BA Film And Media Studies

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Dartmouth College

Program Overview

The Film & Media Studies major at Dartmouth College combines the history, theory, criticism and making of film, television, video, animation, games, digital art and other forms of media within a liberal arts education. It suits students who want to explore areas such as film history, animation, screenwriting, filmmaking or digital culture while developing both critical analysis and practical media-making skills.

Curriculum Structure:

Dartmouth does not prescribe a fixed year-by-year sequence, so students work with a major advisor to build their pathway around their interests. The major requires introductory study, film history, theory, television studies, additional studies courses, production and advanced coursework culminating in a major project.

Year 1:

Students can begin with FILM 1: Introduction to Film: From Script to Screen, FILM 2: Introduction to Television or FILM 3: Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture, followed by FILM 20: Film History I (Silent to Sound). These courses establish an understanding of media forms, production and the development of film history.

Year 2:

Students develop their historical and theoretical foundation through courses such as FILM 21: Film History II (1930–1960), FILM 22: Film History III (1960–1990) or FILM 45: U.S. Television History. They also begin deeper theoretical study through FILM 40: Theories and Methodologies of Film and Media Studies, examining how media is created, interpreted and understood.

Year 3:

Students can tailor their studies through courses in areas such as FILM 41: Genre, FILM 42: National Cinema, FILM 43: Film Creator and FILM 48: Topics in Digital Culture and New Technologies. Production-focused courses such as FILM 31: Filmmaking I: Basic Elements of Film, FILM 33: Writing for the Screen I or FILM 37: Directing for the Camera allow students to translate their analytical knowledge into creative practice.

Year 4:

Students advance into higher-level work such as FILM 32: Filmmaking II, FILM 34: Writing for the Screen II, FILM 38: Advanced Animation, FILM 39: Advanced Videomaking or FILM 93: Major Project. The required Culminating Experience gives students the opportunity to create an advanced project directly connected to their chosen emphasis, bringing together their research, analytical and production skills.

Focus Areas:

Film history, film theory, television studies, screenwriting, filmmaking, documentary videomaking, animation, directing, videomaking, digital culture, new technologies, game design, national cinema, genre studies, media theory, digital art, data visualization, creative media production

Learning Outcomes:

Creative and analytical media vocabulary, film and media history, media theory, critical analysis, understanding of media production and audience engagement, hands-on media-making proficiency, creative storytelling, research skills, interdisciplinary thinking, digital media skills

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Dartmouth College is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The Film & Media Studies major does not list a separate specialized professional accreditation; its degree is covered by Dartmouth's institutional accreditation. Dartmouth was most recently reaccredited in March 2020, with its next comprehensive evaluation scheduled for 2029.

Reputation & Employability:

Dartmouth's Film & Media Studies program benefits from the university's strong liberal arts environment, close faculty interaction and access to a dedicated alumni network in entertainment and media. The department's Dartmouth Alumni in Entertainment and Media Association (DAEMA) supports networking and career development and helps current students connect with opportunities in the entertainment industry.

Dartmouth also reports that 200+ employers recruit directly at Dartmouth, giving students access to a broad employer network beyond the film and media sector.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Dartmouth's Film & Media Studies major places strong emphasis on learning by making, with students creating original work in animation, creative video, documentary, journalism and narrative filmmaking under faculty mentorship. The department provides access to digital production resources, while the Los Angeles Domestic Study Program places students in a major media center where they can combine coursework, research, internships, industry events and interaction with working professionals.

Students can build practical experience through:

• FILM 31: Filmmaking I: Basic Elements of Film — Introduces students to fundamental filmmaking techniques and provides a production pathway within the major.

• FILM 33: Writing for the Screen I — Develops screenwriting skills and gives students experience creating work specifically for the screen.

• FILM 37: Directing for the Camera — Provides practical experience in directing and working with the camera as part of the production curriculum.

• FILM 35: Animation: Principles and Practice — Allows students to explore animation through hands-on creative production.

• FILM 51: Game Design Studio — Gives students an opportunity to work with game design as part of the department's expanding digital-media curriculum.

• Black Family Visual Arts Center Digital Lab — The Digital Lab provides state-of-the-art computer programs for creating digital art, video and projection-based work.

• Student Production Projects — Students collaborate with peers and receive faculty mentorship while creating original work in animation, creative video, documentary, journalism and narrative filmmaking.

• Los Angeles Domestic Study Program — Students take three courses combining film and media history, theory and production while gaining practical exposure to professionals in creative media and cultural institutions.

• Los Angeles Industry Experience — The program includes internships, professional events, primary and secondary research in regional facilities, and day trips to relevant locations across Southern California.

• Film & Media Internship Opportunities — The department maintains a dedicated student channel for film and media internships and opportunities, while Dartmouth's career platform provides access to broader internships and employment opportunities.

• Culminating Experience — Every Film & Media Studies major completes an advanced project connected to their area of interest, which can involve an expanded research paper, creative production or another substantial media project.

• Post-Graduation Project Fund — The J. Blair Watson Fund can provide up to $3,000 toward eligible film-production projects proposed by graduating seniors and recent graduates, subject to the department's application requirements and annual availability.

Facilities and resources: Black Family Visual Arts Center Digital Lab, film and media production resources, student production spaces and Dartmouth's broader visual arts facilities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Film & Media Studies graduates can take their analytical and production skills into film, television, digital media, entertainment, advertising, communications, journalism and creative industries. Dartmouth's combination of production experience, Los Angeles industry exposure, alumni networking and broader career resources gives students opportunities to develop both creative portfolios and professional connections.

Typical career options: Film Producer, Film Director, Screenwriter, Digital Media Producer

Students can strengthen their career progression through Dartmouth's career services, alumni network and industry-focused opportunities:

• Center for Career Design — Provides access to jobs, internships, career coaching, Handshake, networking resources and Dartmouth Connect, where students can connect with alumni around the world.

• Dartmouth Alumni in Entertainment and Media Association (DAEMA) — Supports networking and career development for alumni working across motion pictures, television, theater, music, news and documentaries, while helping current students bridge the path from Hanover to Hollywood.

• Los Angeles Industry Network — The Los Angeles Domestic Study Program provides direct exposure to working professionals and creative media organizations while combining internships, coursework and industry events.

• Industry Internship Opportunities — Dartmouth's career platform features film-development, television and media internships, including opportunities involving screenplay coverage, industry research, film development and production.

• Employer Access — Dartmouth reports that 200+ employers recruit directly at Dartmouth, giving graduates access to employment opportunities across industries in addition to specialized media connections.

• Graduate Outcomes — Dartmouth reports that 96% of students earn their undergraduate degree within six years of enrollment, while the College's broader outcomes include careers across arts and sciences, business, medicine and engineering.

• Professional Alumni Network — Film & Media alumni are active across entertainment and media, with DAEMA providing a dedicated platform for networking, mentorship and career development.

• Accreditation Value — Dartmouth's NECHE accreditation provides institutional quality assurance and supports the long-term recognition of its undergraduate degree.

• Salary Information — Dartmouth's official Film & Media Studies pages do not publish a specific starting-salary figure for Film & Media Studies graduates, so no unsupported program-specific salary figure is included.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can pursue master's and doctoral study in Film Studies, Media Studies, Film Production, Screenwriting, Digital Media, Communication, Journalism, Cultural Studies or related fields. The major's research, theory and production foundation can also support progression into professional programs such as law, business, arts management and communications, depending on the student's career goals.