The Cinema Studies Honors Program is designed for outstanding Cinema Studies majors interested in independent research or screenplay writing. With the guidance of a faculty member, students will complete a thesis in the form of either a high-level scholarly essay (in either written or video form), or a full-length screenplay. Students can only apply for one of the two options.
Clark Honors College Applicants
Clark Honors College Cinema Studies Majors may submit a Clark Honors College Thesis completed under the supervision of a Cinema Studies faculty member and awarded a Pass or Pass with Distinction to fulfill the Thesis requirement for Cinema Studies Department Honors. Failing theses cannot earn Cinema Studies Department Honors. A Clark Honors College Thesis cannot fulfill the Screenplay option in Cinema Studies.
Clark Honors College Cinema Studies Majors should meet with the Cinema Studies Associate Department Head in Fall term of the year they intend to graduate for approval.
Eligibility
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.70 overall.
Completion of the Cinema Studies fundamentals curriculum (J201: Media and Society; CINE 260M: Media Aesthetics; and two from CINE 265, CINE 266, or CINE 267 History of Motion Pictures).
Completion of either CINE 420: Advanced Screenwriting (if applying for the Screenplay option) or CINE 407: Research Methods in Cinema Studies (if applying for the research option) with a grade of B or better. These courses are typically offered in Fall term.
Application
Students will apply to the Honors and Awards Committee for acceptance into the Honors Program no later than Week 5 of Fall term in the year in which the student intends to graduate.
Application materials for the screenplay option:
- A synopsis of the proposed project (150 words)
- A narrative explaining why this story needs to be told and why you’re the right person to tell it (300 words)
- The top three choices for a faculty advisor
- An unofficial DuckWeb transcript
Application materials for the research option:
Include a brief (500 words or less) description of the proposed project and an unofficial DuckWeb transcript. In the proposal, students should identify their top 3 choices for faculty they would like to supervise the project.
(Note that students do not need to seek approval or consult with these faculty members to include them on their list. Instead, the Honors and Awards Committee will be tasked with liaising with faculty members and placing students with an advisor.)
Program Structure
Screenplay Option
- With the guidance of their faculty advisor, students will submit a finished screenplay (length and details to be determined by the student and advisor) no later than week nine of the term the student intends to graduate.
- The screenplay will be based on or expand work done in CINE 420: Advanced Screenwriting. Typically, students will work on the screenplay in Winter and Spring terms.
- While it is not required, students can enroll in CINE 405: Independent Study during Winter and Spring terms.
- A maximum of 4-6 students will be accepted into the screenplay option of the program, depending on faculty availability.
Research Option
- With the guidance of their faculty advisor, students will submit a finished research paper or video essay (length and details to be determined by the student and advisor) for review no later than week nine of the term the student intends to graduate.
- The research paper or video essay can be based on or expand work done in CINE 407: Research Methods in Cinema Studies. Typically, students will work on the research paper or video essay in Winter and Spring terms.
- While it is not required, students can enroll in CINE 405: Independent Study during Winter and Spring terms.
- A maximum of 8-10 students will be accepted into the research option of the program, depending on faculty availability.