Industry Studies | Department of Media Arts
  1. Home
  2. Graduate
  3. Master of Arts
  4. Industry Studies

Industry Studies

The Industry Studies side of the Master of Arts program is led by a dynamic faculty who work closely with graduate students as they develop their degree plans. Our faculty members are internationally recognized scholars, seasoned media professionals and award-winning media producers.

Students are afforded options to create individualized degree plans that fit their academic interests and career goals.

The degree is designed with a focus on expanding students' career readiness and options in the media industry or PhD programs. Students must complete a minimum of 33 hours of graduate courses; the program is designed to take approximately two years.

Find out more about admissions or the program, contact Dr. Jacqueline Vickery, 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 5125: Media Industry Studies
  • Either MRTS 5120: Crit/Cult Studies or MRTS 5121: Digital Media Studies

2. PRESCRIBED INDUSTRY STUDIES ELECTIVES (9 hours)

(offerings subject to change with approval from faculty advisor)

  • Media Management
  • Transmedia Storytelling
  • Media Economics
  • Digital Distribution
  • Media Entrepreneurship
  • Global Media
  • Audience Research
  • Media Law & Regulation
  • Media Ethics
  • Video Game History
  • U.S. Television History
  • Leadership in Media Organization
  • It's Not Just TV, It's HBO
  • Teen Media

3. OPEN ELECTIVES (12 hours)

These can include up to (but not required):

  • 6 credit hours from graduate courses in other departments at UNT as approved by the faculty advisor
  • 3 credit hours practicum OR 3 hours internship
  • 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 are outlined in the MA Handbook.

  • Thesis Option (6 hours)
    • Of the required minimum of 36 graduate hours, 6 hours must be thesis credit. The student must have departmental approval for this option, including the approval of a Media Arts graduate faculty thesis advisor. The student must successfully complete and orally defend a written thesis.
  • Comprehensive Exam Option (3 hours)
    • Of the required minimum of 33 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 a Media Arts graduate faculty examination advisor. Students are eligible to complete the exam once they have a degree plan approved and have completed 21 hours of graduate course work.

RECENT INDUSTRY STUDIES THESES

Thesis work completed by graduate students in Industry Studies covers topics such as distribution, media management and economics, globalization, audience research, and media regulation.