In addition to acquiring many skills specifically related to moving images, our students develop important skills valuable to most businesses, primary among them creative research and problem-solving, good communication skills, and the ability to work in and make important contributions to a team.

Our emphasis on interdisciplinary connections and cinema as a global medium means that our students are exposed to diverse ideas and peoples, and consequently, as graduates they are able to establish unique paths for themselves wherever they may go.

There is a surprisingly wide range of opportunities for work in film and media. Many students who graduate pursue further education or additional professional training, while others find first-stage positions and apprenticeships, or even create their own production companies as a way of gaining experience and building connections with potential employers and collaborators.

Jobs in the media industry are often freelance or ad hoc rather than full-time or continuing, which means that graduates in cinema studies are frequently surprised to find so many practical applications for the creative, academic, and interpersonal skills they’ve acquired and gratified by their emerging abilities to design their own roles in life.

Alumni Careers

Our graduates have used their training to find success in careers across a number of fields. Below is a sampling of areas where our alumni have excelled.

Alumni Testimonials

"UO Cinema Studies helped me gain a strong foundational knowledge of cinema that I incorporate into my daily work as a freelance cinematographer in LA. Since graduating from UO in 2019, I’ve been able to use this foundational knowledge to communicate ideas across creative teams both in pre-production and principal photography. To anyone curious about studying Cinema Studies at UO, I encourage you to go for it as, like myself, your love of film may only blossom. UO CINE allowed me to be unafraid of enriching my passions, being a constant student of film, and nurturing the spirit of indie cinema that will never fade."

-Sophie Gemelas, BA '19, Cinematographer

“I found my love of editing during my time as a student in the Cinema Studies program. Having access to the Cinema Studies lab with amazing instructors gave me important and pragmatic tools that would lead to my success in the film industry. They encouraged creative storytelling and experimenting with every art form to tell stories.”

-Sabrina Gimenez, BA '13, Assistant Editor

"In 2014 I graduated with a degree in Cinema Studies. I knew, of course, that I'd learn plenty about films and filmmaking, but what I hadn't prepared for is just how broadly the lessons I learned would apply to my daily life. The study of film teaches us as much about the technical aspects of the artform as it does history, culture, humanity, and language. This provided me with a much more rounded education than one might expect from the specificity of a 'cinema' studies degree. The tools I learned at U of O have made me a better creative, artist, and storyteller. I find these skills to be tremendously helpful not just within the confines of my work, but also outside of it."

-Charlie Harrington '14, Assistant Editor, Joint Editorial

“What I value most about my experience in the Cinema Studies major is the passionate professors. Each one had a special love for the industry that was very impactful. I have developed a deeper appreciation for every type of cinematic art form. I would tell any student interested in Cinema Studies to take a chance and explore their creativity. Your analysis of unique work will open your eyes to what is possible to create with just an idea and a camera. My degree prepared me for a variety of career experiences.  I began my journey working on Television sets such as Modern Family and am currently working on producing in a corporate setting.”

-Megan Snyder ’18, Production Supervisor, Adobe

Why Major in Cinema Studies?

Where can studying media, arts, and entertainment take you? Read about examples of career paths and actual alumni jobs.

Cinema Studies Major Map