Johns Hopkins University Film and Media Studies

Overview

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, offers a Film and Media Studies program through the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. While JHU is best known for its research programs in medicine and engineering, the university has built a growing film program that combines scholarly study of cinema with production coursework, attracting students who want a rigorous academic foundation alongside creative work.

The program benefits from JHU's reputation as one of the top research universities in the world. Students studying film at Hopkins have access to the university's extensive resources, interdisciplinary faculty, and research infrastructure. The program partners with FAMU in Prague, allowing students to study abroad at one of the oldest and most respected film schools in Europe.

Baltimore's proximity to Washington, D.C., provides access to documentary subjects, archives, and media organizations. The city's own cultural landscape, with its distinct neighborhoods, history, and artistic communities, offers rich material for location-based filmmaking.

Programs Offered

• BA in Film and Media Studies -- an undergraduate program blending film history, theory, criticism, and production
• MA in Film and Media -- a graduate scholarly program in cinema and media studies
• Minor in Film and Media Studies -- available to students in any major

What Students Should Know

JHU's film program is not a production-intensive conservatory. Students who want to direct features or work as cinematographers should consider programs at dedicated film schools. What Hopkins offers is a high-level intellectual engagement with cinema as a cultural form, supplemented by production coursework that develops foundational skills.

The FAMU study-abroad partnership is a distinctive feature. Students spend a semester at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, one of the oldest film schools in the world, gaining exposure to European filmmaking traditions and production methods. This experience broadens students' perspectives and provides international networking opportunities.

Tuition at JHU is approximately $62,000 per year. The university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and maintains a strong financial aid program. JHU's career services and alumni network span industries far beyond entertainment, which can be an advantage for students interested in documentary, media policy, or interdisciplinary careers.

Notable Alumni

Johns Hopkins alumni in film and media include Wes Craven (director of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream), John Astin (actor in The Addams Family), and John Waters (director of Pink Flamingos and Hairspray), who grew up in Baltimore and is closely associated with the city though he attended NYU briefly.

See Also

For exploring the relationship between film studies and film production careers, see Paths into Filmmaking. To explore filmmaking concepts in depth, visit the Filmmaker Glossary.