The Associate in Arts in Film Studies 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.  

The 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. 

Students are introduced 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 also be raised, 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:

The calculations above were completed using the local General Education (GE) pattern offered at Ventura College.  Students may, however, choose the GE pattern--local Ventura College GE or CalGETC for transfer--that best aligns with their educational goals.  Please consult with a counselor when selecting the general education pattern that is best for you and when identifying which classes fulfill which general education patterns.  While general alignment exists across institutions, not all classes will fulfill the same requirements for each campus. 

Recommended Elective Courses:

Students are first advised to select any course from List A or List B above not already taken to satisfy elective unit requirements for this degree.  The following courses from related fields are also particularly recommended as electives for this degree.  Some of the following courses may double-count for additional GE areas, please consult your counselor. 

• 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

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.