Overview
The Department of Cinematic Arts and the Department of Journalism and Media Management propose a 54-credit, two-year, MFA degree in Documentary. This new interdisciplinary degree will provide students with skills in non-fiction creative storytelling and knowledge in advanced production and distribution delivered across a range of platforms.
Admission Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Portfolios are welcome but not required. (Samples of certain work products are required when submitting an application.)
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Coursework | ||
| JMM 628 | Seminar in Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| JMM 641 | Advanced Audio Video Narratives | 3 |
| NEW JMM COURSE: Documentary Photography (Still Photo/Multi-Picture Package) | 3 | |
| NEW JMM COURSE: Public Affairs Research and Reporting | 3 | |
| JMM 614 | Law and Ethics in Journalism and Media Management | 3 |
| CCA 658 | Documentary Production (Cinematic Documentary Production) | 3 |
| CCA 602 | Global Issues and Filmmaking | 3 |
| CCA 629 | Nonfiction Film (Studies in Documentary) | 3 |
| NEW CCA COURSE: Writing for the Screen through Editing | 3 | |
| CCA 670 | The Independent Producer | 3 |
| Select one course from: | 3 | |
| Cinematography | ||
| Introduction to Editing | ||
NEW CCA COURSE: Sound Production and Location Sound | ||
| Electives (9 credits) 1 | ||
| Choose at least 3 credits from CIM, JMM, or IM departments from the list below. 2 | 3-6 | |
CCA | ||
| Seminar in Documentary Production | ||
| Cinematography | ||
| Introduction to Editing | ||
| Science Documentary: Autism | ||
| Motion Graphics and Compositing | ||
| Advanced Cinematography | ||
| Advanced Editing | ||
| Sound Design | ||
NEW CCA COURSE: Sound Production and Location Sound | ||
JMM | ||
| Television News Reporting | ||
| Reporting and the Internet | ||
| Interactive Storytelling | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
NEW JMM COURSE: Documentary Photography (Still Photo/Multi-picture Package) | ||
CIM | ||
| Building Virtual Worlds | ||
| Augmented Reality | ||
| Immersive Storytelling | ||
| Innovation Design | ||
| Internet and Media Activism | ||
| Prototyping | ||
| Choose three to six credits elective from outside of SoC (course by approval) 2 | 3-6 | |
| (Examples include Africana Studies, Anthropology, Education, Latin American Studies, Marine Science, Nursing and Health Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, History, Gender and Sexuality Studies.) | ||
| Practicum | 6 | |
| Choose one of the combinations below: | ||
| Motion Picture Internship and Internship in Journalism and Media Management | ||
| Advanced Projects and Directed Research and Advanced Projects and Directed Research | ||
| Non-ETD Thesis or Project | 6 | |
| MFA Thesis | ||
| Multimedia Project | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 54 | |
- 1
No elective from above list may be repeated.
- 2
Though encouraged to take these electives outside the School of Communication, a student has the option to fulfill one or more of these electives within the the SoC, pending approval of advisor and program director.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CCA 658 | Documentary Production (Cinematic Documentary Production I) | 3 |
| CCA 629 | Nonfiction Film (Studies in Documentary) | 3 |
| JMM 6## Documentary Photography (Still Photo and Multi-Picture Package) | 3 | |
| JMM 628 | Seminar in Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| JMM 641 | Advanced Audio Video Narratives | 3 |
| JMM 6## Public Affairs Research and Reporting (NEW) | 3 | |
| CCA 6## Writing for the Screen through Editing (NEW) | 3 | |
| CCA Elective ((e.g., CCA 620 Cinematography; CCA 630 Introduction to Editing; CCA 6XX Sound Production and Location Sound) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| CCA 794 & CCA 609 | Motion Picture Internship and Legal Aspects of Motion Pictures (Or CCA 799 & JMM 699) | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CCA 602 | Global Issues and Filmmaking | 3 |
| CCA 670 | The Independent Producer | 3 |
| SoC Elective | 3 | |
| SoC Elective or outside SoC Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| JMM 614 | Law and Ethics in Journalism and Media Management | 3 |
| 3rd Elective (Outside SoC) 1 | 3 | |
| CCA 815 or JMM 815 | MFA Thesis or Multimedia Project | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 54 | |
Mission
There is great urgency to make sense of and accurately communicate the state of our world, to illuminate and explain humanity's most pressing challenges: climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, health care, immigration, gender and racial equality, human rights, and the sustainability of cities and communities. Students are increasingly drawn to documentary as a form of communicating powerful stories while addressing concerns that they care most deeply about. The documentary is a powerful medium that broadens horizons, introduces new ideas, inspires questioning and critical thinking, and takes viewers to unusual places. It has the capacity to transform lives and move people to action for the social good.
By virtue of its commitment to community engagement and distinctive location, the University of Miami is well positioned to offer an interdisciplinary graduate documentary program. This is an ideal home to nurture the next generation of visual storytellers. The aspirations and priorities identified by the University, ranging from environmental sustainability to health care to hemispheric activities, will naturally attract those pursuing a documentary degree.
The MFA in Documentary directly supports the University of Miami’s mission to “strive to transform the world in positive ways through innovative education, impactful research and scholarship, and the translation of knowledge into solutions.” It reinforces our core commitment to the “freedom of inquiry-the freedom to think, to question, to criticize, and to dissent.”
Goals
- Deliver a comprehensive graduate educational experience in Documentary, grounded in a journalistic framework, and provide skills in advanced research and production techniques.
- Prepare students to enter a rapidly changing business and distribution marketplace for documentary content in many forms and over multiple platforms.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a depth of knowledge in the legal, historical, theoretical, ethical, and aesthetic dimensions of documentary.
- Students will understand and display mastery of advanced research skills and video production techniques.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the marketplace for documentary distribution.
- Students will be able to apply skills, strategies and processes critical to both traditional and independent production: self-distribution, creative packaging and promotion, and incorporating an entrepreneurial orientation.
