Declaring the Film and Digital Media Major
DECLARING THE FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA MAJOR
If you are ready to declare the major, please follow these steps:
- Submit this form to initiate the major declaration process for Film and Digital Media. You will then be added to the Film and Digital Media Major Orientation and Declaration Workshop on Canvas (if you have not been added already).
- Complete the Film and Digital Media Major Orientation and Declaration Workshop on Canvas.
- Create and submit your academic plan in Canvas. Follow instruction in the workshop and share the link in the quiz at the end.
- Petition to declare the Film and Digital Media major here via the Student Portal.
2024-25 GENERAL MAJOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Lower Division Requirements
- FILM 20A Introduction to Film Studies
Two additional 20-level courses:
- FILM 20B Introduction to Television Studies
- FILM 20C Introduction to Digital Media
- FILM 20P Introduction to Production Technique (cannot be used towards declaring the major)
Upper-Division Courses
Core Curriculum
Students in the general major complete the following required upper-division core curriculum:
- FILM 120 Introduction to Media Theory
One Course from each of the following three groups
Group 1:
- FILM 130 Silent Cinema
- FILM 132A International Cinema to 1960
- FILM 132B International Cinema, 1960 to Present
Group 2:
- FILM 134A American Film, 1930-1960
- FILM 134B American Film, 1960-Present
Group 3:
- FILM 136A Experimental Film and Video
- FILM 136B History of Television
- FILM 136C Visual Culture and Technology: History of New Media
- FILM 136D Documentary Film and Video
Plus one course from the following to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement:
- FILM 194A Film Theory Seminar
- FILM 194B Electronic Media Theory Seminar
- FILM 194C New Media Theory Seminar
- FILM 194D Film History Seminar
- FILM 194E International Cinemas
- FILM 194F Film and the Other Arts: Music and Dance
- FILM 194G New(s) Media
- FILM 194H Ethics and Documentary Filmmaking
- FILM 194S Senior Seminar: Special Topics
- FILM 196A Senior Project in Narrative Production
- FILM 196B Senior Project in Screenwriting
- FILM 196C Senior Documentary Workshop
- FILM 197 Senior Digital Media Workshop
and five upper-division elective courses are to meet the following criteria:
- five courses total in any combination of critical studies (FILM 160 and 180 series), production (FILM 150 and 170 series), and/or additional Core Curriculum courses (FILM 130/132/134/136 course taken after its respective Core Curriculum requirement has been satisfied).
- up to two upper-division electives can be substituted from an outside department or institution; course substitutions must be pre-approved by the Film and Digital Media Department.
- at least one course must focus on diversity, i.e. non-Western perspectives; races/ethnicities, genders, classes, sexualities or abilities (check the general catalog for more details).
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 perspectives; races/ethnicities, genders, classes, sexualities or abilities. A list of courses that can satisfy the diversity requirement can be found in the department office or online in the general catalog.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. A list of courses that satisfy the DC requirement can be found online in the general catalog.
Comprehensive Requirement
Seniors in the general film and digital media major satisfy the comprehensive requirement with a senior seminar. A list of courses that can satisfy the comprehensive requirement can be found online in the general catalog.
PDF Handouts to Download (you must be signed in to your UCSC Account to view these documents):
For More Information
Please refer to the UCSC General Catalog for complete requirements for the general major, including sample plans for frosh and transfer students