Major Requirements

Declaring the Film & Digital Media Major

Please note: Indicating a major at admission only demonstrates an interest in a field of study and is not a declaration of a major or a pre-major. You must complete the prerequisite coursework with the grade standard to officially declare a Film & Digital Media major or pre-major.

Pre-Major
Students who have completed one lower-division requirement (FILM 20A, 20B or 20C) with a grade of B- or better may declare the Film & Digital Media pre-major. Pre-majors are eligible for priority enrollment in FILM 120, provided they have satisfied the necessary prerequisites.

Generally, our department advisor holds group pre-major/major declaration meetings that are advertised and scheduled during the beginning of each quarter. At these meetings, you will learn more about the program and map out a study plan for finishing the major.

When students in the pre-major complete FILM 20A and either 20B or 20C with a B- or better, they are automatically admitted to the major and do not have to meet with our advisor.

Major
Students who do not declare the pre-major are eligible to declare the Film & Digital Media major after completion of two of the three required lower-division courses with a minimum grade of B- or better (FILM 20A and either 20B or 20C). Most upper-division F&DM classes are restricted to majors and pre-majors during pre-enrollment, so we recommend that you declare the major late in your second year or early in your junior year. When you are ready to declare the Film & Digital Media major, you will be directed to attend a pre-major/major declaration meeting (see pre-major).

Junior transfer students
The requirements to declare the F&DM pre-major and major apply to transfer students. Jr. transfers who have been accepted into the university should attend a summer F&DM transfer orientation and contact the department advisor prior to their enrollment date to discuss specifications of enrollment. Please visit the Transfer Students page for more information.

Note: These Requirements apply to all incoming students. Official UCSC admissions and major requirements are published biennially in the printed version of the UCSC General Catalog. Updates will be posted in the online General Catalog prior to the start of every fall quarter. 

2009-2010 General Major Requirements
Lower Division Requirements (3 courses)

  • FILM 20A The Film Experience AND two courses chosen from the following three classes:
  • FILM 20B Introduction to TV Culture & Society
  • FILM 20C Introduction to Digital Media
  • FILM 20P Introduction to Production Technique

*Film 20P does not count as one of the two courses needed to declare the Film & Digital Media pre-major or major.

Core Curriculum (one chosen from each category: 5 courses)

Category A

  • FILM 120 Introduction to Film Theory & Criticism

Category B

  • FILM 130 Silent Cinema
  • FILM 132A International Cinema to 1960
  • FILM 132B International Cinema 1960 to Present
  • FILM 132C Gender and Global Cinema

Category C

  • FILM 134A American Film 1930 to 1960
  • FILM 134B American Film 1960 to Present

Category D

  • FILM 136A Experimental Film & Video
  • FILM 136B History of Television
  • FILM 136C History of New Media

Category E

  • Film 194 Senior Seminar

Note: Any one of the seminar courses in the 194 series will satisfy the exit requirement for the major.

Electives (5 courses)
at least three of the five required electives must be in Film and Digital Media history/critical studies

  • any film courses from the above Core Curriculum in excess of requirement
  • as many as two film courses taught in production (Film 150 and Film 170 series)
  • as many as two electives can be from another department although they must be pre-approved by our faculty

Diversity Requirement
Students must include among these 13 courses at least one upper-division 5-credit course that focuses on diversity (i.e., non-Western, underrepresented ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation). Students can fulfill the diversity requirement by completing a course from the 132 or165 series. Also, specific offerings of Film 168, National Cinema and Culture, will count towards the diversity requirement if pre-approved by the department.