Cinema and Media Studies, M.A.

Program Scope

Our M.A. program prizes the rich diversity of cinematic expression — whether critical examination of “mainstream” media production or independent or foreign filmmaking, experimental works or other media including the televisual and videogames — the faculty strives to broaden our students’ experience. Much of this takes place in the context of coursework where faculty members bring their own diverse research, theoretical and cinematic interests to bear, but also in extracurricular encounters — visiting filmmakers or scholars, community events (e.g., film festivals), largely profiting from the virtue of our city, San Francisco.

The M.A. in Cinema and Media Studies at SF State offers students the opportunity to pursue graduate research in cinema and media scholarship. We believe that “cinema” refers to all moving image media, from early films to emerging digital media forms.

The M.A. program emphasizes not only the study of cinema history, theory and criticism, but of all “cinematic” media and the theories related to them. The curriculum allows students considerable freedom to choose among a wide variety of course offerings, building toward producing a thesis that emphasizes focused research on a specific topic related to their interests.

All incoming M.A. Cinema and Media Studies students are automatically considered for a Marcus Fellowship, which consists of endowed funds offered to the most promising students. Our Admissions Committee reviews all incoming students’ submission materials, and notifies recipients of the fellowship before the semester begins. Disbursement of the award is made in the fall semester of their first year.

Program Learning Outcomes

The learning objectives of the Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies strives to enable students to:

• Acquire a broad knowledge of cinema theory, history, and criticism.
• Analyze the role of festivals, conferences, and other film and digital media exhibition venues and options.
• Conduct independent critical research related to cinematic media that leads to a written thesis.
• Produce critical analyses of films and cinematic media.
• Gain teaching-related experience.

Professional Outlook

Ph.D. Programs

Graduates of the program have gone on to earn doctoral degrees at prestigious schools such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Glasgow University, Concordia University, UT Austin, Indiana University, University of Iowa, and UC Santa Barbara, among others. Some hold tenure-track positions at universities around the world.

Media Arts Management

Graduates have secured successful careers as managers of local and regional media arts organizations, curators at art museums and film festivals, and as media archivists and librarians.

Entertainment Industry

Graduates have found work in the entertainment and digital media industries, holding positions as journalists and reviewers, studio archivists, audience analysts, producers, and creative executives, among others.