Program Details

Joining the film studies M.A. program at UNCW puts you at the heart of a dynamic film environment. Wilmington is an established arts community, home to the EUE/Screen Gems studios, the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, the non-profit documentary organization Working Films, multiple independent filmmaking companies and the renowned Cucalorus Film Festival.

The city also features an excellent art museum, an historic downtown, live theater, music, a diverse artistic community and direct access to stunning oceanfront landscapes.

UNCW's two-year Master of Arts degree explores the history, theory and aesthetics of cinema. Our comprehensive curriculum provides advanced classes in film style and aesthetics, historiography, global cinema and film production.

Maybe you're looking for something more hands-on? Learn to direct, shoot, edit and produce projects in multiple modes in UNCW's MFA in filmmaking program!

MFA FILMMAKING PROGRAM DETAILS

Facts that stand out

Film Culture

Resources & Facilities

Applied Learning

The UNCW film studies program provides numerous opportunities to broaden your experience with hands-on learning activities. Internationally recognized faculty will mentor in your research and publishing. The department will provide you with opportunities to organize film festivals and conferences, program film series, and to work as research assistants, manuscript editors and film curators.

UNCW is a thriving interdisciplinary hub. As a film studies M.A. student, you will have the opportunity to partner with others in any of our 24 other graduate programs, including the highly ranked MFA program in creative writing, as well as undergraduate students in film studies, studio art, digital arts, music and theatre.

Front-Office Facilities

175-seat high-definition digital movie theater with 7.1 surround sound, as well as 3-D projection.
Black Box Studio with set, lighting grid, and power box company.
Sound isolation booth / audio recording station.
Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Pro Tools, and Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve software.
Equipment room with a full range of camera, lighting, grip, sound recording, field mixing and field monitor equipment.

Back Lot Facilities

70-seat theater with 4K digital projection, 16mm movie projection, and surround sound.
4000 square foot with lighting set, lighting grid, cyclorama and company power box.
Expanded equipment room with loading dock.
Sound recording and mixing studio.
Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Avid Media Composer, Pro Tools and Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve software.
Outdoor screening and activity area.

The UNCW Library houses a collection of more than 468,000 monographs, 30,000 e-books, 105,000 bound periodical volumes, and over 30,000 journals. The collection includes 143 film journals and access to several film-related databases, including Project MUSE, International Index of Performing Arts, and the Film and Television Literature Index. UNCW Library also offers a large collection of moving image media, including 34,000 videos (Blu-ray, DVD, & VHS), including over 10,400 narrative feature films, 2,400 foreign films, 9,500 documentaries, and 315 short film collections.

An M.A. in film studies at UNCW opens up a host of professional opportunities, taking your studies from the classroom into the world. Applied learning opportunities include:

Filmmaking collaborations
Research collaborations with faculty
Publishing and graphic design work in both digital and print media
Conference planning and event management
Teaching and teacher training at the university level
Film commentary, professional cinephilia and film criticism
Curatorial work, programming and hosting film series
Community outreach and cultural ventures
Professional advancement in education
Training in archival and historical practices
Internships in critical studies and film production

Faculty Info

The M.A. in film studies will match you with faculty mentors based on your educational interests and career goals. You will take courses with internationally recognized film scholars and award-winning filmmakers. Our faculty scholars represent a broad range of specializations in film history, film aesthetics and international cinemas. They examine a variety of film cultures, historical periods and production modes (documentary, narrative, non-industrial and experimental film). The department's film production faculty teach narrative, documentary, experimental and animated filmmaking, including courses in screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, cinematography and producing.

FAQs

Who should apply to the M.A. in film studies?

The M.A. serves students and scholars with a passionate interest in film study seeking an advanced education. Applicants to the program may be pursuing careers in education, film or film-related disciplines or preparing for doctoral study in film studies.

Can I apply even if I did not major in film studies in college?

Yes. Applicants from any discipline may apply.

If I already have an undergraduate degree in film studies, what will the M.A. offer me that I did not get an undergrad?

An M.A. is a professional degree. Students in the M.A. program not only advance their film studies education, they also learn to transform their education into a vocation.

What does my M.A. in film studies qualify me to do?

Students with an M.A. in film studies are likely to pursue new careers - or advance existing careers - in K-12 and community college education, film curation, writing about film (journalism, film reviewing and commentary, festival writing, etc.), publishing, archiving and preservation, movie production and film development. Graduates are also qualified for doctoral study in film.

What is the difference between UNCW's M.A. in film studies and its MFA in filmmaking?

The two degree programs are integrated, and students work together on projects such as film productions, conference and festival planning, and other hands-on activities. However, the programs have different focuses and timeframes. The M.A. in film studies is a two-year program focusing on the critical study of cinema, although it also involves a production component. The MFA in filmmaking is a three-year program focusing on film production, although it also involves a critical studies component.

Can I earn an M.A. in film studies and an MFA in filmmaking at the same time?

The Department of Film Studies is currently proposing a joint degree plan that would allow students to complete both programs simultaneously and, at the end of four years, earn both an M.A. and an MFA degree. Students interested in pursuing both degrees are encouraged to contact M.A. coordinator Carlos Kase at kasej@uncw.edu.

How many students are admitted to the M.A. program?

The department admits up to 12 qualified students each year for a total of approximately 24 students in the M.A. program at one time.

What is the typical class size?

Graduate film studies courses typically enroll eight-12 students, except for FST 500 Introduction to Film Study and Production, which enrolls 12 M.A. and 12 MFA students. Cross-listed graduate/undergraduate courses enroll a maximum of 20 students.

What are the degree requirements?

The M.A. program consists of 39 course credit hours. You can find the full degree requirements in the UNCW graduate catalog.

What teaching opportunities are available?

The department offers a limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships to qualified applicants. GTAs involve intensive training in film studies teaching, under the mentorship of department faculty. GTAs teaches a variety of courses over two years, including courses in film aesthetics, film history and other subjects.

What are the out-of-state tuition-remission opportunities?

The department offers a limited number of tuition remissions for students who do not officially reside in North Carolina, allowing such students to pay the lower in-state tuition. Students from out of state should contact the graduate coordinator, Carlos Kase at kasej@uncw.edu, about tuition remission opportunities.