Film Studies at Inver Hills

Course Descriptions
FS 2250  Topics in Film Studies   3.0 cr Examines specific areas of film studies on a rotating basis using a variety of instructional methods. Course topics include, but are not limited to: American Directors (Altman, Cukor, Ford, Hawks, Kubrick, Sturges, Wilder, etc.) Independent Film, Film Criticism, Holocaust Cinema, Japanese Cinema, European Directors (Antonioni, Fellini, Lean, Truffaut, etc.). The course may be repeated under different topics.
FS 2260  Genre Studies In Film   3.0 cr Examines specific film genres such as the western, crime/gangster films, film noir, musicals,combat films, horror and science-fiction. The course provides a beginning approach to the theory and criticism of specific film genres.

Student Clubs

Film Club

Purpose: Provide a safe and comfortable environment for students to express themselves through the film.

To learn more about Film Club at Inver Hills, contact:

Cristina Pippa
Film Studies and Theatre Instructor
Film Club Faculty Advisor
651-450-3668

Professional Organizations

• American Film Institute (AFI)
• American Screenwriters Association (ASA)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA)
• Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries International (FOCAL International)
• Fédération Internationale des Archives du Film (FIAF)
• Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA)
• National Film Preservation Board (Library of Congress)
• Society for Cinema & Media Studies (SCMS)
• Sundance Institute

Transferable skills

Taking courses in film studies is a creative way to balance a liberal arts education. You will develop a wealth of essential career skills, including:

• Interpreting literary and cultural works
• Understanding historical, political cultural frameworks informing film composition
• Communicate ideas and information in diverse media
• Deciphering texts and images in complex forms
• Thinking strategically about writing, reading and representation theories
• Knowing how language and literature mold and spotlight cultures, societies and history
• Expressing critical scholarly and oral arguments
• Conducting independent research

Potential job titles

You can apply your love of film to pursue a number of careers as a film studies major, including:

• Audio-visual technician
• Background artist
• Camera operator
• Casting director
• Cinematographer
• Digital animator
• Director of photography
• Film animator
• Film archivist
• Film critic
• Film director
• Film distribution coordinator
• Film editor
• Film key grip
• First assistant director
• Gaffer
• Independent filmmaker
• Layout designer
• Lighting technician
• Location manager
• Location scout
• Makeup artist
• Music video director
• Narrator
• Producer
• Production assistant
• Production coordinator
• Programming director
• Prop maker
• Publicist
• Screenwriter
• Script supervisor
• Sound designer
• Sound editor
• Story editor
• Stunt coordinator
• Talent agent
• Talent coordinator
• Technical director
• Television director
• Video editor

Below are just a few examples of possible career paths that can start by taking Film Studies courses at Inver Hills.

• Producers and Directors
• Actors
• Announcers
• Art Directors
• Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators
• Multimedia Artists and Animators
• Writers and Authors

Completing your Film Studies course obligations at Inver Hills is smart on several key levels:

1. You will receive an outstanding education with one-on-one interactions with Film Studies faculty
2. You will benefit from small class sizes while developing a strong appreciation for film’s place in world culture
3. You will save money and continue your academic and professional careers with less student debt *

* On a national scale, student loan debt has mushroomed to $1.2 trillion, which is greater than credit card debt and auto loan debt combined. In Minnesota, the average debt for four-year grads tops $30,000; 70 percent carry a student debt load.

Tuition and fees for one year at Inver Hills costs a little less than $5,300. Compare that to $15,000 to $20,000 at a for-profit college, or $40,000 to $50,000 at a private college or university. You can complete your first two years at Inver getting a topflight education firsthand from Ph.D. instructors and then transfer to a four-year as a junior all while saving thousands of dollars. It's a no-brainer.

Additional resources

• Scholarship Information
• Cost of Attendance
• Inver Hills Foundation
• Financial Aid Office