In addition to the doctoral program in Visual Studies described above, the Program in Visual Studies also offers an emphasis in Visual Studies available to Ph.D. and M.F.A. students in all departments at UCI. Satisfactory completion of the emphasis is certified by the Director of Visual Studies and is noted in the student’s dossier.

Students must first be admitted to, or currently enrolled in, a Ph.D. or M.F.A. program at UCI. Applicants must submit to the Director of Visual Studies a summary of prior undergraduate and graduate course work related to Visual Studies, institutions attended, and major(s), together with a brief statement of purpose, including career objectives, areas of interest and research, record of research, teaching, professional accomplishments, and/or creative work. Lack of prior course work does not preclude admission, so long as a compelling statement of research interests, congruent with the emphasis, makes the case. Admission to the emphasis is on a rolling basis. The Director tracks students’ progress toward fulfillment of the emphasis requirements and meets with students to advise them on a program of study, as required.

Visual Studies offers a Graduate Emphasis to current UCI graduate students working towards the Ph.D. or M.F.A. degree. As Visual Studies is an inherently interdisciplinary area of study, our emphasis complements a wide array of other fields and supports students’ research interests in the methods, study, and analysis of the visual, the image, and representation.

The emphasis consists of four courses: Visual Studies 290C (usually offered only in spring quarter) and three other Visual Studies seminars. Students seeking the emphasis are also strongly encouraged to incorporate a Visual Studies theme, approach, or topic into their dissertation.