• Film and Media Studies (BA)
Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

Film and Media Studies (BA)

» Film and Media Studies

You’re passionate about films. You engage with them on a deep level. You love learning about their history, their context, their meanings. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

If you see yourself one day joining the next generation of film scholars, then we can help you get there. In the program, you’ll:

  • Engage with film history, theory and criticism
  • Develop the ability to express your ideas in writing and join the discourse
  • Gain a critical perspective on ambitious, contemporary films and analyze where society is taking cinema — and vice versa.

Graduates will have the skills to enter the industry as a critic, reviewer or archivist.


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Where This Degree Will Take You

After finishing the program, you’ll be prepared to:

  • Write well-structured, thesis-driven papers that identify core theories of film and media, apply relevant scholarly sources and use clear writing to formulate and support a critical argument
  • Compare and differentiate between global filmmakers, film aesthetics, and film industries in international cinema
  • Evaluate and analyze historical and theoretical perspectives relevant to film and media, such as genre, form, spectatorship and narrative
  • Produce research papers that demonstrate sophisticated evaluation of film and media scholarship, using the specific disciplinary terminology of film and media aesthetics, criticism and history

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Megan Gruchow
When Megan started her Film & Media Studies journey, she didn’t know where her degree would take her. Now she’s preserving film history one wrap at a time.

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Program Faculty and Visiting Filmmakers

Dodge College faculty draw on vast industry experience as they help you develop your communication and research skills.

You’ll also learn from Filmmakers-in-Residence. Every semester, renowned Hollywood professionals come to campus to spend 15 weeks with our students, giving you firsthand access to the ins and outs of the industry.


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Julia Prescott
Alumna Julia Prescott's screenwriting career has been vast and varied. Now she's back at Chapman as a part-time lecturer sharing the ins and outs of the industry and the techniques that helped her along the way in her Writing for Animation course.

Internships

Internships are a great way to earn academic credit and gain professional experience. Our dedicated Dodge college's dedicated career advisor will help you find and land the position that best suits your interests and goals.  

Chapman students have interned at organizations like:

Study Abroad

Films and the stories they tell are everywhere. That’s why we offer opportunities to take your studies around the world with study abroad programs.

Check out Dodge Study Abroad Opportunities to find out how you can expand your passion for film abroad, and visit our Center for Global Education for even more options to take your education worldwide.


Student Clubs and Organizations

Build your appreciation and understanding of film while having fun and making friends along the way in these clubs.

  • Chinese Cinema Club: Connect with Chinese cinema and culture through bimonthly film screenings. 
  • Club Documentary: Join a group of filmmakers and enthusiasts in exploring every facet of the documentary genre.
  • Dodge Cinema Editors: Strive for post-production perfection and learn everything about the post-production process.

You can view all of Dodge College’s clubs here.


Admission & Tours

All applicants are required to submit the Common Application and a Creative Supplement. You can learn more about applying here.

While you consider Chapman, we hope you’ll come visit us in person! You can:

  • Take a tour of Dodge College: These 45-minute tours are given by current students. They cover all academic programs, an inside look at our facilities and provide opportunities to ask questions.
  • Take a tour of Chapman: You will get to see more of campus and the residence life area. These are offered directly after Dodge tours.
You can explore all of Chapman’s undergraduate majors and minors with our program finder.

Contact Us


Dodge Admission Inquiries

dodgeadmit@chapman.edu 
(714) 997-6996
Marion Knott Studios, 3rd Floor (Room 343)

For other questions, visit our Contact page.

Check out our blog!


Film student at Chapman University

Get the latest info on the people, events and projects that make our school an amazing place.

 

Dodge College Facilities


Film student at Chapman University

We’ve replicated the facilities where leading industry professionals work and made them available to students 24/7.