Communications: Film Studies - A.A. Degree

As a popular art form, film is a prominent medium in our society. Students invest a great deal of time and money enjoying a medium that is capable of shaping audiences’ cultural lives. The academic rationale for the Film Studies Option is to combine creative and critical thinking. As a result, students will receive a rigorous understanding of film criticism, screenwriting, and filmmaking. Film Studies will investigate the psychological, social, technical, and critical aspects of this medium, particularly focusing on how the medium can manipulate audiences. 

Film Studies completes and complements the existing Communications Options in Journalism and Broadcasting. It is designed to be interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on the combined skills of professors from the Journalism, Broadcasting, and Fine Arts options.

Other courses in the program will include “Cinematography,” “Writing for the Media,” and “Critical Analysis of the Cinema,” a course which has been running for nearly a decade and which has enjoyed a 100 percent transfer record to Rutgers, Montclair, and William Paterson universities, to name only a few four-year institutions.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, social and political impact of film on contemporary society.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the technical and creative aspects of film.
• Exhibit an understanding of the history of cinematography.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the film industry in relation to journalism, broadcasting, and the fine arts.
• Strengthen and enhance the ability of individuals to write and think critically about the art of film in its cultural context.

Thank you for choosing Sussex County Community College as the place to begin your education. We pride ourselves on giving you the individualized attention you need to be successful.

Once you have been accepted, choose the correct path with, What Type of Student are you? This will give you the important Steps to follow from application to registration.

This is a recommended program course sequence for students who wish to complete their associate degree in two years. Part-time students and students starting in the spring or summer semesters can meet with an Advisor to customize their own plan.

*General Education courses: Choose from the list of approved General Education courses in the College Catalog.

Students may choose to first take some developmental courses that are designed to prepare students for the college-level coursework in their academic plan. This may add to the students’ completion time.

The number of credits students take each semester will determine when the student will complete his/her program of study.