Faubourg Tower Bldg., FB-319
Tel.: 848-2424 ext. 4666; Fax: 848-8627
Faculty
Professors: Mario Falsetto (Graduate Program Director),
John Locke, Peter Rist, Catherine Russell, Thomas Waugh, Carole Zucker; Associate
Professor: Martin Lefebvre; Assistant Professors:
Erin Manning, Rosanna Maule, Haidee Wasson.
Programs
The Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema in the Faculty of Fine Arts offers a program
leading to the degree of Master of/Magisteriate in Arts in Film Studies. This
is an academic degree with no studio component.
Program Objectives
The program combines an appreciation of film with a comprehensive understanding
of the research methodologies appropriate to its study. Its focus is on cinema
as an aesthetic practice and as a cultural institution with a special emphasis
on Canadian and Québécois cinema. Students will have the option
of writing a thesis in addition to courses, or of a research-focused, courses-only
program of study. A wide range of topics will be covered by the program, falling
under the rubrics of film theory, national cinemas, film directors and genres,
film analysis and film history. In addition to the academic and scholarly aims
of the program, students will be able to enroll in a limited number of practicum
credits. Through internships in the local film community, the program will be
closely integrated with practical activities related to film studies.
Faculty Research Interests
The faculty research range widely across the scope of film studies, reflecting
many of its interdisciplinary features. Professors Rist, Waugh, Manning, and Russell
have made major contributions to the study of Canadian and Québécois
film, and a number of faculty members have written extensively on experimental
film (Locke, Falsetto, Russell, Wasson). Other important areas are gay and lesbian
filmmaking (Waugh), experimental documentary and ethnography (Russell), Contemporary
European Cinema (Maule), Third World cinemas (Rist), auteur studies (Zucker, Falsetto,
Maule), film acting (Zucker), film and philosophy (Locke), Japanese cinema (Russell),
Indian cinema and documentary film (Waugh), Feminist theory (Maule), film theory
(Zucker, Manning, Lefebvre), film exhibition and reception (Wasson), cinema and
the senses (Manning), and American Cinema (Falsetto, Lefebvre, Wasson).
Admission Requirements. Incoming students will be expected to
have a degree in film studies with a minimum B average (GPA 3.00) in their undergraduate
degree. Applicants may be requested to attend an interview with the graduate committee.
All applicants will be required to submit an example of their writing on cinema.
Some applicants who have undergraduate degrees in other programs will also be
considered. These students must have a strong interest in cinema from the perspective
of other disciplines such as art history, film production, communications, English,
French, sociology, philosophy, history or political science. Students applying
from non-film studies programs must demonstrate to the committee that they have
a basic knowledge of core film studies materials. Qualified applicants lacking
prerequisite courses may be required to take up to 12 undergraduate credits (or
the equivalent, to be approved by the Department's Graduate Studies Committee)
in addition to the regular graduate program.
Application Deadlines. A detailed description of the program
may be obtained from the Graduate Film Studies Program Director, Mel Hoppenheim
School of Cinema. Completed applications and all supporting documents, including
applications for financial assistance, should be submitted by December 15 for
the Fall term. For applicants not applying for financial assistance, the deadline
is February 1.
Fellowships and Assistantship. The program is able to offer several
fellowships ranging from $2,000 - $5,000 to incoming students.
Requirements for the Degree
- Credits. A fully qualified candidate is required to complete
a minimum of 45 credits.
- Residence. All options have a minimum residence requirement
of three terms of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study. All
work for the degree must be completed before or during the fifth year from
the year of initial registration in the program. Part-time students must also
complete all degree requirements within five years of original enrolment.
- Language. All students are expected to have a reading knowledge
of English and French at the time they begin classes. Courses will be conducted
in English, although French texts may be assigned on occasion. Written and
oral assignments may be submitted in either English or French. Students who
cannot read both French and English texts comfortably should begin their remedial
language work before starting classes. A test will be administered by the
department to ensure a functioning competency in French for those students
whose first language is English or another language. All students must pass
this test before receiving their degree, except those who demonstrate to the
Graduate Program Director that they are fluently bilingual.
- Courses. The program offers two different options to fulfill
degree requirements. All students may take 9 of their required additional
course credits in graduate courses offered by other departments in the university.
Such courses must be approved by the Department's Graduate Studies Committee,
with permission of the other department concerned. The two program options
are outlined below.
Academic Regulations
- Academic Standing. Students are expected to complete all
courses credited toward the master’s degree with a grade of B or higher.
Under certain conditions one C grade may be permitted. Students should consult
the written explanation of the department’s rule regarding acceptable
academic performance, available in the department’s graduate office.
- C Rule. A student who receives a C for a course will receive
credit for that course, but only one C grade may count toward the degree.
A student receiving a second C will be withdrawn from the program, regardless
of their GPA.
- F Rule. Students who receive a failing grade in the course
of their studies will be withdrawn from the program. Students may apply for
readmission. Students who receive another failing grade after re-admission
will be withdrawn from the program.
- Time Limit. All work for a master's/magisteriate degree
for full-time students must be completed within 12 terms (4 years) from the
time of initial registration in the program at Concordia University; for part-time
students the time limit is 15 terms (5 years).
- Graduation Requirement. In order to graduate, students
must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
Candidates are required to take 6 credits in Methods and 3 credits in either Canadian
Cinema or Cinéma Québécois, plus 12 additional course credits.
They will also take 24 credits of Research and Thesis. The maximum value of practicum
(internship) credits allowable in this option is 6.
In admitting students to this option, the Graduate Program Director will ensure
that a potential supervisor exists within the faculty for the student's research
area. The onus is on the student, however, to secure a member of the faculty to
supervise the thesis. Theses must be submitted to the department at least six
weeks prior to the submission deadline given in the graduate calendar. The examination
committee will consist of three faculty members, and will be chaired by the Graduate
Program Director, who will remain a neutral member of the committee. The GPD may
appoint an alternate chair if he or she is a supervisor or reader of the thesis.
Candidates are required to take 6 credits in Methods and 3 credits in either Canadian
or Québécois Cinema, plus 36 additional course credits. In each
course they would typically be required to submit a research paper as well as
to do an oral presentation. In this option, students would become familiar with
a broad range of methodologies and film practices. Within this framework, they
may also be able to pursue specific areas of interest by enrolling in independent
studies, internships, or taking courses in other departments in the university.
The maximum number of practicum (internship) credits allowable in this option
is 12.
Practicum Credits
A student may receive credit for work at film institutions (e.g. festivals, archives),
periodicals, educational or production establishments. Each internship must be
approved in advance by the Program Director and the student must consult with
an academic supervisor. The duties will be supervised by an individual within
the sponsoring organization, in consultation with an academic adviser, to ensure
that the student's responsibilities are in keeping with aims of the M.A. program.
The academic advisor will determine the credit value of each internship, which
will be evaluated on the basis of the student's written report. The report should
demonstrate the student's understanding of the organization's social and cultural
role as well as an analysis of the activities and functioning of the organization.
In all cases, students will work without pay. The 3-credit practicum should involve
at least 135 hours at the host institution. The 6-credit internship has the same
requirements and provisions as the 3-credit internships, except that the student
is expected to do twice the work (270 hours). This may occur in a concentrated
period of time (one semester), or may be taken over two consecutive semesters.
Courses
Each year the program will offer FMST 600, either FMST 605 or FMST 610, plus a
selection of courses from those listed below.
FMST 600 Methods in Film Studies (6 credits)
FMST 605 Topics in English Canadian Film (3 credits)
FMST 610 Topics in Québécois Cinema (3 credits)
FMST 615 Topics in European Cinemas (3 credits)
FMST 620 Topics in Non-European Cinemas (3 credits)
FMST 625 Topics in Film History (3 credits)
FMST 630 Topics in Film Theory (3 credits)
FMST 635 Topics in Aesthetics and Cultural Theory (3 credits)
FMST 640 Gender Issues in Film (3 credits)
FMST 645 Topics in Film Genres (3 credits)
FMST 650 Topics in Experimental Film and Video (3 credits)
FMST 655 Topics in Documentary (3 credits)
FMST 660 Topics in Film Directors (3 credits)
FMST 665 Topics in Film Studies (3 credits)
FMST 670 Independent Study (3 credits)
FMST 675 Practicum (3 credits)
FMST 680 Practicum (3 credits)
FMST 685 Practicum (6 credits)
FMST 690 MA Research and Thesis (24 credits)