Program Coordinator: Asst. Prof. Selen Çalık Bedir

E-Mail: filmcertificate@bogazici.edu.tr

Program Overview

Film is a dynamic visual art form that communicates ideas, emotions, and narratives through moving images, often synchronized with sound. Since the 1930s, it has evolved into a medium that not only entertains but also shapes culture, influences society, and both reflects and molds human behavior. With its aesthetic and communicative power, film serves as a bridge between nations, portraying cultural identities and introducing audiences to different languages. By immersing viewers in simulated experiences, it fosters understanding, sparks dialogue, and leaves a lasting impact on both individual perspectives and collective consciousness.

The Certificate Program in Film Studies, offered by the Institute of Film and Media Studies, provides students with a solid foundation in the history, theory, analysis, and practice of film art. The program explores the historical, theoretical, cultural, aesthetic, industrial, and practical dimensions of cinema and the moving image, offering a diverse curriculum that integrates critical perspectives with hands-on experience. By combining theory and practice, students will develop both their intellectual and creative potential, gaining a deep understanding of film as both an art form and a cultural force.

Historical courses offer students a broad understanding of the evolution of narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated cinema within global film traditions. These courses examine the social, political, and economic forces that shape global film industries and screen cultures, with specialized topics covering regional, national, transnational, diasporic, and postcolonial cinema.

Theoretical courses are designed to cultivate critical thinking by engaging students analytically and creatively with cultural and aesthetic issues in historical and contemporary film practices. Coursework cover, among other topics, classical and contemporary film theories, film analysis, film genres, and film adaptations and intermediality.

Practical or practice-related courses emphasize the narrative, visual, and aural components of filmmaking, offering students an in-depth understanding of applied aesthetics, creative concepts, and technical proficiency. Covering key areas such as screenwriting, art direction, production design, cinematography, sound, music, editing, and post-production, these courses enable students to refine their creative visions and produce original cinematic works in narrative, documentary, experimental, and hybrid forms.

Originally established in 1998 under the university’s Department of Western Languages and Literatures, the Certificate Program in Film Studies was transferred to the Institute of Film and Media Studies after twenty-seven years, in recognition of its intrinsic alignment with the Institute’s academic scope. Preparatory work for this institutional transfer began on September 23, 2024.

While preserving the foundational structure of the earlier program, the curriculum was comprehensively redesigned by the Institute’s founding director, Assistant Professor Cihat Arınç. As part of this process, undergraduate curricula from leading universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe were carefully reviewed and adapted to align with Türkiye’s specific academic and cultural contexts. After nearly five months of rigorous development, the result was a more cohesive, integrated, and advanced academic framework.

The new certificate program was unanimously approved by the Boğaziçi University Senate at its meeting on February 28, 2025 (Decision No. 2025/1). Following additional refinements, the revised version received a second unanimous approval on July 24, 2025 (Decision No. 2025/2), thereby formally entering into effect.

Core Objectives

Core objectives of the certificate program are:

• To equip students with key skills of a film education, including the ability to identify, discuss, and critically analyze the verbal, visual, and aural layers of meaning in films and other forms of moving images,

• To introduce students to the social, political, economic, technological, and aesthetic aspects of film history and global screen cultures,

• To lay a solid foundation for students to understand, think, and write critically about the practical techniques, unique aesthetics, and cultural politics of films,

• To help students acquire analytic and literary skills to write film and moving image proposals and screenplays,

• To enable students to create films and other moving image projects, using current crafts and emerging technologies.

Admission Criteria

The program is open to all Boğaziçi University undergraduate students who have completed at least one film/cinema-related course. To apply, students must submit a completed Application Form along with their most recent transcript via email to the program coordinator. Enrollment is confirmed upon receiving an official acknowledgment email.

Application and Completion Notice Forms

FSCP Application Form
To enroll in the certificate program, students must submit this Application Form together with their latest transcript to the program coordinator at the beginning of the application process. The transcript must clearly highlight the completed certificate courses. Students who were enrolled in the previous certificate program under the Department of Western Languages and Literatures are required, on a one-time basis, to complete this form and submit it, along with their most recent transcript, to the program coordinator.

FSCP Program Completion Notice Form
Students approaching graduation must, one semester in advance, notify the program coordinator using this Program Completion Notice Form to confirm completion of certificate requirements. They must also submit a highlighted transcript of completed certificate courses before graduation.

Program Requirements

A student who wishes to obtain the Certificate in Film Studies must fulfill the following requirements:

(1) Students must successfully complete at least eight approved film courses (each worth 3 credits, totaling 24 credits), distributed across the following five categories:

• Group 1: Film Grammar, Theory, and Analysis
• Group 2: Film Aesthetics and Production
• Group 3: Genre, Adaptation, and Intermediality
• Group 4: Film History and Global Screen Cultures
• Group 5: Special Topics in Film Studies (See Course List)

(2) Students must successfully complete the following four core courses: FILM 302, FILM 303, FILM 304, and FILM 306. If FILM 302 and FILM 303 are not offered within two semesters of a student’s enrollment in the certificate program, they may substitute two courses from Group 4 (Film History and Global Screen Cultures) with the approval of the program coordinator.

(3) The remaining four courses may be selected from any of the five groups listed above. Course availability varies each semester, so students should plan accordingly.

(4) Students may take film-related courses offered by other departments, with the program coordinator’s approval. To qualify, a course must include “Film” or “Cinema” in its title (e.g., Politics and Cinema, Philosophy and Cinema) or have a primary focus on film and screen studies.

(5) Courses completed through exchange programs may count toward the certificate, provided prior approval is obtained from the program coordinator. Students must submit official documentation upon their return. Only credit-bearing courses qualify; non-credit courses are not accepted.

(6) Once enrolled, students must submit their latest transcript at the start of each semester to the program coordinator and assistant coordinator, highlighting completed certificate courses. Failure to submit transcripts for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer) will result in withdrawal from the program.

(7) Students are responsible for scheduling their courses to meet program requirements before graduation. As required courses are not offered every semester and may fill up quickly, students are strongly advised to complete them early. FILM 306 is the most advanced required course and should ideally be taken after FILM 302, FILM 303, and FILM 304. The required courses within the certificate program can never be substituted with other elective courses.

(8) Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the courses taken as part of the certificate program upon completion or graduation. If the overall average of all completed courses falls below 3.00, the student will not be eligible for the certificate. Additionally, courses with a grade lower than CC will not count toward the certificate. Pass/fail courses from other departments or exchange programs do not meet the certificate requirements.

(9) Students must notify the program coordinator one semester before graduation by submitting the Program Completion Notice Form to verify completion of certificate requirements. They must also submit a highlighted transcript of all completed certificate courses before graduation. Failure to complete this step will result in ineligibility for the certificate.

(10) To receive the certificate, students must meet all requirements. Certificates are awarded alongside diplomas at the end of the Spring semester, including for students who graduate in the Fall semester. For any further inquiries, students should contact the program coordinator.

Course List

*Required courses

1. FILM GRAMMAR, THEORY, AND ANALYSIS
FILM 301: Key Concepts in Film Studies
FILM 304: Film Analysis*
FILM 305: Film Theory*

2. FILM AESTHETICS AND PRODUCTION
FILM 321: Screenwriting I: Introduction to Screenwriting
FILM 322: Screenwriting II: Writing the Feature Film
FILM 323: Screenwriting III: Film Adaptation
FILM 324: Screenwriting IV: Writing for Television and Streaming Media
FILM 325: Screenwriting V: Script Analysis
FILM 326: Making of a Film
FILM 327: Art Direction for Film
FILM 328: Cinema and Color
FILM 329: Sound in Film
FILM 330: The Art of Film Editing
FILM 370: Short Film Workshop
FILM 440: The History of Film Music
FILM 442: The Poetics of Slow Cinema

3. GENRE, ADAPTATION, AND INTERMEDIALITY
FILM 411: Film Genres
FILM 412: The Film Comedy
FILM 413: The Fantasy Film
FILM 414: The Horror Film
FILM 415: The Science Fiction Film
FILM 416: The Historical Film
FILM 417: The Biopic
FILM 418: The War Film
FILM 419: The Road Movie
FILM 420: Film Noir
FILM 426: Documentary Film
FILM 427: Ethnographic Film
FILM 428: Experimental Film
FILM 429: Animation I
FILM 430: Animation II
FILM 431: Japanese Animation
FILM 432: Transmedia Storytelling
FILM 433: Screen Adaptations I
FILM 434: Screen Adaptations II
FILM 435: The Film Remake
FILM 436: Cinema and the Graphic Novel
FILM 437: Cinema and Video Games

4. FILM HISTORY AND GLOBAL SCREEN CULTURES
FILM 302: Film History I: Beginning to 1960*
FILM 303: Film History II: 1960 to Present*
FILM 453: Contemporary World Cinema
FILM 454: American Cinema
FILM 455: Latin American Cinema
FILM 456: European Cinema
FILM 457: Scandinavian Cinema
FILM 458: East European and Balkan Cinema
FILM 459: West Asian and North African Cinema
FILM 460: East Asian Cinema
FILM 461: Central Asian Cinema
FILM 462: South and Southeast Asian Cinema
FILM 463: African Cinema
FILM 464: Australian and New Zealand Cinema
FILM 465: Turkish Cinema I: Beginning to 1990
FILM 466: Turkish Cinema II: 1990 to Present
FILM 467: French Cinema
FILM 468: German Cinema
FILM 469: British Cinema
FILM 470: Italian Cinema
FILM 471: Spanish Cinema
FILM 472: Russian Cinema
FILM 473: Japanese Cinema
FILM 474: Chinese Cinema
FILM 475: South Korean Cinema
FILM 476: Iranian Cinema
FILM 477: Independent Cinema

5. SPECIAL TOPICS IN FILM STUDIES
FILM 480-499, FILM 48A-48Z, FILM 49A-49Z: Special Topics in Film Studies

* * *

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply to the Certificate Program in Film Studies?
All undergraduate students currently enrolled at Boğaziçi University are eligible to apply for the Certificate Program in Film Studies.

2. I’m not a student at Boğaziçi University. Can I still apply to the certificate program?
The certificate program is not an intensive course designed to be completed in a single semester. However, students who are not enrolled at Boğaziçi University but wish to take courses in film studies may apply to the university as special students. Special students are non-degree students admitted on a semester basis to take one or more courses. For more information about applying as a special student, please contact the Office of International Relations: https://intl.bogazici.edu.tr/

3. How can I apply to the certificate program?
Applicants must complete the designated application form and email it to the program coordinator along with their most recent transcript. Hard copies of both the form and the transcript should also be submitted to the secretariat at Mithat Alam Hall. Before registering, students are responsible for consulting their academic advisor(s) regarding graduation requirements and other relevant issues.

4. How will I know if I’ve been accepted into the certificate program?
Students who meet the eligibility criteria are automatically admitted to the certificate program. No formal acceptance letter is issued. Applicants who submit their documents via email will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of their application.

5. Is there a deadline for applications?
Students may apply to the certificate program starting in their second semester, as long as they earned a grade of CC or above in a FILM-coded course during their first semester. It is recommended to apply no later than the beginning of the final year before graduation. There is no fixed deadline or limited application window — applications are accepted throughout the academic year.

6. I’m enrolled in the certificate program. Are there any requirements I need to follow?
Yes. Enrolled students must submit an updated transcript to the program coordinator at the beginning of each semester, after the add/drop period has ended. Certificate courses must be clearly marked or highlighted. Additionally, students who plan to graduate must notify the coordinator of their expected graduation at the beginning of their final semester.

7. I was previously enrolled in the certificate program offered by the Department of Western Languages and Literatures before the new program was launched by the Institute of Film and Media Studies. I’ve taken several FA-coded film courses but haven’t completed the program. What should I do?
Students who were enrolled in the former certificate program offered by the Department of Western Languages and Literatures prior to Fall 2025 will retain their rights. These students should fill out the updated application form and submit it, along with their most recent transcript, to the program coordinator at the start of the Fall 2025 semester. FA-coded film courses previously completed may count toward the certificate, but the rules of the current program apply. In the old program, students were required to complete 7 courses (21 credits), including 3 core courses. In the new program, students must complete 8 courses (24 credits), including 4 core courses. A minimum grade of CC is required for each FA-coded cinema course to be counted. Courses with grades below CC will not be accepted toward the certificate. To be eligible for certification, students must also have a minimum GPA of 3.00 across all 8 courses, including previously taken FA-coded and newly taken FILM-coded courses. For more detailed information, please refer to the Program Requirements section above.

8. Will Film Studies Certificate Program courses be offered in Summer 2025? How will the transition process work?
Starting in Fall 2025, FILM-coded cinema courses under the Film Studies Certificate Program will be offered by the Institute of Film and Media Studies. During the 2025 Summer term, FA-coded cinema courses will still be offered by the Department of Western Languages and Literatures. This arrangement outlines the transition process between the two programs.

9. I participated in an Erasmus/Exchange program and studied abroad for one semester/year. Will those courses count toward the certificate?
This is determined by the program coordinator. Students must consult the coordinator in advance regarding the content of the courses they plan to take abroad. Students must submit a course syllabus and the transcript from the host institution for review upon their return. For more detailed information, please refer to the Program Requirements section above.

10. I’m enrolled in the Certificate Program in Film Studies. Due to various reasons, I was unable to plan my courses on time, and although my graduation is approaching, I haven’t yet completed some of the required courses. If these courses are not offered in the current or upcoming semester, can I take other elective film courses as substitutes?
Students in the Certificate Program in Film Studies must successfully complete 8 courses in total—4 required and 4 elective—before graduation. Program regulations do not allow required courses to be substituted with other courses. Therefore, students approaching graduation cannot use elective courses to replace any missing required courses. For example, even if a student completes 7 out of 8 courses, failure to take any single required course will make them ineligible for the certificate. Elective courses, however, may be substituted for one another. Since not all courses are offered every term, students are strongly advised to plan their schedules early and carefully, prioritizing required courses. Consulting with academic advisors during this process is highly recommended to ensure smooth completion of the program.

11. How do I obtain my certificate?
To receive the certificate, students must submit their final graduation transcript to the program coordinator and assistant coordinator at the end of their last semester. Courses completed as part of the certificate program must be clearly marked on the transcript. No further action is required. Please note that students who fail to submit their transcript before graduation will not be eligible to receive the certificate. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure this step is completed on time.

12. Where and when can I collect my certificate?
Certificates are issued by the Registrar’s Office. Students who successfully complete the program can collect their certificate along with their diploma at the end of the Spring semester of the academic year. Students graduating in the Fall semester will also receive their certificates at the end of the following Spring semester.

Directorate of the Institute of Film and Media Studies
First Published: Friday, July 25, 2025 – Last Updated: Monday, September 1, 2025