Award-Winning
Faculty have won various awards and been featured at local and international film festivals for their productions.
Film Studies
Films are art. They are historical documents. They can share messages spanning a wide spectrum of issues in society today. The film studies program at the University of St. Thomas teaches you to understand and analyze film as an art form through courses focusing on topics like film analysis, production and more.
Why Study Film at St. Thomas?
With a major or minor in film studies, you gain a strong analytical and historical foundation of films and film production around the world. By balancing and cultivating your theoretical, historical and creative skills in our program, you develop valuable and marketable skills needed by employers. Our graduates go on to pursue advanced study in the area, as well as careers in filmmaking, videography, television, media production, marketing, advertising and more.
Lights. Camera. Action.
Course Requirements
You complete 10 total courses for the major. Five of these are foundational courses: an introduction to film studies, digital imagery and sound, an exploration of cinema around the world, a course in filmmaking, and contemporary issues in film. You then select five electives in film, digital media arts, English, modern and classical languages and music.
The minor requires five total courses: two foundational courses (introduction to film studies and exploration of cinema around the world) and three electives in film, digital media arts, English, modern and classical languages and music.
Four-Year Plan
Our program is flexible, allowing you to pursue courses capturing your interest and nurturing your skills for the world after St. Thomas. We recommend connecting with a faculty member to plan your time at St. Thomas accordingly.
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies
- Minor in Film Studies
Internships
We believe you should gain practical experience during your college career. Film studies at St. Thomas has partnered with local film organizations. We offer semester-long and summer internships with the , , and the .
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
You complete 10 total courses for the major. Five of these are foundational courses: an introduction to film studies, digital imagery and sound, an exploration of cinema around the world, a course in filmmaking, and contemporary issues in film. You then select five electives in film, digital media arts, English, modern and classical languages and music.
The minor requires five total courses: two foundational courses (introduction to film studies and exploration of cinema around the world) and three electives in film, digital media arts, English, modern and classical languages and music.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Our program is flexible, allowing you to pursue courses capturing your interest and nurturing your skills for the world after St. Thomas. We recommend connecting with a faculty member to plan your time at St. Thomas accordingly.
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies
- Minor in Film Studies
Internships
Internships
We believe you should gain practical experience during your college career. Film studies at St. Thomas has partnered with local film organizations. We offer semester-long and summer internships with the , , and the .
Seeing the World Through a Different Lens
Our goal is to help you see various messages films convey around the world. Our faculty are your mentors, dedicated to passing their knowledge on to you. Our alumni are capitalizing on their experiences and knowledge every day in their professional careers.
Dr. Shersten Johnson
Dr. Johnson is the director of the Film Studies program. She teaches courses in music theory and composition.
Erica Ticknor, '15
Erica is an independent filmmaker and founder of Northbound Rogue, where she is a producer, cinematographer and editor. She also works at Twelve Plus Media and Flying Pieces productions, shooting and editing interviews and documentaries. She credits the diverse range of classes and opportunities in film studies with preparing her for the future, and providing her with a first step in the film world.
Career Paths
We give you the tools you need to succeed in a variety of careers and industries.
- Journalist
- Filmmaker
- Screenwriter
- Videographer
- Media Producer
- Director of Photography
Prepared for the Future
Film studies students have access to experienced and knowledgeable faculty, as well as fantastic clubs and organizations at St. Thomas to gain invaluable practical skills.
Film Society
Film Society is a student organization for those interested in studying film or careers in the film industry.
TommieMedia
Many of our students are involved with TommieMedia, an award-winning, web-based digital news service.
Faculty With Real Experience
Dr. Peter Gregg
Dr. Gregg teaches media production courses in digital media arts, as well as FILM 200 - Introduction to Film.
Dr. Kanishka Chowdhury
Dr. Chowdhury teaches FILM 300 – World Cinema in the film studies program.
James Snapko, Adjunct Faculty
James' films have been featured at the Cannes and Twin Cities film festivals.
Vast Knowledge. Versatile Skills.
The interdisciplinary nature of our program will develop your knowledge and skills in various fields.
We require a solid foundation in film history and analysis, while also striking a balance with film production at the same time. FILM 200, FILM 300 and various electives will provide you with these foundational skills and expertise.
Film studies
FILM 310 – Filmmaking, along with several communication and journalism courses, gives you access to high-quality cinematic camera equipment to use on your own projects.
Get Practical Experience
You will have numerous opportunities to interact with faculty inside and outside of the classroom at St. Thomas.
Dr. Peter Gregg's webseries Forsythia won a cinematography award at the LAweb Festival. His audio drama "The Chronos Paragon" was an official selection of the NATF's HEAR Now festival and won "Best New Original Ongoing Production.”
Dr. Chris Kachian teaches The Music of Film in J-term, and he will teach International Film and Music this year. He is the creator and chief collaborator of "NoonArtSounds," which has featured lectures and performances of film music.
In World Cinema, Dr. Kanishka Chowdhury examines how film language evolves differentially across temporal and spatial modalities in global cinema. In his English courses, he connects film to texts dealing with migration, race and gender.
It's an Art
Film studies students learn to analyze and understand the vast range of issues films cover throughout their undergraduate careers. They gain a valuable skill set that benefits them in their future careers by nurturing their analytical, historical, creative and theoretical knowledge.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.