Northwestern University

Overview

The PhD in Screen Cultures at Northwestern University offers a comprehensive exploration of film, television, and emerging media through critical and historical lenses. This program equips students with interdisciplinary research skills, fostering an environment for innovative scholarship within the university's vibrant humanities and social sciences communities.

What you'll study

Core academic focus

• Advanced study in film, television, and emerging media
• Critical and cultural theory applied to media history and analysis
• Research methods for interdisciplinary scholarship

Sample seminar and topic areas

• Race and media studies
• Feminism and media culture
• Postcolonial theory
• Media and the environment
• Unethical media
• Nostalgia and its discontents
• Science fiction
• Cinema and time
• Media spaces

Interdisciplinary learning

• Students have the opportunity to engage in additional coursework and events across Northwestern’s humanities and social science programs.
• Options may include media production-related courses and specialty seminars, tailored to student interests and availability.

Dissertation

• Students will complete a doctoral dissertation based on original research, guided by faculty mentorship. Specific milestones and format will be determined by the program's guidelines and the Graduate School requirements.

Entry requirements

Applicants must possess a U.S. bachelor’s degree or an equivalent non-U.S. degree from a regionally accredited institution. The Graduate School also accepts applications from international students holding 3-year bachelor’s degrees. Specific GRE/GMAT and minimum GPA requirements are not detailed; applicants should verify any program-specific expectations with Northwestern’s admissions office.

Career prospects

A PhD in Screen Cultures prepares graduates for diverse career paths in academia, research, media production, and cultural criticism. The interdisciplinary nature of the program fosters a deep understanding of media's societal impacts, equipping students with the analytical skills necessary for roles in education, media analysis, and beyond.