Program Overview
MA in Film and Media Studies Overview
Columbia University has the distinction of being the first university in the United States to recognize the importance of Film Studies as an academic discipline, when Victor Freeburg launched the first screenwriting class in 1915. Today, our Film and Media Studies Program remains committed to evolving with moving-image media, preparing students to think critically and creatively about the future of film and media.
Our students explore cinema's historical place as both an American and an international phenomenon, alongside the study of emergent media such as video games, virtual reality, social media, and artificial intelligence. Students have the opportunity to study under world-class faculty, composed of leading scholars and talented creatives, while living in one of the leading cities for film research and filmgoing.
Curriculum and Requirements
We offer two concentrations: Cinema/Media and Emergent Media. The Cinema/Media track focuses on history, theory, and critical approaches to the study of cinema and media, including social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, TikTok, and more. The Emergent Media track examines new forms and technologies of moving-image media in the digital present, such as social media, video games, interactive fiction, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Students are required to take 30 credits of coursework over 3 semesters (full-time) or 5 semesters (part-time). In the third semester, students complete a 50- to 60-page thesis on a topic chosen in consultation with the faculty. This culminating project allows students to define their own scholarly contribution to the field and demonstrate the research, critical thinking, and writing skills developed during their time at Columbia.
Seminars & Lectures
- Seminars and lectures are an integral part of the program, providing students with in-depth knowledge and critical thinking skills.
- Students engage with world-class faculty and guest lecturers, exploring various aspects of film and media studies.
Thesis
- The thesis is a significant component of the program, allowing students to delve into a specific area of interest.
- Under the guidance of faculty, students develop a comprehensive thesis that showcases their research and analytical skills.
Electives
- Electives offer students the opportunity to explore diverse topics within film and media studies.
- From film history to emergent media, students can tailor their coursework to suit their interests and career goals.
Why pursue your MA in Film and Media Studies at Columbia University?
Our Film and Media Studies students work with pioneering experts in multiple fields of film and media scholarship. Among our faculty are leading figures in feminist film studies, scholars working at new frontiers of film philosophy, specialists in Black and queer media studies, historians of American and international film and media, and more.
Pursuing your degree at the School of Arts means the doors of the greater University, and all of NYC, are open to you. Students can choose electives both from the School of the Arts and from Columbia University Arts and Sciences departments. They do so, furthermore, in a world capital of film and television culture, where they are afforded the advantages of research in New York area film and television archives and libraries: New York Public Library, The Paley Center for Media, and have held internships at Museum of the Moving Image, Museum of Modern Art, and Film Society of Lincoln Center.
International Students
The School of the Arts is home to a global community of artists, scholars, and storytellers. In Fall 2025, students from 58 countries comprised 32 percent of our student body, bringing perspectives that enrich every classroom, studio, and stage. We welcome applications from international students and value the unique experiences they bring to our community.
Career Opportunities
We offer advice and mentorship on PhD applications, making our Program a launchpad for students to transition into successful careers in academia and beyond.
In addition to internships at leading art institutions, our Program also offers limited Teaching Assistantships, which give students pedagogical training and practical classroom experience. Student Service positions also employ students as Programming Assistants and Research Assistants.
Our alums go on to publish cutting-edge scholarship, curate exhibitions at renowned art institutions, and more.
MFA in Film Overview
The MFA in Film is a globally recognized creative community of artists driven by one defining pillar: storytelling. Our students arrive with talent, energy, and commitment to their chosen concentration in Screenwriting & Directing, Creative Producing, or Writing for Film & Television; and we support, challenge, and champion them through the work of becoming not only well-rounded filmmakers, but colleagues forging lifelong creative partnerships.
Our faculty are working professionals from the Hollywood, international, and independent film communities dedicated to the craft of filmmaking. They become lifelong mentors, guiding our students from the classroom into the professional industry.
Screenwriting & Directing
- This concentration focuses on the art of storytelling through screenwriting and directing.
- Students develop their skills in scriptwriting, directing, and visual storytelling.
Creative Producing
- Creative Producing students learn the business and production aspects of filmmaking.
- They develop skills in producing, financing, and distributing films.
Writing for Film & Television
- This concentration is designed for students who want to specialize in writing for film and television.
- Students develop their skills in scriptwriting, storytelling, and genre-specific writing.
Curriculum and Requirements
We treat filmmaking not only as a creative pursuit with a heritage in both the narrative and visual arts, but also as a technology and a business. Our students thrive in an intensely creative environment filled with hands-on experience, one-on-one faculty instruction, and the support of a community of talented peers. All students begin with the same core classes in the essential principles of storytelling: Screenwriting & Directing, Creative Producing, and Writing for Film & Television; gaining a toolkit that ensures their creative voice is matched with technical mastery and professional readiness. After the first year, students go on to take further specialized coursework in their chosen areas of expertise. The thesis workshop is a space dedicated to the deep development of projects that will become creative calling cards. Our alums graduate as thoughtful, trained storytellers with robust creative portfolios.
Workshops
- Workshops provide students with hands-on experience in filmmaking, from scriptwriting to post-production.
- Students work closely with faculty and peers to develop their projects.
Seminars & Lectures
- Seminars and lectures offer students in-depth knowledge of filmmaking, from theory to practice.
- Guest lecturers and industry professionals share their expertise and experiences.
Thesis
- The thesis is a significant component of the program, allowing students to develop a comprehensive project.
- Under the guidance of faculty, students create a professional portfolio that showcases their skills and creativity.
Electives
- Electives offer students the opportunity to explore diverse topics within filmmaking.
- From film history to genre-specific writing, students can tailor their coursework to suit their interests and career goals.
International Students
The School of the Arts is home to a global community of artists, scholars, and storytellers. In Fall 2025, students from 58 countries comprised 32 percent of our student body, bringing perspectives that enrich every classroom, studio, and stage. We welcome applications from international students and value the unique experiences they bring to our community.
Career Opportunities
From Sundance to Cannes to the Academy Awards, our alums, and even current students, continually earn recognition at the world’s top festivals while securing coveted fellowships, labs, and opportunities to write, direct, and produce award-winning films and television shows. Creative Producing students also complete at least one internship at leading companies such as Apple TV+, Blumhouse, Jigsaw, and beyond, gaining crucial hands-on experience and professional networks before graduation. In short, we prepare students for success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who should consider an MA in Film and Media Studies?
There is no one path that leads to graduate studies. Our students arrive from across the globe, bringing diverse life experiences with them. The one thing they all share is a passion for cinema and media–as art forms, institutions, objects of philosophical study, and international socio-cultural phenomena. The MA in Film and Media Studies provides an opportunity for deep academic study and research, meaningful collaboration, and experimentation that pushes our students to become experts of the discipline.
How long is the MA in Film and Media Studies at Columbia?
Students take the required 30 credits of coursework over any 3 semesters (full-time) or 5 semesters (part-time). All MA in Film and Media Studies candidates who have completed 30 credits of coursework and have not completed the degree requirements may register for one additional semester of MA Extended Residence.
Can I take courses outside of my concentration?
Absolutely! Each of our concentrations has a small number of required classes, but these are not restricted to the students within those concentrations. We also allow students to take courses across the Arts and Sciences–not just the School of the Arts.
What careers do MA in Film and Media Studies graduates pursue?
There are no limits to what our students accomplish after graduation. The MA in Film and Media Studies provides a platform from which students have gone on to complete PhDs, publish essays and books on film and media, curate exhibitions at leading art institutions, lead non-profit arts organizations, write and direct their own films, and more.
Is there financial aid available?
Columbia University School of the Arts provides over $18 million for student support each year in the form of tuition scholarships, paid student positions, and teaching assistantships, as well as institutional awards and grants to support research, travel, and productions. We believe that the education and resources provided by the School of the Arts support an investment that will yield personal, intellectual, and professional gains for the rest of your life. We also realize that meeting the cost of this investment requires careful planning.
Columbia University School of the Arts and Columbia University Student Financial Services work carefully with students to arrange the financing of their degrees. Loan packages, jobs, fellowships, scholarships, and other options are available for eligible students. Please see Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid for information and important financial aid application procedures and deadlines.