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Cinema Studies

Study film and visual media with a cinema studies degree. Explore careers in filmmaking, journalism, or media criticism.

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

Major, Minor

124

4 Years

Salem Campus

A teacher lecturing to a classroom of students about a black and white film

Our Cinema Studies Major & Minor

Learn to see film as an artistic medium, a cultural expression, a rhetorical device, and a technical production. Understand how to create and analyze moving images to produce research and make art. Our program focuses on analysis, but students can also explore some aspects of making cinema.

Why choose Cinema Studies at Willamette?

  • Make the right connections. Students will have access to film festivals, research opportunities, and internships with groups like Capital Community Media. Study abroad at other film schools or work with faculty who have connections within the industry.
  • Create work to prepare for your career. Access the workroom and studio spaces to bring your ideas to life. Utilize coursework and the Career Development office to build your resume and prepare for a career.
  • Embrace your interests. Choose to study specific topics to understand cinema and its relation to culture, history, technology, and aesthetics. Explore student clubs to continue your education outside the classroom.

Schedule a Visit

Alumni Stories

Our alumni have submitted works at many film festivals. They've also worked in a variety of companies, industries, and roles. Learn more about how our alumni have applied their knowledge of film, arts, and sciences into their career paths.

  • Henry Veitenhans ’22

    Capturing the ultimate race at sea
    Henry Veitenhans ’22, the youngest captain in the Race to Alaska, led his team through a treacherous 750-mile journey from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, using a handmade sailboat and documenting the adventure for a film project.

    Two people and a Corgi dog in a workshop with a metal boat under construction.
  • Close-up of a person with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black shirt with cut-out shoulders, smiling slightly.

    Denise Diaz ‘19

    Cinema Studies background propels Diaz to a film producer role in Los Angeles
    Denise Diaz '19 uses her Cinema Studies background and M.F.A. to thrive as a Film Producer in Los Angeles, focusing on projects that highlight Latinx and minority voices.

Curriculum

Take classes related to production, theory, cinema and society, and national and transnational cinema. We also provide a hands-on learning through the Senior Project or internships. As a liberal arts college, we encourage students to take classes from other academic fields as well.

  • CINE 110 Introduction to Cinema Studies

    Discover the critical elements of cinema, including image construction, editing, sound, and narrative strategies. Learn how industry changes affect filmmaking while developing skills to analyze and critique cinema's role in culture and society.

  • CINE 499 Senior Project

    Explore topics like American film, creative writing, television studies, or Italian cinema. Develop a senior thesis or approved cinema studies project through group seminars and independent work to showcase your knowledge.

Program Requirements

Our Cinema Studies major requires 36 semester hours to complete the degree. At least 12 semester hours in addition to the senior project must be at the 300 level or above. 

Students pursuing a Cinema Studies minor will need to complete 20 semester hours in cinema studies. At least two of the classes must be at the 300 level or above.

Two students smiling and laughing in a classroom setting
Admissions Information

Our Cinema Studies program is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

Students sitting attentively in a bright classroom.
Financial Aid and Scholarships

Willamette University is committed to supporting Cinema Studies majors with generous merit scholarships and financial aid. There is no separate application required for these scholarships. All admitted undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships, starting at $26,000 per year. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, taking into account cumulative GPA and SAT or ACT scores, if provided.

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FAQs

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Cinema Studies