Banner Photo: J. Andrew, Dream Upon Waking

The Cinema Department has established a path through the ‘hands-on” production courses starting with foundations and then progressing to intermediate and advanced courses. These prerequisites and corequisites ensure that students have the skill level necessary to succeed in a course. Common production prerequisites are CINE 24, 25 and 54. There are no prerequisites for film studies courses.

A student who has taken a production course at another institution or who has experience in the field and wishes to challenge a prerequisite or corequisite should email the instructor of the class they wish to waive and explain their situation. After approval from the instructor, the student should file a waiver form as early as possible, but no later than the end of the add/drop period. 

In most cases, students will check the first box on the form, “The student has the knowledge or ability to succeed…” 

Then attach a transcript from your previous institution and a course description. Or submit a note (Word document etc.) describing any previous experience with equipment or on set. In both cases, if you have the permission of the instructor note it and upload a PDF of the relevant email communication.

If the challenge is approved, the student will receive an email letting them know they can enroll in the course; the student should retain his/her copy of the approved petition as proof of his/her eligibility. If the challenge is denied, the student will not be eligible for the course and may be dropped if already enrolled in the course.

If you are registering for classes that are scheduled to have any in-person meetings ensure you have submitted your vaccine/exemption information and received an approval before attempting to register.  

Cinema Courses with Prerequisites

  • Prerequisite for CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking:  
    • Completion of or concurrent enrollment in CINE 24 Basic Film Production
  • Prerequisite for CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting:
    • Completion of or concurrent enrollment in CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking
    • Note: Students cannot take CINE 24, 25, and 54 at the same time
  • Prerequisites for CINE 56 Introduction to Digital Film Editing:
    • CINE 24 Basic Film Production
  • Prerequisite for CINE 61 Sound for Motion Pictures II:
    • CINE 24 Basic Film Production 
    • CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking
    • CINE 60 Sound for Motion Pictures I
  • Prerequisite for CINE 75 Screenwriting
    • ENGL 1A and/or statement of experience demonstrating reading/writing of English at the college level
  • Prerequisite for CINE 85 Advanced Screenwriting:
    • CINE 75 Screenwriting
  • Prerequisite for CINE 126 Documentary Filmmaking
    • CINE 24 Basic Film Production
  • Prerequisite for CINE 131 Directing Motion Pictures
    • CINE 24 Basic Film Production 
    • CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking
    • Completion of or concurrent enrollment in CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting

Cinema Courses with No Prerequisites

  • CINE 24 Basic Film Production
  • CINE 30 Production Planning
  • CINE 57 Experimental Filmmaking
  • CINE 60 Sound for Motion Pictures I
  • CINE 72 Nonfiction Scriptwriting