Department of Visual and Media Arts

Film and Media Art

Additional Departmental Information

Advising

The graduate program director serves as the principal advisor to students in the program. Prior to registration periods, students may also be assigned to another senior faculty member for their advising.

Internships

Students may pursue internships in Boston, usually after the first semester. Internships must be approved by the department internship coordinator and the graduate program director. A maximum of 4 credits of internship may count toward the MFA. Participation in the Los Angeles internship is possible with careful course planning.

Transfer Credits

Students who have completed relevant graduate work at another institution may transfer up to 8 credits, subject to approval of the graduate program director and the Office of Graduate Studies. Graduate credits earned as part of a completed graduate degree program from another institution may not be transferred.

Teaching Opportunities

A limited number of teaching opportunities in undergraduate courses are available to students in their final year of the program. Students cannot be on Continuing Student Status while teaching. Any teaching assignments are subject to the approval of the chair of Visual and Media Arts. No teaching assignments are guaranteed for students while in the MFA program, but MFA graduates may be hired to teach after graduating.

For research and teaching assistantships, MFA students should apply through Emerson Student Employment. Assistantships are assigned by the graduate program director on a per-semester basis.

Portfolio Review

At the end of the first and second years of the program, each student will participate in a formal portfolio review by the graduate program director and a committee of additional department faculty members. Any interested students and faculty members may attend and participate. Students will present works completed in the past year and/or works in progress.

Possible Courses of Study

Students will be able to produce media arts projects in:

Fiction narrative;
Documentary;
Interactive media;
Experimental media;
Sound art; and
Installations and site-based media.

Taking courses in multiple areas is possible and encouraged.

Writing for Film and Television

Additional Departmental Information

Advising

The graduate program director serves as advisor to students in the program. The graduate advisor helps students plan their courses of study based on specific program requirements.

Portfolio Review

Students’ writing portfolios will be reviewed semester by semester by the faculty advisor. During the final semester of the two-year program, students will submit their final portfolio of creative work.

Possible Courses of Study

Students will specialize in writing for film and television including feature screenplays, episodic television and pilots, cable and streaming series, movies, miniseries, and webisodes.

Visual and Media Arts Faculty

For a complete listing of biographies, visit the directory .

Programs

Master of Fine Arts