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Where a Film Studies Degree Can Take You

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: March 21, 2024, Reading time: 29 minutes

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Has someone ever asked you what the best movie you ever saw was, but you couldn’t give an answer because you honestly have numerous favorites in mind? You have a list of what you believe are perfectly created films that you can re-watch all day!

Movies: A Quick Rewind

Movies, films, and products from the entertainment industry are now part of our daily lives! Needless to say, the stories, experiences, and truths behind such works of art have highlighted some realities.

So, how did movies become so popular? Let’s do a bit of a rewind.

A movie is a picture in motion that usually tells a particular story and can be viewed on various platforms such as television screens, computers, or mobile devices. Movies started as still images projected through a device called the kinetoscope.

Individuals can take turns peeping through this device, viewing concise stories of images within a minimal amount of time. It was the invention of the great Thomas Edison, together with his assistant, William Dickinson. Creative minds went on to reinvent the device to what we now enjoy as the big screen.

Fast forward to years of development with technology and innovation, the still images from a single peephole device are now transformed into a multi-billion dollar business, complete with high-level cinematography, special effects, Hollywood cast actors, and blockbuster chain outlets.

So you’re now probably thinking, how can you get started with such a big-scale enterprise? Well, earning one of these fine film studies degrees is your answer!

The Lowdown

How exciting… You’re interested in a film career! Movie making goes back further than most of us can remember. As you embark on finding the right film studies degrees, keep in mind that there are many opportunities to excel. Tapping into your creative side to express your feelings or a storyline is a great outlet. And, if you can earn an honest living at it… all the better! Earning a degree in a film studies program is a great start.

College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What are Film Studies Degrees?

If you are into the arts and have a passion for movies, storytelling, or video editing, then you are a prime candidate for a degree in Film Studies.

This degree focuses on film theories, history, and critical analysis of such materials. It also covers the techniques and strategies in movie production, starting from the pre-production, production proper, and post-production stages.

Film Studies might not be one of those standard college or university courses like business administration, engineering, or science degrees. However, there is evidence of a fast rise in the number of enrollees in the area of film studies since the 1970s.

Creating a name in the film industry can open many doors for you. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 24% increase in job opportunities within the motion picture and video industries between 2020 – 2030. Fame and fortune are most likely your trophies once you hit the jackpot and land a big project.

Here are the core subjects of a Film Studies program:

10 Best U.S. Colleges Offering Film Studies Degrees

So you might now be curious as to what are the best schools offering a Film Studies program. Well, worry no more! College Cliffs has done the work for you! Check out the list below, where we have gathered the top ten places to obtain a degree in film.

The University of Southern California

The University of Southern California
School of Cinematic Arts
School of Cinematic Arts

If you are looking for a technologically advanced degree in film, then UCLA is the right fit for you. Their School of Cinematic Arts has a wide array of courses that cover traditional media and combines a focus on digital media and animation. One type of innovation that their enrollees and students all love is the Virtual Reality Lab.

It helps them create visionary 3D moving image animations and special effects. Moreover, the Southern California location is just a mere neighbor away from Hollywood, so students have fewer hassles connecting with the industry’s biggest names.

New York University

New York University
Tisch School of the Arts - Kanbar Institute of Film and Television
Tisch School of the Arts – Kanbar Institute of Film and Television

New York houses a lot of prestigious schools, and they did not skimp when it came to the film industry. The Tisch School of the Arts has the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television as their undergraduate program for Film Studies enrollees who want to master the art of film production.

They have notable alumni, including renowned director Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Night at the Museum) and Jon Watts (Spiderman: Homecoming). Their program is deemed the best in the United States because it offers dual degrees with business courses from the elite business program of Stern School.

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University
School of Film and Television
School of Film and Television

Based in Los Angeles, California, Hollywood’s premiere site, Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television offers students a great advantage.

If you want to have an in-depth and intensive study about films, they have a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio. They currently have almost a thousand students enrolled in their film studies degree program, which means they have many dedicated faculty to support them.

What makes them better is that they have more than 400-plus partnerships with movie and production companies for their internship programs. This can significantly open doors for their students to connect with the right people in the film production industry.

Boston University

Boston University
College of Communication Film and Television Program
College of Communication Film and Television Program

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this university has a complete range of courses for you to master filmmaking. Such a course offering is under the College of Communication Film and Television Program.

They start with the practical skills and foundational principles of film theory, critical analysis, short films, storytelling, and creative visualization.

What makes them unique is you can choose your majors depending on what career goal you want to pursue in the future. According to Hollywood Reporter‘s 2020 top Film School list, they have also been consistently featured in the Top 25 American Film Schools.

University of California Los Angeles

University of California Los Angeles
School of Theatre, Film, and Television
School of Theatre, Film, and Television

As with other top-notch film schools, UCLA’s prime location makes it an excellent ground for those who want to pursue filmmaking or film production.

They have the School of Theatre, Film, and Television, where they have various majors and course offerings. What makes them unique is having a Virtual Reality laboratory with 360-degree camera heads, perfect for excellent shots and film angles.

Chapman University

Chapman University
Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

Also located in California is Chapman University. This university has the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts program that allows students to excel at enormous rates. Here, students are continually expected to perform as the best in everything they do.

It is because of this internal drive and push that they are consistently rated among the top American Film Schools, according to Hollywood Reporter’s 2020 list.

Aside from their state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, they also have outstanding advocacy supporting underrepresented locals in their community, such as people of color and race.

Florida State University

Florida State University
FSU Film School
FSU Film School

As they ensure that their students get the best jobs right after graduation, 97% of Florida State University graduates land a job position within one year. This assurance encourages enrollees to try the film studies degree program.

You can also access their equipment and facilities 24/7, with all of their student films financed by the degree program itself. Most of their notable works revolve around documentaries, animations, and research films.

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin
Department of Radio-Television-Film in the Moody College of Communication
Department of Radio-Television-Film in the Moody College of Communication

As one of Texas’s pride schools, the University of Texas at Austin is home to talented alumna Matthew McConaughey, who is also an instructor in their advanced production classes. They also have one of the gigantic green screens aside from Hollywood’s production studios, which can significantly help their visual editing techniques and motion picture effects.

Ithaca College

Ithaca College
Roy H. Park School of Communications
Roy H. Park School of Communications

Located in New York, the school’s Film Studies program has diversified not only in film but also in photography and visual arts.

One of the best things that their program offers is a summer internship in Italy that exposes students to different photography techniques, critical analysis, and film analysis. They also encourage international film screenings to promote diverse cultures and ethnicities in film concepts.

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University
College of Film and the Moving Image
College of Film and the Moving Image

When it comes to resources for films and documentaries, the College of Film and the Moving Image has a vast library of valuable cinematic files for a deep understanding of film studies.

Students can maximize the Wesleyan Cinema Archives – a massive library of excellent cinematic and film materials. Great filmmakers and researchers also access the library as it has an in-depth collection of precious files and research papers about cinema, film history, and contemporary films.

An aspiring filmmaker with a creative mind has a wide array of options for schools and colleges offering undergraduate degree programs in Film Studies. It is also integral to emphasize that such universities’ tuition fees might be more expensive than other courses due to the availability of production equipment, hands-on training, media studies, and international internships.

What Skills Do You Develop with a Film Studies Degree?

Film Studies have five main skill categories:

Professional Organizations for Film Studies

Like other career fields, film studies graduates can also take advantage of a set of professional organizations that push the advocacy of films and their purpose and highlight the creative works of deserving and talented people.

It is incredible to know that several groups support many artistic individuals in Film Studies, especially as they are now using technology and innovation as platforms for the film industry’s growth. Here are some professional organizations with their purpose and advocacy:

These professional organizations play a significant role in strengthening the advocacies of filmmakers across the entire globe. With that said, it is more encouraging to pursue a degree in Film Studies, knowing that these groups exist for a better film industry.

But, what makes such associations more extraordinary is their partnership with colleges and universities that offer Film Studies programs? With this, the schools can highlight their program’s talents, the students who have a lot of potential to become legends in filmmaking.

They can also present how their film studies degree programs are structured and how their courses and subject offerings stand out from the rest.

What Are The Different Approaches to Film Studies?

Film theory can appear complex and complicated at times, but it is fundamentally a set of technical skills and tools that can be used to explain how films work. The following are some of the most useful theoretical methods in film studies:

How Studying Film Changes Your Life Perspective

You’ll become more aware of the significance of historical and political events.

The context of artistic creations is as significant as the creation itself. When you begin to examine the history and politics of films and plays when they were created, you begin to see similarities.

You can begin to comprehend the significance of specific cultural and historical events, as well as how they influenced our world. It enlightens you on how events have transformed people, shifted our perceptions, and shaped our lives.

Furthermore, you will begin to notice how art influences our lives, whether through stock characters, art history, social activities, film criticism, theoretical knowledge, or through fashion.

You’ll see the negative side of the media industry.

When you study cinema/theater theory, your perspective on social concerns and culture is externally altered. It enlightens you about certain disturbing truths, such as the prevalence of sexism, racism, and homophobia in popular movies, among other things. 

Once you start studying these themes, you will see them in other forms of media, such as photographs, ads, television, and music videos. You become aware of how cultural outputs might be utilized to encourage such beliefs indirectly.

More crucially, how individuals can be persuaded to believe what is real or what is and isn’t socially acceptable. On the plus side, it will give you more reason to be unique, break such patterns, and bring more diverse content into the industry.

Film Studies Career Options

Many are not aware, but there are plenty of career options once you pursue a Film Studies program and consider a profession. However, it is also good to keep in mind that competition in such areas is very fierce as people have the same goal in mind – to land a big project.

What is important when building your portfolio in the film industry is to have a lot of work experience and connections to known names, just like any other job career. But of course, creating that network with the right people takes some special skills and perfect timing to make sure your name will be recognized. Some of the best career options that you can focus on in this field are:

Some famous Hollywood producers include Steven Spielberg (Schindler’s List, Transformers, E.T. Extra-Terrestrial) and Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs).

Some famous directors include Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands) and Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception).

One of the most famous scriptwriters today is James Cameron. He is the award-winning writer for Avatar and The Titanic.

Key Takeaways

If you are ready to enter the film industry, earning the right film studies degree for you is important, depending on the creative outlet you would like to pursue. Consider these points when searching for a film studies degree program:


Additional Information: