Media Study PhD

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Our PhD program is one of a small set of innovative doctoral programs in experimental and practice-led research in the Media Arts in the United States. This program offers a space for the development of artist-scholar-researchers whose hybrid making and writing practices respond and contribute to the development and transformation of media, art, technology, and culture. Students in this program develop a set of conceptual and technical abilities that allow them to engage with the aesthetic, political, and social challenges and debates surrounding media making and scholarship. A Media Study PhD requires both a written Dissertation and Media Project for conferral. Appropriate for artists who aim to conduct their research in an academic context, this PhD is equally appropriate for scholars who want to expand their capabilities as artists and makers. Combining professional rigor with highly individualized mentorship, our graduate program prepares students to become innovative artists, scholars, and teachers of media analysis, production, and theory. This program is designed to be completed in five years.

Curriculum

Required Core (9 credits)

DMS 525SEM - PhD Seminar 1 -Finding Creativity, Making Media Credits: 3
DMS 526SEM - PhD Seminar 2 Credits: 4
DMS 570SEM - Media Theory Credits: 3

Electives (24 credits)

Choose 15 cedits of Media Theory and History classes from the following list:
DMS 505SEM - Ethnographic Media Credits: 3
DMS 512SEM - Film and Media Theory Credits: 4
DMS 513LAB - Filmic Text Lab Credits: 1
DMS 517LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
DMS 517REC - Special Topics Credits: 1
DMS 520LLB - The Dream in Film & TV Credits: 4
DMS 521LLB - Third World Cinema Credits: 4
DMS 522LLB - Films of the Civil Rights Credits: 4
DMS 545SEM - Gender and Technology Credits: 4
DMS 574SEM - Seminar On Postmodernism Credits: 3
DMS 627TUT - Supervised Reading Credits: 1 - 4
Choose 9 credits of DMS production classes from the following list:
DMS 501SEM - Advanced Cinematography Credits: 3
DMS 502SEM - Adv Editing Credits: 4
DMS 503SEM - Adv Video Production Credits: 4
DMS 504SEM - Advanced Documentary Production Credits: 3
DMS 509SLB - Problems in Documentary Credits: 4
DMS 510SLB - Advanced Documentary Sem Credits: 4
DMS 515LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
DMS 516LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
DMS 533LAB - Adv Digital Arts Prod Credits: 4
DMS 534LAB - Adv Digital Arts Prod Credits: 4
DMS 534SEM - Special Topics Credits: 3
DMS 535SEM - Scriptwriting: All Media Credits: 4
DMS 536SEM - Directing Narratives Credits: 3
DMS 547SEM - Sound Design Credits: 3
DMS 550LEC - Physical Computing Credits: 3
DMS 551LEC - Networked Media Credits: 3
DMS 562SEM - Game Design Credits: 3
DMS 580SEM - Filmmaking Fundamentals Credits: 4
DMS 605LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3

Directed Study (30 Credits)

Additional DMS or research-related electives Credits: 21

Including:
DMS 703TUT - Qualifying Exam Readings Credits: 1 - 6
Remaining electives can be selected from a discipline related to research topic Credits: 9
- Non-DMS electives from research-related departments
- Anthropology
- American Studies
- Architecture
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Science
- English
- Geography
- Global Gender Studies
- Music
- Philosophy
- Theatre and Dance
- Visual Studies/Art/Art History
- Other

Dissertation & Media Project (At least 9 credits)

DMS 598TUT - Project Supervision Credits: 1 - 4
DMS 702TUT - Dissertation Guidance Credits: 1 - 6

Total Credit Hours: 72

3.0 Degree GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time

Credits Required

72 Hours

Time-To-Degree

5 Years

Application Fee

$75

Program Contact

Maria Portera
380 Academic Center
Buffalo, NY 14261
Email: mportera@buffalo.edu
Phone: 716-645-6242
Fax: 716-645-3808

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.