Next deadline for applications: 31 March 2024

Visual Anthropology, Media and Documentary Practices (M.A.)

Learn how media representations shape our world and apply this knowledge to your own research projects and media outputs

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Free places

18

Target group

Filmmakers, multimedia experts and professionals with an interest in media, culture and society

Application deadline

31 March 2024

Study fee

12.950 €

What you will learn

The three-year master program trains students in (1) theory and practice of visual anthropology, (2) the documentary arts (film/photography/installation), as well as (3) media culture and media anthropology. Conceptual and practical knowledge within these areas can be applied in academia, the arts, culture and media industries, as well as to social, applied, or educational media projects. Students study the theoretical and practical foundations of visual anthropology, they gain experience in film production, project development, and (audio-) visual installation.

Presence phases and modules

You complete the master program “Visual Anthropology, Media and Documentary Practices” on an extra-occupational and practice-oriented basis. Upon completion, you may use the title “Master of Arts”. The standard period of study is six semesters, i.e. 3 years. The master program comprises a total of 120 credit points and 50 days that require on-site attendance. The individual modules take place in blocks of 5-10 days.

The extra-occupational master program comprises 9 modules. Modules 1 to 7 are face-to-face courses in small groups, usually with a maximum of 25 participants. In modules 8 and 9, participants complete an internship and write their master’s thesis that is usually accompanied by a practical media project.

In between the seven modules, students participate in five courses (tutorials) to follow up on the contents taught in the modules. Each tutorial consists of seven sessions á 2 hours. This ensures that students experience continuity and a sustainable study environment between modules.

Introduction to Audio-Visual and Media Anthropology

November 22nd – 28th, 2024

  • intersections between documentary art & anthropology
  • media and visual culture studies
  • from observational to sensory and experimental film
  • collaborative & participatory filmmaking
  • documentary modes of representation
  • auto-ethnography
  • transcultural film & anthropology
  • qualitative research methods in social anthropology

Prof. Dr. Veronica Barassi
Thomas John
Dr. Judith Albrecht
Dr. Florian Walter

Representation and Narrative Strategies

March 3rd – 10th, 2025

  • narrative audio-visual strategies
  • poetic framing & visual aesthetics
  • exhibition design
  • audio-visual installation concepts
  • documenting cross-culturally
  • artistic research practices
  • research through cinema
  • ethics of audio-visual representation

Kristian Petersen
Prof. Dr. Emily Smith
Prof. Dr. Christopher Wright

Anthropological Short Film Production

May 30th – June 5th, 2024

  • short film production workshop
  • film production & editing
  • film treatment development
  • research through filmmaking
  • non-linear storytelling
  • web-documentary
  • multimodal anthropology

Thomas John
Lefteris Fylaktos

Media Ethnography, Digital Anthropology and Media Practices

September 30th – October 6th, 2024

  • queer, feminist and decolonial media
  • media activism
  • politics of media
  • indigenous media
  • digital audio-visual anthropology
  • methods in media ethnography
  • media-analytical skills

Dr. Souleymane Diallo
Dr. Anja Dreschke
Dr. Dalia Neis

Mediation of Human Experience and applied audio-visual Anthropology

January 20th – 26th, 2025

  • sensory and experimental documentary filmmaking
  • applied audio-visual anthropology
  • collaborative & participatory approaches
  • human-environment relationships explored through audio-visual methods
  • human animal-relationships mediated through film
  • poetics of cinema & culture

Dr. Thorsten Gieser
Dr. Martin Gruber
Dr. Arjang Omrani

Professional Project Development & Funding Strategies

April 15th – 26th, 2024

  • project development
  • funding strategies
  • film proposal development
  • finding your creative identity
  • transcultural film workshop
  • sensory & collaborative strategies in creative cinema

Thomas John
Boris Mitic
Prof. Dr. Laurent van Lancker

Final Thesis and Project Colloquium

September 24th – October 2nd, 2024

  • research design development
  • audio-visual research methods
  • qualitative methods
  • film/media project development
  • writing a research proposal
  • theoretical approaches to film as research
  • theoretical perspectives in social anthropology
  • research and media/film production ethics

Dr. Thorsten Gieser
Thomas John
Kristian Petersen
Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka

Practical Work: Cultural Media Production

  • practical work experience
  • media project or internship
  • skills and networking
  • cultural and media industry
  • documentary art industry

Fieldwork, Media Project and Final Thesis

  • field- and film-work
  • film or other media project
  • supervision of students’ final works
  • research and media production colloquium
  • exhibiting a film/media project

Secure your place at university

Find out more about your Master

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Find out what qualifications are required

Data and facts


Graduation

Master of Arts (M.A.)


Faculty

Faculty of History and Philosophy


Duration of study

36 months


Entrance date

01 October 2024


Next application deadlines

31 March 2024


Teaching language

English


Teaching location

University of Münster Professional School, Königsstraße 47, 48143 Münster


Study fee

12.950 € in 3 installments

  • in individual cases also according to individual payment plan
  • exempt from VAT pursuant to § 4 No.21 a (bb) UStG


Target group

Filmmakers, multimedia experts, students with a background in the social sciences and humanities and professionals with an interest in the complex connections between media, culture and society


Access requirement

  • A relevant undergraduate or first degree (at least 180 ECTS credit points, e.g., Bachelor and Master)
  •  At least one year of work experience in media production and/or the social sciences or cultural studies subsequent to your first university degree
  • English level B2 pursuant to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)


Free places

22


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Frequently asked questions

Important questions and answers concerning your studies at the Universität Münster Professional School

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Study in Münster

There are three things that first time visitors to Münster notice right away: the beautiful city center, the large number of bicycles and the abundance of young people. Since October 2004 Münster has proudly called itself “the world’s most liveable city.” Münster is home to the Universität Münster, one of the five largest universities in Germany with about 43,000 students (at least one-fifth of the city’s entire population).

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The Professional School

The Professional School of the University of Münster focuses on part-time studies (Master's/MBA) and further education and qualification for working people. We stand for the connection between science and practice and focus on the needs of working professionals.

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We are happy to help with any questions

Dr. Pablo Holwitt

Student advice and support

Mo–Fr: 09.00 am - 4.00 pm

+49 251 8321705
pablo.holwitt@uni-muenster.de