A&S—Film Studies
The Film Studies Program offers graduate certificates at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Formulated from an interdisciplinary model, the curriculum draws upon faculty expertise in areas of cinema, literature, fine arts, social science, and foreign cultures. The certificates address the needs of both students focusing on film studies and students who desire training in film studies as a subspecialty.
Contact Information
- Program Director: Lucy Fischer
- Main Office: 624 Cathedral of Learning
- 412-624-6564
- Fax: 412-624-6639
- E-mail: lfischer@pitt.edu
- www.filmstudies.pitt.edu
Admissions/Eligibility
All students who wish to enroll in the graduate certificate programs in film studies (master's or doctoral) must be matriculated for a graduate degree (master's or doctoral) in a department of the School of Arts and Sciences or in another school within the University. The certificates are awarded in conjunction with a degree through a University of Pittsburgh department. (Film studies is a program.) Students interested in pursuing a film studies certificate at any point in their career may do so by filing the appropriate form with the program director of the Film Studies Program. Financial Assistance
There is no financial aid available specifically for the graduate film studies certificate programs. However, graduate students who enroll for the certificate program can apply for financial aid from their home department (that is, the department in which they will receive a master's or doctoral degree). Such aid typically takes the form of scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, and/or graduate student assistantships.
Requirements for the Master’s-Level Certificate and Doctoral-Level Certificate
Master’s
The master's-level certificate requires 12 credits and a research paper as detailed below:
- Core Course: Film History/Theory (ENGFLM 2451);
- Three Electives: at least one outside the student's home department representing at least two areas of study (for example: national cinema, theory/themes, genre, etc.)
Doctoral
The doctoral-level certificate requires 18 credits and a research paper as detailed below:
- Core Course: Film History/Theory (ENGFLM 2451)
- Five Electives: at least two outside the student’s home department representing at least two areas of study (for example: national cinema, theory/themes, genre, etc.)
Research Paper for Both Master’s and Doctoral Certificates
(For students beginning in the Fall of 2006)
The PhD Certificate requires a research paper in the field of Film Studies (approx. 25-30 pp. in length) to be written for and evaluated by a Film Studies faculty member who teaches one of the seminars that the student takes for his/her Certificate requirements. The procedure for so doing is as follows:
At the beginning of a Film Studies course that counts for the Certificate the student will inform the faculty member teaching the course that he/she wishes for his/her seminar to count as the official Research Paper for the Certificate Program. The faculty member will then require of the student a more ambitious than the normal seminar paper (see Guidelines for Certificate Research Paper) and meet with the student over the course of the term to advise him/her on it. At the end of the course the student has two options: (1) to submit the Certificate Research Paper for both the course and Certificate requirements or (2) to submit a paper that satisfies the course requirements and continue to work on the expanded Certificate Research Paper over the following semester. The paper should be turned in for the Certificate Requirement no later than at the end of the semester following the course in which the paper was conceived.
Guidelines for the Certificate Research Paper
The research paper that qualifies for the MA and/or PhD Certificates in Film Studies should go way beyond the average seminar paper for a course, though (as per above) it should begin as a seminar paper in conjunction with a member of the Film Studies faculty. In essence, the research paper should aspire to be one publishable in an academic journal (though there is no requirement that it actually be published). Such a paper might go beyond a standard seminar paper in any or several of the following ways: (1) have a demonstrated original point of view or approach to a given topic; (2) articulate a clear and demonstrated argument about a topic that clarifies important issues in media studies; (3) involve substantial research with primary sources; (4) forge new theoretical or historical terrain; (5) consider hitherto ignored media texts. It will be up to the Film Studies instructor/advisor to determine how the paper might meet some of the above standards.
(For students beginning prior to the Fall of 2006)
Students beginning prior to the Fall of 2006 have two options:
- To follow the new guidelines above for the PhD Certificate Research Paper
- To follow the old guidelines below for the PhD Certificate Research Paper
Certificate Research Paper Requirements
The PhD certificate requires a research paper in the field of film studies (approx. 25-30 pp. in length) to be evaluated by a three person committee comprising of Film Studies Program faculty appointed by the director (including at least one person in and one person outside of the student’s home department). If the student has worked with a Film Studies faculty member on an earlier version of the paper, that faculty member should be on the committee. Guidelines will be provided for the research paper, and it is advised that students discuss this requirement with an advisor or the program director well in advance of submission.
Additional Conditions
- Only one directed study course for the master’s and two for the doctoral (supervised by a film studies faculty member) may be counted toward the certificate.
- All courses must be passed with a B or higher.
- Students should notify the program director of their intention to file for graduation at the beginning of their final term.
| 
