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University of Southern California · Division of Cinema & Media Studies

MA in Cinema & Media Studies

MAMaster of Arts in Cinema & Media StudiesPartial funding

Overview

A campus MA in cinema and media studies covering film, television and new media from historical, theoretical and industry perspectives. Applicants submit a writing sample of up to 20 pages and three recommendation letters.

Official program name
MA in Cinema & Media Studies
Awarded degree
Master of Arts in Cinema & Media StudiesMaster's · Master of Arts
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School
University of Southern California — Division of Cinema & Media Studies
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Delivery
On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance
Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity
Not published
Duration
Not verified
Required credits
Not verified
Start
Fall
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television
The program covers both film and television.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

FieldClassificationEvidence
Film StudiesDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Why this degree is listed

MA in cinema and media studies.

Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

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

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

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

Other

Faculty listed by the program

  • Nitin Govil — Associate Professor of Cinematic Arts; Director of Graduate Studies, film_studies
  • Tara Mcpherson — Professor, film_studies
  • Todd Boyd — Professor, film_studies
  • Lan Duong — Associate Professor, film_studies
  • J.D. Connor — Associate Professor of Cinematic Arts, 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: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

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

Published production and equipment costs

Equipment, computer and software

Laptop
OptionalNo laptop requirement for Cinema & Media Studies.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

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

MaterialStatusInstructions as published
Academic writing sampleRequiredReview or analysis of film, television or new media, critical theory, or a published article; no longer than 20 pages.Length: up to 20 pagesSource: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Personal statement
RequiredCinematic Arts Personal Statement (PDF).
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three letters (at least one academic reference).
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Résumé / CV
RequiredCV/resume (PDF), including languages of competency.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

TOEFL iBT
Required — minimum 100International applicants only; minimum 20 per section for tests taken before January 21, 2026.
Source: cinema.usc.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

    December 1 · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: cinema.usc.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.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All studentsFrom the school's rate table for this level$2,700per unit · 2026-2027Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
First-year tuition (18 units, fall and spring)$50,499per academic year · 2026-2027Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Mandatory institutional fees

USC mandatory fees (estimate)
$1,899 per academic yearMandatory
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

Some scholarships, assistantships or awards exist for some students; full funding is not stated. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Partial funding

Other
SCA scholarships based on merit, need or both; generally $1,000 to $25,000.
Source: cinema.usc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.
  1. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/graduate.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  2. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/procedures/mediastudies/graduateprocedures.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. cinema.usc.edu/admissions/tuition.cfm — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. cinema.usc.edu/laptops/index.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  5. cinema.usc.edu/mediastudies/faculty.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  6. cinema.usc.edu/mediastudies/index.cfm — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  7. cinema.usc.edu/scholarships/index.cfm — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026

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