Cinema, BA

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Film/Video Production and Studies

The Department of Cinema develops both artists and creative thinkers in cinema. It fosters critical appreciation of both innovative and traditional cinematic expression. Students learn how to view works of cinema in their social, economic and historical contexts, as well as in general historical and aesthetic terms. The production program in film and electronic media is not oriented toward developing mere technical proficiency, but toward encouraging artistic discovery and expression. Both production and studies courses are valuable to a wide range of students, not only because cinema is a major art and entertainment medium of our time, but also because, increasingly, our experience and exploration of all areas of knowledge is transmitted through the moving image.

Major Requirements

The cinema major consists of six core courses and five electives. The core courses give students experience in the analysis of film and video and the creation of personal works in both media. A set of elective courses is chosen to reflect the student's dominant interests. Those who wish to stress filmmaking or videomaking should begin the major early enough in their academic careers to allow for the completion of the sequence of courses in those areas.

CINE 121: Experience, History and Analysis of Cinema
CINE 122: Expression and Innovation in Film and Video
CINE 252: Video and Filmmaking I
CINE 321: Film Theory
CINE 353: Digital Videomaking II (CINE 353 cannot be taken at the same time as another 300-level CINE production course)
One 300-level CINE production course
Cinema elective (200 level or higher)
Cinema elective (200 level or higher)
Cinema elective (300 level or higher)
Cinema elective (300 level or higher)
Cinema elective (400 level) * This 400-level requirement is effective for students who have entered the university beginning with Fall 2018, and for those who have entered the university before Fall 2018 would need to take another 300-level or higher Cinema elective (total 5 Cinema elective courses). Note: CINE 491: Practicum In College Teaching does not satisfy the major/minor requirements.

Residency Requirement: A minimum of 6 courses in Cinema courses must be taken at Binghamton University in order to qualify for the BA degree.

Grade Requirement: The Cinema Department requires a grade of C or better in cinema courses counted toward the major. No courses for the major may be taken Pass/Fail.

Apply to Declare a Major in Cinema

Honors Program and Senior Thesis (CINE 499)

Senior Thesis is a path to honors. It is a capstone course taken after advanced-level work completed through the regular curriculum.

Production
Students must have completed a 400-level production course prior to taking Senior Thesis. CINE 451, Advanced Film & Videomaking, is the prerequisite, but exceptions can be made allowing for other 400-level production courses to count as prerequisites on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions need approval of all faculty participating in the senior thesis process.
Film Studies
Students must have completed CINE 321, Film Theory, prior to enrolling in a Senior Thesis. Exceptions need the approval of all faculty participating in the senior thesis process.
Honors
Honors can be awarded as a result of the successful completion of a senior thesis project. This includes a consistent and productive work schedule pursued with faculty advisers where discussions lead to progress. It also includes persuasive presentations to full faculty at mid-term and final critiques. Students must show sufficient growth and self-realization about the direction of the work resulting from the mid-term meeting. This project must be considered a fulfillment of the initial proposal and mid-term discussions by final critique. Students must submit in writing a self-evaluation of their progress and completion of the senior thesis project to all faculty before final critique.

ALTERNATE PATH TO HONORS
There are situations where a student is unable to take Senior Thesis, but their work is considered exceptional and worthy of departmental recognition. Students in this situation first need to notify their intention to take this path to the Chair or Undergraduate Director by the 5th week of classes, and submit a portfolio to the Chair or Undergraduate Director by the 10th week of classes for review by the full faculty for consideration for honors. A list of graduating students in this situation will be provided to faculty who may also encourage promising students to apply.

The portfolio must include the following:
- A written self-evaluation of the work being considered that addresses ideas surrounding process and conceptual development
- Descriptions of individual works for consideration
- Links online to work for viewing
- Or writing samples, if the work of a student primarily engages with Film Studies
- A short paragraph that explains why you have decided not to take Senior Thesis

Independent Study (CINE 497)

A student can take CINE 497: Independent Study to work on his/her own project with one of the faculty members in the Cinema Department throughout a semester. A student meets with the faculty adviser, usually once a week for 30 - 60 min but it depends on the project/faculty, and the student shows/talks about the project in progress and what s/he plans to do for the coming week, while the faculty adviser gives the student feedback, assignments, etc.

Prerequisites: One 400-level production course for Production, or CINE 321: Film Theory for Film Studies.

Registration Process: A student first needs to choose a faculty adviser and explains his/her project idea to him/her before the end of the first week of the semester to take CINE 497. If the faculty member agrees to be the adviser of the project, the student needs to fill out a CINE 497 registration form and submit it with a project proposal to the Department Secretary, which will be sent to the Undergraduate Adviser/Chair of the Department for a signature.

Cinema Minor

The cinema minor consists of three core courses and three electives, for a total of 24 credit hours. Students should be advised that CINE 122 is a prerequisite to all production courses and may be taken concurrently with CINE 252.

CINE 121: Experience, History and Analysis of Cinema
CINE 122: Expression and Innovation in Film and Video
CINE 252: Video and Filmmaking I
Cinema elective (200 level or higher)
Cinema elective (300 level or higher)
Cinema elective (300 level or higher)

Important: You must have 60 earned credits and a declared major to declare a minor.

Note: CINE 491: Practicum In College Teaching does not satisfy the major/minor requirements.

Residency Requirement (effective starting Fall 2020): A minimum of 3 courses in Cinema courses must be taken at Binghamton College in order to qualify for the Cinema minor.

Grade Requirement: The Cinema Department requires a grade of C or better in cinema courses counted toward the minor. No courses for the minor may be taken Pass/Fail.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all undergraduate courses carry four credits.

Information for Transfer Applicants

Learn more about information for transfer applicants.