Curriculum
A Three-Year Program
The MFA in Film requires completion of 108 credits.
Film Projects
In the first year, students will make three films: a 4 minute silent film which focuses on visual storytelling, a short documentary character study, and an adaptation of a news article into a narrative short story. In the second year, students develop their own film style through a more ambitious production -- a 10-minute narrative film, which employs larger crews and more sophisticated equipment. In the third year of the program, students have the opportunity to take advanced classes in every craft area (i.e. advanced editing, advanced cinematography), to explore feature writing and continue to build their creative portfolio (i.e. documentary, music videos, spec commercials, improvisations and narrative projects). Finally, students will complete a thesis film project that is the culmination of three years of study, training, and production experience. The thesis is an opportunity to take on a project of more sophistication and complexity.
- First Year, Fall Semester
- First Year, Spring Semester
- Second Year, Fall Semester
- Second Year, Spring Semester (Required)
- Second Year, Spring Semester (Electives)
- Third Year, Fall Semester
- Third Year, Spring Semester
- Projects
- First Year, Fall Semester
- Actors Craft I
- Aethetics I
- Directing I: The Silent Film
- Editing I
- Fundamentals of Screenwriting I
- Introduction to Production Management
- Location Sound I
- Motion Picture Camera Techniques
- First Year, Spring Semester
- Actors Craft II
- Aesthetics II: Story, Shape & Development
- Directing II: Documentary & Adaptation
- Editing II
- Fundamentals of Screenwriting II
- Location Sound II
- Motion Picture Camera Techniques II
- Production Management: Adaptation & Festivals
- Second Year, Fall Semester
- Aesthetics III: Narrative Film Style
- Cinematography: Studio Lighting I
- Directing III
- Directing the Actor I
- Narrative Editing
- Producing the Short Narrative Film
- Technical Workshop: Avid & Sound
- Writing the Short Screenplay
- Second Year, Spring Semester (Required)
- Directing IV / Master Class
- Editing Workshop
- Post-Production Sound
- Producing the Independent Feature
- Writing the Thesis I
- Second Year, Spring Semester (Electives)
- Aesthetics IV: Narrative Film Analysis
- Cinematography: Studio Lighting II
- Directing the Actor II
- Third Year, Fall Semester
- AVID Media Composer
- Cinematography for Directors
- Directing Projects: Documentary
- Directing Projects: Location: Improvisation
- Directing Projects: Ten Scripts
- Directing the Actor III
- Directing the Thesis I
- Independent Study
- Master Series: Directing Strategies
- Master Series: Exit Strategies
- Sound Editing & Mixing
- Writing the Feature I
- Writing the Thesis II
- Third Year, Spring Semester
- Advanced Cinematography: Practicum
- Advanced Cinematography: Techniques
- Advanced Editing
- Aesthetics: Genre & Script Analysis
- Directing Projects: Directing Television Commercials
- Directing Projects: Documentary II
- Directing Projects: Production Design: Music Video
- Directing Projects: Ten Scripts
- Directing the Actor IV
- Entertainment Business Law
- Master Series: Exit Strategies
- Writing the Feature II
- Projects
- Film Projects
