Master of Fine Arts in Television, Film, and Theatre (88 units)
Requirements for the Degree (88 units)
A total of 88 units are required, with a minimum of 44 units of core courses, a minimum of 44 units in a particular option, including at least 60 units in 500-level courses. All students are required to complete three projects (TVFT 546 A and B, and TVFT 599). Consultation with a graduate adviser is required for development and approval of a graduate program, which includes the following:
Required Core Courses (36 units)
Introduction to MFA (2) | |
Directing (4) | |
Dramatic Structure I: Theatre (4) | |
Dramatic Structure II: Film (4) | |
Dramatic Structure III: Television (2) | |
Media Arts, Theatre, and Society (4) | |
Studio and Field Operations (4) | |
Stage Operations (4) | |
Collaboration Workshop (2,2,2) | |
Entertainment Arts Internship (2) |
Seminar: Critical Approaches Television and Film (4) | |
Seminar: Television Programming (4) | |
Seminar: Post World War II Film and Television History (4) | |
Seminar: Theories of Acting (4) | |
Seminar: Experimental Theatre (4) |
*Enrollment in TA 541 requires permission from Director of Graduate Studies Theatre Arts and Dance.
Performance/Acting Option (44 units)
Acting for the Stage (3) | |
Acting for Television (3) | |
Acting for Film (3) | |
Acting Studio (3) | |
Voice for Performers (2,2,2) | |
Movement for Performers (2,2,2) | |
The Business of Acting (4) |
Electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor from available 500-level courses. Students are also encouraged to take elective courses in the other options. Graduate Teaching Assistant recipients must take COMM 491 in their first Fall quarter of Assistantship.
MFA Project I (2) | |
MFA Project II (2) | |
MFA Culmination Project (4) |
Production Option (44 units)
Directing for the Stage (4) | |
Single Camera Directing and Producing (4) | |
Mufti-Camera Production (4) | |
Motion Picture Pre Production/Production (4) | |
Motion Picture Production/ Post Production (4) | |
Advanced Problems in Multiple Cameral TV Production (4) | |
The Business of Production (4) |
Electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor from available 500-level courses. Students are also encouraged to take elective courses in the other options. Graduate Teaching Assistant recipients must take COMM 491 in their first fall quarter of Assistantship.
MFA Project I (2) | |
MFA Project II (2) | |
MFA Culmination Project (4) |
Dramatic Writing (44 units)
Scene Writing Lab (2) | |
Story Development (4) | |
Creating Characters and Writing Dialogue (4) | |
Playwriting (4) | |
Genre Writing (4) | |
TV Sitcom Writing (4) | |
The Business of Writing (4) | |
Pitching Workshop (2) |
Writing Electives (8 units)
Electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor from available 500-level courses. Students are also encouraged to take elective courses in the other options. Graduate Teaching Assistant recipients must take COMM 491 in their first Fall quarter of Assistantship.
MFA Project I (2) | |
MFA Project II (2) | |
MFA Culmination Project (4) |
MFA Projects
MFA students are required to complete three MFA projects under the rubrics of TVFT 546 A, TVFT 546 B and TVFT 599, with TVFT 599 being the MFA Culmination Project. These three projects must include one in each of the following categories: theatre, multi-camera television, and film style production.
1. Written Project Proposals: After Advancement to Candidacy, Projects I, II, and Culmination Project are developed under the guidance of the candidate's project committee. All candidates must submit a written proposal for each project to be approved by respective committees and department chair.
2. Exhibition: Upon the committee approval of the completed work, all Projects will be -appropriately exhibited in accordance with departmental and University requirements.
Students should consult the "Guide to Preparation of Masters Theses and Project Reports" http://www.calstatela.edu/library/guides/thesbk.htm for specific information regarding requirements established by the University for the production and exhibition of project reports.