Cinema Studies
Work with Pulitzer Prize and Oscar nominees, prizewinners at major film festivals—including Sundance—and awardees of numerous university teaching awards.
Realize your vision
Cinema Studies is a unique interdisciplinary degree in which students take courses with internationally-recognized scholars and filmmakers in the School of Art and across the College of Arts & Sciences. Our faculty members have been Pulitzer Prize and Oscar nominees, prizewinners at major film festivals—including Sundance—and awardees of numerous university teaching awards. In both the major and minor, students study the history and aesthetics of movies while also undertaking their own productions. In addition to coursework, many Cinema Studies students pursue internships at one of the many production companies based in Knoxville, while also participating in student filmmaking or cinema appreciation clubs.
Programs in Cinema Studies
Bachelor of Arts
The Cinema Studies major includes both Cinema History/Theory/Aesthetics courses and Production courses in film/video. Students may choose a greater emphasis in cinema history and aesthetics or in moving image production, although all majors will take courses in both areas. Our graduates go on to work in the film and television industry; study at top-ranked MFA and PhD programs at leading film schools; or pursue broader goals (law school, the Peace Corps, etc.) thanks to the interdisciplinary approach that our program takes.
Degree Requirements
Offered Courses
- ARTC 401 Experiments in Sequencing
- ARTC 439 Special Topics in Four-Dimensional Arts
- CNST 235 Introduction to Digital Media and 16mm Film as Art
- CNST 236 Introduction to Cinema and Video Art
- CNST 281 Introduction to Film Studies
- CNST 306 Shakespeare and Film
- CNST 312 Popular Culture and American Politics
- CNST 314 Food, Fiction, and Film in Modern Japan
- CNST 315 Asian Film
- CNST 320 Middle Eastern Film
- CNST 321 Japanese Graphic Novel/Anime
- CNST 323 German Film Survey
- CNST 325 Russian Film
- CNST 326 Brazilian Cinema
- CNST 334 Film and American Culture
- CNST 366 Hollywood and the 20th Century
- CNST 400 Special Topics
- CNST 420 French Cinema
- CNST 422 Topics in Italian Cinema
- CNST 423 Themes and Genres in German Cinema
- CNST 433 History of Film and Modern and Contemporary Art
- CNST 434 Film and Visual Culture in the Hispanic World
- CNST 465 Latin American Film and Culture
- CNST 469 Sexuality and Cinema
- CNST 482 Special Topics in Global Cinema
- CNST 489 Special Topics in Film
- CNST 495 Modern China in Film
- CNST 365 Writing the Screenplay
- CNST 431 The Business of Cinema
- CNST 435 Narrative Filmmaking
- CNST 436 Video Art
- CNST 490 Internship
- CNST 491 Foreign Study
- CNST 492 Off-Campus Study
- CNST 493 Independent Study
Minor
The School of Art offers a cinema studies minor for students pursuing other fields of study. Explore the options below to learn more about our minor program.
Minor Requirements
Offered Courses
- ARTC 401 Experiments in Sequencing
- ARTC 439 Special Topics in Four-Dimensional Arts
- CNST 235 Introduction to Digital Media and 16mm Film as Art
- CNST 236 Introduction to Cinema and Video Art
- CNST 281 Introduction to Film Studies
- CNST 306 Shakespeare and Film
- CNST 312 Popular Culture and American Politics
- CNST 314 Food, Fiction, and Film in Modern Japan
- CNST 315 Asian Film
- CNST 320 Middle Eastern Film
- CNST 321 Japanese Graphic Novel/Anime
- CNST 323 German Film Survey
- CNST 325 Russian Film
- CNST 326 Brazilian Cinema
- CNST 334 Film and American Culture
- CNST 366 Hollywood and the 20th Century
- CNST 400 Special Topics
- CNST 420 French Cinema
- CNST 422 Topics in Italian Cinema
- CNST 423 Themes and Genres in German Cinema
- CNST 433 History of Film and Modern and Contemporary Art
- CNST 434 Film and Visual Culture in the Hispanic World
- CNST 465 Latin American Film and Culture
- CNST 469 Sexuality and Cinema
- CNST 482 Special Topics in Global Cinema
- CNST 489 Special Topics in Film
- CNST 495 Modern China in Film
- CNST 365 Writing the Screenplay
- CNST 431 The Business of Cinema
- CNST 435 Narrative Filmmaking
- CNST 436 Video Art
- CNST 490 Internship
- CNST 491 Foreign Study
- CNST 492 Off-Campus Study
- CNST 493 Independent Study
Non-Major Electives
The School of Art offers courses in cinema studies for non-art majors. Explore the option below to learn more about our non-major electives.
Offered Courses
- ARTN 102 Non-Major Introduction to Art: Time
- ARTN 233 Non-Major Animation
- ARTN 239 Non-Major Intro to Special Topics in Four-Dimensional
Faculty
Heather Coker Hawkins
Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
Paul Harrill
Co-Chair, Cinema Studies, Professor and Dee & Jimmy Haslam Chair in Cinema Studies
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
John Kelley
Associate Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
Janelle VanderKelen
Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
Cinema Studies News
- Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Awards – 2023
- Cinema Studies Alumni Ben Murphy Receives Alumni Promise Award
- Elaine Sheldon’s “King Coal” a New York Times Critics Pick
- BFA Graduate Chloe Baker Begins Art Career in Knoxville
- Elaine McMillion Sheldon to Direct Narrative Feature Film on Mother Jones
- Handheld – Cinema Studies Student Screening – Spring 2023
Cinema Studies Resources
Internships increasingly play a vital role in a students’ professional preparation during college, and their importance in helping a student securing work after college cannot be overstated. This is especially true in the world of film/video. Students in the University of Tennessee Cinema Studies program are strongly encouraged to pursue internships in Knoxville (which has a thriving production community) and beyond. Please enroll in the Canvas site to read more about securing credit for Cinema Studies/Time-Based Arts internships at UT.
Articles
Industry Resources
History and Criticism
Filmmaking
Knoxville Film Resources