Program Statistics
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Documentary Media
Degree Types: MFA
The Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Media is a professional degree that provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to create compelling documentaries and other kinds of media using documentary methods.
This program encourages connectivity across disciplines, formats, and genres. It equips students with a diverse set of skills to tell meaningful stories and pursue creative and professional opportunities.
Participants will make original works, apply narrative techniques to documentary forms, and apply documentary techniques to narrative or emergent media projects. Over the course of this two-year program, students will learn, work and grow together to form a close-knit artistic community.
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Documentary Media Program Assistant
847-467-4696
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
Master's
Program requirements include:
- Eighteen credit units of study, maintaining at least a B average. A mid-program review at the end of the first year will be used to determine whether students can continue to the second year of study. Students failing to meet the requirement of a B average will not be permitted to progress to the second year.
- An MFA Portfolio containing:
- 20-45 minutes of edited material or 2-3 interactive projects, including the 12-20 minute or interactive thesis project.
- A written artist statement regarding: how submitted works are connected; who applicant is as a developing artist; what applicant hopes to accomplish, creatively and professionally, through continued work in the field; why applicant thinks their work will make an important and significant contribution to the field.
- Completion of all thesis requirements and successful defense of the MFA thesis project before a faculty committee.
Coursework Requirements
Total Units Required: 18
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Core Courses (10 units) | |
| RTVF 457-0 | Art of the Real |
| RTVF 550-0 | Documentary Practices |
| RTVF 550-0 is required in the 1st and 2nd year | |
| RTVF 551-0 | Documentary Techniques |
| RTVF 552-0 | Narrative Techniques |
| RTVF 553-0 | Pre-Thesis |
| RTVF 554-0 | Thesis 1 |
| RTVF 555-0 | Thesis 2 |
| RTVF 556-0 | Thesis 3 |
| RTVF 557-0 | Elements of Sound and Image |
| Topics Courses (3 units) | |
| RTVF (300 level or higher) with director of MFA approval | |
| Sample courses include: | |
| Editing; Lighting Cinematography; SFX Cinematography; Designing for the Internet; Directing Actors; Producing; Advanced Audio Production; Advanced Sound Design; Color Correction; 2D Computer Animation; 3D Computer Animation; Stop Motion Animation; Animated Infographics; Interactive Comics; Conceptual Design; Advanced SFX Recording; Approaches to Video Game Design; Gaming Narratives; Experimental Media Production; Place Based Documentary; Problem Families/Family Problems; Secrets and Lies; Computer Code as Expressive Medium; Layout and Storyboarding; Sitcom Production; Romantic Comedy; Rebels, Misfits, and Losers; Making the Bromance; Making Reality TV; Love Hurts; Romantic Triangles; Webisodes | |
| Electives (300 level or higher) (5 units) | |
| From Production, Screen Cultures, or Writing/RTVF, Performance Studies, Art Theory and Practice, Theatre or other departments with approval of MFA program director. | |
| Optional Internship (1 unit) | |
| RTVF 490-1 | Professional Experience Practicum |
| RTVF 490-2 | Professional Experience Capstone |
Other MFA Degree Requirements
MFA students will be allowed to take a maximum of 20 credits.
- Grade average: you must maintain a B average. If your average is not a B or higher by the end of the first year, you may be asked to leave the program.
- First Year Review: The academic and professional progress of all first year MFAs will be reviewed in early June by the director of the program in consultation with production faculty. If weaknesses are identified, a formal interview with that student will be conducted by the director and production faculty to determine an appropriate course of action. Subsequent to that interview, at the discretion of the director, the grade for the spring core 500-level production seminar may be used to determine whether that student will be allowed to continue in the program, with a grade of C+ or below resulting in possible removal.
- Final Portfolio Review/Defense: In consultation with the director of the program, you will choose a committee of two faculty members (both part of the Graduate School faculty) to review your final portfolio (20-45 minutes of edited material or 2-3 interactive projects created in classes -- including the 12-20 minute or interactive thesis project) and to assess your final defense of that portfolio, which will include a written artist statement and business plan.