A Film Studies, Associate in Arts (AA) degree provides students with foundation-level technical knowledge, skills, and aesthetic judgement while also advancing critical thinking, oral communication, creativity, visual literacy, and cultural competency.  The analytic writing, research, and communication skills this degree builds are useful in a variety of academic and professional settings.  Specifically, the Film Studies Associate in Arts program is designed to provide a bundle of classes that helps students prepare for advanced study in this or a similar area at a four-year institution or professional film school.   The Film Studies Associate in Arts program also prepares students for entry into the workforce through the development of core proficiencies necessary for success in various related careers like film criticism, media research, writing for film or television, and film advertising, marketing, and business. 

The Film Studies Associate in Arts program introduces students to the history, theory, and aesthetics of filmmaking with courses that investigate a variety of domestic and global film and media forms. For the purposes of analysis and critique, students will explore standard approaches to screenwriting, production, and other aspects of film creation.  Students will also gain the contextual, aesthetic, and cultural knowledge needed to research and analyze a range of cinematic styles, genres, and industrial practices.  Social justice issues will be raised as well, including critique of the inclusion, representation, and contributions of diverse races/ethnicities, genders, classes, sexual orientations, and/or abilities.  Connections between film and other language-based and visual art forms like literature, writing, and fine art works will also be explored. 

*General Education Requirements: Students will be permitted to choose one of the three general education patterns that best aligns with their educational goals: the Ventura College General Education Pattern, the CSU GE-Breadth Pattern, or the IGETC Pattern.

** Elective Units Recommendations: Elective courses from the following list are particularly recommended: 

• Literature:
  • ENGL V30, ENGL V31, ENGL V33, ENGL V34, or ENGL V35
• History/Culture:
  • HIST V13, HIST V47, HIST V50, HIST V58, HIST V82, HIST V83, HIST V86, CHST V01, CHST V02, CHST V03, CHST V24/SOC V24, PHIL V01, PHIL V02, PHIL V04, PHIL V06B, or PHIL V12
• Visual/Performing Arts:
  • ART V02B, ART V06, PHOT V07, MUS V03, MUS V07, or MUS V08
• Film: 
  • FILM V03A, FILM V04, FILM V05, FILM V07, FILM V12

The Plan of Study applies to the VC General Education Pattern.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• Identify and evaluate major periods and styles in film history in American and world cinema.
• Analyze and articulate—using discipline-specific language—how social and historical context, including the effects of systemic racism, have impacted the development of major theories and/or moments in film history.
• Examine and analyze the literary, artistic, and cultural aesthetics of individual films.
• Use conventions of writing for film to identify and critique successful narrative structure in films or screenplays.