Why study film and media?
The Department of Film and Media Studies unites the inquiry of the academic with the practice and technique of the artist. Scholars and filmmakers work and study together in an environment of mutual encouragement and collegiality.
The affiliation of the Department with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of the Arts reflects a liberal arts perspective towards the study of film and media as well as hands-on production elements. We see film and media as ways of ordering, clarifying, and understanding human experience.
We are humanists, sharing the general goal of discovering and putting into communicable form hypotheses about human beings and the world as they interact with it. We are scholars and practitioners, and our work includes the creation of film and media, teaching, and scholarship. As a result we serve our disciplines, the University, and the surrounding community in our capacities as teachers, scholars, and artists.
Discover how film and media can change your life. In KU Film and Media Studies you’ll find a community that shares your passion for film and media and is dedicated to helping you succeed in today’s changing media landscape. You’ll find your place here within the School of the Arts’ creative community.
The Master’s degree is a two-year studies and research-based program. The M.A. degree is an academic degree, but students are also expected to complete courses in film and video production. All M.A. students in Film and Media Studies must write a thesis as the culmination of their degree.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Graduate Admissions
Please submit the following materials with your application*:
- An official transcript, sent directly to KU, from every previous college or university attended (copies issued to students not accepted).
- Three (3) recent letters of recommendation, two of which should be from your current or former teachers.
- A current resume of academic and artistic experiences
- A statement of personal goals that explains why you want to pursue graduate study.
- A writing sample (no more than 15 pages) that demonstrates your ability to theorize, analyze, and synthesize scholarly information.
- Non-native English speakers must demonstrate proof of English proficiency before gaining admission to a graduate program. There are specific requirements for students wishing to hold a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) position.
The Department of Film and Media Studies does not admit new students for the Spring or Summer terms. Please see the department website for application deadlines. The completed application should be submitted online.
Contact Information
University of Kansas
Department of Film and Media Studies
1300 Sunnyside Ave., Ste 230
Lawrence, KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-1340
Email: film@ku.edu
M.A. Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in film and media is an academic degree, but students are expected to complete 3 hours in film and video production. All M.A. students must write a thesis as the culmination of the degree.
To complete the M.A., the student must sustain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher through 30 graduate credit hours.
Requirements for the M.A. in Film and Media Studies
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| FMS 800 | Introduction to Graduate Study in Film/Media | 3 |
| FMS 862 | Survey of Film and Media History | 3 |
| FMS 865 | Film and Media Theory | 3 |
| |
| Problems in Basic Screenwriting | |
| Problems in Basic Video Production | |
| Graduate Seminar in: _____ | |
| Film/Media Internship | |
| Survey of Japanese Film | |
| Latin American Cinema | |
| Anti-war Films | |
| Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian Cinema | |
| Contemporary Japanese Film | |
| Indigenous Film and Media | |
| Problems in Intermediate Screenwriting | |
| Problems in Intermediate Video Production | |
| Problems in Cinematography | |
| Post-Production | |
| Professional Development Seminar | |
| Development of the American Sound Film | |
| Development of the International Sound Film | |
| Development of African-American Images in Film | |
| Problems in Advanced Video Production | |
| Development of American Popular Culture in the: _____ | |
| Special Problems in Film History and Criticism | |
| Intensive Film Project Seminar | |
| Practicum in Film | |
| Investigation and Conference (for Master's Students) | |
| Film Seminar in: _____ | |
| FMS 899 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
At least 50% of coursework for the master’s degree must be taken at the 700 level or above.
A thesis is required for successful completion of the M.A. degree. After completion of the thesis, an oral defense must be held before the graduation deadline in consultation with the student's advisor and thesis committee.
All courses should be selected in consultation with the advisor. Please visit the Graduate Studies Policy Library for information regarding additional requirements that may apply.
For more information on department policies, please see the Graduate Student Handbook found on our website.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- use creative inquiry & research.
- use critical writing.
- understand cultural diversity.
- be professional.
