Theater- Acting (MFA)
- Design for Theater and Entertainment Media (MFA)
- Directing (MFA)
- Playwriting (MFA)
- Theater and Performance Studies (PhD)
- Theater (MA)
- Theater (Minor)
- Undergraduate Theater Program (BA)
- Film, Television and
Digital Media - Animation (MFA)
- Cinema & Media Studies (MA)
- Cinema & Media Studies (PhD)
- Cinematography (MFA)
- Moving Image Archive Studies (MA)
- Producers Program (MFA)
- Production / Directing (MFA)
- Professional Programs: Screenwriting & Producing
- Screenwriting (MFA)
- Undergraduate Film, Television and Digital Media (BA)
- Film (Minor)
Courses in Cinema & Media Studies PhD
Degree Requirements
To download a copy of this, which includes a checksheet, please click here.
I. Area: MA Cinema and Media Studies (See sections I to VIII for all requirements)
II. Summary:
The PhD in Cinema and Media Studies has the following time-to-degree requirement: a minimum of four quarters; maximum of seven quarters. The minimum total units required to graduate is 54 units (thirteen and a half courses) in the first six quarters. Three required courses must be completed during the first year. FTV must be taken in both the fourth and sixth quarter, and an independent study in the area of their dissertation must be taken in the fifth quarter.
In addition to the core sequence, FTV 496, which counts as the half course, is required (normally in the first quarter). Students also select seven additional graduate seminars, at least five of which must be approved cinema and media studies seminars.
Students must create three areas of concentration. One is in the specific field of their dissertation, including FTV 274 and the dissertation - related independent study. The other two areas are composed of three seminars each chosen to focus in two areas. Suggested areas include: film theory, criticism, narrative studies, film history, American film, European film, non-Western film/television, television studies, media and society, authors, genres, film and other arts, film and television as a business enterprise, film/television production and new media.
III. Courses:
A. Required Courses:
Each student must take a minimum of 13 1/2 courses during the first six quarters of residence.
- 213
- THEORY AND METHOD
- 206C
- HISTORIOGRAPHY
- 208B
- CONTEMPORARY FILM AND TELEVISION CRITICISM
- 496
- PRACTICE OF TEACHING FILM AND TELEVISION
- 274
- RESEARCH DESIGN (2 QUARTERS)
- TBD
- INDEPENDENT STUDY (ONE QUARTER)
- 201
- MEDIA INDUSTRIES AND THE CULTURE OF PRODUCTION
- 202
- MEDIA AUDIENCES AND THE CULTURE OF CONSUMPTION
- 203
- FILM AND OTHER ARTS
- 204
- VISUAL ANALYSIS
- 206A
- EUROPEAN FILM HISTORY
- 206B
- SELECTED TOPICS IN AMERICAN FILM HISTORY
- 206C
- AMERICAN FILM HISTORY**
- 207
- EXPERIMENTAL FILM
- 208B
- CLASSICAL FILM THEORY **
- 208C
- CONTEMPORARY FILM THEORY
- 209A
- DOCUENTARY FILM
- 209B
- FICTIONAL FILM
- 209D
- ANIMATED FILM
- 217A
- AMERICAN TELEVISION HISTORY**
- 217B
- SELECTED TOPICS IN AMERICAN TELEVISION HISTORY **
- 218
- CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIETY
- 219
- FILM AND SOCIETY
- 220
- TELEVISION AND SOCIETY
- 221
- FILM AUTHORS
- 222
- FILM GENRES
- 223
- VISUAL PERCEPTION
- 224
- COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR FILM STUDY
- 225
- VIDEOGAME THEORY
- 246
- ELECTRONIC CULTURE
- 270
- FILM CRITICISM
- 271
- TELEVISION CRITICISM
- 276
- NON WESTERN FILM
- 277
- NARRATIVE STUDIES
- 298AB
- SPECIAL STUDIES (select classes must see Graduate Counselor)
- Share This
- Permalink
In addition to the core sequence, students are required to take a teaching assistant training course, normally during their first quarter in residence:
In their second year, students must take 274: Research Design, which is required in both the fourth and sixth quarters, and an independent study in the area of their dissertation in the fifth quarter.
B. Elective Courses:
Students select an additional 9 graduate seminars, five of which must be in the Cinema & Media Studies program. The seminars are divided into three areas of concentrations, which might include film theory; narrative studies; film history; American film; European film; non-Western film/television; television studies; media and society; film authors; film genres; film and the other arts; film/television as a business enterprise; film/television production; new media; or other areas, subject to faculty approval. It is expected that the dissertation topic will emerge from one of the concentrations. Seminars vary from year to year, but are selected from the following list of courses:
IV. Foreign Language
Mastery of one foreign language is required and must be demonstrated by completing a level five (or higher) foreign language course or by passing a UCLA language examination. The foreign language requirement should be completed by the end of the first year in residence.
V. Second-Quarter Review
During their second quarter in residence, PhD students must take a Preliminary Oral Examination. The Cinema & Media Studies Faculty Committee evaluates the student's progress to date and determines his or her general fitness to continue in the doctoral program. At this time, the student presents a written Plan of Study to the faculty, including a proposal for grouping the required nine courses into three areas of concentration.
VI. Comprehensive Exams
During their second year in residence, just prior to the first week of the fall quarter, PhD students must take their Comprehensive Exams. This is a take-home exam, which consists of question categories from two areas of concentration in support of or related to the students intended area of dissertation research. These categories are determined with the guidance of faculty advisors during the first year of PhD study. Questions for the exam are drawn from a predetermined reading list declared at the 3rd Quarter Review.
VII. Prospectus Review
After successful completion of the language and course requirements as well as the PhD Comprehensive Examination, PhD students present a dissertation prospectus to the Cinema & Media Studies Faculty Committee for review. Each student meets with the Committee to discuss the merits and feasibility of the dissertation and the proposed composition of the Doctoral Committee. After the Internal Prospectus Review has been passed, the student takes the Oral Qualifying Examination before his or her Doctoral Committee. This exam is devoted to the merits and feasibility of the dissertation prospectus; it is not a continuation of the written Comprehensive Exam. Once these exams have been satisfactorily completed, the student advances to Candidacy.
VIII. Dissertation
Final award of the PhD in Film and Television depends upon completion of a dissertation that demonstrates the ability to complete significant independent research in a historical, critical, or theoretical field of film and/or television studies. Students are expected to complete the dissertation in three to nine quarters.
IX. Normal Prograess Toward the Degree is as Follows
1. The Preliminary Oral Examination should be passed and the Plan of Study accepted by the end of the second quarter in residence. 2. The Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations should be passed by the sixth quarter in residence. 3. The Dissertation Prospectus should be approved within the first six quarters of residence. 4. The Dissertation should be filed within three years after Advancement to Candidacy.To download a copy of this, which includes a checksheet, please click here.
Looking for more courses? View All Courses
SCHOOL Calendar | Profiles | News | Videos | Employment Opportunties
PROGRAMS Programs in Theater | Programs in Film, Television and Digital Media
INFORMATION About TFT | Admissions | Contact | Courses | Facilities | Faculty | Giving | Intranet
CREATIVE DIRECTORY Select Alumni Works | Select Faculty Works | Select Student Works