CAS: Cinema & Media Studies
Sample Pathway
Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing a degree in Cinema & Media Studies. Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the Cinema & Media Studies Program to plan their own pathway to the degree.
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| Freshman Year | CGS Required Courses CAS CI course* |
CGS Required Courses (London or Boston-New England semester) |
| Sophomore Year | CGS Required Courses CAS CI 101 CAS CI 200 |
CGS Required Courses CAS CI 102 Second Language (if needed) |
| Junior Year | CAS CI course CAS CI course Elective** Second Language (if needed) |
CAS CI course CAS CI course Elective** Second Language (if needed) |
| Senior Year | CAS CI course Elective** Elective** Second Language (if needed) |
CAS CI course CAS CI 512 Elective** Elective** |
*Strongly recommended for prospective majors: one 200- or 300-level cinema & media studies course. Please check the prerequisites of your courses before finalizing your class selection.
**Choose your electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. You will find a list of all of the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit.
College of General Studies Program Requirements
- Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
- CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
- Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
- Three social science courses:
- CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
- Three humanities courses:
- CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
Major Requirements
The Cinema & Media Studies major requires a total of 11 courses (44 credits), all completed with a minimum grade of C. At least three of those 11 courses must be taken at the advanced (CI 400/500) level. Each student’s program of CIMS electives must include courses in at least three of the following national/regional cinemas: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, Mideast and North Africa, US.
CIMS Major Requirements
- Two Courses in Film History:
- CAS CI 101: History of Global Cinema: Origins through 1950s
- CAS CI 102: History of Global Cinema 2: 1960s to Present
- One Course in Film Aesthetics:
- CAS CI 200 Introduction to Film & Media Aesthetics
- One course in Film and Media theory:
- CAS CI 512 Film & Media Theory (or another approved theory course)
- One course taught with an auteur approach, focusing either on important filmmakers or on problems of film authorship
- One course in a film genre, movement, or non-narrative film
- One course in the study of non-cinematic media, i.e. digital technologies, video games, televisual media, etc.
- Four unrestricted cinema and media studies electives, chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
For more information, please see the Cinema & Media Studies Program website. Please contact Prof. Jonathan Foltz (jfoltz@bu.edu), Director of Cinema & Media Studies, with any questions about the major.
Continuation Requirements
- Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
- Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the history major requirements, Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete.
- BU Hub requirements
- CAS requirements:
- Cinema & Media Studies major requirements
- CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.
This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.
It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.
Last revised: 03/14/2025