Degree Requirements

Completion of the Media Studies MA requires 30 credits, or the equivalent of 10 courses, including:  

Two required courses (6 credits):

Media and Social Justice

Media and Capitalism 

These core courses are each offered every other year, so that any fulltime student can complete the degree in two years. 

Any seven (or six) additional electives.

Up to four courses may be earned outside of Queens College.

One or Two semesters of thesis (3 or 6 credits)

Students prepare a thesis based upon independent research under the supervision of a thesis adviser. Detailed guidelines on the thesis process, program expectations, and a recommended timeline for completion are provided in the Thesis Handbook​, which will be provided to all MA students during their first year in the program. All MA students are expected to give a thesis colloquium during their final semester in the program.

The thesis is an approximately 60-page paper or capstone project (such as tactical media, field work, media activism, journalism, media arts) with an accompanying 15-20-page statement of purpose, influences, and methodology. Students submit a proposal to a faculty advisor a semester before they enroll in Thesis 790 with that advisor and complete the thesis. 

Performance and Media Arts track students will seek an advisor from whichever arts modality in which they are working. These may include projects such as playwriting, theater productions, dance, choreography, public theater, media activism, augmented theater, community engagement, primary school workshops, etc.  

Additional information on policies and standards can be found at the College website for Graduate Studies.