Overview
Students must complete a minimum of 66 credit hours with the approval of the faculty advisor. At least 24 must be at or above the 700-level and at least 12 must be earned for thesis. Motion Picture students must maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 for all courses.
M.F.A. candidates are expected to follow a set sequence of courses during the first two semesters of their studies. Several courses are required during the second year to complete the core curriculum, along with three (3) credits of additional motion pictures studies courses and twenty-one (21) credits (e.g., 7 courses) of CCA electives selected by the student with approval from the faculty advisor. Courses may be taken, with faculty advisor approval, from other programs or departments within the University of Miami in order to fulfill these elective credits.
Note that no more than 6 credits total of CCA 794 (Graduate Internship) can count towards the degree. No more than 9 credit hours total will be allowed for graduate internships and advanced projects and directed research.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to develop a minimum of two creative projects consistent with their areas of primary interest.
This three-year program culminates with a thesis portfolio that demonstrates, not only skillful execution of craft, but strong conceptual development rooted in collaborative work and innovative uses of technology.
All M.F.A. students must demonstrate deeper, critical understanding of motion picture practice in diverse social and cultural contexts. To this end, students are encouraged to take advantage of available study abroad programs. Students are also encouraged to participate in an internship during the summer of the first year or second year of studies.
By the end of the second year, students must complete a film and television literacy test, based on a list of 150 culturally and historically significant titles complied by the faculty. The list is circulated to each student upon entrance into the program. The test is administered annually in the spring semester. Students are required to earn 85/100% on the test in order to complete the degree.
Admission Requirements
The following is a list of the required conditions as well as the required documents/fees for your application for admission to the Master of Fine Arts degree program In Motion Pictures in the School of Communication.
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- The School's official application
- An $85.00 non-refundable application fee
- Three letters of recommendation
- 500-word typed statement of academic and professional goals
- Official transcripts of all college work, both undergraduate and graduate.
- Note: In addition, international applicants must send an official copy of their diploma for all degrees earned, and all documentation that confers their degree, with English translation for all degrees earned.
- Note: All transcripts must be the original document, forwarded directly from the university: Xerox copies, true copies, notarized copies and other types of copies are not acceptable.
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores
- Note: Only for international applicants.
- Copy of current passport
- Note: Only for international applicants. The name entered on the graduate application must exactly match your name as it appears on your passport.
- Portfolio
Contact the Office of Graduate Studies, call 305-284-5236 or email (socgrad@miami.edu), for information.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCA 601 | Principles of Aesthetics and Analysis | 3 |
| CCA 610 | Foundation of Screenwriting | 3 |
| CCA 611 | Writing the Short Film | 3 |
| CCA 620 | Cinematography | 3 |
| CCA 621 | Narrative Production | 3 |
| CCA 630 | Introduction to Editing | 3 |
| CCA 660 | Directing the Actor | 3 |
| CCA 670 | The Independent Producer | 3 |
| CCA 680 | Inside the Entertainment Industry | 3 |
| CCA 750 | From Script to Screen | 3 |
| CCA 815 | MFA Thesis (Total of 12 credits is required) | 12 |
| Motion Pictures Studies Course (600 Level or Above) | 3 | |
| CCA Elective Courses 1, 2 | 21 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 66 | |
- 1
Students must select eight elective CCA courses with approval from their advisor. Courses outside of CCA may count towards elective credits, with permission. See below for a list of approved CCA elective courses.
- 2
No more than 9 credit hours will be allowed for graduate internships and advanced projects and directed research.
List of Approved Electives
Students can enroll in other approved CCA courses or courses outside of the department with approval from their advisor.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCA 602 | Global Issues and Filmmaking | 3 |
| CCA 609 | Legal Aspects of Motion Pictures | 3 |
| CCA 612 | Write for TV | 3 |
| CCA 626 | Adaptation | 3 |
| CCA 658 | Documentary Production | 3 |
| CCA 660 | Directing the Actor | 3 |
| CCA 666 | Character and Dialogue | 3 |
| CCA 670 | The Independent Producer | 3 |
| CCA 686 | Online Writing the Genre Script | 3 |
| CCA 694 | Motion Picture Marketing and Distribution | 3 |
| CCA 705 | ||
| CCA 707 | Pedagogy and Film | 3 |
| CCA 710 | Writing the Feature-Length Screenplay | 3 |
| CCA 730 | Advanced Editing | 3 |
| CCA 740 | Sound Design | 3 |
| CCA 752 | Advanced Cinematography | 3 |
| CCA 761 | Directing the Camera | 3 |
| CCA 794 | Motion Picture Internship 1 | 1-3 |
| CCA 795 | Special Topics in Motion Pictures | 3 |
- 1
No more than 6 credits total of CCA 794 can count towards the degree.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CCA 601 | Principles of Aesthetics and Analysis | 3 |
| CCA 611 | Writing the Short Film | 3 |
| CCA 620 | Cinematography | 3 |
| CCA 761 | Directing the Camera | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CCA 610 | Foundation of Screenwriting | 3 |
| CCA 621 | Narrative Production | 3 |
| CCA 630 | Introduction to Editing | 3 |
| CCA 670 | The Independent Producer | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CCA 680 | Inside the Entertainment Industry | 3 |
| Motion Pictures Studies Course (600 Level or Above) | 3 | |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CCA 750 | From Script to Screen | 3 |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CCA 815 | MFA Thesis | 6 |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| CCA 815 | MFA Thesis | 6 |
| Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 66 | |
- 1
Select 600/700 level courses with input from advisor. At least 12 selected credits must be at or above the 700-level. Courses may be taken, with program director approval, from other programs or departments within the University of Miami.
- 2
No more than 9 credit hours will be allowed for graduate internships and advanced projects and directed research.
Mission
The M.F.A. in Motion Pictures focuses on media creation with an emphasis on combining advanced technical proficiency and innovative narrative skills. Students gain practical and theoretical mastery of their particular professional concentration in screenwriting, production, and producing. Additionally, all students engage in critical studies of film history and theory in order to develop the analytical skills necessary for creative, cutting edge experimentation.
Goals
The Program’s objective is to nurture individual creative voices and encourage independent thinking, as well as to support the unique creative collaborative process of media creation. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers as professional moving image artists, enter the teaching profession, provide service to the community and beyond, and enter moving image related professional fields.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate advanced production skills in their area of concentration (producing, directing, cinematography or editing) in both analog and digital technologies. Students are also expected to learn and practice the primary activities of both creative and physical production: to follow the producing process from idea through script to preparation and execution of a production plan, as well as finish and exhibit the resultant production.
- Students will demonstrate film literacy with a clear fluency regarding important classic and contemporary international cinema and its cultural and social contexts.
- Screenwriting students will demonstrate advanced skills in screenwriting and television writing, with attention to professional screenwriting standards.
