Major Requirements

A minimum of 13 c.u. of classes focusing primarily on film and new media


CORE REQUIREMENTS - 3 c.u.
We do not accept transfer credit for these three courses.

  • CINE 101 - World Film History to 1945
  • CINE 102 - World Film History 1945-present
  • CINE 103 - Introduction to Film Theory

ELECTIVES - 10 c.u.

  • Of these 10 courses, a minimum of 3 must be on non-American Cinema.
  • Of these 10 courses, a maximum of 3 may be courses on the production and craft of cinema (e.g. screenwriting, digital video production, cinema production, et similar.)
  • Students are asked to declare a concentration to encourage the development of depth of knowledge in specific areas of interest before graduation. Concentrations offered include major areas of interest within the field of Cinema Studies, such as: Business and Film; Cinemas of Asia (includes East and South Asian Cinemas); Cinemas of Africa and the African Diaspora; European Art Cinema; Film and the Other Arts; Film and Media Theory; Gender and Sexuality. Students may also pursue an individualized concentration, but this must be approved by the program director. Students must complete 3 courses within their chosen sub-field to fulfill the concentration requirements.

HONORS OPTION
We offer an optional, year-long honors thesis for students GPA of 3.5 or higher, plus a grad of A- or above for the senior thesis.

To declare your major in Cinema Studies, please contact Mr. Nicola M. Gentili, Associate Director.

TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY
For Transfer Credit (courses courses taken before matriculation at Penn), Study Abroad Credit (courses taken at a Penn Abroad program), and Credit Away (courses taken outside of a Penn-approved program after matriculation at Penn) students must secure approval through the XCAT system <https://fusion.sas.upenn.edu/xcat/>. Transfer credit will not be accepted for CINE 101, CINE 102, and CINE 103. All majors must complete these 3 courses at Penn.

INDEPENDENT STUDY POLICY
In exceptional circumstances, students may request that an independent study be counted toward the major, but such studies must first be approved by the program director prior to the commencement of the independent study. Students wishing to undertake an independent study must submit a proposal to both the project advisor and the program director outlining the nature of the study and why an independent study is necessary. Independent study advisors must hold a Ph.D.