BA Cinema and Media Studies at University of Washington

Programme overview

Cinema and media studies emphasizes the study of film, television, and related media in the context of global culture. It stresses the importance of historical and cultural awareness for effective interpretation of visual, audiovisual and verbal texts. Students earning a degree in cinema and media studies may pursue work at the MA and PhD levels in allied curricula in the humanities and the arts.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Cinema and Media Studies | Duration: 60 credits | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

60 credits; Core courses (10 credits):; CMS 301, CMS 480; History courses (10 credits):; CMS 310 or CMS 311; one of CMS 312, CMS 313, CMS 314, or CMS 315; Critical concepts courses (10 credits):; one of CMS 302, CMS 303, or CMS 304; one of CMS 320, CMS 321, or CMS 322; Approved electives (30 credits):; See adviser for approved list; Minimum 20 credits from 300- and 400-level courses; Minimum 10 credits from CMS courses; May include additional history and critical concepts CMS courses

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

One from CMS 270, CMS 271, CMS 272, CMS 273, CMS 274, or CMS 275; minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA; completion of one course fulfilling either College of Arts and Sciences English composition requirement or W (writing) requirement (5 credits).

Domestic applicants: USD 12,664 a year (2026-27). Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and fac Source

International applicants: USD 44,580 a year (2026-27). Non-Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and Source

First-year entry quarters: Autumn (begins late September), Winter (begins early January; not open to international first-year applicants), Summer (begins mid-June; most degree-seeking students apply for Autumn). Spring quarter is not open to first-year applicants.

Transfer entry: Autumn and Summer quarters; Spring quarter transfer admission is open only to applicants to specific departments in engineering and computer science.

First-year applications for Autumn (and Summer) open August 15 and close November 15; notification March 1-15. Winter applications open August 1 and close September 1, with notification in November and December. The UW does not offer early decision or early action. Apply through the Common App.

First-year application fee is $85 for U.S. students (fee waivers available) and $95 for international students (no fee waivers). Application requires a Common App essay and a self-reported academic record in STARS. SAT/ACT scores are not required for most applicants; homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools without letter or numeric grades must submit SAT or ACT scores. International applicants submit TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting the minimum English proficiency requirement.

Transfer applications for Autumn and Summer open December 15 and close February 28; notification May 1 to June 30. Transfer application fee is $85 (U.S., fee waivers available) or $95 (international, no fee waivers). SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants.

Apply through the official page: https://admit.washington.edu/apply/

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