibility for an internship. (See Eligibility Requirements)
  2. Prepare your resume. The UNCW Career Center is happy to help you in creating and reviewing your resume before submission.
  3. Fill out the Spring 2025 Internship Application Form before the deadline.
  4. Email the Internship Director to set up a meeting to discuss your agency selections (optional).
  5. After the deadline, your resume will be submitted to up to three agencies for consideration. These agencies will review your resume and, if selected, will offer you an internship position.
  6. As soon as you have accepted an internship offer, you will let the Internship Director know you have been offered a position and they will submit your FST 498 “Permission to Enroll” form to the Dean’s office.
  7. An internship is a class. Once your form has been approved, you will receive an email from the Film Studies office instructing you on how to officially enroll in the FST 498 Internship course. Internships are THREE credit hours per semester and must be paid for as you would any class.

    You must register for the course and PAY for all credits earned or your internship will be canceled.

Please see the full Film Studies Internship page for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Students intending to major in Film Studies should declare a PFST major once they have completed 24 credit hours. Declaring a PFST major enables students to obtain mentoring through the Film Studies Department and to enroll in courses restricted to PFST or FST majors, such as FST 201 Introduction to Film Production. PFST majors are also included in the Film Studies email listserv.

No. FST 110 is designed for non-majors and serves no major requirement.

We recommend students take FST 200 in their sophomore year. Since the course is difficult and determines admission to the major, freshmen should not take it in their first semester at college. Freshmen who feel themselves ready for the course might take it in their second semester, however.

We recommend that prospective majors take FST 201 either while taking or immediately after taking FST 200. However, students cannot take FST 201 until they have enough credit hours to declare the PFST major, which is a prerequisite for the course.

Yes. FST 205 is a pre-requisite for almost every other critical studies course in the major, so we recommend that students take it immediately after taking FST 200. Students will be allowed to pre-register for FST 205 while they are taking FST 200; however, those students who are not admitted to the major will be removed from FST 205 since it is restricted to FST majors.

You may declare the FST major as soon as you have completed FST 200 and earned a grade of “C” or better. You should not try to declare the FST major until your grade in FST 200 has posted.

Once a student declares the FST major through mySeaport, the Film Studies Academic Coordinator will either “approve” or “deny” the request, depending on whether the student has earned the requisite grade in FST 200. Students will receive an email informing them of the decision.

Yes. If you want to major only in Film Studies, you must drop your other major.

Students whose applications have been rejected will be removed from courses restricted to majors, including FST 205 and any courses that have FST 205 as a co-requisite.

Admission decisions are final and may not be appealed. However, students may retake FST 200 once and, if they earn a “C” or better, they may reapply when the new grade has posted.

No. Students must complete film studies core courses (FST 200, 201, and 205) at UNCW.

Giving to Film Studies