» Recommended Classes for First-Year Film & Media Studies Majors

Here are the classes that we recommend you take during your first year as a Film & Media Studies major at Chapman. 

For your first semester, we recommend taking 12-15 credits (most classes are 3 credits; some classes with labs are 4). You must be enrolled in 12 credits to be considered a full-time status student. The recommended courses below will put you at 15 credits per semester (fall and spring). 

Introductory Math Requirement

First year students must either waive or complete Math 100/L (Learning and Studying Mathematics for Understanding I, with a required lab component) in their first semester. For more information, visit our Math Placement webpage. 

General Education Classes 

You can choose a General Education (GE) class from any GE category – it’s your choice. In general, the following GE areas are recommended to begin/complete during your first year:

  • GE Language Study (strongly recommended)
  • GE Written Inquiry
  • GE Quantitative Inquiry

You can learn more about general education on our General Education: How it Works page.

You may be able to fulfill some of your GE requirements with classes from your major:

FTV 140/140L Fulflills AI 
FS 244/244L Fullfills AI or SI 
FS 245/245L Fullfills AI or SI 

 

Fall Semester

FTV 140/140L - Introduction to Film & Media Aesthetics, Lecture & Laboratory
Credits: 3

Note: FTV 140L is the "lab" component course that must be taken with the FTV 140 lecture.

FS 244/244L - History of Film to 1959, Lecture & Laboratory
Credits: 3

Note: FS 244L is the "lab" component course that must be taken with the FS 244 lecture.

FFC 100A - You Choose! 
Credits: 3

Note: All first-year students at Chapman have to take First-Year Foundations (FFC 100) in their first year of enrollment. It is recommended you enroll in this class in the first semester as a larger number of course sections and topics are available in the Fall semester. 

GE class
Credits: 3

Spring Semester

FTV 130 - Introduction to Visual Storytelling 
Credits: 3

FS 245/245L - History or Film 1960, Lecture and Laboratory 
Credits: 3

Note: FS 245L is the "lab" component course that must be taken with the FS 245 lecture.

GE Class
Credits: 3

Any GE class/minor exploration
Credits: 3

Any GE class/minor exploration
Credits: 3