Mar 28, 2024  
Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2018-2019 
    
Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Film, Television, and Media Studies, B.A.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: School of Film and Television

Program Goals


  • Students will be able to critically examine the ways in which their own perceptions have been shaped and influenced by media texts such that they may become more thoughtful consumers as well as producers of such texts. Students understand the many ways that media texts reflect, shape and question cultural values, attitudes, and beliefs, including but not limited to representations of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, class, and nationality.
  • Students will understand and appreciate the development of cinematic and televisual media within their historical and cultural contexts, including the difference between national and global/transnational approaches to the study of film/media. This includes the different approaches to the study of film and other screen media, particularly, but not limited to, how they are informed bu auteur studies, genre studies, or the study of specific cycles and movements.
  • Students will gain the necessary tools to analyze, write and communicate critically about media texts.

Learning Outcomes


  • Students will be able to deconstruct and describe the basic elements of film and television language.
  • Students will differentiate between a visual text’s form and content.
  • Students will be able to execute close-readings and interpretations of visual texts.
  • Students will be able to engage critically on topics of representation (e.g., race, gender, class, etc.).
  • Students will be able to identify the context to which a particular film/visual text belongs (e.g., what national or transnational tradition, or what key movement, etc.).
  • Students will distinguish approaches to the study of media (e.g., auteur studies, genre studies, reception studies, national vs. transnational lens, etc.).
  • Students will engage effectively with critical/theoretical readings by integrating them into their own argumentative essays and/or oral/visual presentations.

Major Requirements


FOUNDATIONS: Five required courses (19 semester hours):


These courses set up the foundations for the study/analysis of film and media. In general, these courses are mostly survey-style courses that establish a historical and aesthetic overview of the medium.

NATIONAL/REGIONAL FOCUS: Two courses required (8 semester hours)


These courses emphasize national or transnational modes of studying film, focus on a deeper understanding of critical/theoretical paradigms, and require students to integrate the skills learned in the previous levels.

ELECTIVE COURSES: Four courses (16 semester hours)


These courses round-off student’s knowledge of film and allow those who would like to do so to pursue specific areas of interest. These courses reinforce concepts learned in lower-division courses and further develop issues pertaining to narrative and visual structure, uses of technology, issues of representation (gender, race, class. etc.).

NON-WESTERN/TRANSNATIONAL EMPHASIS: A total of three (these courses have to be chosen from the above categories, no extra units)


In recent years, the study of film has moved away from analyses that focus on a single national tradition. In order to prepare students that are well-rounded in their knowledge of the field we will require them to be conversant in non-Western media as well as in transnational modes of study. These courses may include Western film/media as long as the course offers a transnational analysis. For shorthand purposes, these courses are labeled “global” (also discernible by ending with the number 7, refer to courses above).

Model Four-Year Plan


  • Normal course load is 16 semester hours of 4-5 courses per semester.
  • Consult your advisor regarding proper course sequencing and course selection for the major.
  • Suggested sequence, but students may take courses in a modified order with written permission of the Chair and Associate Dean.
  • All students must complete six flags to graduate. Each student is responsible for ensuring she/he fulfills all graduation requirements.

Freshman Year


Fall Semester


Total: 13-16 semester hours

Spring Semester


Total: 14-15 semester hours

Sophomore Year


Fall Semester


Total: 12-16 semester hours

Spring Semester


Total: 14-16 semester hours

Junior Year


Fall Semester


  • FTVS Elective 4 semester hours

selected from FTVS 2130  FTVS 2137 , FTVS 3200 , FTVS 3210 , FTVS 3220 , FTVS 3230 , FTVS 3300 , FTVS 3310 , FTVS 4500 , FTVS 4507 , FTVS 4510 , FTVS 4517 , FTVS 4600 , FTVS 4607 , FTVS 4610 , FTVS 4617 , FTVS 4700 , FTVS 4707  (two of four electives must have a National/Regional Focus and be selected from courses ending in 7)

  • FTVS National or Regional Topic

selected from FTVS 2120  FTVS 2127 , FTVS 4410 , FTVS 4420 , FTVS 4447 , FTVS 4457 , or FTVS 4467  

  • Elective 3-4 semester hours
  • Elective 3-4 semester hours
Total: 14-16 semester hours

Spring Semester


  • FTVS Elective 4 semester hours

selected from FTVS 2130  FTVS 2137 , FTVS 3200 , FTVS 3210 , FTVS 3220 , FTVS 3230 , FTVS 3300 , FTVS 3310 , FTVS 4500 , FTVS 4507 , FTVS 4510 , FTVS 4517 , FTVS 4600 , FTVS 4607 , FTVS 4610 , FTVS 4617 , FTVS 4700 , FTVS 4707  (two of four electives must have a National/Regional Focus and be selected from courses ending in 7)

  • University Core 3-4 semester hours
  • Elective 3-4 semester hours
  • Elective 3-4 semester hours
Total: 15-18 semester hours

Senior Year


Fall Semester


  • FTVS Elective 4 semester hours

selected from FTVS 2130 , FTVS 2137 , FTVS 3200 , FTVS 3210 , FTVS 3220 , FTVS 3230 , FTVS 3300 , FTVS 3310 , FTVS 4500 , FTVS 4507 , FTVS 4510 , FTVS 4517 , FTVS 4600 , FTVS 4607 , FTVS 4610 , FTVS 4617 , FTVS 4700 , FTVS 4707  (two of four electives must have a National/Regional Focus and be selected from courses ending in 7)

  • University Core 3-4 semester hours
  • University Core 3-4 semester hours
  • Upper Division Elective 3-4 semester hours
Total: 13-16 semester hours

Spring Semester


  • FTVS Elective 4 semester hours

selected from FTVS 2130 , FTVS 2137 , FTVS 3200 , FTVS 3210 , FTVS 3220 , FTVS 3230 , FTVS 3300 , FTVS 3310 , FTVS 4500 , FTVS 4507 , FTVS 4510 , FTVS 4517 , FTVS 4600 , FTVS 4607 , FTVS 4610 , FTVS 4617 , FTVS 4700 , FTVS 4707  (two of four electives must have a National/Regional Focus and be selected from courses ending in 7)

  • Upper Division Elective 3-4 semester hours
  • Upper Division Elective 3-4 semester hours
  • Upper Division Elective 3-4 semester hours
Total: 13-16 semester hours

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: School of Film and Television