Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Film Studies

We do not currently offer M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D. programs in Film. 

YOU must be admitted to an eligible graduate degree program at the ohio state university to complete the graduate interdisciplinary specialization in film Studies transcript designation.

The Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (GIS) in Film Studies is a degree enhancement open to any graduate student at The Ohio State University who is interested in developing a secondary expertise in film studies to complement the student's home graduate program. This specialization provides students the tools for rigorous formal and historical analysis of film. It urges students to think critically about film as an aesthetic form and cinemas as a social institution.

Required courses

The specialization requires a minimum of four courses and no less than 12 hours.

• At least 9 hours must from film studies courses on Master and Supplemental Lists (see below).
• At least 9 hours must come from outside the student's home degree program/department. 
• At least 6 hours must be taken at the 7000 level or above.
• A grade of B or better is required in each course and a minimum 3.4 GPA in the specialization. 

Electives

Students should complete the remaining 3 credit hours to total 12 hours from intensive, upper-level film courses approved by the department. Please contact the academic program coordinator to approve course.

Process

Students should enroll in approved courses from the Master and Supplemental lists of approved coursework.

1) Track coursework and verify program of study requirements are met. 
Be sure that you have met course and grade requirements of the GIS in Film Studies. Submit completed GIS audit form to the program coordinator to review and ensure all requirements have been met the semester prior to your completion. 

To request an audit of your progress toward completion at any stage of your GIS, please forward completed audit form with an unofficial transcript to program coordinator.

2) Once final curriculum is approved, submit GIS application in GradForms

Application for the GIS is made at the beginning of the semester of its completion. This requirement exists because the form may be forwarded to the Graduate School only in the first two weeks of each semester, and this leaves time for making other arrangements in the event that a completed course is not approved toward completion of the GIS.

Students should submit a Minor and Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization form in GRADFORMS. The form serves as the student’s application. The coordinator of the minor/GIS will be notified to review the application, and the student’s advisor will receive an email notice that the student submitted the form.

• Log into the GradForms website using OSU credentials.
• Click on ‘Graduation and Examination Tasks’ and then choose the ‘GIS/Minor application’.  

3) Graduate School form approval and confirmation
Once the student initiates the online application an email is sent to the representative in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts to approve/deny the form.  After the program approves, the form it is sent to the Graduate School for review of the application, and verification that all courses have been taken and passed with a B/S or higher.

• Once the Graduate School confirms the decision, the student will receive a confirmation email.
• The student must adhere to the curriculum of the minor/GIS program as indicated on the program form.
• If ANY changes in the approved curriculum are necessary, the student must have the change approved by the GIS program, which will notify the Graduate School. Departures from the approved minor/GIS program could result in the specialization not appearing on the student’s transcript.

4) Transcript designation
When the student has completed the minor/GIS program, the student must complete the GIS transcript designation form in GRADFORMS for final review. Once reviewed and approved by the minor/GIS program and the Graduate School, the designation will be posted to the student’s academic record.