Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies

Students who matriculated before fall 2024 and plan on earning their degree by spring 2027 have the option to choose the current Major Course Requirements or the Legacy Major Course Requirements.

Major Course Requirements

The Film and Media Studies major requires the completion of 10 courses:

• Three required core courses
• Seven elective courses, OR five elective courses plus a two-course Senior Honors Thesis

Required Core Courses (Three Courses)

The first two required core courses impart analytical and writing skills, historical background, and theoretical underpinnings that form the liberal arts foundation for the major. The third required core course, the FMS seminar, is an advanced capstone experience course in which students pursue in-depth research in a given area within the major.

Core Course (1)

• Art of the Moving Image (FMS-0001)

  Students should take Art of the Moving Image as their first course in the major (or aim to complete it in their first year in FMS). FMS-0001 is a prerequisite for a number of FMS courses and must be taken before enrolling in those courses. This course is taught every semester and is open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors. 

Core Course (2), choose one of the following:

• Global History of Cinema (FMS-0002)
• 20th Century U.S. Television History (FMS-0006)
• Cultural History of the Internet (FMS-0094-01 for fall 2025)
   
  Students should aim to complete the second core requirement by junior year. Students may take additional core course(s) as an elective course. 

Core Course (3)

• FMS Seminar (FMS-0190)

  This variable topic seminar should be taken in the student’s junior or senior year as a in-depth research experience. FMS seminars are offered in a variety of topics (film history and theory, media history and theory, film production, and marketing) and students may take more than one for additional elective credit. Before taking FMS-0190, students must complete the first two core requirements and be an FMS major with junior standing. Students may take additional seminar course(s) as an elective course. 

Elective Courses (Seven Courses)

Students must take seven elective courses.

Four elective courses within the following degree requirement categories: 

• One theory course
• One social science or media studies course
• One practice course
• One non-U.S. course

Plus, choose one of the following:

• Three additional elective courses
• One additional elective course, plus the two-course Senior Honors Thesis (FMS-0198 and FMS-0199)

The additional electives can come from any elective category; however, a maximum of four practice courses can count toward the degree.

View FMS Courses by Category

View FMS Course Descriptions

Senior Honors Thesis (Two Courses)

In the senior year, FMS students may undertake a two-course Senior Honors Thesis under the guidance of a committee consisting of at least two faculty members. The thesis allows students to undertake an in-depth, self-directed work of scholarship, writing, or media-making informed by research and prior coursework. 

Directed Study

FMS students may undertake a semester-long Directed Study of their choice, which allows them to do independent, in-depth, self-directed work as scholars and/or artists under the direction of one FMS faculty advisor. Students must submit an application and receive approval prior to enrolling in a Directed Study. View details and apply for the FMS Directed Study.

Film and Media Production Sequence

FMS students interested in filmmaking have the option of completing the major by following our Film and Media Production Sequence. Up to four practice courses may be counted toward the FMS major, and majors can undertake a two-semester production-based Senior Honors Thesis in their senior year.

Major Degree Policies

• Each elective course can be used to fulfill one elective requirement category.
• A maximum of four courses in the elective practice category can be counted towards the major.
• One internship course (FMS-0099) can be applied toward the major. Additionally, the internship course counts as a major practice elective but doesn't satisfy the film and media practice elective category requirement.
• One FMS Directed Study (FMS-0195) can be applied toward the major as an additional elective.
• For  double majors, up to five FMS courses can be used toward both an FMS and another major. Please check with your other major’s policy for double-counting course requirements.  
• Up to five courses taken abroad or at other universities can be counted toward the FMS major. Each of these must meet the FMS course criteria and be approved by Denise Cummings, FMS Director of Undergraduate Studies. To request course credit for a course taken at another institution, please follow the instructions on the Tufts Transfer Credit page.
• Any FMS or cross-listed FMS course listed on the FMS course list can be used to fulfill the FMS degree requirements. On the rare occasion that a non cross-listed Tufts course meets FMS criteria, a student may petition to have it counted by completing the FMS Course Credit Petition, which must be submitted to and approved by Tasha Oren, FMS Program Director.
• A grade of a C- or higher is required to count a course toward the major. No major course may be taken Pass/Fail except the FMS-0099 internship course.

The following forms are required to complete the major:

• Major Declaration Form (submitted by March of sophomore year)
• Major Checklist (submitted with Tufts Graduation Packet in October for Dec/Feb graduation and November for May/Aug graduation of senior year).
• For help with the degree checklists, view the Degree Checklist Instructions 

Who to Contact

For questions about declaring the FMS major and minor requirements, the FMS major or minor, and finding an FMS advisor, please contact Denise Cummings, Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

For questions about film production courses offered by FMS and which ones to take, please contact Natalie Minik, Production Manager. 

For questions about the FMS program, please contact Malcolm Turvey, FMS Director.