The minor in Critical Film Production provides undergraduate students with a rigorous introduction to core critical, formal, and technical aspects of filmmaking through the four required courses. The additional electives allow students to gain deeper theoretical, historical, and/or methodological knowledge to enrich their filmmaking practice.
The minor requires a minimum of 21 hours distributed over six courses as shown below. At least six hours of advanced-level (300 or 400) courses are included. A course cannot be used to satisfy more than one requirement within the minor.
Critical Film Production Requirements—21 Hours Required
Required Courses:
| MACS 150: Intro to Digital Media Production | 4 hours |
| MACS 260: Film Production | 4 hours |
| MACS 370: Cinematography and Sound Design -or- MACS 371: Editing and Post-Production for Cinema | 4 hours |
NOTE: MACS 370 and MACS 371 do not count toward elective credits in the minor.
Select ONE of the following foundational study electives (3 hours):
- MACS 261: Survey of World Cinema I
- MACS 262: Survey of World Cinema II
- MACS 361: Film Theory and Criticism
Select TWO electives from the following list of film history, theory, and criticism courses (3 hours):
A course cannot be used toward more than one requirement in the minor.
At least one of the elective courses must be at the 300-level or above.
“Topics” courses are eligible when taught as film theory, history, and criticism courses.
- MACS 203: Contemporary Movies
- MACS 205: Introduction to Documentary
- MACS 261: Survey of World Cinema I
- MACS 262: Survey of World Cinema II
- MACS 282: A World of Death and Blood: The Horror Movie
- MACS 284: Animated Media from Mickey to GIFs
- MACS 361: Film Theory and Criticism
- MACS 366: Film Festivals
- MACS 372: Screenwriting
- MACS 380: 21st Century Documentaries
- MACS 485: Making Video Essays
For additional information about requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.
Contact media-ssc@illinois.edu with any questions.