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Film Studies

Film Studies

Bachelor of Arts

Film Studies explores the art of visual storytelling and offers a strong foundation in film production. Through analyses of film history, theory and techniques, you’ll be well-prepared for a variety of creative career paths including visual design, production, journalism and broadcasting.

Program Overview

Film Screening

Master the art of visual storytelling.

In the Film Studies program at Western Colorado University, you can take advantage of state-of-the-art media production facilities, small classes and attentive faculty who are experts in their field. The program balances theoretical, philosophical and critical studies of media and dramatic works with hands-on storytelling experience through student-directed projects.

To start building your portfolio, you can produce original plays in the Western Theater Company or host your own radio show on the student-run KWSB Radio. You can also become a collaborator in Mountaineer Media, a student-run media production group specializing in short films, screenings and storytelling. Each semester, the Film Studies program organizes popular public screenings to display your work and hosts visiting media professionals to expand your career network. Through Western’s vast network of alumni who work in the field, many students are offered competitive internships that turn into careers.

Lights, camera, action

Each semester, the Film Studies program organizes popular public screenings of student work and hosts visiting professionals and artists to give students current industry insights.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 51 credits is required including the 9-credit Communication Arts Nucleus

Course List
Code Title Credits
Communication Arts Nucleus
COM 205Communication Arts I3
COM 305Communication Arts II3
COM 405Communication Arts Seminar3
Total Credits9

And the following:

Course List
Code Title Credits
COM 119Introduction to Film3
COM 234Aesthetics, Lighting and Film Theory3
COM 261Introduction To Audio Communication3
COM 264Introduction to Media Production I3
COM 306Scriptwriting3
COM 335Intermediate Media Production II3
COM 346Multimedia Communication3
COM 352Advanced Cinema Studies3
One of the following:3
COM 231
Stagecraft I
COM 235
Introduction to Acting
Select four of the following:12-13
COM 323
Media/ Arts Management
COM 330
Stagecraft II
COM 361
Multi-Camera Studio Production
COM 362
Advanced Audio Production
COM 385
Experimental Media Production
COM 389
Media Production: Narrative
COM 390
Media Production: Documentary
COM 406
Scriptwriting II
COM 423
Directing
COM 430
Entertainment Scenic Design
COM 490
Advanced Media Production
Total Credits39-40

Capstone Course Requirement

The following course fulfills the capstone course requirement for the Communication Arts Major: COM 405 Communication Arts Seminar.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
COM 119 Introduction to Film 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area I) 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area II) 4
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 105
or MATH 140
Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1)
or College Algebra (GT-MA1)
3
 Credits17
Spring
COM 234 Aesthetics, Lighting and Film Theory 3
COM 261 Introduction To Audio Communication 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area I) 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area II) 4
Gen Ed General Education (Area III) 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
COM 205 Communication Arts I 3
COM 264 Introduction to Media Production I 3
COM 306 Scriptwriting 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area I) 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area III) 3
 Credits15
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
COM 346 Multimedia Communication 3
COM 385 Experimental Media Production (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 390 Media Production: Documentary (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 406 Scriptwriting II (or other upper division elective) 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
COM 305 Communication Arts II 3
COM 346 Multimedia Communication 3
COM 385 Experimental Media Production (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 390 Media Production: Documentary (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 406 Scriptwriting II (or other upper division elective) 3
 Credits15
Spring
COM 323 Media/ Arts Management (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 330 Stagecraft II (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 362 Advanced Audio Production (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 385 Experimental Media Production (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 389 Media Production: Narrative (or other upper division elective) 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
COM 361 Multi-Camera Studio Production (or other upper division elective) 3
COM 405 Communication Arts Seminar 3
COM 423 Directing (or other upper division elective) 3
Elective Elective or minor course 6
 Credits15
Spring
COM 490 Advanced Media Production 3
Elective Elective or minor course 9
 Credits12
 Total Credits120

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

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Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

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Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Film studies

Apply your education to the real-world.

Take your education outside of the classroom—build your professional network, gain practical experience and jump-start your career.

  • KWSB Radio: On air since 1968, KWSB is student driven, student staffed and open to anyone who wants to have their own radio show.
  • Mountaineer Media:A student-run media production group specializing in short films, screenings and storytelling abilities.
  • Taylor Media Center: Houses film production studios, audio production studios and more.
  • Top o’ the World Newspaper: Monthly paper composed by students offering opportunities in newswriting, photography, editing, designing and advertising sales.
  • Western Theatre Company: A co-curricular program and student-run producing board that oversee and provide quality live performance to the campus and Gunnison

Behind the camera

In addition to film production and techniques, Film Studies students learn the fundamentals of acting, scriptwriting, directing, and technical production.

News & Research

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Inaugural Disability Film Festival opens this week in virtual format Hosted by Western Colorado University’s Education and Communication Arts Programs

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Mountaineer Media visits Telluride for film festival

Mountaineer Media visits Telluride for film festival

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Western professor presents experimental film at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) On Location regional conference

Western professor presents experimental film at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) On Location regional conference

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Department Chairperson

Jack Lucido, MFA

Professor of Communication Arts, Director of Film Studies, Chair of CALL Department

Administrative Assistant

Cindy Petito

Administrative Assistant III

Contact Information

970.943.2025

cpetito@western.edu

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 216
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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