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Film & Media Studies A.A. Degree - CalGETC

The Film & Media Studies program is designed to foster critical thinking and media literacy skills, interrogate the multiple histories of film and media, and contemplate the role of film and media texts as artifacts that shape and reflect popular culture. Students engage in practical and theoretical discussions about film and media in a variety of courses on aesthetics, history, theory, screenwriting, genre, and representations of race, sex, class, and gender. This major is encouraged for students who intend to transfer to university film and media programs, or pursue careers that demand a high level of media literacy or analytical writing skills. The production of digital film and broadcast television are taught through the Radio, Television and Film production program. 

Total Units:
61

First Year

Semester 1

15 Units
Course Units Pre-Reqs^ Semesters Offered* GE Area
FMS 300
Introduction to Film Studies
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 3A
FMS 305
Film History I (1895-1949)
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 3A
CalGETC Area 1A-English Composition
3
Recommend meeting with a counselor
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 1A
CalGETC Area 1C-Oral Communication
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 1C
CalGETC Area 2-Math & Quantitative Reasoning
3
Recommend meeting with a counselor
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 2

Semester 2

15 Units
Course Units Pre-Reqs^ Semesters Offered* GE Area
FMS 307
Film History II (1950-present)
3
F, S
Cal-GETC Area 3A
JOUR 310
Mass Media and Society
3
F(O), S(O), Su
Cal-GETC Area 4
CalGETC Area 1B-Critical Thinking & Composition
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 1B
CalGETC Area 3B-Humanities
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 3B
3 units from List A
3
See List A
See List A

Year 2

Semester 3

15 Units
Course Units Pre-Reqs^ Semesters Offered* GE Area
JOUR 320
Race and Gender in the Media
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 4
FMS 320
Film Genre
3
F, S
Cal-GETC Area 3A
CalGETC Area 4-Social & Behavioral Sciences
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 4
CalGETC Area 5A-Physical Sciences
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 5A
Elective
3
F, S, Su

Semester 4

16 Units
Course Units Pre-Reqs^ Semesters Offered* GE Area
3 units from List A
3
See List A
See List A
CalGETC Area 5B-Biological Sciecne
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 5B
CalGETC Area 5C-Lab
1
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 5C
CalGETC Area 6-Ethnic Studies
3
F, S, Su
Cal-GETC Area 6
Elective
3
F, S, Su
Elective
3
F, S, Su

^You must have passed the prerequisite course(s) with a “C” or better; Corequisite must be taken during the same semester; Advisory means it is recommended but not required to enroll in the course.

*(O) = online available  (P) = partially online

6 units from List A

Course Units Pre-Reqs^ Semesters Offered* GE Area
FMS 310
Introduction to Screenwriting
3
ENGL C1000
Check Class Schedule
FMS 321
Film Genre: Horror
3
Check Class Schedule
RTVF 368
Scriptwriting for Film, Video & Multimedia
3
Check Class Schedule
FMS 488
Honors Seminar: Introduction to Critical Theory
3
Enrollment limited to Honors Program students
Check Class Schedule
FMS 489
Honors: Director's Cinema
3
Enrollment limited to Honors Program students
Check Class Schedule

Career Options/Outlook:

Creative writers are just one of the many career opportunities possible.  Creative writers create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry, or song lyrics, for publication or performance.  Some career opportunities require more than an associate degree.

A sample of reported job titles:

Director, Entertainment Writer or Editor, Producer, Screenwriter, Script Supervisor, Story Editor, Film Critic, Multi-Media Artist, Media Researcher, Public Relations, Historian, Archivist

Projected job openings for creative writers in California (2020-2030):

3,360

Projected growth in California (2020-2030):

11% growth

Median Salary in California with advanced degree (2021):

$72,890/yr

Transfer notes:

Please meet with a counselor for specific transfer course evaluation or transferring to a specific 4-year institution.

General Education (GE):

Non-specified GE courses identified by CRC or Cal-GETC Area without pre- or co-requisites can be taken at any semester.

Honors option:

The CRC Honors Program is designed specifically for academically accomplished students and for students with the potential for high achievement. Students who complete 15 units or more in honors-designated courses will earn special recognition as an Honors Scholar, a distinction that may entitle the student to guaranteed transfer and scholarship opportunities at select transfer colleges and universities.

About this program map:

This program map represents one possible pathway to complete the program. Please see a counselor to create an education plan customized to meet your needs. This map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.

Zero Textbook Costs (ZTC):

The Zero Textbook Costs designation and logo are added to any course that provides free access to all required instructional materials. These are typically shared with students through Canvas. Courses that are designated as ZTC may still require students to purchase supplemental materials such as lab coats, a calculator, art supplies, etc. See full definitions and searching tips on the Zero Textbook Costs page of the college website.

Catalog Year: 2025-2026

Published May 17, 2025

Counselor Faculty Contact: Mike Chappell   | Faculty Contact: Rubina Gulati

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