Film Studies

The Master of Humanities in Film Studies is designed to prepare you for either teaching at the community college level or applying for further graduate study at the doctoral level. You will learn how theory turns into practice by studying the history of film as well as a variety of film genres and techniques. Our students enjoy creative assignments that build critical thinking and analysis skills in all courses.

As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to inspire students, continue your studies, or join the workforce as an effective communicator with a strong foundation in film studies. Our faculty will guide you through courses and help you reach your potential.

Tiffin University’s MH in Film Studies was designed for anyone who enjoys learning about film and its many facets and anyone who wants to share that knowledge with others.

professional film studies training

• All faculty within the program hold a terminal degree (M.F.A. or Ph.D.) in the field.
• Class sizes are small, allowing professors to provide timely, productive feedback and interactions with students.
• A graduate advisor is specific to the program and will work one-on-one with you to determine your individualized pathway to graduation.
• The program prepares you for further graduate study or for teaching introductory film courses at the college level.
• 100% online, with a combination of 7-week and 15-week courses
• Students have options to begin their program at three different times throughout the year (January, May, and August).
• As a full-time student, you can complete your program in less than two years.

Each instructor within the Master of Humanities program brings experience in their field of study. They bring this real-world knowledge to their teaching, to the building of our curriculum as subject matter experts and to their interactions with students on a daily basis.

As part of our professional program, you’ll learn career-ready skills that will prepare you for a job within the field of Film Studies. Courses are relevant, and all content is focused on practical skills. You’ll apply your knowledge as you engage in creative assignments, working both individually and in group discussions and projects.

The program will prepare you to be an effective communicator in the field, as well as an accomplished film analyst who can share their knowledge effectively with others. If you enjoy analyzing films and/or encouraging others to enjoy films, then the Master of Humanities in Film Studies is for you.

Within the Film Studies program, you’ll actively engage through discussions with your peers and instructors. Each week, you’ll engage with classmates and complete an outside assignment related to your required readings and interactive activities throughout the week. You’ll apply your learning as you analyze films and discuss ideas with others.

Within the program, you’ll continuously work on your communication and problem-solving skills as you take part in weekly discussions and assignments. These assignments, focused on textual analysis and synthesis, will require you to critically think about how texts are created and how ideas are communicated.

You’ll participate in a capstone project that allows you to pursue your own more specific interests that you may have discovered in your courses. By the end of the capstone project, you will have a polished writing sample that you can use for future graduate applications and/or seek to publish.

FORMAT

Online – Offered in both 7-week and 15-week courses, starting in January, May, and August

SAMPLE COURSES

Graduate Rhetoric/Composition (ENG505) – This course strengthens students’ writing ability so that they can write appropriately at the graduate level. It also provides a foundation of knowledge in rhetoric and composition for students wishing to teach college level writing. The course will be organized around the five canons of rhetoric: Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, and Delivery.

Research Methods (ENG525) – This course is a practical introduction to doing research in graduate school. It will introduce students to “joining the scholarly conversation” in their chosen concentration, including finding, evaluating, and using appropriate graduate-level sources. The course will begin with a discussion on the differences between an undergraduate and a graduate education, including expectations in the classroom, and then move to practical skills in working with primary and secondary sources, including the importance of peer review. Students will ultimately write a critical history on a topic or text of their choice, chosen with help from the instructor.

Third Cinema (ART534) – This course is a survey of the history and theory of what is currently understood as “Third Cinema.” This course will concentrate on films and filmmakers from Africa, Latin America (Central and South America), the Indian Subcontinent, The Middle-East, East and Southeast Asia, and Turkey. Third Cinema can be thought of in a number of ways, and the definition, like the world, is changing rapidly.  Therefore, part of the task of this course is to critically and thoughtfully negotiate the slippery terrain of what “Third Cinema” might be. Briefly, broadly, and as a starting point, Third Cinema can be thought of as cinema produced in what is sometimes referred to as the “Third World”; films that are politically or socially conscious (though not always) from these regions and countries; and/or a type of cinema from these regions or countries that is neither a Hollywood style entertainment cinema (“first cinema”) or European style Art Cinema (“second cinema”).

Film Censorship (ART533) – This course focuses on the social and cultural aspects of film censorship while in its examination of key issues and events in the history of film censorship in the United States. Film clips and images will be available for viewing on the course site, but members of the class may be required to view several full length feature films on their own.  These films are readily available in the United States for purchase, rental on DVD, or rental through an online streaming service such as provided by Netflix.  If titles may not be available to some students, alternative titles will be offered.  If some titles are not available to some students, alternative titles will be offered.

All MH concentrations offered:

• Art & Visual Media
• Communication
• Creative Writing
• English
• Film Studies

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030. The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $80,560 in May 2020.

careers

The online Masters in Humanities in Film Studies program prepares you for positions related to:

• Postsecondary Teacher
• Screenwriter
• Film Critic
• Independent Film Maker
• Public Relations Manager
• Customer Service Representative
• Sales Representative

what is film studies?

Film studies is an academic discipline that studies the various theoretical, historical and critical approaches to cinema as an art form and a medium.

what is a master’s in film studies?

A master’s in film studies guides students through an in-depth exploration of significant film from the early days of Hollywood to contemporary world cinema. Students will learn how theory turns into practice by studying the history of film as well as a variety of film genres and techniques. Our students enjoy creative assignments that build critical thinking and analysis skills in all courses.

what can i do with a degree in film studies?

With a degree in film studies, you will be qualified for a variety of career opportunities, including postsecondary teacher, screenwriter, film critic, independent film maker, public relations manager, customer service representative and sales representative.