Academics: Earning a Minor in Filmmaking
Our FLM courses are taught by working filmmakers who approach filmmaking from the ground up, as fellow practitioners. Many of these courses are organized around a topic, such as Podcasting, or Writing for Television, or the Social Documentary.
Our minor offers a cohesive approach to fulfilling Stony Brook's general education requirements, including SPK, TECH, ARTS, HUM, HFA+, and EXP. Even a single course in the art of filmmaking presents a rich complex of learning opportunities, not only for those in the arts and humanities, but those in any field: hands-on immersion in the narrative, analytical and technical skills required for cinematic expression will enable students to create visual stories about the issues at the core of their own studies, whatever they may be.
Introduction (2 courses, 3 credits each)
Your entryway to the 21-credit minor consists of two required courses: FLM 101, Introduction to Filmmaking, and FLM 102, Introduction to Film Composition. These two courses, open to everyone, invite you to participate hands-on in the experience of filmmaking and introduces you the nuts and bolts of filmmaking as viewed through the lens of the working filmmaker.
Three Filmmaking Workshops (9 credits)
The heart of the filmmaking experience is three advanced seminars, chosen from FLM 215, FLM 220, FLM 221, FLM 301, FLM 302 or FLM 303. As visual literacy becomes increasingly necessary in a world of moving images, workshops in the craft of filmmaking enable students to develop their capacity for creative and critical thinking as well as the technical acuity necessary to create compelling stories and images as filmmakers. Students can delve deep into one particular area such as screenwriting, documentary filmmaking or fiction filmmaking, or can experience a broad range of filmmaking endeavors.
One Film Survey Course for Filmmakers (3 credits)
Minors also take one upper-level "study film like a filmmaker" course, FLM 310 or FLM 320, or an equivalent course from another department.
Capstone (3 credits)
At the conclusion of their studies, students will have the opportunity to choose a final course that best serves their interest. Students can complete a capstone project in which they create an independent film or full length screenplay, they may choose to take an advanced filmmaking workshop, or they may choose to participate in an Internship to complete the minor.
Declaring
Students should declare the Minor in Filmmaking sometime during their sophomore year, at which time they should consult with advisors of both their major and minor to plan their course of study. The objective is to fulfill the filmmaking minor's requirements in a way that is coherent and complementary to the major.
Current Course Listings:
Click below to find courses for fall 2026.
Course Topics List for Fall 2026
Past Course Listings:
Get in Touch
Karen Offitzer, Director
Filmmaking & TV Writing
Melville Library N3022
karen.offitzer@stonybrook.edu
Chryso Tsoumpelis, Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Creative Writing, Filmmaking, & Television
Melville Library N3019
chrysovalantou.tsoumpelis@stonybrook.edu
General questions or advising appointments: flm_undergrad@stonybrook.edu