>
Cinema, Media Arts, and Theatre
Cinema, Media Arts, and Theatre

Majors and Minors

Major in Cinema and Media Arts

The cinema and media arts major trains students to be critical media analysts and creative media producers. Courses explore thinking, expression, and technique across media platforms, film and media theory, and history. The curriculum is balanced between production and studies courses to provide a broad foundation of knowledge and skills that prepare students for a range of future career options.

Major Requirements

The cinema and media arts major requires 33 credit hours.

  • Foundations

    6 credit hours

    • CMA 1500: Fundamentals of Film and Video Production
    • CMA 1600: Introduction to Film and Media Studies
  • Primary Requirements

    12 credit hours

    Two courses from each list below:

    Production (6 credit hours)

    • CMA 2240: Narrative Filmmaking
    • CMA 2250: 16mm Filmmaking
    • CMA 2260: Digital Production Workshop
    • CMA 2270: Documentary Filmmaking
    • CMA 2290: Alternate Media Modes

    Theory (6 credit hours)

    • CMA 2300: Film and Media Theory
    • CMA 2301: Race in Film and Media
    • CMA 2302: Global Queer Cinema
    • CMA 2370: Film and Media Aesthetics
    • CMA 2400: History of World Cinema
  • Electives

    12 credit hours

    Students must take four additional CMA courses or cross-listed courses, including ones in the Primary Requirements category that are not being used to satisfy the Primary Requirement and Special Topics courses.

  • Senior Seminar

    3 credit hours

    All seniors must take either CMA 4961 or CMA 4962.

Major in Theatre

The theatre major offers students a hands-on education in crafting theatrical performances while also cultivating a critical perspective on their cultural role as theatre artists.

Major Requirements

The major in theatre requires 30 credit hours, which gives student the ability to double major in another department.

Majors must:

  1. Participate in at least one theatre production (through production practicum courses);
  2. Select an area of individual focus; and
  3. Fulfill course requirements in four distinct areas:
    1. Theatre and performance studies
    2. Writing for the stage
    3. Acting and directing for production
    4. Theatre design and technical production
  • Theatre and Performance Studies

    Two courses, 6 credit hours

    • THTR 1010W: Writing about Performance
    • THTR 2201: Ritual and World Performance
    • THTR 2202W: Performing Gender on European Stages
    • THTR 2204: Performing Democracy on U.S. Stages
    • THTR 2206W: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the American Musical
    • THTR 2711: Sustainability in the Arts
    • THTR 2781: The History of Fashion
    • THTR 3207: Storytelling as Performance
    • THTR 3281: Theatre in London
    • THTR 3282: Theatre and Performance in the U.K.
    • THTR 3851: Independent Study
    • THTR 3892: Advanced Topics in Theatre and Performance Studies
  • Writing for the Stage

    One course, 3 credit hours

    • THTR 1010W: Writing about Performance
    • THTR 2311W: Writing for the Stage and Screen
    • THTR 2202W: Performing Gender on European Stages
    • THTR 2206W: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the American Musical
    • THTR 2207 (formerly 3207): Storytelling as Performance
    • THTR 3311: Playwriting
    • THTR 3311W: Playwriting
    • THTR 4612: Solo Performance
    • CMA 2500W: Screenwriting
  • Acting and Directing for Production

    Two courses, 6 credit hours

    • THTR 1611: Fundamentals of Acting (Required for all majors; prerequisite for remaining courses in this category)
    • THTR 2651: Play Direction
    • THTR 3207: Storytelling as a Performance
    • THTR 3611: Jazz Acting
    • THTR 3612: Scene Study
    • THTR 4611: Advanced Topics in Acting (Including Audition Techniques, Voice, Body and Movement)
    • THTR 4612: Solo Performance
  • Theatre Design and Technical Production

    Two courses, 6 credit hours

    • THTR 1111: First-Year Writing Seminar, Visual Storytelling in Theatre and Film
    • THTR 1711: Scenery and Costume Production
    • THTR 1712: Lighting and Sound Production
    • THTR 2711: Sustainability in the Arts
    • THTR 2781: The History of Fashion
    • THTR 3721: Set Design
    • THTR 3741: Costume Design
    • THTR 3761: Lighting and Sound Design
    • THTR 3781: Management in the Theatre
    • THTR 3851: Independent Study
    • THTR 3891: Advanced Topics in Theatre Design and Technical Production
  • Production Practicum

    3 credit hours

    • THTR 1101: Theatre Production Practicum
    • THTR 1701: Scenic and Costume Production Practicum, taken in conjunction with or after completion of THTR 1711
  • Individual Focus

    Two courses, 6 credit hours

    Students select an individual focus area by taking additional courses from any of the THTR course offerings not already serving other requirements. This requirement can also be filled with production practicum units. Students can also propose to the department to accept courses taught in other departments related to theatre and performance studies OR courses taken at another university that do not repeat content taught at Vanderbilt (transfer students, study abroad programs, etc.).

    Alternately, the individual focus can also be fulfilled by a senior Honors project:

    • THTR 4998: Senior Honors Thesis (fall semester)
    • THTR 4999: Senior Honors Thesis (spring semester)

Minor in Cinema and Media Arts

The cinema and media arts minor requires 18 credit hours.

  • Foundations

    6 credit hours

    • CMA 1500: Fundamentals of Film and Video Production
    • CMA 1600: Introduction to Film and Media Studies
  • Primary Requirements

    6 credit hours

    One course from each list below:

    Production (3 credit hours)

    • CMA 2240: Narrative Filmmaking
    • CMA 2250: 16mm Filmmaking
    • CMA 2260: Digital Production Workshop
    • CMA 2270: Documentary Filmmaking
    • CMA 2290: Alternate Media Modes

    Theory (3 credit hours)

    • CMA 2300: Film and Media Theory
    • CMA 2301: Race in Film and Media
    • CMA 2302: Global Queer Cinema
    • CMA 2370: Film and Media Aesthetics
    • CMA 2400: History of World Cinema
  • Electives

    6 credit hours

    Students must take two additional CMA courses or cross-listed courses, including ones in the Primary Requirements category that are not being used to satisfy the Primary Requirement and Special Topics courses.

Minor in Theatre

The minor in theatre requires 18 credit hours.

Students select a focus in one of the following categories:

  • Theatre and performance studies
  • Writing for the stage
  • Acting and directing for production
  • Theatre design and technical production

Minors will take 12 credit hours (four courses) in their selected category and fill the remaining six credit hours from two courses from other categories or one course from another category and three practicum credit hours.

  • Theatre and Performance Studies
    • THTR 1010W: Writing about Performance
    • THTR 2201: Ritual and World Performance
    • THTR 2202W: Performing Gender on European Stages
    • THTR 2204: Performing Democracy on U.S. Stages
    • THTR 2206W: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the American Musical
    • THTR 2711: Sustainability in the Arts
    • THTR 2781: The History of Fashion
    • THTR 3207: Storytelling as Performance
    • THTR 3281: Theatre in London
    • THTR 3282: Theatre and Performance in the U.K.
    • THTR 3851: Independent Study
    • THTR 3892: Advanced Topics in Theatre and Performance Studies
  • Writing for the Stage
    • THTR 1010W: Writing about Performance
    • THTR 2202W: Performing Gender on European Stages
    • THTR 2206W: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the American Musical
    • THTR 2207 (formerly 3207): Storytelling as Performance
    • THTR 2311W: Writing for the Stage and Screen
    • THTR 3311: Playwriting
    • THTR 3311W: Playwriting
    • THTR 4612: Solo Performance
    • CMA 2500W: Screenwriting
  • Acting and Directing for Production
    • THTR 1611: Fundamentals of Acting
    • THTR 2651: Play Direction
    • THTR 3207: Storytelling as a Performance
    • THTR 3611: Jazz Acting
    • THTR 3612: Scene Study
    • THTR 4611: Advanced Topics in Acting
    • THTR 4612: Solo Performance
  • Theatre Design and Technical Production
    • THTR 1111: First-Year Writing Seminar, Visual Storytelling in Theatre and Film
    • THTR 1711: Scenery and Costume Production
    • THTR 1712: Lighting and Sound Production
    • THTR 2711: Sustainability in the Arts
    • THTR 2781: The History of Fashion
    • THTR 3721: Set Design
    • THTR 3741: Costume Design
    • THTR 3761: Lighting and Sound Design
    • THTR 3781: Management in the Theatre
    • THTR 3851: Independent Study
    • THTR 3891: Advanced Topics in Theatre Design and Technical Production
  • Production Practicum
    • THTR 1101: Theatre Production Practicum
    • THTR 1701: Scenic and Costume Production Practicum, taken in conjunction with
      or after completion of THTR 1711

Courses

See the Undergraduate Course Catalog for a full listing of courses and descriptions offered in Cinema and Media Arts and in Theatre.

Honors

Students interested in graduating with honors should review the eligibility requirements below.

  • Cinema and Media Arts Majors

    The Honors Program in cinema and media arts offers students opportunities for high-level independent research or the production of a creative project during their senior year.

    For admission to the Honors Program, students must:

    • Have and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 and a grade point average of 3.5 in courses counting toward the major
    • Have a CMAT faculty member agree to serve as honors thesis adviser
    • Submit a 300-word proposal outlining their intended project with a bibliography and filmography of at least ten works that will inform the research for the project
    • Enroll in CMA 4998 and CMA 4999
  • Theatre Majors

    The Honors Program in theatre is designed to afford superior students the opportunity to pursue more intensive work within their major field.

    To be admitted, students must have:

    • Completed their junior year
    • Completed at least 21 credit hours of the theatre major
    • Earned a 3.3 minimum cumulative GPA and a 3.5 minimum GPA in courses counting toward the major

    To graduate with honors or highest honors, candidates must:

    • Maintain the aforementioned GPA throughout the senior year
    • Complete all requirements of the theatre major
    • Complete 6 credit hours of independent research THTR 4998 or 4999: Senior Honors Thesis (normally taken during the senior year)
    • Write an honors thesis to be completed by the second semester of the senior year
    • Successfully complete an honors oral examination on the topic of the thesis

Declaring a Major or Minor

  1. Visit the University Registrar’s website.
  2. Click on “Major/Minor Declaration/Change.”
  3. Sign in and follow the prompts to select your major(s)/minor(s).
  4. Once you have completed all of the required documentation, click submit.

Once you have officially declared your major, you will hear from your faculty adviser as the registration period approaches to set up a meeting time for discussing courses and lifting the registration hold.

Note: You must meet with your CMAT adviser to have the registration hold lifted. However, if you have already been approved to study abroad or are currently studying abroad, your hold is not active. In any case, you should contact your faculty adviser via email to discuss the courses you hope to take next semester.

Prior to advising, be sure you consult the list of courses offered next semester and review your degree audit in YES. To access the online degree audit, go to YES and click the "Degree Audit" link on the student landing page.