Learn from Professional Filmmakers
Central to the intensive one-year curriculum is Doc Talks, a monthly screening series. Doc Talks invites guest artists and professionals in the field of documentary cinema to share insights into their work and the media industry with Documentary Studies students. Additionally, every spring, as part of the Dorothy H. Hirshon Residency, a distinguished filmmaker leads master classes to which certificate students are invited.
Read more about the curriculum
Truth Be Told Festival
The Documentary Media Studies program culminates in a student documentary festival, Truth Be Told, at the end of each school year. At the festival, certificate students' films are publicly screened and discussed by the filmmakers and faculty. The films are the products of students' yearlong study of documentary production, history, and theory.
Visit the Truth Be Told website
Career Paths
Certificate holders are qualified to become documentary editors, field producers, cinematographers, directors, and researchers and take up related positions in media distribution, museum programming, festival organization, and broadcast productions. All 2018 graduates were employed or pursuing further education within 12 months of graduating.
Some students continue their graduate studies in pursuit of a master's or PhD. Students who complete this certificate are invited to apply for the MA in Media Studies or MS in Media Management programs. If admitted, students who complete this certificate can transfer all credits from the certificate, provided that grades of B or better were received in the courses.
Conversely, MA in Media Studies or MS in Media Management students may apply to pursue the Documentary Media Studies certificate in their second year of study. If they are admitted, all credits will apply to their respective degrees, provided that grades of B or better were received in the courses.
Read alumni news on the program blog