St. John International University (SJIU) is a new American free-standing university in Vinovo-Torino (Turin), Italy. SJIU offers study abroad, undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the areas of art history, business administration, environmental architecture, environmental studies and film studies. As an American liberal arts college, SJIU provides students from across the globe the skills and tools necessary to be successful and competitive in today's job market. SJIU is dedicated to promoting humanism, fostering respect for the fundamental rights of the individual, emphasizing research, and instilling awareness of our physical and cultural surroundings. Through its high quality academic curriculum, SJIU prepares graduates to share the responsibility that each of us has towards our natural and social worlds.
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BACHELOR OF ARTS IN FILM STUDIES St. John International University Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies

The B.A. in Film Studies offers students the possibility to learn about influential filmmakers, compare and discuss the cinematic works of different nations, explore the economic, environmental and political forces behind films and evaluate the relationship between cinema and other art forms. Students enrolled in this program will not only gain a solid understanding of the complex factors pertaining to cinema, but also the necessary tools to think critically and attentively about this art form in relation to the philosophy of integral ecology.

St. John International University's approach to Film Studies involves that of a traditional Humanities Program and the development of skills on a broad cultural and intellectual basis. As an academic discipline, Film Studies have always been key for the study of international culture, international identity and aesthetics. Therefore, the aim of this program is to combine relevant theoretical studies with selected case studies and the critical/historical analysis of cinema as a public art, creative industry and social phenomenon which is eco-centric in that it considers the eco-system to be strongly connected to our human artistic activities.

Due to its location in the dynamic urban environment of Torino, the Film Studies program at St. John International University is particularly well-suited to study the rich cultural identity of contemporary cinema. In fact, students will be able to go beyond the academic borders of the University in order to come into contact with film activities within the city such as the Torino Film Festival, the National Museum of Cinema and the Film Commission. To participate in this program means, in short, to learn about the energy and vastness of tomorrow's film industry.

Learning by Doing

Only through personal and direct involvement can a student improve the quality of learning Film Studies. The theoretical components are the first step, which represent an indispensable and important basis to understanding Film Studies. At the same time, cinema is a field where the students assimilate and become involved through their own practical and direct experience.

On one perspective, the students will engage in the critical study of national cinemas, international film movements, major and minor filmmakers in various traditions; and the economic, legal and political forces governing film industry practice, film and media theory, and the relationship between film and the other arts.

On another basis, students will learn the basic vocabulary of cinema and they will have the opportunity to practice screenwriting, from novels or personal ideas, camera taking, storyboarding, filming and editing. The students will also apply the theory of the course to: editing, framing and shooting from the stop motion movie, to experimental videos; all of this according to their personal creativity and sensibility.

St. John International University will plan to offer to the students of Film Studies a well equipped laboratory, from camera to the editing software in order to realize their own projects. The Film Studies course will be an interdisciplinary course, and it will require an exchange of student experience and knowledge with other courses such as Photography, Literature, Architecture, Painting and Drawing.


Students must satisfy these requirements:

A. The General Education Requirements

Humanities, Language and Fine Art (Five courses)
English Composition III
One course in English Literature
Two courses in Italian, Spanish, French or German Literature and Culture
One course in Art History or Fine Art

Social/Behavioral Sciences/Business (Three courses)
DSE-ENV/2240 - Environmental Anthropology and Introduction to Sustainability
DHM-PHI/2100 - Environmental Ethics
DBE-ECO/2250 - Environmental Economics

Mathematics, Natural Science and Computer Science (Three courses)

Environmental Studies (Two courses)
DSE-ENV/2230 - Psychology of Sustainability
DSE-ENV/3240 - Environmental Education

Writing intensive indicated with a W in the catalog, (One course - 3 CH)

Global Perspectives/Diversity indicated with a G in the catalog, (One course - 3 CH)

B. Core Curriculum

DFA-FLS/1010 - Introduction to Film Studies
DFA-FLS/1030 - Introduction to Screen Analysis
DFA-FLS/1050 - History of Cinema I
DFA-FLS/1100 - History of Cinema II
DFA-FLS/2100 - The History of Italian Cinema
DFA-FLS/2400 - History of American Cinema
DFA-FLS/2500 - Non-Western Film
DFA-FLS/3010 - Recent International Cinema
DFA-FLS/3020 - Major Film Directors
DFA-FLS/3200 - Environmental Documentary Film
DFA-FLS/3500 - The Business of Film
DFA-FLS/4990-4991 - Senior Project

C. Major Electives:
Five courses selected from among 3000-4000-level Film Studies courses.

D. General Electives: 
It is sufficient to complete an overall total of 120 credits.

The following is a typical 4-year course schedule of B.A. in Film Studies:

Freshman Year
Fall CH Spring CH
Introduction to Film Studies 3 History of Cinema I 3
G.E. (English Composition III) 3 Introduction to Screen Analysis 3
G.E. (Mathematics and Computer Elective) 3 G.E. (English Literature) 3
G.E. (Mathematics and Computer Elective) 3 G.E. (Global Perspectives/Diversity) 3
 G.E. (Foreign Literature and Culture I) 3 G.E. (Foreign Literature and Culture II) 3
Total Semester Credits 15 Total Semester Credits 15

Sophomore Year
Fall CH Spring CH
History of Cinema II 3 History of American Cinema 3
The History of Italian Cinema 3 Elective 3
G.E. (Environmental Anthropology) 3 G.E. (Environmental Economics) 3
G.E. (Mathematics and Computer Elective) 3 G.E. (Writing Intensive) 3
G.E. (Fine Art) 3 Non-Western Film 3
Total Semester Credits 15 Total Semester Credits 15

Junior Year
Fall CH Spring CH
Recent International Cinema 3 G.E. (Environmental Education) 3
The Business of Film 3 Major Film Directors 3
Elective 3 Elective 3
G.E. (Environmental Ethics) 3 Major Elective 3
Elective 3 Elective 3
Total Semester Credits 15 Total Semester Credits 15
Senior Year
Fall CH Spring CH
Environmental Documentary Film 3 Elective 3
Major Elective 3 Elective 3
Major Elective 3 Major Elective 3
G.E. (Psychology of Sustainability) 3 Major Elective 3
Senior project 4 Senior project 4
Total Semester Credits 16  Total Semester Credits  16
TOTAL CREDITS 122