This demanding MFA program equips aspiring documentary filmmakers with both a deep understanding of the documentary genre and strong skills in film production. The curriculum integrates knowledge of documentary’s history, styles, traditions, affinity for research and development, and varied approaches to storytelling and production with high production values, effective post-production, and the ability to take creative work to its audiences.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Degree Requirements | 64 |
| Total hours required | 64 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Describe cinematic contentions utilized in the making of feature length and short documentary films.
- Assess the strengths and weakness of written non-fiction proposals to include visual approaches, as well as fundraising, marketing, exhibition, and distribution plans.
- Communicate a clear vision to a team of collaborators.
- Apply key concepts in areas of documentary media production, including: producing, directing, cinematography, sound, and editing.
- Critique creative work, synthesizing theory and practice.
- Analyze the ethical and moral decisions inherent in representing individuals, lifestyles, and cultures.
- Evaluate legal considerations regarding content and characters present in their work, whether domestically or abroad.
Degree Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DOC 405 | NON-FICTION STORYTELLING | 4 |
| DOC 412 | EDITING THE DOCUMENTARY | 4 |
| DOC 414 | INTRO TO DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION | 4 |
| DOC 424 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION II | 4 |
| DOC 426 | DOCUMENTARY PRODUCING | 4 |
| DOC 433 | DOCUMENTARY SOUND WORKSHOP | 2 |
| DOC 452 | DOCUMENTARY CINEMATOGRAPHY | 4 |
| DOC 472 | DOCUMENTARY LAW AND ETHICS | 2-2.25 |
| DOC 482 | THE PERSONAL DOCUMENTARY | 4 |
| DOC 484 | ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION | 4 |
| DOC 496 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY | 4 |
| FILM 410 | PRODUCTION WORKSHOP | 4 |
| POST 400 | EDITING | 4 |
| Select twelve (12) credit hours of Major Electives from the list below | 12 | |
| Select four (4) credit hours of Open Electives | 4 | |
Major Electives
Major electives may be selected from the following list:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| VIDEO ART | ||
| STORYTELLING ACROSS MEDIA | ||
| TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION WORKSHOP | ||
| FILMING WITH CHANGE AGENTS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY | ||
| TOPICS IN STUDY ABROAD | ||
| ADVANCED MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM | ||
| AUDIO DOCUMENTARY | ||
| TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY STUDIES | ||
| ETHNOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY FILM PRODUCTION |
Open Elective
Open electives may be selected from any graduate level CP, DOC, FILM, POST, SCWR, or VFX course.