Film and Media Studies focuses on the histories, theories, aesthetics, and cultural meanings of film, television, video games, digital platforms, and other media. We offer students strong liberal arts training to analyze and make sense of the complex and ever-evolving media landscape. Our award-winning faculty are engaged in innovative research on topics including video games, television, critical race studies, gender and sexuality studies, post-colonial studies, and other areas; our courses give our students access to this cutting-edge research. In our production and screenwriting courses, students get hands-on experience creating short films, television pilots, webisodes, computer games, and other visual media to deepen their understanding of how media work.
Film and Media Studies is not a production program. Our major emphasizes the histories, theories, and analyses of film, television, video games, digital platforms, and other media. We offer a limited number of production and screenwriting courses to enhance the study of film and media.
Connect with an academic advisor to prepare for success.
Explore our major and minor requirements and plan your academic journey.
Our courses encourage the study of history, theory and practice through a variety of topics.
Internships offer an invaluable opportunity to apply your classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
Creative Project offer a chance to explore artistic passions and develop skills beyond coursework.
Engage in academic exploration, investigate areas of study and delve into topics of particular interest.
Staff assist instructional efforts through scheduling classes and technology support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Film and Media Studies at UC Irvine prepares students a range of careers. Some continue their education, earning MFAs in film and media production or PhDs in film and media studies. Others pursue graduate degrees in education, library and archival studies, marketing, law, or numerous other fields. There is an FAQ about applying to graduate school in our FMS student guide.
Our alumni also make careers in all aspects of the entertainment industry, finding work in the film, television, and game industries in Southern California and beyond. FMS students build careers in directing, cinematography, editing, journalism, advertising, marketing, and distribution. Our students’ diverse backgrounds have enabled them to work in bilingual or global media outlets. The Department encourages all qualified students to do professional internships. Visit the internship page for more information about the diverse array of internships that you can do for credit.
The UCI Career Pathways provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and resources on resume and cover letter preparation, job search, and interview techniques.