While many universities offer robust film studies programs, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) does not provide students with the opportunity to major or minor in this field. As a result, students interested in film and digital media often find it challenging to fully explore their passion through coursework.

UIS offers a range of classes related to digital arts, including photography, drawing, social media, and film appreciation. However, students seeking hands-on experience in writing, producing, filming, or editing motion pictures are left with limited options.

Despite the absence of a formal film program, UIS does provide pathways for students interested in filmmaking. Professor Andrew Egizi, a retired UIS professor who teaches Freshman Seminar labs, noted, “UIS does not offer a film program, but there is an option for students who are interested in film and filmmaking.”

Students can benefit from majors such as Liberal Arts, Communications, and Visual Arts, which offer relevant skills for understanding the filmmaking process.

“I think anyone that wants to be a filmmaker needs to take a drawing class,” Egizi emphasized. “It’s in drawing that you learn composition and how to create visually appealing images.”

Moreover, UIS has qualified faculty who could teach film courses. Mary Davis, an instructor of photography at UIS, has expressed a strong interest in teaching filmmaking. Davis is also a director and writer, known for her short film “A Mother’s Sacrifice,” which won the Best First-Time Director Award at the 25th Anniversary Chicago Horror Film Festival.

Other universities in the area have recognized the demand for film studies. The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) offers a minor in Moving Image Arts, while the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) provides a major in Media and Cinema Studies. Expanding the course offerings at UIS to include film studies could not only serve current students interested in filmmaking but also attract prospective students looking to pursue careers in this dynamic field.

As UIS continues to develop its academic programs, introducing a formal film studies curriculum could enhance the university’s appeal and better serve the artistic aspirations of its student body.