Film Studies at Millersville

Film Studies

Film Studies has developed since the 1960s into a major discipline within the Humanities. While at some universities Film Studies is in its own department, at Millersville it is housed within the English Department. In addition to courses available within the English Department, students are encouraged to take film courses offered in other disciplines like Philosophy and Anthropology.

Film courses at Millersville include History of Film; Introduction to Film; Film and American Society; Film, Politics, and Electronic Media; Ethnicity in Cinema; and Brave New Worlds: Exploring Technology through Film.

Objectives of the Program

To educate students about the history of film and its relation to culture
To teach students to analyze cinematic techniques, to appreciate film aesthetics, and to discuss films using appropriate technical vocabulary
To expand students' knowledge of films, their genres, and the societies in which they were made
To expose students to research and critical perspectives on film issues
To invite students to explore the intersections of film and society
To provide students with a foundation in film theory
To expand students' awareness and appreciation of the aesthetics of film
To improve students' visual and media literacies
To foster students' analytical skills, as well as their communication skills and abilities for self-expression
To promote interdisciplinary learning through the medium of film
To promote campus and community awareness of film as an art

Film Studies Minor and Option

The Film Studies Minor (for non-English majors) and Film Studies Option (for English majors) will enable students to develop skills and proficiency in the developing discipline of film studies, including its history, aesthetics, terminology, methods of analysis, theoretical issues, and social impact/interactions. Millersville University English students who take the option in film studies will learn about the discipline from a variety of perspectives that will widen their liberal arts horizons.