Admission to the Program
Applicants must meet the minimum university requirements for graduate study. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) grade point average in last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. International students whose first language is not English should take the TOEFL examination to demonstrate proficiency in written as well as spoken English. A portfolio of creative works such as digital or analog games, interactive media, art installations, software, creative writing, etc, is required for review.
An undergraduate degree in visual media or game design is desirable, but applications from candidates who have majored in other fields will also be considered. Applicants with prior experience in the visual media should submit a portfolio illustrating relevant professional experience. Students without prior experience in film, video, photography, or digital media production or who do not demonstrate through their portfolio a level of minimum proficiency in media production will need to reconcile their deficiencies with additional coursework.
Official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a 1,000-word essay on the applicant’s commitment to pursuing graduate study in the program are submitted with the application.
Incoming students must complete the summer “boot camp” courses of COMM-610 Principles of Video Production (3) and COMM-663 Techniques and Aesthetics of Editing (3) . The faculty committee retains discretion over student advancement to fall courses even if they pass either, or both, of the required courses.
Applicants with prior experience in visual media, who wish to be considered for a substitution of the required COMM-610 and/or COMM-663 courses, should submit a written request illustrating relevant coursework or professional experience. Those requesting a substitution of either or both of these required courses will be required to take and pass an exam. Students granted substitutions for either, or both, of these required courses take advanced coursework in the field in order to fulfill those academic credits.
Qualified undergraduate students may apply to a combined bachelor’s/master’s program and utilize up to six credit hours of 500-level or select 600-level cross-listed coursework to satisfy the requirements of both degrees.
