The Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies consists of 56 credits divided among four categories: Fundamentals, Production, Core Courses, and Electives. A Bachelor of Science option is not offered. The UO’s Cinema Studies Program offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore every facet of the world of moving images. You will become a skilled producer of those images as well as a responsible consumer and thoughtful critic of them. While traditional film schools teach students how to make movies, UO students also learn about the consequences of films, their effects on society, and how a particular film fits into the history of cinema. The UO’s interdisciplinary liberal arts program teaches the technical aspects of filmmaking as well as the broader philosophical ideas behind the art. As a cinema studies student, you’ll take classes across campus from a variety of departments and programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Journalism and Communication, and the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. “There really isn’t anything else like this program out there right now in the Pacific Northwest that incorporates top-notch critical and creative work in cinema studies,” says Michael Aronson, the program’s director. “It represents everything that real-world cinema encompasses from experimental video art to PBS documentaries to Hollywood films and TV shows like Portlandia.”

Career Opportunities Break into the film industry by working as a screenwriter, producer, or director. Play a part in the advertising and marketing aspects of the business. Work in entertainment law. Write movie reviews. Become a film historian, digital artist, actress, movie critic, or set designer. “We see cinema studies as a degree that blends a liberal arts education with the technical know-how of the media industry,” says Sirois. “Given how much our world depends on moving images, our majors are set up to succeed in a wide range of careers.”