Department of Media Arts - University of North Texas

University of North Texas

Jul 25, 2025

2025-26 Graduate Catalog

Main Departmental Office
Radio, TV, Film and Performing Arts Building, Room 262

Mailing Address:
1155 Union Circle #310589
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2537
Web site: www.mediaarts.unt.edu

Harry Benshoff, Chair
Tania Khalaf, Associate Chair
Jennifer Gómez Menjívar, Director of MA Program, Jennifer.Gomezmenjivar@unt.edu
Eugene Martin, Director of MFA Program, Eugene.Martin@unt.edu

Faculty

The Master of Arts program is designed for applicants who wish to pursue research in media arts. Establishing a strong foundation for doctoral degree programs or careers in media industries, the degree emphasizes the following areas:

Media industries: examines national and global media industries, encompassing several areas of scholarly interest, including managerial, technological, economic, political and social dynamics of various media including radio, television, film, and digital media.
Critical-cultural studies: examines media in relation to topics such as race, class, gender, sexuality, audiences/fandom, digital cultures, cultural history, globalization and production contexts.

The Master of Fine Arts program is designed for persons who wish to pursue a career in documentary production and studies, culminating in the creation of a major thesis production. The Master of Fine Arts degree is a terminal degree, therefore also appropriate for those seeking academic careers. The program emphasizes the following areas:

Documentary pre-production, production and post-production; and
Documentary history and theory and contemporary documentary.

Research

Members of the Media Arts faculty include internationally recognized scholars, seasoned media professionals and award-winning documentary filmmakers. Research specialties include media history and criticism, cultural studies, global media, media linguistics, and television and radio broadcast operations. Books written by media arts faculty are used in university courses throughout the world. Faculty-produced films and television programs have been broadcast on television, released theatrically, distributed on major streaming services and selected internationally for film and video festivals. Faculty members also serve on the boards of national and international organizations dealing with media education, media culture, and media production.

Admission requirements

Master of Arts with a major in media industry and critical studies

Prospective students must meet the requirements of both the Toulouse Graduate School and the Department of Media Arts to apply for admission to the MA in media industries and critical cultural studies. The minimum requirements for admission are: completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and completion of a minimum of 24 hours of undergraduate courses in media arts or a related field.

Applicants who meet the above criteria must take the following steps to apply for admission to the MA in media industries and critical cultural studies:

Step 1: Create an applicant profile

Follow the instructions for the University of North Texas Centralized Application Service (https://unt2025.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login)

Step 2: Submit an application

Upon creating a user account, the applicant will be prompted to provide the following information:

Personal Information

Academic History and Transcripts

UNT Supporting Information

Program Materials

Statement of Purpose. In 1-2 pages, explain how pursuing a graduate degree in our department will aid in your professional plans and /or career aspirations. Indicate the names of any faculty members whose research and/or professional experience aligns with your goals.
Two Letters of Recommendation. These can come from current or former professors. Or, an applicant who has worked professionally in media may submit a letter from a person who has supervised their work.

A Writing Sample (normally a final paper completed for a course).

The Media Arts MA Admissions Committee may require an interview of certain applicants under consideration. This interview may take place in person, via telephone or video conference.

Assistantships

Several graduate assistantships, including teaching and research assistantships, are awarded each year to new and continuing students. These assistantships can significantly help with the cost of the degree. Email Dr. Jennifer Gómez Menjívar, Director of Master of Arts program, if you are interested in applying for an assistantship.

Application Deadlines

The deadline to apply for admission to the M.A. in Media Industries and Critical Cultural Studies is February 15. The applicant can anticipate a decision notification by early April. Please note, assistantship applications are also due by this deadline.

The MRTS department curriculum for the MA degree is designed to allow for two-year completion, with course work beginning in the fall term/semester.

Master of Fine Arts with a major in documentary production and studies

Applicants must meet the requirements of both the Toulouse Graduate School and the Department of Media Arts. If applicants are accepted by the Graduate School, their files are forwarded to the Graduate Committee in the Department of Media Arts for further evaluation. The following may be considered the MRTS department’s minimum requirements:

To apply, the following materials should be sent directly to the Toulouse Graduate School:

Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
A completed graduate application form.
Application fee.

In addition, the following items should be submitted directly to the director of the media arts MFA program at the department’s address above:

A statement of purpose of two to three pages, describing both reasons for pursuing the terminal degree in documentary production and studies and the specific areas of academic and professional interest.
A portfolio of creative work submitted electronically. Sample creative work should include one complete production and 10 minutes of excerpts from additional work if available. Still photographs or other material that demonstrates the applicant’s creative talents and accomplishments may be submitted following consultation with the director of graduate studies. All materials should be labeled to include length and the applicant’s role in the production.
A writing sample representative of the applicant’s best academic work in the field.
Three letters of recommendation from faculty. If the applicant has not attended an academic institution for the past four years or more, two of these letters may come from professional colleagues capable of commenting on the applicant’s probability of success in a rigorous graduate program.
In specific instances, the Media Arts Graduate Committee may require an interview of applicants under consideration. This interview may take place in person, via videoconference or telephone call.
An applicant from outside the United States must demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English prior to admittance. International students must submit TOEFL scores or other evidence of language proficiency as determined by Toulouse Graduate School. See https://www.unt.edu/admissions/international/english-language-requirements for more information.

Previous academic work and/or professional performance, as demonstrated in the portfolio of creative work submitted with the application, must indicate the potential for graduate work in a rigorous, production-oriented graduate program in the broadly defined, but clearly focused, documentary genre.

Primary consideration will be given to applicants who have provided all required information by February 15. A second deadline of March 15 will be utilized to consider a second pool of applicants if positions are available.

Graduate assistantships

A limited number of graduate teaching and research assistantships are available for outstanding applicants.

Scholarships

Each year, the Department of Media Arts distributes scholarships to help graduate students pay the cost of their education. These funds – from private individual donors, corporations, and foundations – are for direct student support and do not have to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded to students based on qualifications specified by each award which include things like field of study, career interests, and academic merit. Applications are submitted via the Media Arts website and are reviewed by a committee of Media Arts faculty with awards announced at the end of each academic year. Scholarships are typically for amounts up to $1,500 and the money is applied towards tuition in the Fall semester. . Then number and dollar amount of awards available each year depends on the total dollar amount of funding available

Alan & Beverly Albarran Scholarship is an award established by Dr. Alan Albarran, former professor and department chair in the Department of Media Arts, and his wife Beverly, to provide scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of Media Arts who are pursuing an industry studies emphasis in their degree.

The Bill Mercer Endowment for Broadcast Media Scholarship is a scholarship established by UNT alumnus Bill Mercer (M.A., 1966), the original “Voice of the Mean Green” and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, to support Media Arts students studying broadcast media or journalism.

Cindy Coyle Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship in memory of Cindy Coyle, who spent her career working in marketing and promotions for DFW radio stations, to provide support for students with an expressed career interest in radio.

Department of Media Arts Executive Board Scholarship is a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Media Arts. Students must be enrolled for at least 12 hours (undergraduate) or at least 9 hours (graduate) of study in both the Spring and Fall semesters. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 hours of coursework towards a degree at the time of application and have a minimum UNT GPA of 3.0.

Edwin L. Glick Scholarship is a scholarship established by former UNT professor and Media Arts Department Chair Dr. Edwin Glick to encourage students to pursue careers in broadcasting, cable, and other related media industries that might develop in the future. Students must have completed at least 12 hours in Media Arts coursework at UNT and be enrolled as a full-time Media Arts student in the semester for which the scholarship was awarded. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate interest in a career in broadcasting/cable such as production, sales, management, operations, or broadcast journalism, through appropriate courses, internships, extracurricular activities (e.g. KNTU or ntTV) or other industry-related employment. It is not the intent of this scholarship to support film production or video production except for news documentary.

The First Broadcasting Radio/Television/Film Scholarship is a scholarship for students who have a demonstrated interest in radio broadcasting as a career through participation with either KNTU or through off-campus internships. Students must have completed at least 60 hours of coursework and have a GPA of at least 2.5.

The Kurt D. Ugland Scholarship is a scholarship in memory of Kurt D. Ugland, a Department of Media Arts alumnus and former executive producer of the City of Plano’s Television Network (PTN), to support undergraduate or graduate students in television production in the Department of Media Arts who demonstrate exceptional creativity

The Melanie Goodwin RTVF Scholarship provides support for Media Arts students in memory of former UNT student Melanie Goodwin.

Paramount Pictures Graduate Scholarship is an academic scholarship awarded to recognize demonstrated excellence and promise in the graduate study and production of radio, television, and/or film media at the University of North Texas.

The Staples Graduate Scholarship was created by Dr. Donald Staples, Professor Emeritus of Film and Television at UNT, and his wife Kristen Staples to provide scholarships to full-time graduate students pursuing a Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts degree in the Department of Media Arts.

Requirements

● Applicants must meet minimum entrance and academic performance standards at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Media Arts.

● Applicants must be enrolled for at least nine (9) hours (graduate) of study in both the Spring and the Fall semesters.

● Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time graduate major in the Department of Media Arts.

● Additional requirements specific to each award are available in the Scholarship section of the Department of Media Arts website.

Application

Applications are accepted via links in the Scholarship section of the Department of Media Arts website (https://mediaarts.unt.edu/scholarships) in the Spring semester after the call for applications is posted. Please refer to that website for the most up to date information, application instructions, and eligibility requirements.

Programs

Master’s Degree

Courses

Media Arts