Track Overview

The Industry Studies track is led by 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 by contacting 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 5125: Media Industry Studies
      • Either MRTS 5120: Critical/Cultural Media Theory or MRTS 5121: Digital Media Studies

2. Prescribed Industry Studies Electives (9 hours)

(Representative offerings; subject to change with departmental approval.)

      • Media Management
      • Transmedia Storytelling
      • Media Economics
      • Digital Distribution
      • Media Franchising
      • Women's Work in Hollywood
      • Film Festivals & Markets
      • Video Game History

3. Graduate Elective Courses (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 Instructor and Graduate Director
      • 3 credit hours practicum OR 3 hours internship
      • 3 credit hours special problems (with Instructor and 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 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 in Industry Studies

Theses completed by graduate students following the Industry Studies track cover topics such as media distribution, management and economics, globalization, regulation, and audience research.