Degree & Course Requirements
The degree and course requirements listed below are important elements of the Film & Video M.F.A. degree, but because of the holistic nature of film-and-video making, assignments are often given that occur before the start of the program, between semesters, and outside of course boundaries. Students who are accepted to the program agree to abide by these additional requirements.
The Master of Fine Arts Degree in Film and Video at Columbia College requires the completion of a minimum of 60 units of study, distributed as follows:
Phase I (24 Hours)
Semester 1: |
|
| Production I (24-6011-01) | 6 credit hours |
| Directing I (24-6312-71) | 3 credit hours |
| Screenwriting I (24-6713-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Semester 2: | |
| Production II (24-6021-01) | 6 credit hours |
| Theory & History of Cinema (24-6022-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Editing for Film & Video(24-6423-01) | 3 credit hours |
| *Focus Review Process | |
| Phase II (27 hours) | |
| Semester 3: | |
| Documentary I (24-6832-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Production III (24-6031-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Short Forms (24-6033-01) | 3 credit hours |
| top | |
| Semester 4: | |
| Directing II (24-6341-01) | 3 credit hours |
| OR Documentary II (24-6842-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Ideation and Theme (24-6700-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Elective | 3 credit hours |
| Semester 5: | |
| Directing III (24-6351-01) | 3 credit hours |
| OR Documentary III (24-6852-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Elective | 3 credit hours |
| Elective | 3 credit hours |
| Phase III (9 hours) | |
| Semester 6: | |
| Thesis Seminar (24-6060-01) | 3 credit hours |
| Elective | |
| Thesis Process: | |
| Thesis Development | 1 credit hour |
| Thesis Production | 1 credit hour |
| Thesis Postproduction | 1 credit hour |
top Full-time graduate enrollment is for 9 to 12 credit hours each regular semester (fall and spring). Students are required to enroll full-time for at least the first year of study. If a student is enrolled full-time, the program will take at least six semesters of study before beginning the thesis process, which can take 12 to 18 months.
* The Focus Review
Upon completion of the first year, students are required to participate in
a review of their work by a senior faculty committee. The Focus Review assesses
the student’s general preparedness to begin work in Phase II of the
program and most importantly his or her ability to successfully complete a
personally-expressive thesis project. The final results of this process may
involve a reshaping of the student’s proposed course of study or even
suspension or termination from the program. This assessment may be based on
judgments of the student’s overall work and experience above and beyond
grades received in courses.
Representative
Elective Offerings:
Screenwriting II
Acting Techniques for Filmmakers
Motion Graphics I, II
Cinematography: Camera Seminar I and II
Editing the Documentary
Advanced Editing Seminar
Producing the Documentary
The Creative Producer
Experimental Video Production
Teacher Training for Film & Video
Myth, Dream, and Movie; Studies in Image and Structure
Images and Symbol in Film
The Production Designer
Adaptation
Music Video Production
Image Design for Cinema
Post Production Audio
film department faculty facilities contact the graduate school
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College Chicago
600 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605-1996
Telephone: 312-663-1600
