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• Film & Media Studies

Film & Media Studies is an interdisciplinary field. Students have the option to apply for admission to one of two tracks within the program: either solely to the PhD in Film & Media Studies or to a combined program track involving one of the following disciplines: African American Studies, American Studies, Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages & Literatures, English, French, German, History of Art, Italian Studies, and Slavic Languages & Literatures. In addition to acquiring a firm grounding in the methods and core material of film and media studies (and, for the combined degree track students, another discipline), all students are expected to coordinate a plan of study involving comprehensive knowledge of one or more areas of specialization.

• Programs of Study
• PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
• Combined PhD
• Film and Media Studies Program
• Film and Media Studies

John MacKay

Director of Graduate Studies

• [email protected]

Katherine Kowalczyk

Departmental Registrar

• [email protected]
• 203-436-4668

Dan Rehberg

Departmental Registrar (Spring 2024)

• [email protected]
• 203-432-0879

Admission Requirements

Standardized testing requirements.

GRE is not accepted.

Program-Specific Application Requirements

A writing sample is required by this program. 

English Language Requirement

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.

Combined Degree Program Application Deadline

*The deadline to submit an application to a combined program is always the earlier deadline of the two individual programs, or December 15, whichever comes first.

Academic Information

Combined phd information.

Film & Media Studies offers a combined PhD in conjunction with several other departments and programs including: African American Studies , American Studies , Comparative Literature , English , East Asian Languages and Literatures , French , German , History of Art , Italian Studies , and Slavic Languages and Literatures .

Program Advising Guidelines

GSAS Advising Guidelines

Academic Resources

Academic calendar.

The Graduate School's academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines related to coursework, registration, financial processes, and milestone events such as graduation.

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Registration Information and Dates

https://registration.yale.edu/

Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.

Financial Information

Phd stipend & funding.

PhD students at Yale are normally full-funded for a minimum of five years. During that time, our students receive a twelve-month stipend to cover living expenses and a fellowship that covers the full cost of tuition and student healthcare.

• PhD Student Funding Overview
• Graduate Financial Aid Office
• PhD Stipends
• Health Award
• Tuition and Fees

Alumni Insights

Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.

Fully Funded PhD Programs in Cinema and Media Studies

Last updated May 10, 2022

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your PhD , here is a list of universities that fully fund PhD students in Cinema and Media Studies. PhD in Cinema and Media Studies Studies can lead to a variety of careers in the film industry, academia, and more.

“Full funding” is a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which is usually 3-6 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their doctoral students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.

The  ProFellow database  for graduate and doctoral study also spotlights external funding opportunities for graduate school, including dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, and summer work experiences.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Cornell University, PhD in Performing and Media Arts (Ithaca, New York): All PhD degree candidates are guaranteed four years of funding (including a stipend, a full-tuition fellowship, and student health insurance) and also summer support for four years.

Harvard University, PhD program in Film and Visual Studies (Cambridge, MA): Harvard guarantees full financial support to PhD students—including tuition, health fees, and basic living expenses—for a minimum of five years. This multi-year funding package includes a combination of tuition grants, stipends, traineeships, teaching fellowships, research assistantships, and other academic appointments.

University of British Columbia (UBC), Phd in Cinema and Media Studies (Vancouver, BC, Canada): All students accepted and registered full-time in their graduate programs will be eligible for financial assistance from teaching assistantships and the Graduate Support Initiative (GSI). A funding package of at least $22,000 for each of the first four years of their Ph.D.

University of Chicago, PhD in Cinema and Media Studies (Chicago, IL): Doctoral students will be guaranteed to have funding support from the University of Chicago, external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program including Full tuition coverage, Annual stipend, Fully paid individual annual health insurance premiums. Cinema and Media Studies Ph.D. students who matriculate in Autumn 2022 will receive a stipend of $33,000.

University of Toronto, PhD in Cinema Studies (Toronto, ON): The Cinema Studies Institute provides base funding for all graduate students enrolled in a four-year Ph.D. program. It will include tuition and fees, and $20,000. The base funding may include income from a variety of sources including external awards.

York University, PhD in Cinema & Media Studies (Toronto, Ontario): Domestic PhD students receive more than $24,000/year along with healthcare benefits and other forms of research support. In recent years, most Cinema & Media Studies (CMS) Ph.D. students have received additional funding through awards.

Need some tips for the application process? See my article  How To Get Into a Fully Funded PhD Program: Contacting Potential PhD Advisors .

Also, sign up to discover and bookmark more than 1300 professional and academic fellowships in the  ProFellow database .

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved

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Fully Funded PhD Programs , PhD in Cinema and Media Studies , PhD in Film Studies , PhD in Media Studies

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Film & Media PhD

Phd in film and media.

Students in the Film and Media PhD are encouraged to situate moving images within the larger theoretical and analytical frameworks of a range of other disciplines. They integrate the traditions of history, law, literature, cultural studies, gender studies, and political theory to the newer disciplines of film studies and digital media, applying the tools of post-structuralism, psychoanalysis, new historicism, media archaeology, Frankfurt School, feminist theory, queer theory, post-colonialism, and critical race theory. Many combine their degree study with a campus designated emphasis (graduate minor) in New Media, in Critical Theory, or in Women, Gender and Sexuality.

Designated Emphasis in Film Studies

PhD students at Berkeley outside the Department of Film & Media may add a Designated Emphasis in Film Studies to their major fields. The designated emphasis provides curricular and research resources for students who want to concentrate on film and media research within their respective disciplines and have their work formally recognized. Designed to bring together faculty and students from different departments, the program provides a unique contliext for rigorous cross-disciplinary thinking and promotes innovative research in the theory and history of cinema and media studies.

Contact Info

[email protected]

7408 Dwinelle Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Film and Media

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

Ph.D. in Cinema Studies

The Ph.D. curriculum draws on the methods of a number of disciplines, including art history, cultural studies, American studies, psychoanalytic theory, and philosophy. It involves intensive seminar level study in film theory, history and research methods. Graduates of the program have gone onto positions of academic leadership in the field.  The Doctor of Philosophy degree is conferred for advanced studies in which the student demonstrates outstanding original scholarship. It signifies the student can conduct independent research and has both a broad basic knowledge of all areas of his or her field and an intensive knowledge of one field in particular.

Over the first two years of the program, you’ll enroll in nine courses. In addition to the three courses listed below, a number of lectures and seminars are offered each semester in the department. Additionally, you will have the option to take up to two courses in other departments within NYU.

PhD Methodologies

In your first semester, you will meet with your cohort to examine a range of activities entailed in being in the program specifically, and in preparing for a career in cinema and media studies generally.  The course covers professional activities, research protocols, and practical exercises.

Directed Reading

In your third semester, you will complete a Directed Reading in your dissertation topic area with supervision by your anticipated dissertation advisor.

Dissertation Seminar

In your fourth semester, your cohort will come back together to prepare dissertation proposals through in-class debate, written feedback, and guests with experience in the process.  With regular presentations of work in progress, you will spend the semester finishing your dissertation proposal.

Qualifying Exams

You will be required to pass three Qualifying Examinations during your first two years in the program. The two written exams, one each in the fields of Film/Media History and Film/Culture/Media Theory, consist of 10-page essays completed over the course of a week and graded by three faculty members. The oral exam comprises questions relating to your specific area of research during your dissertation proposal, conducted and graded by three faculty members.

Read more about the Ph.D. Comprehesive Examinations.

Language Requirement

You will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language.  Six languages are accepted toward fulfilling this requirement: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.  Students for whom English is a second language may request an exemption from this requirement.  To demonstrate proficiency, you must pass an exam from either the department or the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

You will be given the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant during your second year of coursework.  Once your coursework and qualifying examinations are complete, you will be eligible to submit course proposals for adjunct teaching positions in the department.

Current students should consult the Ph.D. Handbook for rules and regulations.

Cinema & Media Studies (PhD)

Let’s get started

All Ph.D programs in Film, Television and Digital Media are full-time programs. The department admits new students only once each year for the Fall Quarter and the next application period is for Fall 2025. We will be publishing the Fall 2025 supplemental requirements by September 13, 2024. We Do Not Accept Films, DVDs or CDs Applicants must submit all required application materials to be considered for admission.

• International Applicants

For more information

• [email protected]

How to Apply

APPLICATION WORKSHEET AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY

By the time of entrance, Ph.D. applicants must:

• Have at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Satisfy the University of California’s Graduate Admissions Requirements .
• Complete equivalent to a 4-year U.S. Bachelor’s Degree.
• Complete equivalent to a U.S. Masters Degree.

Deadline: December 1, 2023

UCLA Graduate Application

Complete the UCLA Graduate Division Online Application .

• Indicate Ph.D., Film and Television, Cinema and Media Studies as the program.
• Submit a 1-2 page document.
• Upload a Personal Statement.
• Upload a Resume/CV.
• Submit a 5,000-7,000 word document.
• Upload Unofficial copies of all Transcripts.
• Enter the Names and Emails of all recommenders into the UCLA Gradate Division Online Application.

Mail an Official copy of all Transcripts from each Undergraduate and Graduate institution attended.

• Note: Community College transcripts are not necessary.

Request that all Test Scores be sent directly to UCLA.

• Only test scores taken by December 31, 2023 will be accepted.
• The GRE UCLA Code is 4837 and the Department Code is 2409.
• Note: The GRE is optional for Ph.D. applicants.

Mailing Address

Graduate Film Admissions: Cinema and Media Studies UCLA Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media 103 East Melnitz Hall, Box 951622 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622

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Ph.D. in Cinema and Media Studies

Contact | Introduction | Admission Requirements | Application  | Program Curriculum | Language Requirements | General Examination | Dissertation | Final Examination  

Use the above links or scroll down for program information.

Students interested in applying for Autumn 2023, please read the following

Message from our director of graduate studies .

Director of Graduate Studies: James Tweedie ( [email protected] )  Graduate Program Advisor: Yuko Mera ( [email protected] )

Introduction

Our five-year Ph.D. program concentrates on scholarship and research as preparation for teaching at the university or college level in cinema and media studies. In addition, Ph.D. students will emerge with:

• ) an interdisciplinary understanding of the field from a humanistic perspective;
• ) the ability to assess and implement diverse pedagogical techniques;
• ) the ability to engage in primary research on a subject of their choosing;
• ) a sense of the role of cinema and media in national identity, globalization, and other forms of transnationalism;
• ) a familiarity with a range of historiographic practices in the field;
• ) an awareness of the importance of media technologies as objects;
• ) recognition of the crucial role of the aesthetic encounter; and
• ) advanced reading knowledge in at least one language other than English.

The faculty  in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies have particular strengths in world cinema; silent-era film; documentary cinema; Chinese cinemas; South Asian cinemas; media technologies; television studies; new media; digital studies; race, gender, and media. For more information see our faculty list .

Admission Requirements

Master of Arts degree in Film Studies, Media Studies, or equivalent background. 

Application

Click here for information on applying to the program.

Program Curriculum

(Enrolled students should consult the graduate student handbook for detailed policies and procedures.) 

See chart below for expected progress through the program. 

Course work

Ph.D. students in Cinema and Media Studies will be trained in the general methods and issues in the field, pedagogical techniques, as well as in various subfields of the discipline. Therefore, students are required to take CMS 525 Pedagogy and CMS 520 Methods and Approaches as well as three of the four core seminars: CMS 570 Media Lab, CMS 571 National Frameworks, CMS 572 Historiography, and CMS 573 Aesthetics. An additional 25 credits of graded coursework at the 500 level are also required. 

Language Requirements

Advanced reading knowledge in one language other than English must be demonstrated before the end of the second year after entry into the program. Language competence is attested either by exams or by completion of satisfactory coursework in the language.

General Examination

The General Examination is normally taken in the Autumn quarter of the third year after enrollment. It consists of both a written and oral component, with emphasis on the latter. 

Dissertation

Dissertation topics can be chosen from a broad range of areas with the field of cinema and media studies. Any member of the graduate faculty appointed in Cinema and Media Studies may supervise a dissertation.

Final Examination

Candidates must defend their dissertation via an oral examination administered by the dissertation committee. 

Sample Progress Chart for the Ph.D.

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Welcome to Film and Media Studies

Film and Media Studies is an interdisciplinary academic program in the Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences dedicated to exploring the relations between media, power, and social justice by integrating film and media theory and history with creative practice.

THE CAPSTONE

The Capstone is an opportunity for students to explore their own interests in the field of Film and Media Studies.

FMST INFO SESSION FOR GAAP

Watch an info session featuring the FMST Director, faculty, and students to learn more about our program!

• SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

PhD in Screen Cultures

The Screen Cultures Ph.D. program at Northwestern University is a leading doctoral program that conducts and mentors innovative research in the history, theory, and criticism of film, television, digital, and sound media. Integrating interdisciplinary opportunities both within Northwestern’s Department of Radio/Television/Film and departments across campus, the Screen Cultures program provides an exceptional humanities-based course of study.

Students work with interdisciplinary faculty across Northwestern and Chicago, including internationally known scholars in film, television, digital media, and sound studies. Students may opt to take courses from a variety of disciplines within the School of Communication and the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, including Sociology, English, German, French and Italian, Art History, Comparative Literature, Music Studies, African American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Performance Studies, Theatre, and Communication Studies.

In addition to core subjects in the history and theory of film, television, digital, and sound media, students can enroll in specialty seminars with topics such as: Feminist Media Studies; African American cinema; TV, Video, and Media Arts; Postcolonial Cinema, Screen Technologies; Cultural Theory; Media Places; Media and the Environment; the Video Essay; and numerous author and genre courses.

The program attracts visiting speakers and artists through its speaker series and colloquia, exposing students to celebrated researchers and media makers. State-of-the-art production and viewing facilities allow for screenings of the latest media and lively discussions with preeminent scholars.

The rich and rigorous experiences found within the Screen Cultures program will prepare you for the academic job market and mentor you in the art of writing for scholarly publications, while creating exciting intellectual exchange.

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PhD: Film and Media Studies

The PhD in Film and Media Studies with English as the Associated Department is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental degree that stresses the history, theory, and aesthetics of international cinema, video, television, and new media. While the student will earn a PhD in Film and Media Studies (granted by the Film and Media Studies Program), he or she will also be a full member of one of six associated departments (in this case, English) and will fulfill its requirements (many of which will overlap with those of Film Studies). English will appear as the official Area of Concentration on the student’s transcript. Thus, the student graduating with a PhD in Film Studies will be doubly qualified: in film studies as well as in a secondary area.

How to Apply

Students apply for the Film Studies PhD with English as the associated department through the Film and Media Studies program. Use the Arts and Sciences web site's  ApplyYourself®  service.  Select "Film Studies-PHD" then choose English as your area of specialization on another pull-down menu.

Contact Film and Media Studies with questions: [email protected]  or 412-624-6564.

The requirements for the degree are below.

During the first three years in the program, students take 13 graduate seminars.

Of those, the required courses are as follows:

• Seminar in Pedagogy
• Introduction to Graduate Studies (1 cr.)
• Core courses from two of the departmental programs that are part of the PhD (Composition, Film, and Literature)
• Film History/Theory I ENGFLM 2451
• Film History/Theory II ENGFLM 2452
• 4 Elective Film Studies Courses
• Film Studies Proseminar ENGFLM 2905 (1 credit and not counted as a seminar)

Of the total six required seminars, the student must take at least two courses taught by a member of the faculty outside of the student’s associated department or listed in such a department. These courses can include the two required core courses.

Language Requirement

PhD candidates must demonstrate significant acquaintance with one or more languages other than English.

Normally this requirement is fulfilled through reading knowledge of two languages, undertaking further study of one language, or by beginning a new language. Language requirements must be fulfilled before a student takes the PhD project examinations, described below.

PhD Project

At the end of the third year, students develop a critical project in Film and Media Studies (e.g., film, television, photography, video, or new media) that functions as the comprehensive examination required to achieve doctoral candidacy. This project defines an area of study sufficiently broad in scope to suggest a range of long-term intellectual goals that build on previous coursework and prepare them for more focused dissertation work. At least one member of a student’s three-member project committee) must be a member of the Film and Media Studies graduate faculty in English (generally, the committee chair). Additionally, more film faculty from English may comprise the student’s two other committee members.

Between the end of the third year and the end of the fall term of the fourth year, students write a 30-page project paper or papers that explore some of the problems and issues laid out in the proposal and developed in the course of their research. The final phase of the PhD project is a written and oral exam, which takes place before the second term of the fourth year. The exam phase of the project builds on the proposal, the bibliography, the Project Forum, and the project paper.

The overarching goals of the PhD project are to prepare students for the broadly informed yet in-depth inquiry required of a dissertation, and to facilitate participation in the critical intellectual activity of Film Studies.

Dissertation Prospectus

After students have passed their project examinations, they will register for Independent Study credits (normally during the spring term of the fourth year in the program) in order to write a prospectus for the dissertation.

The student should choose a dissertation director (a member of the Film and Media Studies graduate faculty in English) and a committee at this time (which entails two additional members from English, and a fourth from the Film and Media Studies graduate faculty in one of five other departments (French, German, Hispanic, History of Art and Architecture, Slavic).

Once a dissertation committee has been formed, the student submits a formal dissertation prospectus to the committee for approval.

Dissertation

Once students have had their dissertation prospectus passed and have been admitted to doctoral candidacy, they should begin the work of researching and writing the dissertation. Normally students will complete the dissertation during the fifth and sixth years in the program. Review Pitt's Graduate Studies web site for more information.

All Film and Media Studies PhD students must teach at least one film-related course during their time at Pitt (Introduction to Film). Actually, students whose associated department is English teach numerous such courses during their course of study (e.g. Seminar in Composition/Film, Introduction to Film, and possibly Film Analysis, World Film History, Introduction to Film Genres, etc.)

PhD students in Film and Media Studies with English as their Associate Department will receive funding through the Department of English. See the funding page for more information.

Competitive Fellowships

Film and Media Studies PhD students are eligible for a number of competitive fellowships. For these opportunities, see the competitive fellowships page.

Students will receive teaching assistantships through their associated department of English, which offers numerous opportunities (after the first year of teaching) to teach courses in Film and Media Studies (e.g., Seminar in Composition/Film, Introduction to Film, and possibly Film Analysis, World Film History, Introduction to Film Genres, etc.).

All Film and Media Studies PhD students must teach at least one film-related course during their time at Pitt (Introduction to Film). Students whose associated department is English routinely teach this class.

Radio, Television and Film

Phd media studies, doctorate with concentration in media studies.

The doctoral program in Radio-Television-Film emphasizes critical and contextual approaches to the study of media objects, industries, and cultures. With globally recognized faculty specializing in a wide array of media studies subfields, you will study and research in your chosen field and be prepared to enter into a rapidly evolving media landscape. You will be trained in an interdisciplinary array of media studies methods centered in pedagogical and professional development.

Expert Faculty Mentors

Affordable Tuition and Fees

Graduate Student Support

Program of study.

The PhD with concentration in Media Studies is a scholarly degree incorporating coursework, comprehensive exams, and research culminating in a dissertation. Students are expected to present their work at conferences and produce original work that is worthy of publication. Students admitted to this program must have already earned an M.A. degree.

Learn more about the Program of Work .

Teaching and Research Areas

Digital Media

Analyze interactive and emergent media texts and platforms, participatory digital cultures, social media, and algorithmic culture.

Global Media

Study media texts, audiences, industries, and cultures from transnational, national, regional and diasporic perspectives.

History and Criticism

Examine the sociohistorical contexts of film and media and engage in aesthetic and critical analysis.

Identity and Representation

Explore media's impact on culture and identity through interdisciplinary courses that examine the politics of representation through gender, race, sexuality, citizenship, and more.

Media Industries

Engage in topics relating to creative labor, production, distribution, infrastructures, regulation, and exhibition.

Supporting Your Success

• Structured timeline for successful program completion
• Faculty mentorship
• Annual Review with detailed, constructive feedback
• High rate of success in job placement in the academy
• Pedagogy seminars and workshops
• Opportunities to teach stand-alone courses
• Internships with local media industry, festivals, policy institutions and cultural organizations
• Biannual professional development workshops
• Harry Ransom Center Film Research Collections
• Vast RTF resources at UT Libraries
• Editorial and organization roles for department-based journals
• Interdisciplinary and portfolio program  options (in areas such as African and African Diaspora Studies, Women's and Gender Studies, and more) 

Admissions Information

Meet our students, meet our faculty, see faculty books, program contacts.

Area Head Media Studies

Suzanne Scott

Graduate Advisor

Madhavi Mallapragada

Graduate Coordinator

Teresa Warner

Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-471-4071

Film and Media Studies Program

Combined phd in comparative literature and film and media studies, program of courses.

16 term-courses will be the norm, taken over a two-year period.  In some cases a candidate may be allowed to take one of these courses in the fifth term of study.

A.  Requirements in Film and Media Studies: 6 courses

• FILM 601 Films and Their Study (offered every other Fall term)
• Four additional seminars in Film Studies

B.  Requirements in Comparative Literature: 6 courses

• Proseminar in Comparative Literature (taken first term offered)
• One course in theoretical issues
• A course involving  poetry and one drama
• Any course can count for more than one designation

C.  Four other courses to be worked out with DGS of both units.

• Students may gain up to two course credits for prior graduate work if approved by the DGSs and the Graduate School  

A.  Excellent English and one other language at admission

B.  An additional research-related language, satisfied by the fifth term:

• Passing the “advanced reading-for-research” course or related exam in the pertinent language
• Passing any Yale course in the language.  

Oral Exa minations

A.  By the end of the third semester the candidate will meet with the DGS of both units to agree on the six topics (also called “questions) to be prepared, paying attention to generic, geographic, and historical range and to methodological or theoretical approaches.  Of the six questions taken up in the oral, half should emphasize literary studies, half Film and Media Studies, though primary texts in both fields may appear on the list drawn up for any question.

B.  By the end of the fourth semester, the candidate will submit to both DGSs the list of readings, prepared for each question.  Final versions of the lists are signed by each faculty member involved a week before the oral, which normally takes place by the end of the fifth semester, in six 15-minute sections.

C.  Should the responses to a question be judged inadequate, the committee may call for its reexamination at a later date or may impose remedial work, such as a bibliographic paper.

The Dissertation Prospectus

The prospectus, prepared with one or two advisors (one from Comparative Literature), is presented to the Comparative Literature Standing committee in the sixth term, and never later than the outset of the seventh term.  At the end of the hour discussion, and with the advisor(s) and a DGS present, the faculty will decide either to pass the prospectus as is, or ask the student to submit a further draft either to the advisor or the standing committee (generally without necessitating a further live meeting). In all cases the finished version of the prospectus will also be submitted to the DGS in Film and Media Studies who distributes it to thst faculty for ratification.  Once final approval of the prospectus comes from both units, the student will be advanced to candidacy for the degree.

Defense of Method

Occurs in the semester preceding submission of the dissertation. This 60-90 minute oral involves the presentation of 80% of the dissertation for discussion and questioning.  At this meeting the DGS, advisor(s) and the three official readers of the dissertation will give advice and correct errors so that the work will be in its optimal form when submitted.  The DGSs appoint the three readers to assess the dissertation, two of which are normally from Comparative Literature and one from Film and Media Studies. Note that the advisor(s) may not write the final assessments of the dissertation.  

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Cem Ismail Addemir he/him/his M.S., Illinois State University; B.A., North Central College; A.A., College of Dupage Research interests: Marxism; Media Infrastructure; Media Criticism; Photography; Middle East Studies; History of the 20th Century; Science and Technology Studies  

Brandon Blackburn he/him/his M.A., University of California, Irvine, Visual Studies Research interests: Depictions of monstrosity and affects of horror through the lenses of race and queerness in games and related media  

Suchen Ding she/her/hers M.A., Duke University, Critical Asian Humanities; B.A., Wuhan University, Chinese Language and Literature Research interests: Digital Labor, environmental media and media infrastructure, particularly within the Global South, with a specific emphasis on China. The themes of precarity and affect relating to new media technologies, and the representation of Chinese migrant workers in the smaller-screen visual practices  

Tariq Edwards he/him/his B.A. Mass Communications, Claflin University Research Interests: African American film, African American Cultural Production, AfroSurrealism, Black Feminist Thought  

Kiên Lê he/him/his M.A., Ohio University; B.A., Juniata College Research Interests: Cinema, Infrastructure, History of Science and Technology

Jeferson Martins he/him/his M.A., Hanyang University, Film and Theater; B.A., Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Journalism Research Interests: Korean Cinema, Brazilian Cinema, LGBTQ+ Film Studies, Histories of Censorship, Postcolonial Studies, Queer Culture and Media

Edward Mendez​​​​​ he/him/his M.A., University of Nevada, Reno, Public Engagement; B.A., University of Nevada, Reno, English Research Interests: Black film, critical race theory, film criticism, black radical politics, political economy  

Raphael Rosalen  he/him/his M.A., University of Southern California, Cinema and Media Studies; B.A., University of Southern California, Cinema and Media Studies Research interests:   digital media, celebrity culture, internet studies, virtual experiences  

Alexander Rudenshiold he/him/his M.A., University of Virginia, Media, Culture, & Technology; B.A., University of Mary Washington, English, Political Science, Digital Studies Research Interests: internet (sub)culture, podcasting, labor/left politics, (post)marxism, livestreaming, videogames, gay/queer media, the end(s) of the world  

Trevor Redd Smith he/him/his M.A., The University of Utah, Communication Research Interests: Generative AI, Games Studies, Digital Media  

Brittany Turner she/her/hers M.F.A., University of California, Riverside, Writing for the Performing Arts; B.A., Harvard University, History and Literature Research Interests: Black feminist and queer poetics; Black ontology; critical race and ethnic studies; biopolitics; performance theory; humor, satire, and stereotype; post-traumatic cinema and memory studies; media industry studies/history; Third Cinema; decolonial and participatory art practices; counter-publics; affect theory; psychoanalysis

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2024’s Top Film Schools in North America

Each year, Variety curates a list of the top film school programs across North America. From universities that are as old (or older) than the moving picture itself, to budding programs, the schools on this list collectively offer an impressive array of educators, facilities and lessons to be learned. Countless alumni from these programs have become legendary names in the industry. They have created award-winning films and television series, enacted change both on-screen and behind-the-scenes, and often give back to the institutions that fostered their talent.

Belmont University

Nashville, TN

Collaboration between departments is key to the success of Belmont’s students in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. “Our faculty are career industry professionals, who’ve worked in all forms, from indie features to the biggest studio productions,” Jay New, the school’s co-chair of motion pictures, production and screenwriting, tells Variety. He adds that students can pick up a camera on day one. “Our freshman students are required to start off with a course called cinematic storytelling, where they have a camera in hand,” he says. “They make four productions that semester. And then it just keeps going from there.” Besides state-of-the-art equipment and advantageous curriculum, students benefit from networking opportunities provided by dedicated staff. “We have students who have very seamlessly moved into the industry for internships and other opportunities in L.A. and New York, Atlanta — and obviously, Nashville as well,” says New.

Biola University

La Mirada, CA

Tucked in a suburb of Los Angeles, Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts offers students not only the technical skills to forge a successful career but also qualities such as teamwork, reliability and follow-through, says Dean Tom Halleen. “It’s an understanding that preparing students for the world of media in general isn’t just about having excellent technical skills.” The school features all the high-end equipment and instruction that students need to create films, and in 2026, it will open an expanded studio, growing Biola’s existing production facilities. “The building has been envisioned to accommodate the incredible rate of growth that we have,” says Halleen. “The idea behind the building is to house the full production workflow, from ideation to pre-production, production and post-production all the way through final presentation in our theater.” The school is also working in partnership with a “recently announced AI lab within our Crowell School of Business,” says Halleen.

Boston University

Boston University will renovate a second 2,500-square-foot production space this summer, which will operate in addition to the school’s current production studio. BU is also moving toward the use of LED to replace traditional lighting, which is more environmentally conscious and safer for students. “We are immensely proud of all aspects of our program, both in the classroom and beyond — the renaissance we are experiencing in curriculum growth and faculty expansion and the ongoing success of our students in the field,” says Paul Schneider, chair of the department of film and television. Current faculty members include cinematographer Tim Palmer (“Killing Eve,” “Bad Sisters”) and director and producer Amy Geller (“The Guys Next Door,” “The Rabbi Goes West”) among many other industry professionals.

California State University, Northridge

Northridge, CA

With a campus near studio lots, Cal State Northridge students are in the heart of the industry. The school has a strong documentary department and under new documentary head Judy Korin (“Adrift,” “The Great Hack”), student documentaries have garnered national attention with finalists for the Student Academy Awards and PBS Fine Cut Festival of Films. Dave Caplan (“The Connors”) is heading up a new CSUN Cinema and Television Arts mentorship program for six underserved screenwriting students that places them with working showrunners to develop their own TV scripts. Talicia Raggs (writer/producer on “NCIS: New Orleans”) and music producer/engineer/scoring mixer Michael Stern (“Iron Man 2”) are new faculty members.

Chapman University

The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman is not only one of the most technically advanced institutions in the country — sporting multiple soundstages, editing and mixing suites plus an LED wall — it is also one of the most productive with 50 undergrad thesis films being produced this year. Yet, according to dean Stephen Galloway, what makes it truly unique is the community built between students during their four years. “We bake that in from day one. Students are working together, forming teams, not being dictatorial,” Galloway says. “We think of this as a village of filmmakers, where everybody knows each other and works together and builds those relationships that you take out into the industry.” 

Community College of Aurora

Formerly known as Colorado Film School, the Cinematic Arts department at the Community College of Aurora is expanding into virtual production, immersive entertainment and storytelling for video games. The average class size is around 13, and the curriculum is based on experiential learning, so students and the school have established educational partnerships with interactive game companies, national advertising agencies, production companies, and film festivals. The school offers six certificates and six three-year associate’s degrees so students can finish their program and enter the industry earlier than traditional programs. The price of the degree is also much less than most bachelor’s degree programs, allowing aspiring filmmakers to graduate without heavy debt.

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL

Undergraduate students can take advantage of the school’s Semester in L.A. program, which introduces students to people working in the entertainment industry and L.A. internship opportunities. “At Columbia College Chicago, we focus on bringing your vision to the screen, but also on developing close working relationships with people you trust. Our classes provide the skills needed to work in any aspect of the industry you are interested in, and our vibrant community helps you build creative partnerships that start at school but continue and grow as you enter the industry,” says Eric Scholl, interim co-chair of the cinema and television arts department.

Columbia University's School of the Arts

New York, NY

In the 2023-2024 school year, the film MFA program welcomed its first class to the new writing for film and television concentration, while undergrads can work on graduate films and take advantage of the Columbia Undergraduate Film Productions group. New faculty include veteran film and TV editor and producer Elizabeth Kling (“Practical Magic,” “Addicted to Love”). Notable faculty include James Schamus, Trey Ellis and Ira Deutchman. Columbia’s notable alumni includes writer/actress Grace Edwards (“Insecure”) and helmer Kathryn Bigelow (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Hurt Locker”), offering plentiful networking opportunities for graduates.

Emerson College

Within the Visual and Media Arts department, Emerson promises a hands-on education in filmmaking. Students can select a production track or media studies track, with courses ranging from writing the feature film to computer animation to media criticism and theory. Students can take advantage of the school’s directing studio located on campus at the Paramount Center, or partake in the school’s Los Angeles internship program. VMA chair Shaun Clarke says, “The Visual and Media Arts department fosters the development and creative passions of our students in ways true to themselves and uniquely Emersonian: in the classroom with highly skilled faculty and inspired peers, using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and in the world alongside groundbreaking alumni impacting the future of film.”

Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema

Brooklyn, NY

For a top film school, Feirstein is famously more affordable than many others with tuition at $21,000. The school is also developing new curriculum, which is more focused on the overall multifaceted filmmaker, rather than specific tracks. Students benefit from an impressive faculty including the school of cinema’s executive director Richard N. Gladstein, who frequently leads master classes and lectures about film producing and the entertainment industry, and new instructors such as producer Anne Carey (“The Persian Version,” “Lost Girls”) and helmer/writer Anthony Drazen (“The West Wing”). The school also recently had masterclasses taught by John Turturro, Steven Soderbergh and Janusz Kaminski. Feirstein boasts a powerhouse advisory council that includes Ethan Hawke, Darren Aronofsky, Bruce Cohen, Stephen Daldry, Randall Poster, John Turturro, Talitha Watkins, Vicki Thomas and Doug Steiner.

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

The College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University is all about putting students first with a 5-1 student-to-faculty ratio, 24-7 facility hours, plus funding virtually all student laboratory, workshops and thesis project production expenses at the graduate and undergraduate level. An impressive 96% of graduates find work in the industry after one year. FSU is also home to the Torchlight Center for Motion Picture Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which is an off-campus cinematheque and virtual production studio available to all film students. Just last year, the college was named number four among all public film schools in the nation. 

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY

This year, Hofstra’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication added a BS in sports media and continues to offer BFAs in filmmaking and writing for the screen, as well as a BA in film productions and studies and another BS in television and film. Students in these programs can begin making their films their first year with access to three soundstages and a post-production facility that includes an editing classroom, screening room and color correction suite. Faculty include cinematographer Sekiya Dorsett (“In Our Mother’s Gardens”), helmer Kelcey Edwards (“The Art of Making It”) and cinematographer Mark Raker (“Five Questions”).

Ithaca College

In 2023, Ithaca’s Roy H. Park School of Communications established a special opportunities fund for students to access hands-on opportunities related to their career paths. Additionally, the James B. Pendleton Endowment gives more than $800,000 every year to the Park school, funding the Los Angeles program, annual technology upgrades, two endowed professorships, $125,000 in student scholarship awards and close to $75,000 for student, faculty and staff projects. Park also boasts an immersive volume stage known as the Cube, which lets students make use of 3D visual effects via Unreal Engine. Dean Amy Falkner says, “Recruiters often remark at how industry-ready Park students are when they enter the workforce. We owe that to our Tech Ops team who keep the broadcast studios, soundstages, virtual production studios, LED walls and post-production suites on the cutting edge of industry-grade equipment and software. The faculty incorporate all this tech in their teaching, and it takes our students to the highest level.”

Loyola Marymount

Los Angeles, CA

In the fall, LMU will introduce Masters in Entertainment Leadership and Management (MELM), a collaboration between LMU SFTV and LMU College of Business Administration. This program will be taught by industry leaders including Janet Yang, SFTV presidential fellow and president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Unique programs for LMU include its Hollywood Bootcamp, recently led by WME agent Krista Parkinson, which provides career training via access to leading executives and companies. LMU also often brings distinguished speakers to campus such as Damon Lindelof, S.S. Rajamouli, Vince Gilligan, Lauren Neustadter and Terilyn Shropshire. “We have a unique ability to provide not only an exceptional education within the classroom but also the in-person industry access and connections required to launch and sustain a successful entertainment career. Thanks to our award-winning faculty, our two campuses located in the heart of the industry (Los Angeles and Silicon Beach), and programs like Hollywood Bootcamp and our Distinguished Artist in Residence, we give aspiring filmmakers a pragmatic, real-world education to set them up for success,” says Joanne Moore, dean of the School of Film and Television.

New York Film Academy

The New York Film Academy is one of the most expansive film schools in the nation, with eight global locations and three undergraduate degree programs encapsulating over 15 areas of study. With an emphasis on a hands-on approach to filmmaking, students get access to top-of-the-line gear and facilities, personal mentoring from industry veterans, travel courses for up to eight weeks and opportunities to train in formats such as 35mm and 16mm film. NYFA has no shortage of famous alumni including Bill Hader, Issa Rae, Aubrey Plaza, Shivani Rawat, Masali Baduza and Lisa Cortés.

Northwestern

Evanston, IL

This year, Northwestern’s department of radio/television/film took students to Sundance to experience the festival and network with alumni. “Our alumni networks are our biggest asset,” says Kerry Trotter, communications director at the school. “There is a very strong, short tether between L.A. and Evanston, and alumni in the industry are often cultivating opportunities for NU students.” Additionally, each spring break the program takes a group of RTVF and communication studies students to London for site visits and networking opportunities. As part of the school’s mission to elevate entertainment education for its student body, it will offer a new minor next academic year: game design, media arts and animation. 

New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts offers a myriad of programs and facilities, including the Documentary Film Lab, which allows students to work on full-length documentaries with faculty. Associate professor and chair of the Rutgers Filmmaking Center, Patrick Stettner, says of the department’s mission, “Our priority is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of different modes of storytelling and filmmaking techniques. We recently launched a new course, AI in New Technology Filmmaking, which helps students navigate the next great tech revolution in cinema.” Mason Gross also boasts a new VR studio lab which offers students the opportunity to gain experience with virtual reality filmmaking.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA

With one of the largest university film studio complexes in the nation, SCAD continues to expand. New additions will include a 17,000-square-foot support building for production classrooms, costume labs, costume studio shop and a scenic production wood/machine shop. Students recently worked on a comedy series and two short films on location at SCAD’s Lacoste, France campus. Film and television coursework is supported by events with industry guests throughout the academic year, such as Kevin Bacon, Eva Longoria, Ava DuVernay and George Lopez. The school boasts a well-connected faculty, including Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean of the school of film and acting and director of SCAD’s casting office, who is the former director of casting at CBS Primetime, New York.

Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale, AZ

Offering efficient two-year degree programs that prepare students to enter the entertainment industry is just one advantage of the Scottsdale School of Film and Theatre at Scottsdale Community College. The school’s curriculum is looking ahead to what film and theater professionals will need in the coming decade, and as such, updating courses to prepare students to work in both filmed productions and live events. Scottsdale’s TV/New Media studio is also in the early stages of a $250,000 update, focused on creating a space that features current equipment and tech students will likely use post-graduation. 

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY

Syracuse’s Visual and Performing Arts film program focuses on hands-on education, the film production process and cross-training across film disciplines for its students. BFA and MFA degrees in film are offered through the VPA program, and BS and MA degrees in television, radio and film are offered through the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The VPA program also hosts study opportunities in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. “The brand of Newhouse graduates is less about making film as we know it, rather their capacity to invent the next generation of film,” says Michael Schoonmaker, professor and chair of the television, radio and film department at the communications school.  

The Los Angeles Film School

Centrally located in Hollywood and just a stone’s throw from nearby studio lots, the Los Angeles Film School offers bachelor’s and associate degrees in entertainment fields, with its film degree allowing students to pursue concentrations in production, directing or cinematography. In addition to adding an animation/VFX program that shares classes with the film program, the school recently redesigned its TechKit — which includes state-of-the-art software and hardware designed to make it possible for the student to start making films immediately — for the animation program. Famous alums include sound designer Phillip Bladh, who won an Oscar for sound for “The Sound of Metal,” video director Hannah Lux Davis, known for collaborating with Ariana Grande, Halsey and Demi Lovato, and helmer/writer/producer Kyle Newacheck, whose work has appeared on “Workaholics,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Community.”

U. of Texas at Austin - Moody College

Within the Moody College of Communication, the department of radio-television-film boasts a motion capture studio, 70×20 foot green screen and podcast suites, as well as noteworthy alums including Matthew McConaughey and Robert Rodriguez. The school has begun a curriculum overhaul to its B.S., MFA and M.A. programs, and is currently refreshing all film equipment, including cameras, lenses, audio equipment and computers. For aspiring young filmmakers, the school even offers a summer camp led by advanced graduate students, professors and media professionals.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, NC

Now celebrating the school’s 30th anniversary, the Fighting Pickles are formally launching the Story Art Studio in 2024 as an incubator that merges the unique voice and history of the region with both classical and cutting-edge storytelling tools across the disciplines of dance, music, drama and more. The program not only encapsulates the breadth of UNCSA’s curriculum but joins with its Dean’s Advisory Council, comprising of prominent industry leaders, to create post-graduate pathways into the industry. “It’s a gift to have the focus that [students] have here without the distractions of wonderful cities like Los Angeles and New York present,” says dean Deborah LaVine. “Here, the only person they’re competing with is themselves.”

Vancouver Film School

Vancouver, B.C.

Through its school of film & television, school of animation and school of games & creative design, VFS offers an immersive curriculum across 15 programs. Students are trained by industry professionals and have access to eight world-class production centers that feature a 64,000 cubic-feet of performance and motion capture volume, a 180-degree greenscreen room, mixing labs and recording studios, film sets and studios. VFS has been ranked as the top game design school in Canada, and the second-top game design school worldwide. In the 2024 awards season, over 12,000 VFS alumni were credited on nominated and winning projects spanning the Game Awards, Golden Globes, Emmys and the Academy Awards.

Wesleyan University

Middletown, CT

The College of Film and the Moving Image at Wesleyan University seeks to blend history, analysis and production in a liberal arts context. The school recently piloted a one-week immersive summer externship program in Los Angeles, which introduces students from underrepresented groups to the entertainment industry. Two first-generation college students spent a week meeting with prominent alumni like Jenno Topping, Tony Ducret and David Stone. “While we teach skills such as analytical and creative writing, producing, shooting and editing, our goals are broader,” says Scott Higgins, director of the College of Film and the Moving Image. “We aim to help undergraduates discover their goals and to develop their creative and critical voices in a collaborative community founded on a passionate commitment to the moving image.” 

Film School Titans

USC, UCLA, Cal Arts, Tisch, AFI

Across the film school landscape, there are many notable programs but five in particular stand apart because of their impressive curriculum, notable alumni and overall influence: the American Film Institute, California Institute of the Arts, the Kanbar School of Film and Television at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, and the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

AFI is noted for its remarkable instructors such as cinematography head Stephen Lighthill and producing head Lianne Halfon. Fellows are guaranteed to make films and the school has partnered to help create the Disney/AFI Underrepresented Storytellers Initiative to help create a pathway that removes economic barriers for emerging filmmakers.

Ask many any animation luminary where they went to school, and you’ll likely hear the name CalArts. Notable alumni include Tim Burton, Brad Bird and Pete Docter, whose films have won multiple Academy Awards. Students can choose from 70 comprehensive degree programs.

The Kanbar Institute within Tisch claims Martin Scorsese as a production alum. Several years ago, the school received the largest grant in its history from the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation to establish the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts, which includes a virtual production center and cinematic studies.

As a public university, UCLA offers a world-class film school education at a price that won’t saddle a student with heavy costs. Among ambitious offerings at UCLA’s school of theater, film and television is a recently announced extended reality and artificial intelligence research studio at the school’s downtown campus. Faculty includes many noted working pros who cover every aspect of filmmaking such as costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis. Screenwriter David Koepp (“Jurassic Park,” “War of the Worlds”) and Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”) are among the school’s many notable alums.

The USC School of Cinematic Arts offers a unique interdisciplinary curriculum, in which students take courses from the full spectrum of the SCA’s offerings — prospective writers take courses in directing, directors take courses in interactive media. Helmer Ryan Coogler and writer-producer Shonda Rhimes are just a few of SCA’s highly successful alums. The school receives tremendous support from the creative community. In 2006, filmmaker and alumnus George Lucas made the largest single donation in USC history by giving the film school $175 million.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, film schools in new york.

Hey everyone! I've always dreamed of going into film, and I'd love to study in New York. What are the top film schools in New York? What should I look for in a film program at these schools?

Hey there! New York is an excellent place for budding filmmakers, with many great film schools to choose from. Some of the top film schools in New York are:

1. New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts: Renowned for its film program, NYU Tisch offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in various aspects of film, from directing and producing to screenwriting and cinematography. The facilities are top-notch, and students have access to state-of-the-art equipment.

2. Columbia University School of the Arts: Columbia's film program is also highly regarded, offering a rich curriculum that covers screenwriting, directing, and producing. The school emphasizes storytelling and fosters collaboration between students working on film projects.

3. School of Visual Arts (SVA): As a specialized college of art and design, SVA offers strong Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in film and animation. It provides hands-on experience in filmmaking, which is essential for aspiring filmmakers.

4. The New School: The School of Media Studies offers various degrees and certificates in film production and media studies, with a focus on interdisciplinarity and collaboration.

When evaluating film programs, consider the following factors:

1. Faculty: Look for experienced professors and instructors with industry experience in various aspects of filmmaking.

2. Curriculum: A robust curriculum should cover a wide range of aspects of filmmaking, such as screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing, and sound design.

3. Facilities and Equipment: Modern equipment and facilities are essential for hands-on learning and experimentation in film production.

4. Internship and Networking Opportunities: Programs offering internship opportunities and connections with industry professionals can help you gain experience and build your network.

5. Student Films and Productions: Look for schools with active student film productions where you can participate and gain experience in various roles.

6. Alumni Success: Investigate the achievements of past graduates to gauge the program's effectiveness in preparing students for successful careers in the film industry.

Remember that each film school has its unique strengths and offerings, so it's essential to research each program thoroughly and find the one that best aligns with your career goals and personal preferences. Good luck!

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Department of Communication, Media, film & Theatre Studies

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In establishing a Communication and Media Studies program, Kenyatta University aimed at redefining communication education and training in Kenya and making communication-related professions in the country better suited to meeting the challenges media convergence poses for the Kenyan economy and society at large today and in the future

The Rationale for establishment of Communication and Media Programs:

• Kenya is entering the technological age, which requires that a successful communicator be able to navigate as many platforms as possible: from print, radio and television media to Web and online venues to viral marketing enterprises.
• Journalists and other media practitioners are increasingly being required to provide a variety of media content - text, audio, video, photographs and other graphics – all as part of a single assignment or project.
• Communication has become a critical part of strategic planning and of design and implementation of management activity in both private and public sectors.
• Advancement in technology have greatly expanded career opportunities in communication and media related fields.

The objectives of the Communication and Media Programmes are:

• To enhance understanding of the theory and practice of communication
• To train journalists and other communication specialists
• To promote strategic communication analysis in support business and societal objectives
• To strengthen intellectual stimulation for further studies in communication
• To promote research and consultancy in communication and media related fields
• To promote training in the complete range of current communications tools and how to use them in an integrated, strategic way
• To promote professional ethics in communication specialists and media practitioners.
• Diploma in Communication and Media Studies
• Certificate in Film and Theatre Arts
• Diploma in Film and Theatre Arts
• Diploma in Digital Animation
• Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies)
• Master of Arts (Communication and Media Studies)
• Master of Arts (Film Technology)
• Master of Arts (Film Studies)
• Master of Arts (Theatre Arts)
• PhD (Communication and Media Studies)
• PhD (Film Studies)
• PhD (Theatre Arts)

COURSE PATTERN AND DURATION The Certificate Programmes cater for residential and Vacational Students. A Certificate Programme for residential students for either option (Film Technology or Theatre Arts) takes two (2) semesters of six (6) units each; while the programmes for the Vacational Students run for three (3) sessions of four (4) units each.

The Diploma programmes are administered in two forms:

• Regular students [full time residential] and
• Vacational students [those to attend classes during holiday vacations].

The duration of the Diploma Programmes for the full time regular students is 4 semesters. The first 3 semesters are utilized for class work while the fourth is a Field Attachment. The duration of the Diploma programmes for the vacational students is (4) four sessions. The first three sessions are utilized in course work while the fourth semester covers Field Attachment.

Bachelor’s programmes extend over a period of eight semesters. Master of Arts programmes take two years while PhD extend over a period of three years.

UNIT WAIVERS

Holders of Diplomas in Film studies/Mass communication/ Digital Animation or in Theatre Arts may apply for Unit waiver.

• Prof. John Mugubi
• Dr. Makingu Mondi
• Dr. Shikuku Emmanuel Tsikhungu
• Dr Oliver Mbayi Omuyoma
• Dr. Martin Kuria Githinji
• Dr George Ngugi King'ara
• Dr. Tommy Kibera Kiilu
• Dr. Anne Gaudencia Mungai
• Dr. Eliud K Situma
• Mr. Kihima Kanyangi Clinton
• Ms. Susan Kiambati 
• Mr Eliud Situma
• Ms. Susan Nyawira Gitimu
• Mr. Beneah Shapaya Azangalala
• Mrs. Anne Mungai 
• Mrs. Evelyn Hongo  

In order to facilitate implementation of the Programs, Kenyatta University provides adequate requisite equipment and spaces at Ruiru Campus such as:

• Radio / Sound studio
• TV Studios (* And a TV Station – KUTV – to be Launched soon)
• Editing Rooms – separate for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Theatre (Large - Capacity 500)
• Costume shop – For construction and management of costume
• Stage design / Scene shop workshop
• Animation Labs
• Three years running, KU was on top at the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama Festival held in Nakuru in April 2015. Most significantly, two years in a row, KU won the coveted best play award.
• Angles of My Face, a film made by students of our department, written by Alice Kombani and directed by Emmanuel Maina Lang’at won "Best East African Short Film this year's Zanzibar International Film Festival.

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Dr. Tommy Kibera Kiilu Chairperson Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

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FLAS Fellowships – Title VI Foreign Language Area Studies

Title VI Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships are awarded to universities in order to promote the training of students who intend to pursue careers in pre-college or post-secondary education, government service, international business, the NGO sector, or othe fields where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is a prerequisite for success.

Eligibility: Throughout the period of the award, recipients must be full-time students and enrolled informal instruction in the language of the award. If the award is for the academic year, recipients must also enroll in a course in Russian and East European area studies in both the Fall and Spring semesters. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for FLAS fellowships. Awards available for the academic year 2022/23 are Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Czech, Estonian, (Modern) Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Yiddish. The availability of FLAS Fellowships is dependent upon final authorization of funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

Award: Stipend of up to $18,000 per academic year, a fee remission of 12 credits/semester, and health insurance coverage for school-year fellows; stipend of up to $2500 and a tuition award of up to $5000 for summer fellows.

Application: Applications must include:

• One FLAS application
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• Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should address the applicant’s abilities in foreign language training
• Statement on language training and proposed program of study
• For academic-year applications, a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Indiana University

The deadline for receipt of all materials is January 31, 2022.

Additional FLAS Awards: A number of other departments on campus offer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships. For a complete listing, consult the< HLS FLAS website .

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