University of Iowa · Department of Cinematic Arts

PhD in Film Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film StudiesFully funded (conditions apply)

Overview

A 72-semester-hour PhD in film studies concentrated in film history and theory, with comprehensive exams and a dissertation. Applicants need a terminal MA; students are typically funded through teaching assistantships for five years.

Official program name: PhD in Film Studies
Awarded degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Film StudiesPhD · Doctor of Philosophy
Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School: University of Iowa — Department of Cinematic Arts
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Location: Iowa City, IA
Delivery: On campus
Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance: Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity: Not published
Duration: Not verified
Required credits: 72 s.h. minimum
Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

Field	Classification	Evidence
Film Studies	Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.	Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Why this degree is listed

PhD in film studies.

Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Research, dissertation and faculty

Dissertation

DissertationDissertation, after written and oral comprehensive examinations.

Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Examinations

Written and oral comprehensive examination.
Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Teaching opportunities

Learning outcomes include undergraduate teaching skills.
Source: catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

Christopher Goetz — Associate Professor; Director of Graduate Studies, film_studies
Paula Amad — Associate Professor, film_studies
Michael Cowan — Professor, film_studies

As listed on the program's official page on October 12, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.

Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

Material	Status	Instructions as published
Academic writing sample	Required	Academic writing sample, no more than 20 pages including bibliography and notes.Length: up to 20 pagesSource: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Prior degree: RequiredA terminal MA is required for matriculation.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Statement of purpose: RequiredStatement of purpose.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters: Required3 letters — Three recommenders.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Résumé / CV: RequiredUp-to-date CV or resume.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Application fee: Required$60 — $60 for U.S. residents, $100 for international applicants.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts: RequiredUnofficial transcripts; official transcripts required before enrollment if admitted.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
English-test waiver: RequiredInternational applicants without a waiver must submit English proficiency scores.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test: Not required
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadline
January 1 · for Following academic year
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.

Tuition: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Funding

Tuition coverage and a stipend are offered to all admitted students, subject to conditions the program publishes (for example satisfactory progress). “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Fully funded (conditions apply)

Funding guarantee: Funding is contingent on university funds; students are typically fully funded.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Tuition coverage: TAships come with a tuition waiver.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Stipend: TAships come with an annual salary.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Years guaranteed: Funding period: 5 years.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Assistantship duties: Funding is typically through teaching assistantships.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Renewal conditions: Annual renewal depends on good academic standing and satisfactory teaching.
Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.

catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu/liberal-arts-sciences/cinematic-arts/film-studies-phd/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
cinematicarts.uiowa.edu/graduate/admissions — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
cinematicarts.uiowa.edu/graduate/funding — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026
cinematicarts.uiowa.edu/people/faculty — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026

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