Doctor of Philosophy in Film Studies

The strength of our libraries and the interdisciplinary nature of our approach to education are central to our ability to provide first-rate educational opportunities in the Film Studies domain. The first Iowa MA thesis in the area of film was submitted in 1916. Ever since, the Iowa libraries have been collecting film materials, making Iowa one of the best places in the world to conduct film-oriented research. The first Film Studies PhD was granted in 1960. Now that the Film Studies program is closely tied to both Comparative Literature and Film Video Production, we are able to offer a unique interdisciplinary approach to the Film Studies field. Not only is our faculty strongly committed to the importance of working in an interdisciplinary fashion, but our colleagues in the Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature and several other departments make it possible for our students to develop individualized programs that are truly interdisciplinary in nature.