The Department of Media Study’s PhD is one of a small set of doctoral programs in experimental media theory and practice in the United States. As a department and as a community we are committed to producing work which challenges and extends conventional forms and representations and contributes to deep research in media arts practices.

The PhD in Media Study seeks to nurture the next generation of artist-scholars and assist them as they seek to define new art and research practices of the 21st century. Students develop their research specialties with faculty supervision and engage the university community to formulate deep individualized research trajectories in cutting edge media theory and practice. Select PhD students are financially supported for four years and expected to contribute to the department through teaching and instructional support.

Commensurate with the traditional PhD framework, most of the credits are earned in research and independent study. Only three foundational courses (Methods of Making and Graduate Seminar I and II) are required for all students. Consequently, students are free to organize their course of study around specific research trajectories.

Students will typically be ready for their qualifying exams in their fourth and fifth semester. After passing the qualifying exam they dedicate themselves exclusively to the dissertation with supervision of a faculty member, and in consultation with a self-defined dissertation committee with expertise in the areas of the student’s research. This allows students to make use of the university-wide and international network of connections Media Study has established and continues to expand.

Sincerely yours,
Marc Böhlen, Director of Graduate Studies
www.realtechsupport.org

Please use the following link to proceed to the PhD Application.