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    Nov 24, 2024  
American University Catalog 2016-2017 
    
American University Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Film and Electronic Media (MFA)


Popular entertainment has a tremendous role in shaping our culture. But what distinguishes a generic television show from a groundbreaking one? What makes a web series forgettable and another go viral? Media matters when it is compelling. Offered by the School of Communication , the Master of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media prepares students to become powerful visual storytellers in one of three concentrations: Environmental and Wildlife Filmmaking; Political, Cultural and Social Impact; or Art in Entertainment. Upon graduation, students are prepared to step into the industry as filmmakers and media creators or move on to a career in academia.

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. The Graduate Record General Examination (GRE) is required, but may be waived by the division director.

An undergraduate degree in one of the visual media 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.

Applicants with prior experience in the visual media, who wish to be considered for a waiver of the required Principles of Video Production  and/or Principles of Photography  courses, should submit a written request illustrating relevant coursework or professional experience. Those requesting a waiver of either or both of these required courses will be required to take, and pass, a waiver exam. Students granted waivers for either, or both, of these required courses take advanced coursework in the field in fulfillment of those academic credits.

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.

Degree Requirements


  • 54 credit hours of approved graduate work
  • Capstone experience: production of a portfolio of original creative work in the areas of scriptwriting, film, or electronic media production under the supervision of a faculty committee and in conjunction with COMM-702 Master’s Portfolio Capstone (1-6) , with grade of B or better
  • Grade point average of 3.00 maintained during all work toward the degree

Course Requirements


Note: Asterisk (*) designates courses offered in Prague, Czech Republic via enrollment in the film and theatre curriculum at the Prague Film Academy (FAMU). Courses taken at FAMU receive full credit toward this program.

Capstone (6 credit hours)


Concentration (6 credit hours)


Complete 6 credit hours in one of the following concentrations:

Electives (9 credit hours)


Complete 9 credit hours from the following: