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Columbia Campus    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin

Film and Media Studies, BA


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Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the degree, majors will be able to do the following:

  • Write compelling arguments that are supported by evidence.
  • Identify key precedents for their own arguments about media.
  • Apply moving image analysis to explain how specific media examples communicate to audiences, and with what implications and effects.
  • Evaluate specific media works and events in a global historical context.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Film and Media Studies, BA

 


Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

  1. Carolina Core (32-44 hours)
  2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)
  3. Program Requirements (31-46 hours)
  4. Major Requirements (27 hours)

1. Carolina Core (32-44 hours)


Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written — CMW (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving — ARP (6-8 hours) 

Scientific Literacy — SCI (8 hours)

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language — GFL (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking — GHS (3 hours) 

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences — GSS (3 hours) 

Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding —  AIU (3 hours)

Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component* — CMS (0-3 hours)

Information Literacy* —  INF (0-3 hours)

Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility* — VSR (0-3 hours)

*Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)


Foreign Language (0-3 hours) 

  • only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

History (3 hours) 

  • GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111 , 112 , 214 , or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category AND FAMS 300 . Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.

Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (12 hours) 

3. Program Requirements (31-46 hours)


Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)

Cognate

The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve  (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.

Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.

It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.

For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Minor

In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.

The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z.

Electives (13-34 hours)

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. Major Requirements (27 hours)


Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Major Courses (6 hours)

Major Electives (21 hours) 

In choosing their electives, majors are expected to individualize their programs of study while becoming broadly knowledgeable about the diverse and increasingly interconnected global media landscape. Students are encouraged to pursue internships, study abroad opportunities, and graduation with leadership distinction.

  • Production Requirement (3 hours) 

Majors are expected to cultivate an understanding of the media they study by learning about the production process. Select one of the following:

 

  • 300-level Electives (12 hours)

Electives at this level provide a breadth of knowledge while allowing students to focus on topics of interest to them.

 

  • Additional Electives (6 hours)

To complete the major, students should select two courses from the following that will develop skills and deepen knowledge acquired through their previous selection of courses. At least one of these must be a FAMS Carolina Core Integrative (CC-INT) course.

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