Proposal For New Film Major Underway

By Rebecca Lurye, The Diamondback

Student filmmakers may soon be able to major in film studies for the first time since the early 1990s if a proposal in the works garners university approval.

Film enthusiasts from half a dozen departments across the campus have been working since 2007 to resurrect the film major that became too expensive for the university to maintain. The only step forward has been the implementation of a Graduate Field Committee in Film Studies — a non-degree program for graduate students — last fall. Faculty members are putting the final touches on a proposal for an undergraduate film major. If the university approves, they hope it could begin as early as next fall, according to Elizabeth Papazian, who teaches graduate-level film studies courses.

 

"There are students constantly who, every time we teach a film class, ask if there's a major," said Papazian, who is also an associate Russian professor. "They always ask, is there one they can't find online? Is there a film major, where is the film major? So it's certainly something we hear about a lot."

 

While the proposal is still in the works and needs to seek approval from multiple arts and humanities college departments before it makes its way to the college's dean and other university officials for review, Papazian said the program would include two new film courses, Silent Cinema and Cinema since Sound, restricted to majors only. Next semester, the university will offer more than 35 film courses, according to the film studies website.

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