Interdisciplinary Studies
- The course must contain at least 80% content about film or film-related subjects, which can include technical training relevant to film production (e.g. animation, computer graphics, optics, photography). This will be determined at the discretion of the Director(s). In order to link the critical and historical side of film studies to the sciences, some latitude has been applied in judging the appropriateness of science and engineering courses.
- The primary screening or viewing of films cannot take up regularly scheduled class time. Showing clips is fine -- as part of discussion or lectures or other activities in a class (that could include a workshop, an exam, etc.).
- When talking of "film" we are not including "media" -- as in Youtube videos, social media -- except when a colleague can demonstrate that what is addressed in a course has a meaningful connection to the cinematic tradition and doesn't attach the word "film" to a class to attract students. There is a fairly firm barrier between film studies and communications, although film studies often is absorbed into communications programs. Nevertheless, at Union we do not offer a vocational training program, nor a "media studies" program.
- For film production and related production courses, the instructor must be a qualified teacher in film making -- we do not accept as a "film" course classes taught by non-specialists where students make videos to fulfill any generally conceived project requirement.