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Film and Digital Media is a fitting major for students interested in careers in the film industry, media-related work in other fields, fine art film production, media studies education, and researching and writing media studies scholarship.
Film and Digital Media studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines film studies Humanities-based courses with Digital Media curriculum in The Arts. This AA degree prepares students for further studies in film, media studies, or related majors (such as Mass Communication or Digital Media Production). By combining the two areas of study, students will acquire contextual knowledge that will enhance media production, as well as vital production skills to support further work in media studies scholarship and criticism.
Film studies coursework introduces students to film history, formal film analysis, film and media theories, social and cultural representation, media convergence, and numerous other topics. Digital Media Art courses provide foundations in photography, video production, visual storytelling, experimental film production, and many more. We recommend beginning with FILM 40 (Mass Media & Society), FILM 71 (Introduction to Film Studies), and DMA 70 (Digital Video Production), but students are encouraged to view the catalog description and list of required courses.
Transfer Options
IVC’s Film and Digital Media AA is designed to mirror lower-division coursework in programs available at most UC and CSU campuses. Students completing this degree will have the knowledge base and production skills to begin Junior and Senior-level coursework, and beyond.
Transfer, Degrees and/or Certificates
Sample Academic Plans
This is only a sample academic plan for students interested in transferring to CSULB as a Film and Electronic Art major. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific education goals.
Semester 1
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | A2 | 4 |
| MATH 10* | Introduction to Statistics | B4 | 3 |
| FILM 71 | Introduction to Film | C2 & Major | 3 |
| Learning & Self Development | Lifelong Learning and Self Development GE Course | E | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 1-3 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | A1 | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking GE Course | A3 | 3-4 |
| FILM 40 | Mass Media and Society | D | 3 |
| FILM 70 | History of Film | C2 & Major | 3 |
| ART 20 or ARTH 26 | Art Appreciation or Art History Survey II: Western | C1 & Major | 3 |
Semester 3
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMA 70 or WR 15 | Digital Video Producation or Introduction to Screenwriting for Film/TV | Major | 3 |
| FILM 72/72H or FILM 75 | Film and American Culture or Introduction to TV Studies (Recommended Electives) | C2 | 3 |
| Physical Science | Physical Science GE Course | B1 | 3 |
| Physical Science Lab | Physical Science Lab | B3 | 1 |
| HIST 20 or HIST 21 | American History Course | D | 3 |
| Ethnic Studies | Ethnic Studies GE Course | F | 3 |
Semester 4
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILM 72/72H or FILM 75 | Film and American Culture or Introduction to TV Studies (Recommended Electives) | C2 | 3 |
| Life Science | Life Science GE Course | B2 | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | C1 or C2 | 3 |
| PS 1 | American Government | D | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 3 |
Semester 1
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| MATH | Math GE Course | 2 | 3-5 |
| FILM 71 or 71H | Introduction to Film | 6 & Major | 3 |
| Film Major | Film Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
| Lifelong Health* | Lifelong Health and Personal Development GE Course | 9 A/B/C | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking GE Course | 1C | 3-4 |
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | 1B | 3 |
| FILM 40 | Mass Media and Society | Major | 3 |
| Film Major | Film Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
| FILM 70 | History of Film | 6 | 3 |
Semester 3
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMA 70 | Digital Video Production | Major | 3 |
| Film Major | Film Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
| Natural Sciences | Natural Sciences GE Course | 3 | 3 |
| Fine Arts | Fine Arts and Languages GE Course | 7 | 3 |
| Cultural Diversity | Cultural Diversity GE Course | 5 | 3 |
Semester 4
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film Major | Film Major Course from List B | Major | 3 |
| Film Major | Film Major Course from List B | Major | 3 |
| American Institutions | American Institutions GE Course | 8 | 3 |
| Lifelong Health* | Lifelong Health and Personal Development GE Course | 9 A/B/C | 3 |
| Social Sciences | Social Sciences GE Course | 4 | 3 |
- Take one course from two different categories among GE areas 9A, 9B, and 9C. Please refer to the AA GE pattern for details.
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
AA = Associate of Arts | AS = Associate of Science | AA-T = Associate of Arts for Transfer | AS-T = Associate of Science for Transfer | COA = Certificate of Achievement | COP = Certificate of Proficiency
Explore Careers
Not sure if Film and Digital Media is the right fit?
Exploratory Interest Area
Explore Engineering while still working toward your academic goals.
Talk with a Counselor
Speak to one of IVC’s Academic Counselors to learn more about all of your options.
Why choose IVC?