UCLA's School of Theater Film, and Television's Cinema and Media Studies program is designed for the scholarly exploration of film, television, and digital media both as significant forms of art and as social communication. The Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Cinema and Media Studies programs offer an unusually extensive range of graduate seminars in film, television and media history that embrace films from many genres and national cinemas. Aesthetics and popular culture, the history and production cultures of the film and television industries and the increasing impact of digital media are examined. Courses that develop analytical skills by utilizing digital media tools are also offered. The PhD Program is designed to encourage a small number of highly qualified, motivated students to refine their research skills and interests within the context of an individualized plan of focused study. The primary goal of the doctoral program is to inspire and train students to carry out original research of the highest quality. Doctoral students generally seek and find teaching and research positions at the university and college level. Cinema and Media Studies students at UCLA enjoy unique research opportunities through the resources of the UCLA Film & Television Archive, 35mm classroom screenings and nightly cinematheque programming.

II. Summary:The MA 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 36 units (nine courses). Five courses must be 200 level courses in film and/or television history, theory, and criticism. Of the Five Courses, four specific courses, FTV 200, 206C, 208B and 217A are required. All five of the graduate-level courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.

Only eight units of FTV 596A, B, C and 598 may be applied towards the total course requirement, and none of these may be applied towards the minimum graduate course requirement.

III. Courses:

A. Required Courses:

A minimum of nine courses is required for the MA degree, five of which must be 200 level courses in film and/or television history, theory and criticism. Of the five courses, four are required M.A. Core Courses and should be taken in the first year of residence:

• 200 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND METHODS OF RESEARCH IN FILM AND TELEVISION
• 206C AMERICAN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY
• 208B CLASSICAL FILM THEORY
• 217A TELEVISION HISTORY

Elective Courses: Three courses should be taken outside the MA program. At least two of these must be from other programs in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media, in consultation with the MA advisor that is assigned to you. All students admitted to the MA program must demonstrate basic competence in the areas of scriptwriting, television production, or film production. Normally, competence is demonstrated through coursework, which may be used to fulfill the non-Cinema & Media Studies course requirements. However, students may also petition to use prior work to demonstrate their basic competence. Prior work may not be used to fulfill MA course requirements.

Seminars vary from year to year, but are selected from the following list of courses:

• 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)

IV. Comprehensive Exam In order to earn an MA from the UCLA Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media, students must satisfactorily complete a Comprehensive Examination. The MA Comprehensive Exam is a take-home exam that is given in the spring quarter only, generally in the sixth week. Candidates will have several days to complete the exam, which will be evaluated by the Cinema & Media Studies faculty.

All Theater, Film and Television degree programs are full-time only. We only accept students for the Fall Quarter. This admissions information is for Fall Quarter 2013.

Your Checklist

• Apply online to UCLA Graduate Division by December 1, 2012.


• Departmental application instructions. Print and complete the Departmental application. Choose MA - Cinema & Media Studies. Please submit by mail.


• Take and submit your Graduate Record Exam Scores (GRE General Test). Graduate Record Examination test results are required for M.A. and Ph.D. applicants only. (Department Code 4505, University Code R4837). Scores from the December test are acceptable.


• Complete and submit the following supplemental information. All written Supporting Material must be typed and on 8-1/2 by 11 paper with at least a 12-point font. The lengths indicated are the maximum allowed. Make sure your name is on each page and that all pages of each section are stapled together.


• A Sample of Scholarly Writing. Please submit a hard copy of the uploaded document by mail.


• Two official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work are required. NOTE: Community college transcripts are not necessary, as the coursework will be reflected on your undergraduate transcript. Please have transcripts sent to address below or include sealed envelope in application packet.


• Statement of Purpose. Please submit a hard copy of the uploaded document by mail.


• Three Letters of Recommendation. Please enter the names and other information about your recommenders in the online Graduate Division Application. Letters may be submitted electronically or by mail.

International applicants
• Whose first language is not English, official test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) IS REQUIRED unless, the applicant who holds a bachelor's or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country in which English is both the primary spoken language and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from both the TOEFL/IELTS requirement and the ESLPE. Please be sure to include such information in your application.


• TOEFL UCLA institution code – 4837 / Department code – 83. The overall minimum TOTAL score required is 87. For more information about UCLA TOEFL requirements, click here.


• Required Academic Records – Please click the link for UCLA Graduate Division requirements.http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/ACADRECS.HTM. ORIGINAL or CERTIFIED COPIES OF ALL ACADEMIC RECORDS IN ENGLISH AND NATIVE LANGUAGE ARE REQUIRED. This includes transcripts, diploma, and degree certificate. The degree conferral dates must be noted on the documents



Please send all items designated by mail to:
Graduate Film Counselor
UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media
103 E. Melnitz, Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622

For further questions about the graduate applications in Film, Television & Digital Media, please contact: filmgrad@tft.ucla.edu

Application postmark deadline: December 1, 2012.

For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents interested in receiving financial aid, note that the Fellowship Application and Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) deadline for UCLA is March 2, 2013. Applicants must complete the FAFSA by this date if they want to be eligible for all awards, work-study, and fellowships that UCLA offers.

Please visit our FAQ page for if you have additional questions



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