Graduate Certificate in Film Studies -at UMass campus

1. An application submitted to the Graduate Film Certificate Program, containing a completed Application form, transcript, and personal statement of interest in and qualifications for undertaking the Graduate Certificate, which can only be earned in conjunction with a film-focused Master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or approved final project and terminal graduate degree in a UMASS Amherst program.
2. Students must complete 15 credits of approved graduate film courses, selected from a list of courses to be determined by the Graduate Film Certificate Program, to include the following:
   1. one course in introductory film theory (3 credits)
   2. a minimum of 2 courses (six credits) taken outside their degree-granting department and college
   3. a minimum of 2 courses (six credits) with an international and/or intercultural focus
3. Upon completion of coursework, Graduate Certificate students will submit an updated transcript and a written statement to the Graduate Film Certificate Program demonstrating the ways in which their coursework constitutes an integrated, interdisciplinary film studies concentration.  If a student’s comprehensive exams are Certificate-related, a written statement must be submitted to the Graduate Film Certificate Program.
4. The Graduate Film Certificate Program must approve film-oriented Master’s theses or doctoral dissertations at the prospectus stage and upon filing the completed thesis or dissertation with the Graduate School, students must submit to the Graduate Film Certificate Program a copy of the abstract, table of contents, and signatory pages.
5. The Graduate Certificate will be awarded only upon completion of these requirements and by approval of the dean at the time the student receives his or her terminal graduate degree.

1. A maximum of two 3-credit independent study courses may be applied to the Certificate requirement
2. A minimum of three approved graduate film courses, of at least 3 credits each, must be taken at UMass Amherst
3. Students may appeal to the Graduate Film Certificate Program for course substitutions up to 6 credits for work undertaken elsewhere, such as augmented upper-level Five College courses and graduate courses from other accredited academic institutions

1. Print and submit completed application form (download below), personal statement, and current graduate transcript to the Graduate Program Coordinator. An electronic copy of the completed application with supporting documents should be sent to Professor Anne Ciecko at @email. A hard copy of the application and supporting documents (for file purposes) should also be mailed or delivered to Attention: Professor Anne Ciecko, Graduate Film Certificate Program Coordinator, N 328 Integrative Learning Center, 650 North Pleasant Street, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003.
2. Check your email for notification of whether or not you’ve been accepted.

Note:  courses may count towards multiple requirements simultaneously

1. Make an appointment with the Graduate Program Coordinator for an initial advising session.
2. Each semester, make an appointment with the Graduate Program Coordinator for course advising and to report on your progress.

3. Certificate coursework:

   Film Theory:
   1.  ________________________________ (course/semester)

   Courses outside your home department & college (2):
   1. ________________________________ (course/semester)
   2. ________________________________ (course/semester)

   International / Intercultural courses
   1. ________________________________ (course/semester)
   2. ________________________________ (course/semester)

4. Upon completion of coursework, submit an updated copy of your transcript and a written statement to the Graduate Film Certificate Program demonstrating how your coursework constitutes an integrated, interdisciplinary film studies concentration.
5. If your comprehensive exams for your graduate degree program are related to the Graduate Certificate in Film Studies, submit a short statement to the Graduate Film Certificate Program explaining their relevance.
6. During the preparation stage of your prospectus for your thesis / dissertation / final project: seek approval from the Graduate Film Certificate Program by submitting a one-page abstract to the Program.
7. After you have successfully defended your thesis / dissertation / final project prospectus, submit a copy of the completed signature page(s) to the Graduate Film Certificate Program.

Restrictions:

1. No more than two (3-credit) independent study courses
2. At least three (3-credit) graduate courses must be taken at UMass Amherst
3. No more than 6 credits of approved course substitutions such as augmented upper-level Five College courses and graduate courses from outside institutions may be used.  Students must appeal to the Graduate Film Certificate Program for any such substitutions.

1. Upon filing of the completed film-oriented master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation with the Graduate School, you must submit to the Graduate Film Certificate Program a copy of the abstract, table of contents, and signatory pages.
2. The Graduate Certificate in Film Studies will be awarded to you only upon completion of these requirements and by approval of the Graduate Film Certificate Program at the time you receive your terminal graduate degree.