Film Studies Program

Degrees Offered What is Film Studies? Why Choose Film Studies? About the Degrees Required Courses Career Paths How to Apply Have More Questions?

Student and Alumni News Film students have REEL fun       Where have all the moviegoers gone?      What can I do with my degree?    Sign up for the film events e-mail list

 

Degrees Offered 

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
• Bachelor of Film Studies (BFS)
• Co-operative Education Program 

Top

What is Film Studies?

Explore your love of film in the Faculty of Communication and Culture.  Animation, documentary, experimental film, Canadian cinema, Hollywood and international cinema - critically analyze genres, cinematic history and directorial styles from around the world!

The Film Studies program plays a vital part in Alberta's growing reputation as both a destination for film production and as a region with its own expanding industry. At present, Alberta has approximately 3 percent of film and television production in Canada, worth about $150,000,000. The Alberta Film Development Program has established a strategic plan to more than double the amount of film and television produced in the province to nearly $400,000,000. This industry growth will position Southern Alberta as one among the four largest producers of feature films in Canada. Graduates of Film Studies will contribute to the creative and skilled pool of talent required for this expanding industry.

Top

Why Choose Film Studies?

The Film Studies program is closely connected with leaders in the Canadian film industry through its Film Studies advisory board. The advisory board ensures the program stays in touch with new developments in technology and cinematic styles so we can offer you solid knowledge of the film industry in a national and global context.  Students also interact with the film industry through experiential and community service learning, by participating in activities such as volunteering with film festivals and arts development agencies - all for course credit.

Film Studies students also engage in a core curriculum which prepares all Communication and Culture students with critical thinking, research and communication skills. Heritage courses expose students to the evolution of Western thought and ideas which now permeate cultural industries. The interdisciplinary study of film integrates the knowledge and research from other fields of study to explore cinema from more than one perspective.

In addition to these skills and experiences, students learn cultural appreciation, gain knowledge about policy and economic constraints in the film industry, its regional promotions and the organizations involved in these activities, as well as developing skills to inform others about aspects of our cinematic heritage. A degree in Film Studies will allow graduates to make a real impact in areas of journalistic writing about film, promotion of film, film festivals, regional production and locations management.

Top

About the Degrees

The faculty offers two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Film Studies (BFS).  Students taking a BA in Film Studies will develop a critical understanding of cinema and an awareness of the cultural, historical and social character of film. Students will consider film as an art form, as a cultural industry, and as an innovative and developing technology with cultural, social and political significance.

The BFS is offered in partnership with SAIT. Students complete a two-year diploma at SAIT plus two years of study at U of C. The program is intended for students who want the flexibility and broad interdisciplinary base of knowledge provided by a university degree combined with the practical skills in film and video or new media production. Note: Students must apply separately to the SAIT portion of the program.

Top

Career Paths

The Canadian film industry is a vital and expanding cultural player. It will need graduates with university-level backgrounds to produce, direct, distribute and perform in films.

Graduates of Film Studies work in the following areas:

filmmaking screenwriting television production film review and criticism programming at film repertory cinemas and film festivals archiving scholarship cultural management

film archives and film libraries newspapers and magazines universities regional, provincial and federal bureaus and agencies development offices commissions specializing in film and media

Top

To Apply Click Here.  

Top

Have More Questions?

For comprehensive advising on your program of studies, contact:
Undergraduate Programs Office
4th Floor, MacEwan Student Centre
220-5881
http://www.ucalgary.ca/upo

For more details on the Film Studies program, contact:
Prof. George Melnyk
Program Co-ordinator
Phone: (403)  220-7562
Email: gmelnyk@ucalgary.ca

The Faculty of Communication and Culture has a Director of Students, a full-time faculty member whose job is to help you make the most of your experience as a student in C&C.  If you have questions about academic mentoring, student success skills, extra-curricular involvement, transition from high school to university, or what life will be like as a Communication and Culture student, Dr. Dawn Johnston can help you out.
Please contact her at:

Dr. Dawn Johnston
Director of Students
Phone: (403) 220-3199
Email: debjohns@ucalgary.ca

For more course information visit the University Calendar.