Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies

UWM’s joint MA/PhD program in Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies starts from the assumption that media in the 21st century must be studied comparatively. Cinema has been intermedial since its inception in its rich intersections with the literary, performing, and visual arts, as well as with science and popular culture. With the advent of digital technologies, the interrelation of all media has only intensified.

Students in our interdisciplinary program work across major media forms such as film, television, video games, and tactical and social media. Our faculty and students employ rigorous historical, theoretical, and political methodologies to develop innovative research projects both within and across media, cinema, and digital studies.

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

  1. Undergraduate major in English or related field, with appropriate background for proposed concentration of study: Plan A, broad background in English and American literature; Plan B, literature, linguistics, and/or composition; Plan C, literature and creative writing; Plan H, background in media studies, film studies, or digital and/or popular culture.
  2. Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
  3. Reason statement.
  4. Three letters of recommendation to the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies from persons familiar with applicant’s academic ability and achievement.
  5. A sample of academic writing.
  6. For Plan C admission, an applicant must also submit samples of original fiction or poetry.

For more information about how to apply to the graduate program in English, as well as admissions FAQs, please see the Students/Graduate section of the English department web site.

Plan H (Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies)

Core Courses
Take 15 credits across these courses:15
ENGLISH 742Media Studies
ENGLISH 743Film Theory and Criticism
ENGLISH 876Seminar in Media Studies:
ENGLISH 877Seminar in Film Studies:
ENGLISH 887Seminar in Digital Studies:
Proseminar (take 2 credits)2
ENGLISH 747Proseminar in Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies
Electives: 7-12 credits electives at graduate level (can include 700 & 701) *7-12
Master's project: 1-6 credits of English 790 *1-6
Total credits30
*

If students take more elective credits, then they may take fewer credits in the master's project, or vice versa, so long as their total credits add up to 30. Students should consult the Coordinator to decide how many credits of the master's project are recommended.

Additional Requirements

  • Master's project, which shall be an original research paper of at least 30 pages which grows out of and significantly expands some aspect of the student’s research in media, cinema, and digital studies.
  • An oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, which covers the final project.
Contact

Prospective Graduate Students

Questions regarding the application or the application process should be directed to the UWM Graduate School at gradschool@uwm.edu or 414-229-6569.

Current Graduate Students

Questions about research opportunities, department funding opportunities, or issues specific to the discipline should be directed to the English department.

Interested in this Plan?

For more information about the Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies plan, contact Associate Professor Tami Williams at tamiw@uwm.edu.

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.