Earn your PhD in Film Studies
It is no stretch to say that the University of Iowa helped to invent film studies as a discipline. The first graduate thesis on film at University of Iowa dates all the way back to 1916, and our own program has been producing doctoral work in film studies since 1960 (when John Kuiper wrote a dissertation on Sergei Eisenstein in what was then called the Division of Radio, Television, and Film). Today, the list of former UI graduate students reads like a “who’s who” of pioneering figures in the field: Dudley Andrew, David Bordwell, Henry Jenkins, Mary Ann Doane, Aaron Gerow, Barbara Klinger, Patrice Petro, David Rodowick, Mitsuyo Wada-Marciano, and many more. Iowa alumni are also very well represented among the winners of the prestigious Distinguished Career Award from the Society of Film and Media Studies, the highest honor our field can bestow.
Today, our PhD program offers students comprehensive training in film theory and history amidst a stimulating interdisciplinary environment in one of the country’s best small cities for the arts. Our students also acquire the entire range of skills they need for employment in the academic job market, as well as numerous transferable skills. With five years of financial support when funding is available, nearly all graduate students can expect to gain extensive experience in the classroom. Students also regularly organize conferences and events and work with local institutions such as FilmScene.
Our students also enjoy a rich graduate student community. Film studies graduate students regularly collaborate with graduate students from the MFA program in film and video production, and they take seminars with other graduate students across the university.
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Current course list
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Learn more about the program through our FAQ
PhD in Film Studies FAQ
How many applicants are accepted each year into your graduate programs?
We are a small program focused on the close mentorship of graduate students. We typically admit between 1-4 Film Studies students per year, inclusive of both the MA and PhD programs.
Do I need to connect with one faculty member and have them agree to supervise me before I submit my application?
We neither require nor expect applicants to seek out one faculty member to work with before applying (unlike graduate programs in the U.K, for example). We encourage our students to work with and learn from all faculty. That said, in evaluating applications, we do take into consideration the fit between an applicant’s areas of interest, the department’s areas of strength, and faculty research areas.
Which faculty are available to supervise MA and PhD theses?
Tenure-track faculty in Cinematic Arts (currently Paula Amad, Chris Goetz, and Michael Cowan) are the principal faculty available to direct theses. Additionally, instruction-track faculty (currently Andy Owens) may be available to serve on thesis committees.
How long do the programs take to complete?
The PhD program can typically be completed in five years, inclusive of coursework and a culminating dissertation.
What funding opportunities exist for PhD students?
Admitted PhD students typically receive a 5-year funding package, consisting mostly of teaching assistantships, and are also eligible for a diverse array of additional fellowships, ranging from summer funding and post-comprehensive awards to dissertation-completion funding.
Am I able to transfer credits or grades from other institutions into the PhD program?
The maximum amount of credit that PhD students can transfer from appropriate graduate-level courses is 33 credit hours. Decisions regarding transfer credits occur during the student’s first semester in the program.
What are the program’s areas of strength?
Our faculty are internationally-recognized researchers with an eclectic and wide-range of scholarly interests. Particular areas of strength include early cinema, European and American film history, documentary, new media, experimental/avant-garde cinema, archives, and theories of gender and sexuality.
In addition to coursework, what mentorship opportunities are available to graduate students?
Graduate students work closely with faculty in a variety of capacities, ranging from teaching supervision and independent studies to one-on-one supervision of the thesis/dissertation.
What types of careers do Iowa MA and PhD graduates go into after finishing their program of study?
Our MA and PhD students gain employment in a diverse array of professions, ranging from higher education (in colleges and universities across the U.S. and internationally) and the arts (in curatorial positions or administration) to the fields of publishing, media, and communications.
Iowa City FAQ
What is Iowa City like?
Iowa City consistently ranks near the top of lists of best college towns and most livable cities. It has been designated a “City of Literature” by UNESCO – one of only 20 in the world.
What is there to do in Iowa City?
There are lots of options for dining, entertainment, and nightlife in Iowa City.
Where do graduate students live while they are in your program?
Depending on their preferences and budgets, our students live all over the Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty area. The university’s Off-Campus Housing page is a great resource to learn about housing options in the area and even find a roommate.
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