THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Degree Types: PhD

The Screen Cultures PhD Program continues Northwestern's historical leadership in the cultural and critical analysis of film, television, and emerging media by integrating interdisciplinary opportunities both within the School of Communication and across the University. A humanities-based program grounded in critical and cultural theory, cultural history, and media poetics, Screen Cultures conducts and mentors research in the history and critical analysis of media texts, technologies, and cultures.

The program is designed to provide in-depth knowledge of the field of film and media while allowing students to develop and design interdisciplinary research by taking coursework and attending events in other programs across the humanities and social sciences.

Students work with faculty across campus and with internationally known scholars in film and media studies. In addition to core subjects, students can also enroll in specialty seminars with topics such as: race and media studies, feminism and media culture, postcolonial film theory, media places, media and the environment, transnational television and film, unethical media, nostalgia and its discontents, science fiction film and television, cinema and time, sound media,  and numerous author and genre courses.

The program is enhanced by our Center for Screen Cultures and a quarterly colloquium series, which hosts visiting lecturers and events.

Additional resources:

• Program website
• Program handbook

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

PhD

Total Units Required: 18 or 25

There are 9 classes that comprise the foundation of the Screen Cultures graduate program. In addition, students take a combination of electives and independent studies as described below. Students who start with an MA have six quarters of full-time work before taking their exams; students who start with a BA have 8 quarters of full-time enrollment prior to exams.

Students who start the program with a bachelors degree may take up to three (3) 300-level courses in the department. Students register for research during the summer as long as they are funded, and pursue research and directed reading under the supervision of their faculty advisor.

Required Core Courses (9 units):

• Course List

  Course	Title
  RTVF 501-0	Foundations of Screen Cultures
  RTVF 502-0	Writing Practicum

• Three 400- or 500- level Screen Cultures courses with a media historical/historiographic emphasis

• Three 400- or 500- level Screen Cultures courses with a media theory/criticism emphasis

• One elective course taken inside Screen Cultures

Electives and Independent Studies

In addition to the required courses, students take a mix of elective courses and independent studies inside or outside the department. Options for electives taken outside of Screen Cultures could include a relevant graduate level course within RTVF or a relevant graduate level course in an affiliated program or department (Media, Technology & Society; Interdisciplinary Program in Theatre & Drama; Performance Studies; Gender & Sexuality Studies; African American Studies; English; Comparative Literature; etc.)

Students arriving at Northwestern with a MA must complete 9 additional elective courses. Students arriving at Northwestern with a BA must complete 16 additional elective courses.