BA in Studies in Cinema & Media Culture

To explore your interest in the Studies in Cinema & Media Culture (SCMC) major, consider taking an introductory course focused on film or global cinema which transfers to UMTC, to be used in place of one of these UMTC courses: 

• SCMC 1201W - Cinema
• SCMC 1202W - Media: Word, Image, Sound
• ARTH 1921W - Introduction to Film Study

One 1xxx-level course is required in the SCMC major. Please note this introductory requirement does not include film production, media/journalism, or communication studies. 

A grade of C- or better is required in all courses approved to satisfy major requirements.

See the catalog for all courses in the major.

Remember, when using Transferology to plan courses for the major, look for courses that transfer as direct equivalents to UMTC major courses. In Transferology, a direct equivalent shows as the UMTC course number. For example, COMM 1101 is a direct equivalent, while COMM 1T*** is not. 

In CLA, each department has a process to declare the major. This is a necessary step for the major to be added to the student record. New transfer students do not declare their majors until after they attend orientation. 

To declare a major in Studies in Cinema & Media Culture, students must meet with the SCMC departmental advisor in a scheduled appointment.   

While there is no specific course that must be completed in order to declare the SCMC major, it is recommended that students take a preparatory course (see above) prior to declaring as a way to explore their interest. 

Students are allowed to begin taking major courses prior to declaring the major, which can be helpful in planning timeline to graduation.

We recommend that you meet with the Studies in Cinema & Media Culture departmental advisor during your first semester in CLA to discuss your interest and the declaration process. This meeting allows the departmental advisor to tell you about opportunities within the major and department, as well as help you plan your SCMC coursework effectively and efficiently. 

Lower division coursework – One introductory 1xxx-level course is required in the Studies in Cinema & Media Culture major. A maximum of two 1xxx-level courses are allowed in the major. Consider taking one of the preparatory courses described in the tab above. 

Major residency requirement – At least 15 upper division (3xxx-5xxx) credits in the SCMC major must be taken at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
 
Film production – Students transferring from a program focused on film production are strongly encouraged to talk with the SCMC departmental advisor early in their exploration and planning to transfer. There is some room for selected production courses in the major, but the amount of courses and breadth of topics which may or may not count in the major need to be discussed.

Contact the Studies in Cinema & Media Culture departmental advisor if you have questions about if or how a course may relate to the major. It is possible for the SCMC major to include transfer courses which are not direct equivalents to UMTC courses, but this must be discussed with the SCMC departmental advisor.

Transfer courses are evaluated by the department for use towards the major. Check Transferology to see if an evaluation already exists for the courses you would like to use toward the major.  If you find a course that has not been evaluated you can submit the course for review. A copy of the course syllabus is required.  

The Studies in Cinema & Media Culture major is interdisciplinary, meaning that core requirements include SCMC courses, as well as courses from other departments such as Art, English, and Communication Studies. SCMC explores the sounds and images of cinema through examining cultures, history, change, as well as theory. Although there is an element of film production in the major, this is not the main focus of study. 
 
The SCMC major has practical relevance to many topics. Some students enjoy incorporating an additional major or minor as they consider a diverse list of career connections, as well as a breadth of graduate study options. Graduates go on to careers in writing, cultural criticism, film production, and more.

The CLA second language requirement is also part of the BA degree. Depending on your prior knowledge with languages, making progress with this requirement in advance of transferring can create more room in your class schedule for major courses later. Be sure to talk with a CLA transfer advisor with questions about completing the CLA second language requirement.

For additional questions about the SCMC major as you explore and consider transferring, you are encouraged to reach out to the departmental advisor. Transfer students are welcome!