Major in Writing for the Cinematic Arts

For students with a strong interest in writing, this degree not only provides digital media skills but gives students a deeper understanding of story structure and the skills to write and develop stories for film and television.

Major Requirements

Required Core Courses

  • ART 113 Introduction to Art Software
  • COM 260 Media Writing
  • DM/ENG 295 Intro to Film Studies
  • DM/ENG 298 Story Structures
  • DM 299 Digital Storytelling
  • DM 301 Cinema and the Soul
  • DM 305 Intro to Digital Cinema
  • CS/DM 312 Ethics in Computer Technology or COM 420 Ethics in Communication
  • DM/ENG 317 Intro to Screenwriting
  • DM/CGE 399 Intro to Video Editing
  • DM/ENG 417 Advanced Writing for Film & TV
  • DM 499 Digital Media Capstone
  • One Creative Writing Elective from English
  • ART 216 Introduction to Graphic Design
  • ART 218 Digital Imaging Studio
  • ART 226 Typography Studio
  • ART 250 or ART 350 Thematic and Selected Topics
  • ART 325 Visual Communication
  • BID 385 Exploring Conscious Capitalism through Documentary Film Analysis
  • BUS 337 Social Media Strategy (0.5 credits)
  • BUS 338 Digital Inbound Marketing Strategy (0.5 credits)
  • COM 260 Media Writing
  • COM 305 News Reporting
  • COM 329 Media and Cultural Identity
  • COM 405 Digital Journalism
  • COM 411 Media Seminar
  • COM 420 Ethics in Communication
  • COM 497 Portfolio Development (0.5 credits)
  • CS 315 Web Design & Development
  • DM/ART 296 Introduction to Animation Principles
  • DM 301 Cinema and the Soul
  • DM/ART 398 Game Animation and Concept Art
  • DM 450 Cinematography
  • DM 492 Independent Study
  • DM/CGE 497 Advanced Film and Media Production
  • ENG 230 Readings in Race, Class, and Gender
  • MUS 290 Digital Music I
  • MUS 291 Digital Music II
  • MUS 332 Production of Sound Recordings
  • MUS 333 Audio Engineering
  • PHL 309 Philosophy of Art
  • REL 252 Movies and God
  • THE 350 Play Analysis
  • WL 309 World Cinema

What careers do digital media majors land in?

Explore Careers

Minor in Digital Media

The minor in digital media is designed for students who wish to learn tools, techniques and skills for the creation of digital media.

Students can then customize their studies through a comprehensive set of electives. The coursework provides them with opportunities for artistic expression while broadening their career options by teaching them to be critical and effective content creators.

Recent studies have shown that possessing digital media skills increases employability in non-media fields, especially in the humanities.

Required Courses

  • DM/ENG 298 Story Structures in Literature, Film and Media
  • DM 299 Digital Storytelling
  • ART 113 Introduction to Art Software
  • ART 216 Introduction to Graphic Design
  • ART 218 Digital Imaging Studio
  • ART 226 Typography Studio
  • ART 316 Graphic Design I
  • ART 318 Intermediate Digital Imaging
  • ART 325 Visual Communication
  • ART 416 Advanced Graphic Design
  • BID 385 Exploring Conscious Capitalism through Documentary Film Analysis
  • BUS 337 Social Media Strategy (0.5 credits)
  • BUS 338 Digital Inbound Marketing Strategy (0.5 credits)
  • CGE 303 Computer Game Design
  • CGE 315 Web Design and Development
  • CGE 355 Computer Animation and Simulation
  • CGE/DM 401 Three Dimensional Computer Game Design
  • CGE 460 Computer Graphics
  • COM 260 Media Writing
  • COM 305 News Reporting
  • COM 374 Radio Practicum
  • COM 405 Digital Journalism
  • COM 420 Ethics in Communication
  • COM 497 Portfolio Development (0.5 credits)
  • CS/DM 312 Ethics in Digital Technology
  • CS 315 Web Design and Development
  • DM 201 Digital Media Elective
  • DM/CGE 250 Computer 3D Modeling
  • DM/ENG 295 Introduction to Film Studies
  • DM/ART 296 Digital Animation Principles
  • DM/ENG 317 Introduction to Screenwriting
  • DM 301 Cinema and the Soul
  • DM/CGE 305 Introduction to Digital Cinema (change from DM 205)
  • DM/ART 398 Game and Animation Concept Art
  • DM/CGE 399 Introduction to Video Editing
  • DM/ENG 417 Advanced Writing for Film and Television
  • DM 450 Cinematography
  • DM 492 Independent Study
  • DM/CGE 497 Advanced Film and Media Production
  • ENG 230 Readings in Race, Class, and Gender
  • MUS 290 Digital Music I
  • MUS 291 Digital Music II
  • MUS 332 Production of Sound Recordings
  • MUS 333 Audio Engineering
  • PHL 309 Philosophy of Art
  • REL 252 Movies and God
  • WL 309 World Cinema

Minor in Film Studies

How many minutes a day do people spend watching content on screens of various sizes? The minor in film studies will help students become critical consumers of the media that saturate our daily lives.

Students will study the history of film, including its evolution from earlier forms of media as well as the impact other art forms have had on its development. They will consider multiple critical and theoretical approaches to film and media analysis, and how film has both impacted and been impacted by advances in technology.

Other areas of exploration include various narrative structures used in film and television, the ever-changing role that cinematic storytelling plays in contemporary society, and cinema’s role in local and international cultures.

Required Courses

  • DM/ENG 295 Introduction to Film Studies
  • DM/ENG 298 Story Structures in Literature, Film and Media
  • WL 309 World Cinema
  • DM 301 Cinema and the Soul
  • DM/ENG 317Introduction to Screenwriting
  • DM 450 Cinematography
  • ENG 220 Principles of Literary Study
  • ENG 230 Readings in Race, Class and Gender
  • ENG 330 Epics and Stories, Ancients and Modern
  • ENG 335 Women Writers
  • ENG 336 Contemporary Literature: Designated Genres
  • ENG 350 Special Topics
  • ENG 415 Literary Theory
  • CGE 205 Digital Cinema
  • COM 329 Media and Cultural Identity
  • COM 331 Language, Identity and the Rainbow
  • REL 252 Movies and God
  • PHL 309 Philosophy of Art
  • BID 385 Exploring Conscious Capitalism through Documentary Film Analysis

Connect with #elmhurstu