Film Studies, PhD
This is the first version of the 2026–27 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- solidify skills for work in the discipline, including researching and writing a book-length study, public presentations, publishing, grant applications, etc.;
- gain confidence and fluency working with concepts of film and media theory and learn to synthesize, adapt, contextualize, and critique theoretical approaches;
- acquire and mobilize advanced primary research skills and deepen their ability to work with models and methods of film historiography, and to articulate historical sources with theoretical approaches;
- acquire and mobilize an advanced understanding of the discipline’s history and current status;
- acquire and mobilize advanced discipline-level knowledge in historical periods, global variations, and diverse forms, and learn to take a position in the future development of film and media studies;
- learn the fundamental skills for undergraduate-level teaching in film and media studies; and
- deepen professionalization skills in order to explore film and media-related career possibilities within and beyond academia (for example, in media and arts organizations, publishing, teaching, archives, film programming, and festivals).
The Doctor of Philosophy in film studies requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. At least 39 s.h. must be earned while registered in the University of Iowa Graduate College, and after formal program admission. Semester hours are earned through coursework and eventually work focused on the completion of a dissertation. Students must earn a minimum Graduate College program grade-point average of 3.25.
Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the two graduate courses offered by cinematic arts each semester, not including CINE:5500 Success in Graduate Studies, CINE:7700 PhD Comprehensive Exam Preparation and CINE:7992 Thesis.
The PhD in film studies requires the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | 21 |
| Advanced Cinema Coursework | 15 |
| Thesis | 3 |
| Electives | 33 |
Core Courses
All core courses except CINE:5500 and CINE:7700 must be taken on an A–F graded basis.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CINE:5500 | Success in Graduate Studies | 3 |
| CINE:5673 | Advanced Film Theory (taken twice for 3 s.h. each) | 6 |
| CINE:5675 | Advanced Film History (taken twice for 3 s.h. each) | 6 |
| CINE:7615 | Film Studies Seminar | 3 |
| CINE:7700 | PhD Comprehensive Exam Preparation | 3 |
Advanced Cinema Coursework
Advanced cinema coursework must be taken on an A–F graded basis. All of the courses are repeatable, but students must take at least two different courses for this requirement.
The enrollments in the following courses that count toward the advanced cinema coursework requirement are enrollments beyond what is required in the same courses for the core courses requirement; that is, students begin fulfilling the advanced cinema coursework requirement with the third enrollment in CINE:5673 or CINE:5675 and the second enrollment in CINE:7615.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 15 s.h. from at least two of these: | ||
| CINE:5673 | Advanced Film Theory | 3 |
| CINE:5675 | Advanced Film History | 3 |
| CINE:7615 | Film Studies Seminar | 3 |
Thesis
Students complete 3 s.h. in CINE:7992 Thesis. Students are permitted, but not required, to enroll in this course multiple times and apply the additional enrollments toward electives.
Electives
Students complete 33 s.h. of electives. For some students, this will be fulfilled primarily via graduate transfer coursework, as approved by the program. All elective courses must be taken on an A–F graded basis except for CINE:5500, CINE:5900, CINE:6992, CINE:7700, and CINE:7992. Elective courses are selected in consultation with an advisor.
Students may select elective coursework from cinema courses (prefix CINE) numbered 3000 or above but are strongly encouraged to earn elective credit through additional enrollments in advanced cinema courses as listed in the preceding section. Students are also encouraged, but not required, to take CINE:5500 Success in Graduate Studies for 1 s.h. after completing their comprehensive exams for career preparation support. Under certain circumstances, students may also be encouraged to enroll in CINE:4618 Topics in World Cinemas and CINE:4620 Topics in Film Form, Style, and Theory.
Students may also select elective courses numbered 4000 or above from the following course subjects. Additional courses not listed here may also count with permission from the program.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| American Studies (prefix AMST) | ||
| Art History (prefix ARTH) | ||
| Center for the Book (prefix UICB) | ||
| Chinese (prefix CHIN) | ||
| Communication Studies (prefix COMM) | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing (prefix CNW) | ||
| Creative Writing, Writers' Workshop (prefix CW) | ||
| English (prefix ENGL) | ||
| French (prefix FREN) | ||
| Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies (prefix GWSS) | ||
| German (prefix GRMN) | ||
| Graduate College (prefix GRAD) | ||
| History (prefix HIST) | ||
| Journalism and Mass Communication (prefix JMC) | ||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences Non-Departmental (prefix CLAS) | ||
| Library and Information Science (prefix SLIS) | ||
| Rhetoric (prefix RHET) | ||
| Spanish (prefix SPAN) | ||
| Theatre Arts (prefix THTR) | ||
| World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (prefix WLLC) | ||
Additional Requirements
The program's coursework is broadly concentrated in film history and film theory, with specific courses offered on a wide range of topics. With the regular consultation and guidance of a faculty advisor and committee, students formulate and pursue a plan of study during their first year in the program; prepare and conduct a written and oral comprehensive examination typically in their second or third year; write and present a dissertation prospectus to a carefully selected committee; and complete a dissertation in an area of advanced, original research that is defended orally in a meeting with the student’s committee prior to final deposit. A detailed summary of the requirements for the PhD in film studies is available on the Department of Cinematic Arts website.
Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.
Academics
University of Iowa graduate credentials are regulated by policies and requirements found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. This includes minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements for academic standing and degree conferral. The Graduate College sets the minimum requirement. Individual graduate programs may establish higher GPA requirements.
Admissions
Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.
Financial Support
Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.
A faculty committee chaired by the head of film studies evaluates applications to the PhD program. Application materials should include undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts, a personal statement, a writing sample, three letters of recommendation, and samples of creative work when relevant. Admission decisions are based on the full range of an applicant's accomplishments and evidence that the applicant will fit the elements of the program and thrive in the department.
Minimum admission requirements: Applicants should have a BA in film studies or a related discipline and either an MA in film studies or a related discipline, or an MFA in film production with significant experience in film studies.
All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website. Information about the application process is available on the Department of Cinematic Arts website and the Graduate Admissions website.
The PhD program in film studies has an impressive job placement record, with graduates located in faculty positions at major research universities and prestigious liberal arts colleges throughout the world. Graduates are, through their published research, visible and productive contributors to film studies and related disciplines, and many have served in leadership positions within professional organizations such as the Society for Cinema and Media Studies.
Within the program, faculty mentor students toward professional careers by supervising their development as both effective teachers and scholars. Regular workshops offered on topics such as journal and conference submissions, job interviews, and related topics help prepare students for careers within and beyond academia. Students are also regularly advised on applying for grants and awards to facilitate their advanced research, whether conducted in Iowa or elsewhere.
The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Film Studies, PhD
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.