Minor
About Film Studies (Minor Only) at CSUSB
The Film Studies minor at Cal State San Bernardino offers students a critical and creative exploration of cinema as an art form, cultural text, and social force.
Through coursework in film history, theory, criticism, and genre studies, students learn how films reflect and shape cultural values, identities, and global narratives. The curriculum emphasizes analytical thinking, cultural literacy, and visual communication—inspiring students to see motion pictures not just as entertainment, but as powerful sites of meaning and expression.
This minor is open to students of all majors who want to deepen their understanding of film’s aesthetic, historical, and social dimensions.
The Film Studies minor pairs especially well with majors in communication studies, digital filmmaking, creative writing, theatre arts, media studies, journalism, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies.
Careers in Film Studies (Minor Only)
A Film Studies minor strengthens skills in critical thinking, cultural analysis, writing, and visual interpretation—abilities that are valuable in many professional fields.
While some students may move into creative or academic roles, others find that film literacy enhances careers rooted in communication, storytelling, and media engagement.
Career pathways include:
- Film programming and curation for festivals, theaters, and cultural organizations
- Media criticism and writing, including arts journalism and content creation
- Film and media research and academic support roles
- Marketing, publicity, and audience engagement in entertainment and media industries
- Digital content production with an emphasis on narrative and visual strategy
- Education and arts outreach, including film literacy and community programming
- Creative and cultural consulting, especially where visual culture matters
The minor also provides strong preparation for graduate study in film, media studies, cultural studies, journalism, and communications.
Sample Courses
Looking at Movies
Students will use a formalist analytical framework to study film clips and entire movies to understand how the filmmakers use cinematic formal subsystems such as narrative structure, editing, and cinematography to create meaning.
All the World's A Stage: A Tour of Global Performance
An exploration of plays and performances from around the world and analysis of how they are both products and shapers of the cultures that produced them.
Film Analysis
Emphasis on understanding and interpreting filmmakers' uses of form and style in picture and sound, including within-frame composition, editing, and sound design.
Meet Professor Ahlam Muhtaseb, Ph.D.
Opportunities for Students
Students in the Film Studies minor engage with cinema both inside and outside the classroom through analytical, social, and cultural experiences:
- Courses in film history, theory, genre, and global cinema that develop critical insight and interpretive skill
- Screening series and film events that introduce students to classic, contemporary, and international works
- Collaborative opportunities with peers in digital filmmaking, theatre arts, creative writing, and media studies
- Access to faculty mentorship with scholars and critics who specialize in film and visual culture
- Film clubs, campus cinema series, and community screening events that support discussion and engagement
- Opportunities for research, writing, and film criticism projects that strengthen analytical and communication skills
- Connections with community arts organizations, theaters, and film festivals in the Inland Empire and beyond
These experiences help students deepen their understanding of film as a cultural practice and build professional skills in visual literacy and critical interpretation.
Similar to Film Studies (Minor Only)
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