Film history
1–2Film history trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
A film studies curriculum is a sequence, not a shopping list. Early courses build shared vocabulary; middle years introduce methods; the final stretch demands a project that can fail in public.
Elective freedom varies: some systems lock professional accreditation hours; others allow wide minors. The courses below are the common spine, not every university's catalogue.
Core courses
Film theory
1–2Film theory trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Close analysis
1–2Close analysis trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
National cinemas
2–3National cinemas trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Documentary
2–3Documentary trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Screenwriting intro
2–3Screenwriting intro trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Production workshop
3–4Production workshop trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Festival & industry
3–4Festival & industry trains the habits film studies depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Common tracks
Critical studies
A critical studies emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside film studies.
Production
A production emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside film studies.
Screenwriting
A screenwriting emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside film studies.
Archives/curation
A archives/curation emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside film studies.
Skill map
Shot analysis92
Historical framing86
Writing criticism88
Production basics74
Pitching80
Archive research72
Shot analysis
Shot analysis is practised weekly in film studies programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Historical framing
Historical framing is practised weekly in film studies programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Writing criticism
Writing criticism is practised weekly in film studies programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Production basics
Production basics is practised weekly in film studies programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Pitching
Pitching is practised weekly in film studies programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Archive research
Archive research is practised weekly in film studies programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
How you learn
Lectures & readings
Large-group framing plus primary texts or problem sets that define the week's vocabulary.
Labs / studios / clinics
Supervised practice where mistakes are expected and feedback is specific.
Seminars
Small-group argument; silence is expensive because the group notices.
Capstone / thesis
A public synthesis — defence, exhibition, clinic portfolio or engineered prototype.
Treat the catalogue as a map of practised skills, not a brand promise. The department that grades hard and returns work fast usually teaches more than the one that advertises prestige alone.
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