MA/Ph.D in film studies/media studies after an MFA

[madiha aijaz]

Hi,

I have an MFA in visual art with a photography concentration from Parsons on a fulbright scholarship. I took some film studies classes in grad school and now want to do a MA or a Ph.D. Though, it's not the best of the reasons but one big reason going for a PhD immediately after an MFA is I am an international and want to back in the US. Given my profile, coupled with I have just started researching on applying for a PhD. (aug already), I was wondering if MA is a better option. In any case I have tried to summarize my bg, profile and interests. I would like to stay on the east-coast preferably) Please advise. I have very little money for an MA and the only reason I'd try for an MA because it would be a good stepping stone to a PhD. Please advise!

My background:

Madiha Aijaz was born in Pakistan and received BFA in Communication Design from IVS in Karachi and MFA in Photography and Related Technologies at Parsons, New York. She was awarded the Fulbright scholarship in 2007.

Since 2002 she has worked with various media houses, art galleries and advertising agencies as a photographer and communication designer. She has also taught photography, design and film to undergraduate and high school students. In the non-profit sector, she worked as a communication designer at Aahung (an NGO working towards improving sexual health in Pakistan) and volunteered for the TCF. She was in charge of developing communication collateral via varied mediums of photography, film, print and direct awareness tools.

Currently, she is teaching screenwriting classes to sophormores at the University of Karachi and working as a Education, Communications and Outreach at the IUCN.

My future academic plans:

Plan A:

Ph.D. in film/cinema studies. (NYU, UCLA, Yale Harvard, Northwestern)

Plan B:

MA in cinema studies (aim for funding + pool in my own resources by next fall) and then go for a Ph.D..

Plan C:

MFA in media arts and then apply for Ph.D ( not as competitive as a film program, one particular program which seems half decent and above all extremely affordable is the Hunter College's MFA)

thanks,

madiha