In October, the St. Edward’s University Department of English celebrated the official launch of the film studies minor, giving students from every school and major the opportunity to pick up a new minor, or to take more specialized film studies courses. 

The minor program requires students to complete 18 credit hours. Six of the hours are specific required courses and the remaining 12 hours are electives. “Introduction to Film and Narrative” and “Literature and Film” are required for the minor, and over 10 courses are being offered for the Spring 2026 semester that would fulfill an elective credit.

Although the minor is new, film classes have been taught at St. Edward’s for years, and the number of courses have continued to grow, especially across departments. One of the newest courses, “Introduction to Film and Narrative,” offers an introduction to film theory and concepts.

For those hesitant to add the minor or unsure of its application to other fields, professor Christopher Flynn, who is leading the minor, affirms its ability to blend with other courses and programs.

“Having a film minor and a business or a finance or an accounting or whatever kind of major can be kind of an unexpected combination of things that would make you kind of more attractive, I think, to the industry,” Flynn said. “Taking the individual classes with the minor will develop students’ abilities and understanding of the particular things those classes are aimed at… To think about all of those kinds of visual storytelling aspects that are there, are often very unconscious to us.”

One of the new electives, “Page & Screen: Contemporary Women’s Narratives,” will be taught by professor Georgia Seminet. The course, taught entirely in Spanish, will have students read a variety of texts and study adaptations of the literary work or films with similar themes. Any student who meets the proficiency level in Spanish, which is typically met by students who have taken a 3000 level Spanish course or AP Spanish 5, are able to enroll.

“It will be different from some of the other film studies courses that are offered. It gives students a chance to look at authors and directors from different countries and see what influences they bring in,” Seminet said. “I think definitely you’ll have a broader cultural knowledge of some of the themes and topics that are important to women and all of society in several Latin American countries.”

Beyond the classroom, students have also been aiming to cultivate a sense of community for film lovers here on campus. In 2022, SEU Film Club was created and gave students an opportunity to watch a movie and discuss it afterwards. The club went inactive a year later, but senior Ethan Everman has expressed his interest in film and his commitment to reviving the club. 

“I’ve always had a deep love for film — not only as an artistic outlet but as a medium uniquely capable of reflecting the beauty and complexity of human existence,” Everman said. “Watching movies, whether critically acclaimed or delightfully bad, has always been a key part of how my friends and I connect. That sense of gathering around a shared experience is something I want to cultivate further; that wish to bring people across the university together to explore how film can foster connection and belonging.” 

Spring registration opens Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 11. Students can find more information on their respective registration day on the university website. Further Details on the Film Studies minor and the courses being offered are also available on the SEU website under the list of minors.