Group I (Film Core – 6 credits)
FIS 100 Introduction to Film
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of the course students will be able to
recognize, based on filmographies and lectures, the
major figures instrumental in the creation of world
cinema and the credits of their major films.
Comprehension / Communicate / By the end of the course students will be able to
begin to communicate the relationship between film
genres, film forms, national cinemas, their production
and distribution systems. These will be built upon in
group II, III, and V.
Application / Research / During the course students will be taught
fundamental film research techniques on the internet
that will also serve them in group II, III, and V.
Analysis / Analyze / During course the student will be taught how to
“see”, recognize, and interpret a film. This will be
expanded in FIS 110 Language of Film and will
serve them in group II, III, and V.
Synthesis / Write / During the course the student will use the analytical
tools above to write an analysis on each of the films
screened in this course. This will be expanded in FIS
110 Language of Film and will serve them in group
II, III, and V.
Evaluation / Discern / During the end of the course the student will be able
to compare and contrast the “essential films”
screened and understand their context within the
history of film. This will be expanded in FIS 110
Language of Film and will serve them in group II, III,
and V.
Group I (Film Core – 6 credits) cont.
FIS 110 Language of Film
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of the course students will be able to
recognize, based on filmographies and lectures, the
basic terminology (language) and fundamental
elements of the film medium.
Comprehension / Communicate / By the end of the course students will be able to
begin to communicate this film language in terms of
the art and craft of cinema including: mise-en-scene,
cinematography, editing, sound, acting, directing,
narrative storytelling, documentary, film criticism and
film theory. This will be expanded in group II, III,
and V.
Application / Research / During the course students will be taught
fundamental film research techniques on the internet
that will also serve them in group II, III, and V.
Analysis / Analyze / During course the student will be able to recognize
and describe these terms and apply them to any
discussion of the field of cinema. This will be
expanded in group II, III, and V.
Synthesis / Write / During the course the student will use the analytical
tools above to write an analysis on each of the films
screened in this course. This will be expanded in group
II, III, and V.
Evaluation / Discern / During the end of the course the student will be able
to compare and contrast the films screened by using
the vocabulary of the language of film. This will
serve them in group II, III, IV and V.
Group II (History – 9 credits)
FIS 410 Major Figures in the Cinema
FIS 411 Contemporary Filmmakers
FIS 440 The European Film
FIS 441 Drama and Film of German Expressionism
FIS 446 History of the Russian Film
FIS 449 The History of French Film
FIS 470 Women in Film
FIS 475 Modern Latin American Film
FIS 493 Studies in British Film
FIS 494 History of the American Film
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of the course students will be able to
recognize, based on filmographies and lectures, the
specific major figures, film movements, regional and
national cinemas, and their production and
distribution systems depending on course taken.
Comprehension / Communicate / Throughout the course students will be expected to
participate in the discussion of the relationship
between film directors, writers, and producers within
a specific era of film history. This will be built upon
in group III, IV and V.
Application / Research / During the course fundamental film research
will be reviewed and expanded upon.
Analysis / Analyze / During course the student will be able to recognize
and describe the terms taught and apply them to any
discussion of the field of cinema. This will be
expanded in group II, III, and V.
Synthesis / Write / During the course the student will use the analytical
tools above to write essays and/or papers on selected
films screened in the course. This will serve them in
group III, and V.
Group II (History – 9 credits) cont.
FIS 410 Major Figures in the Cinema
FIS 411 Contemporary Filmmakers
FIS 440 The European Film
FIS 441 Drama and Film of German Expressionism
FIS 446 History of the Russian Film
FIS 449 The History of French Film
FIS 470 Women in Film
FIS 475 Modern Latin American Film
FIS 493 Studies in British Film
FIS 494 History of the American Film
Evaluation / Discern / During the end of the course the student will be able
to compare and contrast these specific major figures,
film movements, regional and national cinemas, and
understand their context within the history of film.
This will serve them in group III, and V.
Group III (Criticism & Theory – 3 credits)
FIS 300 Film Criticism
FIS 400 Film Theory
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of the course students will be able to
recognize, based on filmographies and lectures, the
different elements inherent in (depending on the
course) either film criticism or film theory.
Comprehension / Communicate / Throughout the course students will be expected to
participate in the discussion of the relationship
between film directors, writers, and producers within
(depending on the course subject) a specific film
theory or school of criticism. This will be built upon
in group II and V.
Application / Research / During the course special emphasis will be given to
advanced film research techniques that will also serve
them in group II and V.
Analysis / Analyze / During the course the student will be able to recognize
and describe the terms taught and apply them to any
discussion of the field of cinema. This will be
expanded in group II, III, and V.
Synthesis / Write / During the course the student will use the analytical
tools above to write essays and/or papers on selected
films screened in the course. This will serve them
in group II, and V.
Evaluation / Discern / During the end of the course the student will be able
to compare and contrast the (depending on the
course subject) specific film theory and film
criticism in films screened. This will serve
them in group II, and V.
Group IV (Structure & Practice – 9 credits)
FIS 216 Intro to Screenwriting
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of this course the student will
Distinguish / be able to distinguish basic screen story
structure and identify correct screenplay
format elements.
Comprehension / Collaborate / By the end of this course the student will
Demonstrate / be able to collaborate on the outline process for
each class member, demonstrating story
structure familiarity and will produce a sample
of format, demonstrating correct usage.
Application / Recognize / By the end of this course the student will be able to
recognize how to format strong structural elements
in the final script.
Analysis / Analyze / By the end of this course the student will be able
Participate / to analyze structural elements in outline and in script and
participate in discussion with the writer as how to
best adapt changes for the next draft.
Synthesis / Create / By the end of this course the student will create
a short screenplay, no more than 30 pages, in
correct format.
Evaluation / Evaluate / By the end of this course the student will be able
Communicate / to evaluate scripts and communicate
critical written and oral response.
Group IV (Structure & Practice – 9 credits) cont.
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of this course the student will be able
Distinguish / to distinguish between models of suspense and surprise
and have a deeper understanding of film
grammar, sequencing and visual storytelling.
Comprehension / Collaborate / By the end of this course the student will have
Practice / practiced shooting shorts on digital video and 16mm.
They will collaborate with their classmates
to put together small films and videos that
tell a visual story.
Application / Sequencing / By the end of this course the student will be able to
Implementing / structure visual stories and be able to put them
into production.
Analysis / Prepare / By the end of this course the student will be able
Interact / to analyze the elements of a visual sequence,
be able to plan for camera coverage, and
give feedback to classmates on how to
tell a story in the appropriate visual manner.
Synthesis / Create / By the end of this course the student will create a surprise
model, a suspense sequence, operator mechanics,
group project on 16mm film, and a final project which
incorporates the skill sets developed in this class
Evaluation / Proficiency / By the end of this course the student will be able
Presentation / to operate a digital video camera, a 16mm Bolex, a
lightmeter, a camera tripod, and demonstrate this
proficiency toward future projects. A “pitch package”
will share the student’s next project with the class.
Group IV (Structure & Practice – 9 credits) cont.
Knowledge / Name / By the end of this course the student will be able to
Define / name and define elements of dramatic narrative
structure as well as a number of literary and
cinematic terms.
Comprehension / Identify / By the end of this course the student will be able to
Interpret / identify key elements of cinematic structure and
interpret how those elements are being used in
films screened or discussed in class.
Application / Apply / By the end of the course the student will be able to apply
Communicate / the key elements of cinematic structure across
a variety of genres and styles and communicate
how they maintain the same basic function.
Analysis / Recognize / By the end of the course the student will be able to
Solve / recognize when structural elements are not used
efficiently, if at all, and be able to solve those issues to
strengthen and scripts in question.
Synthesis / Write / By the end of the course the student will be able to write
Explication / in both short answer and essay format explications and
Comparison / comparisons of the story structure of different films
screened in the class.
Evaluation / Evaluate / By the end of the course the student will be able to
Apply / evaluate the cinematic structure of a genre of style they
may not be familiar with by applying the core required
elements and terms from the class.
Group V (Film Forms – 6 credits)
FIS 409 Politics and the Film
FIS 443 From French Literature to Film
FIS 444 Documentary Film and Video
FIS 495 Film and Literature
FIS 496 American Hero in Film and Literature
FIS 497 Genre Studies in Film
Knowledge / Identify / By the end of the course students will be able to
recognize, based on filmographies and lectures, the
different elements inherent in either specific film
genres, ideologically based films, film forms, or the
relationship between film and literature.
Comprehension / Communicate / Throughout the course students will be expected to
participate in the discussion of the relationship
between film directors, writers, and producers within
(depending on the course subject) a specific film
genre, political film, film forms, or literary work.
This will be built upon in-group II, III, and IV.
Application / Research / During the course fundamental film research
will be reviewed and expanded upon.
Analysis / Analyze / During course the student will be able to recognize
how to “see”, identify, and interpret
recurring motifs, themes, and visual styles in the films
screened. This will serve them in-group II, III, IV.
Synthesis / Write / During the course the student will use the analytical
tools above to write essays and/or papers on selected
films screened in the course. This will serve them in
group II and III.
Group V (Film Forms – 6 credits)
FIS 409 Politics and the Film
FIS 443 From French Literature to Film
FIS 444 Documentary Film and Video
FIS 495 Film and Literature
FIS 496 American Hero in Film and Literature
FIS 497 Genre Studies in Film
Evaluation / Discern / During the end of the course the student will be able
to compare and contrast these( depending on
course subject) specific film genres, political films,
film forms, or the relationship between film and
literature and understand their context within the
history of film. This will serve them in group II and
III.
Group VI (Track Electives – 21 credits)
Each film major builds a plan with an advisor in the areas of:
production, screenwriting and film history. It is expected that the
student actively meet with an advisor to tailor their curriculum to
their needs, interests, and career goals.
Group VII (Foreign Language – 6 credits)
Film Majors are required to take two semesters of a single "approved"
foreign language in order to be able to complete research on international
cinema or participate in global film production or screenwriting. It is