Film and New Media Studies

With the ubiquity of online journalism, surge in streaming services, explosion of audiobooks and podcasts, rising readership of comics and graphic novels, and growth of branded content, it’s an exciting time to major in film and media. Explore cinematic history, examine media ethics, or challenge yourself with an unfamiliar genre or new behind-the-scenes skill. You’ll write, shoot, and edit short films, bring computer games to life, and learn how to engage an audience. The collaborative, project-based nature of our program means bonds with your peers and professors are part of your Wheaton storyline.

Major

Courses

Core Requirements

All four courses required.

  • FNMS 231 – Introduction to New Media
  • FNMS 258 – Introduction to Film Studies
  • FNMS 260 – Production I
  • FNMS 401 – Senior Seminar
Digital Making and Problem Solving

Choose one course:

  • FNMS 244 – Visualizing Cultural Data
  • FNMS 270 – Digital Editing
  • DES 118 – Digital Tools for Art and Design
  • INT 120 – Intro to Digital  Fabrication
  • COMP 115 – Problem Solving and Python Programming
  • COMP 131 – Computing for Poets
  • COMP 161 – Web Design
Theory, History and Criticism

Choose one course:

  • FNMS 235 – Journalism 2.0: Civic Media in the Digital Age
  • FNMS 242 – Horror Film and the Unruly Body
  • FNMS 243 – Race, Gender and Television
  • FNMS 249 – Film Genres
  • FNMS 257 – Race and Racism in United States Cinema
  • FNMS 331 – Digital Culture
  • FNMS 325 – Transmedia Franchises
  • FNMS 332 – Creative Industries in the Digital Age
  • FNMS 345 – Queer Cinema
  • FNMS 398 – Streaming TV
  • FNMS 322 – Women and Film
Techniques and Technologies

Choose one course:

  • FNMS 230 – Comics and Graphic Novels
  • FNMS 244 – Visualizing Cultural Data
  • FNMS 262 – Screenwriting
  • FNMS 264 – Animation l
  • FNMS 270 – Digital Editing
  • FNMS 280 – Documentary Storytelling
  • FNMS 360 – Film Production II
  • FNMS 364 – Animation II
  • COMP 115 – Problem Solving and Python Programming
  • COMP 131 – Computing for Poets
  • COMP 161 – Web Design
  • DMC 298 – Podcast Production and Storytelling
Global and Regional Contexts

Choose one course:

  • FNMS 251 – Introduction to World Cinema
  • FNMS 355 – Global Cinemas
  • FNMS 356 – Third Cinema
Electives

Choose one from below or from any of the other areas:

  • ARTH 257 – Photography as Knowledge (1830-1930)
  • ARTH 335 – Exhibition Design
  • DMC 285 – Journalism
  • ENG 280 – Writing in Professional Contexts
  • ENG 282 – Advanced Writing: Digital Controversies
  • HISP 358 – Digital Humanities Methods and Tools
  • MGMT 355 – Digital Marketing

Filmmaker in Residence Fellowship

The Filmmaker in Residence Fellowship embeds a student filmmaker on select international faculty led trips to produce a short film. The fellowship provides all necessary equipment and pays all expenses of the trip. Fellowship recipients have produced films in Ecuador, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad, Ireland, and Rwanda.

video player
95%

95% of Film and New Media Studies majors from the past five years have found employment or achieved a fellowship or service opportunity within six months of graduation *

Recent Graduates


Sample First Jobs

  • ORVICA CREATIVE, Owner and Founder
  • Inherited Stories, Owner and Founder
  • Sony Pictures, Administrative Assistant
  • Universal Studios Hollywood, Production Assistant
  • Konstant Kreative, Creative Strategist
  • Disney Parks, Media Production Intern (paid)
  • Raytheon Industries, Junior Communications Generalist
  • Newscape Studios, Inc., YouTube Editor
  • Red Hat, Associate Technical Marketing Manager
  • 7 NEWS WHDH-TV Boston, Production Assistant


Sample Graduate School

  • Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY Brooklyn College
  • USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
  • London School of Economics and Political Science
  • S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University

*outcomes data is based on a knowledge rate of 71% for the classes of 2014-2018

Department

Offered by the Film and New Media department.