Graduate Certificate: Documentary Arts and Ethnographic Research
Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts / SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND MEDIA ARTS
Learn more about the graduate certificate in Documentary Arts and Ethnographic Research.
About the Certificate
The graduate certificate in Documentary Arts and Ethnographic Research is a 12-credit interdisciplinary program that involves faculty and courses in the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication. The certificate builds on Temple’s strong international reputation in documentary film and visual anthropology. It is ideally suited for students who plan to incorporate visual studies, ethnographic methods, and documentary practices into their artistic and scholarly projects. The certificate program offers students the opportunity to develop marketable applied expertise in practices that bridge the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
The philosophy behind the certificate program is to promote a broad and critical use of diverse media tools in the study and representation of culture(s). Program topics include the theories, methods, aesthetics, and ethics of documentary research and visual representation; the relationships between artistic, humanistic, and scientific visual research methods; the collaborative use of visual media in indigenous, diaspora, and non-Western communities; the critical understanding of the use of new media in documentary contexts, such as mobile media; and the political economy that shapes how images are made, distributed, and used worldwide. Students in the program develop skills to:
- create cultural, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary documentary projects through film, digital technologies, and representational media;
- integrate visual and cross-cultural materials through innovative uses of technologies;
- incorporate cultural aesthetics, research ethics, cross-cultural research, and the use of documentary arts and media tools in their teaching careers; and
- work on collaborative projects involving multiple countries and contexts that can include scholarly research, international government and nongovernmental research, participation in cross-disciplinary projects on contemporary issues, and media activism.
Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 3 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate can be completed on a part-time basis.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: The certificate program is open only to students enrolled in M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs at Temple University.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: February 21
Spring: October 21
Access the certificate application here.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 1
From Whom: A letter of support must be written by the applicant student's advisor.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree — and must be currently enrolled in an M.F.A. or Ph.D. program at Temple University.
Statement of Goals: Describe your reasons for pursuing the certificate in Documentary Arts and Ethnographic Research in 250 words.
Interview: Qualifying applicant students are invited for an interview with a member of the Certificate Steering Committee.
Other Requirement: Applicant students must provide certification that they are currently enrolled in good standing, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.5 in their M.F.A. or Ph.D. program at Temple University.
Certificate Requirements
Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 12
Required Courses:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
Select at least one course from each represented discipline to complete a minimum of two of the following: | ||
Anthropology of Mass Media | ||
Approaches in the Anthropology of Visual Communication I | ||
Documentary Arts and Visual Research | ||
Electives | ||
Select at least three courses from the following: | ||
Fieldwork in Ethnography | ||
Anthropology and Photography | ||
Anthropological Problems in Visual Production | ||
History of Photography | ||
Anthropological Film/Media | ||
History of Documentary Film | ||
Time-Image Arts/Cinema Praxis | ||
Media Arts Thry-Practice | ||
Experimental Methods | ||
Documentary Workshop | ||
Advanced Documentary/Fiction Workshop | ||
Visual Communication |
GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum
Courses
FMA 5241. Cinematography Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5242. Videography. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5243. Audio Production and Aesthetics. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5244. Lighting for Film & Video. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5248. Introduction to 3D Modeling. 4 Credit Hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Film and Media Arts.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5341. Scene Analysis for Writers and Directors. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5361. Writing for Media I. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5362. Serial Writing. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Fine Arts.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 5361|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 5440. Topics in Production. 4 Credit Hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Film and Media Arts.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 5451. Animation Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5452. Digital Animation, Compositing and Modeling. 4 Credit Hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Film and Media Arts.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5468. Art-Culture-Technology Seminar. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 5674|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 5473. Moving Camera Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 5242|Minimum Grade of B|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 5553. Color Correction. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 5241|Minimum Grade of B|May not be taken concurrently
OR FMA 5242|Minimum Grade of B|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 5670. M.F.A. Colloquium. 1 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 5671. Film History and Theory. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5672. History of Documentary Film. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5673. Time-Image Arts/Cinema Praxis. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5674. Media Arts Thry-Practice. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5676. Anthropological Film/Media. 3 Credit Hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Film and Media Arts.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5680. Topics in Film Study. 4 Credit Hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Film and Media Arts.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 5770. Topics in Producing. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Fine Arts.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 5771. Producing. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5772. Fundraising for Independent Media. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 5773. Entertainment Industry Perspectives. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8240. Special Problems in Film and Media Arts. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8241. Advanced Cinematography. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8242. Experimental Media Wksp. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8243. Film Sound. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8244. Experimental Methods. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8245. Documentary Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8246. Advanced Documentary/Fiction Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8340. Topics in Production. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8341. Screen Directing Theory and Practice. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8361. Writing for Media II. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8362. Joint Writing Workshop 1. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Fine Arts.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 8361|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 8363. Joint Writing Workshop 2. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Fine Arts.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 8362|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 8450. Topics in Media. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8451. Digital Animation. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8452. New Technology Laboratory. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8461. Interractive Narrative. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8462. Documentary Arts and Visual Research. 3 to 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8551. Digital Post-Production. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8670. Topics in Media Studies. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8673. Historical Film Research. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8674. Critical Methods Seminar. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8675. Seminar: International Film. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8680. Advanced Topics in Media Arts Studies. 4 Credit Hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Film and Media Arts.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8771. Exhibition/Distribution. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 8870. U Penn Critical Studies. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 8985. Teaching in Higher Education, Arts. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 9085. Professional Field Experience. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9086. Study-Away Internship. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9245. Thesis Development Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 8674|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 9246. Thesis Production Workshop. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Fine Arts.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 8674|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
FMA 9282. Directed Projects. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9346. Methodologies and Praxis. 4 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
FMA 9683. Directed Readings. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9994. Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Study. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Documentary Arts + Visual Res.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9995. M.F.A. Project. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9998. Doctoral Dissertation Proposal. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Documentary Arts + Visual Res.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
FMA 9999. Doctoral Dissertation. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Student Attribute Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Student Attributes: Dissertation Writing Student.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites:
FMA 9998|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
Contacts
Certificate Program Web Address:
Department Information:
Film and Media Arts Graduate Admissions
Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts/School of Theater, Film and Media Arts
2001 N. 13th Street, 127 Presser Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6016
215-204-8598
Fax: 215-204-4957