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.

Our alumni who successfully pursue careers in making media tell us that knowing film and media history, thinking critically, and writing effectively—skills they developed in FMS—gave them an advantage over people who went to production programs.

Many of our students participate in student groups such as the Film-Arts-Drama Alliance (FADA), Zotfilm, and the Film Collective to collaborate on making their own projects. Students also participate in Anteater TV and KUCI radio.

Students are encouraged to secure internships for professional experience. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to qualify for internship credit.

Many of our students participate in student groups such as the Film-Arts-Drama Alliance (FADA), Zotfilm, and the Film Collective to collaborate on making their own projects. Students also participate in Anteater TV and KUCI radio.

Students are encouraged to secure internships for professional experience. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to qualify for internship credit.

There are three kinds of requirements for students: UCI campus requirements, School of Humanities requirements, and Film and Media Studies major or minor requirements.

The Humanities Undergraduate Office  advises students for their University and School of Humanities requirements.

FMS staff and faculty advise students on major and minor requirements.

Note that some FMS courses required for the major are only offered once per academic year on this schedule:

85A: fall and usually spring

85B: winter only

85C: spring and usually fall

101A: winter only

101B: spring only

101C: fall only

Some of these courses may also be offered during Summer Session. Summer offerings may vary.

110 and 139W are offered every quarter during the academic year. Courses that fulfill the major’s production requirement are also offered every quarter during the academic year.

Track your progress toward degree through DegreeWorks. 

The complete list of courses in Film and Media Studies can be found here. Topics vary for most elective course numbers.

Current course offerings and descriptions can be found here.

The quarterly course schedule with times and locations can be found here. UCI offers classes on the quarter system: fall, winter, spring, and summer session.

The tentative schedule of FMS courses planned for the entire academic year (fall, winter, and spring) can be found here.

Forms for independent studies, creative projects, internships, and student petitions can be found here.

Humanities majors online forms can be found here.

The FMS student guide can be found here.

Yes. UC Irvine’s location in the heart of Southern California, close to film, television, and video game production companies allows for outstanding internship opportunities.

Students are encouraged to secure internships for professional experience. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to qualify for internship credit.

Students may earn up to a total of 4 units through internships. We often encourage students to take two separate internships in different quarters for 2 units at a time so that they can gain different experiences. To earn credit, students must find a faculty mentor with whom to enroll in FLM&MDA 197. Students are responsible for securing their own internships and finding a faculty mentor.

A list of companies that have previously sponsored internships can be found here

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 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 workshops on resume preparation, job search, and interview techniques. Models for developing your resume and cover letter are here.

 

Meet our faculty who teaches our classes and our staff who administer the program.

If you have questions about registration, major requirements, internship opportunities, department events, administrative issues, or paperwork, ask our Personnel and Program Analyst Sylvia Meza-Tallada.

If you have questions about our production equipment, ask our Instructional Technology and Systems Administrator Nikki Normandia or our Media & Technology Assistant Trevor Jue.

If you have question about curricular issues, course substitution petitions, or FMS advising questions, ask Director of Undergraduate Study Lucas Hilderbrand.

If you have questions about specific courses, the major, or your future, talk to your faculty instructors.

Faculty office hours

Office hours are an opportunity to build mentoring relationships with faculty, to clarify and enrich concepts from class, and to talk about your future.

Every faculty you take classes with holds office hours. Some faculty may want you to schedule an appointment, and others may have open drop-in office hours. Typically faculty are not available to meet beyond their designated office hours unless you have made a scheduled appointment for another time.

Come to office hours prepared. If you have questions about an assignment, read through the prompt carefully in advance. If you have a question about a lecture, read through your notes so that you can pinpoint your areas of confusion; office hours are not intended for faculty to re-give entire lectures.

Office hours can be times for thinking ahead beyond specific classes. You can come to discuss course plans, internships, research and creative projects, study abroad, grad school, and future career plans. You can also come to office hours to talk about ideas or about films and media that excite you. Faculty will likely have advice about preparing for your future or suggestions for other things to read and watch for enrichment.

Equipment for students enrolled in production courses

Media editing lab

McCormick Screening Room (Humanities Gateway 1070) for screenings and events

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