Cinema and Media Studies Minor

Develop critical media analysis skills that prepare you for impactful careers in film, marketing, journalism, and other communication-driven fields.

Why Cinema and Media Studies at Valpo?

The Cinema and Media Studies minor offers the opportunity to study the role of films and other media as artistic expressions and cultural forces. Students will learn critical and theoretical tools for analyzing motion pictures and their historically evolving role in reflecting and shaping social ideologies and norms. The Cinema and Media Studies minor allows the small-scale but concentrated study of one important art form, and through it, our contemporary world.

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About Our Cinema and Media Studies Minor

Explore film and media as artistic and cultural forces. Through critical analysis, you’ll examine how they reflect society, influence ideas, and shape the way we see the world.

General Information

Highlights

In addition to the CMS Core course, “Introduction to Cinema,” a variety of courses in the areas of culture/history and production are offered every semester
Valpo’s World Cinema Film Series screens films from a range of countries, cultures, and traditions
Valpo’s Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources holds more than 2,000 film titles, supplemented by the Language Resource Center’s collection of more than 500 foreign-language films

Minor Requirements

A minimum of 15 credit hours is required for the cinema and media studies minor. Specific required courses are listed below.

Course	Course Name	Credits
CVA 270/ENGL 270	Introduction to Cinema Studies	3 Cr.

One Course From the Following Options (6 Cr.):

Production:
CVA 251	Studio Television Production	3 Cr.
CVA 271	Cinema Production	3 Cr.
Culture/History:
CC 300	Seminar	3 Cr.
CVA 291	Topics in World Cinema	3 Cr.
ENGL 204	Middle Eastern Cinema	3 Cr.
ENGL 260	Cross-Cultural Narratives	3 Cr.
ENGL 360	Cross-Cultural Engagement	3 Cr.
FREN 291	Topics in World Cinema	3 Cr.
FREN 300	Topics in French and Francophone Cultures	3 Cr.
GER 291	Topics in World Cinema	3 Cr.
GER 300	Topics in German-Language Culture	3 Cr.
HIST 393	History through Film	3 Cr.
SPAN 291	Topics in World Cinema	3 Cr.
Electives (6 Cr.):

Note: Electives may be chosen from any of the above courses that have not already been taken, any other courses approved by the Cinema and Media Studies administrative committee, and any of the following courses when they are taught on film topics.

ENGL 200	Literary Studies	3 Cr.
CVA 272	Lighting the Story	3 Cr.
GER 290	Topics in German	3 Cr.
CVA 290	Topics in Communication and Visual Arts	3 Cr.
CVA 300	Podcasting	3 Cr.
CVA 324	Video Art	3 Cr.
CVA 371	Advanced Cinema Production	3 Cr.
CVA 390	Topics in Communication and Visual Arts	3 Cr.
CVA 472	Screenwriting	3 Cr.
CVA 490	Topics in Communication and Visual Arts	3 Cr.
ENGL 490	Topics in Literature	3 Cr.
FREN 290	Topics in French	3 Cr.
FREN 390	Seminar in French	3 Cr.
GER 390	Seminar in German	3 Cr.
GER 493	Senior German Seminar	3 Cr.
SPAN 390	Seminar in Spanish	3 Cr.
SOC 280	Media and Crime	3 Cr.
SOC 315	Mass Media and Society	3 Cr.
WLC 493	Senior Seminar	3 Cr.

Administrative Committee

Charlie Anderson (coordinator)
Associate Professor of Communication & Visual Arts
Tel: 219.464.5330
Email:

George Potter
Associate Professor of English
Tel: 219.464.5148
Email:

Timothy Tomasik
Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Tel: 219.464.5263
Email:

Rick Wolff
Professor of Communication & Visual Arts
Tel: 219.464.5286
Email:

college of arts & Sciences

Program Rankings & Highlights

Valpo’s World Cinema Film screens films from a range of countries, cultures, and traditions.

Valpo’s Christopher Center holds more than 2,000 film titles, 500 of which are foreign-language films.

Professors at Valpo help students develop their knowledge, their career plans, and their curiosity.

college of arts & Sciences

Meet Our Faculty

Professors. Mentors. Friends. At Valparaiso University, you will work on real-life problems alongside faculty leaders with decades of business experience and a true desire to do what’s best for you.

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