Critical-Cultural Studies | Department of Media Arts
  1. Home
  2. Graduate
  3. Master of Arts
  4. Critical-Cultural Studies

Critical-Cultural Studies

M.A. Critical-Cultural Studies in Media Arts

The Critical-Cultural Studies track of the M.A. program is led by dynamic faculty who work closely with graduate students as they develop their degree plans, theses, or exams. Seminar courses provide students with unique opportunities to engage in critical discussion and cultural debate with faculty and peers.

The track is designed for students who wish to develop their critical thinking, research, and writing skills, and it offers students a solid foundation for a Ph.D. program or careers in a variety of sectors, including national media industries, non-profits, and NGOs).

The track encourages an interdisciplinary approach in course selection. In exceptional cases, additional faculty are drawn from outside departments such as English, History, Journalism, Information Science, and Women's Studies, or complimentary media studies programs to serve on students' theses projects.

To find out more about admissions or the program, contact Dr. Jennifer Gómez Menjívar, Director of Master of Arts program.

Degree Requirements (33-36 hours)

1. REQUIRED COURSES (9 hours)

  • MRTS 5100: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Media Arts
  • MRTS 5120: Critical-Cultural Media Theory
  • MRTS 5121: Digital Media Studies

2. CRITICAL-CULTURAL STUDIES COURSES (9 hours)

(Representative offerings; subject to change with departmental approval)

  • Gender, Race & Digital Media
  • History of the Documentary
  • Contemporary Documentary
  • African American Film
  • Teen Media
  • Gender & Sexuality in the Horror Film
  • Special Topics in Media/Genre Authors
  • Media Industries Creating Comunidad Today
  • Cinema Video Verite
  • Lesbian, Gay, Queer Film & Video

3. GRADUATE ELECTIVE COURSES (12 hours)

  • These can include up to:
    • 6 credit hours from graduate courses in other departments at UNT as approved by both the Course Instructor and the Graduate Director
    • 3 credit hours MRTS 5480 (Practicum in the Teaching of Media Arts) OR 3 hours MRTS 5900 (Special Problems) as approved by both the Course Instructor and the Graduate Director
    • 3 credit hours special problems (with faculty approval)

4. CAPSTONE (3-6 hours)

The Master of Arts degree offers the option of a written thesis or a comprehensive exam. Full details outlined in the M.A. Handbook.

  • Thesis Option (6 hours)
    • Of the required graduate hours, 6 hours must be thesis credit. The student must have departmental approval for this option, including the approval of an M.A. Thesis Chair. The student must successfully complete and orally defend a written thesis.
  • Comprehensive Exam Option (3 hours)
    • Of the required graduate hours, 3 hours must be a "Special Problems" credit with the successful completion of a comprehensive examination. The student must have departmental approval for this option, including the approval of an M.A. Exam Chair. Students are eligible to complete the exam once they have a degree plan approved and have completed 21 hours of graduate course work.

RECENT M.A. THESES

Theses completed by graduate students following the Critical-Cultural Studies track traverse issues of history, representation, multiculturalism, film theory, discursive analysis, television studies, and digital media studies.