Table of Contents
Film
and Media Studies Programmes
Communication Studies Programmes
Film and Media Production
Admission to Film and Media Studies
and Related Programmes
Fellowships and Scholarships
for Film and Media Studies
Resources at EAS
Further Resources on the Internet
Film and Media Studies are among the most rapidly
evolving of academic disciplines at US colleges and
universities. As the study of media grows in popularity
and significance, these studies may appear increasingly
amorphous. Media (television, video, print and broadcast
journalism, radio and other forms of media) and Film
Studies may be practical or theoretical in focus.
They may provide professional training or scholarly
analysis of media. Most Media Studies programmes are
interdisciplinary, drawing on gender, historical,
cultural, literary, artistic and social studies, amongst
other topics. Some programmes may be most strongly
founded in cultural studies, others in artistic endeavour
or practical training. For the sake of generalisation,
one can divide "Media Studies" (including the study
of film) into three categories: Film and Media Studies,
Communication Studies, and Film and Media Production.
Film
and Media Studies Programmes
Many
of the programmes that call themselves Film or Media
Studies are humanistic in focus. This type of programme
may also be called Cinema Studies. Professors are
primarily scholars who study film and media from a
critical, theoretical and analytical viewpoint. At
many universities, the interdisciplinary nature of
these programmes is such that teaching faculty are
drawn from a number of other departments, including
Comparative Literature, History and Anthropology departments.
Such programmes explore the cultural and historical
importance of media, analysing media's place in society
and studying media or film history, aesthetics, trends
and meaning. Film and Media Studies may culminate
in Bachelor's (BA), Master's (MA) and Doctoral (PhD)
degrees and many of the students who pursue this form
of study are interested in scholarly careers as well
as careers in film and media.
Communication
Studies Programmes
Communication
Studies approach non-fiction media, especially journalism,
from both a practical perspective and an anthropological/sociological
perspective, combining practice and study. They may
be intended to prepare students for careers in broadcast
journalism, print journalism, television or radio.
Internships often play a crucial role in Communications
programmes, and students are expected to spend a term
or more in a workplace environment demanding practical
application of their Communications skills as part
of their education. Such programmes also facilitate
the study of forms of communication, analysing communication
in a scientific or psychological way and assessing
its legal, cultural and moral implications. Communication
Studies are closely linked to Information Sciences
and Rhetorical Studies. They approach media as a subject
whose organisation and mechanics are to be analysed.
Courses are often taught by media professionals such
as journalists, television producers and editors.
Other faculty may be professionals in whose careers
a thorough understanding of systems of communication
is crucial, such as politicians and business people.
Students may pursue BA, MA or PhD level degrees in
Communication Studies that they may use to continue
in academia or put into practical application in media,
business or politics.
Film
and Media Production
Students who
hope to produce films or other forms of media may
work towards Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Master
of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees within Film and Media Production
programmes. They are taught by artists, designers
and industry professionals. Within this larger area
of study, students can specialise in animation, computer
animation, sound production, special effects and other
related skills in addition to directing, screenwriting
and cinematography. Students may focus on video, television,
feature film or short film production. As with Communication
Studies, students in Film and Media Production programmes
are frequently expected to find internships within
the film or media industry as part of their training.
In addition to learning practical skills, students
will study media history, criticism, genres and aesthetics.
These three categories overlap one another and in
many cases may be interchangeable. For instance, someone
who wishes to become a film maker might well approach
her or his training from a scholarly, analytical viewpoint
while someone who wishes to study media from a humanistic
angle might undergo a great deal of practical study.
Degree programmes that describe themselves as Film
or Media Studies, Communication Studies or Production
Programmes may have courses and subjects of study
in common, and within each of these studies one can
focus on any of the others.
Please keep in mind that US universities and university
courses and programmes differ greatly from one another
in any discipline. This is especially true for Media
and Film Studies, which are developing rapidly and
are in a constant state of flux as the academic importance
of all forms of media grows. The best way to discover
whether a programme is right for you is to study its
course listings and to think about its faculty. Are
they professionals or scholars? Is their work artistic,
professional or academic? Think about what you wish
to do after finishing your education and seek programmes
whose courses and professors will help you to accomplish
your goals.
Admission
to Film and Media Studies and Related Programmes
Given the interdisciplinary nature of all of these
programmes, there are few prerequisites for entrance
into programmes at any level. Students who enrol in
MA and PhD programmes in Film and Media Studies or
Communications come from various undergraduate backgrounds,
including History, Government, Women's Studies and
Literature, in addition to Film Studies. MFA programmes
generally ask that applicants submit a portfolio of
work related to the programme they hope to enter.
Undergraduate experience in Film or Media Production
is not generally a requirement, although students
with previous experience may be preferred over students
who are new to their field. Students should contact
individual programmes directly to enquire whether
and in what format portfolios should be submitted.
Please ask for our undergraduate or postgraduate EAS
Guide to US Education for general information about
application procedures.
FELLOWSHIPS
AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
A
number of fellowships and scholarships have been instituted
in the past several years to further the study and
production of film and media. Most of these are intended
for individuals pursuing careers in film production
but, as new opportunities in media are constantly
arising, this may change. Students interested in Media
Studies should contact organisations specialising
in media for information about funding that may be
available to them. In addition, students should contact
all of the institutions to which they intend to apply
to ask about university-funded scholarships and fellowships,
which are becoming increasingly common in media fields.
Museums and institutions of higher learning frequently
have fellowships available to film and media scholars
and professionals. Many US states, such as New York
and Massachusetts, also have awards for film and media
work specifically for residents of that state.
The organisations listed below provide funding for
students interested in film and media. This list is
by no means exhaustive, and students are urged to
visit the library at the US Educational Advisory Service
(EAS) for further funding information relevant to
all subject areas and to do their own research into
new funding options. Students should contact funding
organisations directly to determine their eligibility
for awards.
Grand Marnier Foundation Film Fellowships
Website: http://www.filmlinc.com/fellow
Grand Marnier has instituted three $5,000 awards for
Film Studies in association with the Film Society
of Lincoln Center in New York City. One award is reserved
for a promising film student, one is for aspiring
film historians and critics and one is for film students
using video as their medium.
Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
Website: http://www.oscars.org/nicholl
This fellowship was designed to support amateur screenwriters
of any educational background and is reserved for
screenwriters who have never been paid more than $5,000
for their work. The fellowship is awarded based a
competition to the writer of a winning screenplay.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowships
Website: http://www.vfma.state.va.us/fellowships2006.html
The Virginia Museum of Fine Art provides fellowships
for film makers interested in working in Virginia
over the course of a year.
Institute for Humane Studies Film and Fiction
Scholarships
Website: http://www.theihs.org
This $10,000 scholarship is intended for MFA students
studying film or writing at an accredited university.
The Institute for Humane Studies also sponsors an
annual journalism competition with prizes of up to
$2,500 for young writers (younger than 25) and full-time
students.
Women in Film Scholarships
Website:
http://www.wif.org/info_page.cfm?id=6
The society of Women in Film provides numerous scholarships
for women interested in careers in film and media.
Many of the scholarships are for women who wish to
study film, communications and other media-related
areas at the postgraduate level at accredited US universities.
One scholarship is reserved for a mature student entering
a postgraduate film programme.
RESOURCES
AT EAS
The Fulbright Commission's
US Educational Advisory Service (EAS) is funded by
the US government to provide information and advice
about US education. Specialist advisers are available
to answer enquiries in person or via telephone or
email. Our resources also include a reference library
and technology centre where students can access the
internet and use computer search packages and test
preparation software. All of these services are available
Mondays from 1.30pm to 7.00pm and Tuesday-Friday from
1.30pm to 5.00pm.
The following books about Film and Media Studies
can be found in the EAS library:
Film School Confidential (Karin Kelly and Tom
Edgar, 1997): Written for prospective postgraduate
film students, this book discusses the various schools
offering MFA degrees in film production.
The Complete Guide to American Film Schools and
Cinema and Television Courses (Ernest Pintoff,
1994): This book offers brief descriptions of degree
programmes in film, including admissions requirements.
It covers all types of programmes related to film
rather than merely film production courses.
Professional Degree Programs in the Visual and
Performing Arts (Peterson's, 2001): Includes information
on programmes in animation, cinematography, computer
animation, computer imaging, digital imaging, directing,
editing, film, film and video production, multimedia
design, video art and media writing.
Directory of M.A. and Ph.D. Programs in Art, Art
History, and Related Areas (College Art Association,
1999): Discusses programmes in theory and criticism
with limited information on MAs in video, visual and
performance arts.
Directory of MFA Programs in the Visual Arts
(College Art Association, 1999): Includes information
on degree programmes in film and video production.
Students interested in Film and Media Production
should also look through the collection of art school
prospectuses found in the EAS library.
FURTHER
RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET
The following websites may be helpful to students
seeking programmes in Film and Media Studies in the
US.
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite:
The University of Alabama's ScreenSite provides comprehensive
information on programmes in film, TV and video studies
with links to programmes throughout the US and Canada
and related articles.
http://www.afi.com:
The American Film Institute's online website, which
includes information about the Institute, scholarships
and film studies in the US.
http://www.cmstudies.org:
The official website of the Society for Cinema Studies,
which is "dedicated to the scholarly study of film,
television, video and new media", includes links to
articles about Cinema Studies.
http://www.filmmakerstore.com:
This website lists and has links to film schools in
the US.
http://www.rivalquest.com/schools:
This site, which calls itself the Academy of Film
Schools, provides links to film and media departments
throughout the US.
http://www.filmfederation.net:
The official website of the American Federation of
Film Producers.
