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Master of Arts Film and Media Production

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Be a Compelling Visual Storyteller

The AU University School of Communication MA in Film and Media ProductionÌýwill give you a professional skill set in film, video, and digital media for a successful career in the media industry. During your first year, you will receive a formal overview in media production so that you can focus your second year on refining your skill base.

°Õ³ó±ðÌýflexibilityÌýof the program allows you to explore a broad range of aspects of video and filmmaking or to develop an area of expertise. Experiential learning opportunities such as the L.A. Intensive, internships with national media companies, and a semester intensive in Prague are just a few of the many options you'll have to develop skills outside the classroom.ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýCenter for Environmental FilmmakingÌý´Ç´Ú´Ú±ð°ùÌýspecial courses, seminars, and screeningsÌýthat will enrich your experience here.Ìý

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Admissions
Cost & Financial Aid

Admissions

The School of CommunicationÌýreviews graduate applicationsÌýon an ongoing basisÌýuntil programs reach capacity.ÌýLearn more about our admissions process.

Our Film and Media Production master's degree is offered bothÌýfull-timeÌý²¹²Ô»å part-time. Students are generally expected to complete the 36-credit-hour program within 24 months. First-year students areÌýrequired to attend our Film & Media Arts Boot CampÌýin late July — early August before their first semester. Boot Camp teaches you the essential building blocks for production. Focusing on a digital skill set, you will work on practical exercises to get up to speed with equipment and learn about the expectations of the programs in SOC.

Cost and Financial Assistance

The MA in Film & Media Arts is a 36 credit program. To estimate theÌýcost of tuition, please see theÌýcurrent cost per credit hourÌýfor graduate students.

The School of Communication offers graduate students both merit-based and need-based financial aid.ÌýMerit awardsÌýare administered by the SOC Graduate Admissions Office, whileÌýneed-based awardsÌýare administered by theÌýAmerican University Office of Financial Aid. A number of prestigiousÌýfellowships and scholarshipsÌýare also available for students in the Film and Media Arts program. Additional financial support is available forÌýveterans.

The Test Documentary

Making Media that Matters

SOC professors Claudia Myers and Laura Waters Hinson team up with students and alumniÌýto createÌýThe Test, anÌýaward-winning documentary onÌýhope and citizenship.

Master Cinematography with Advanced Film Tools

Discover the Media Production Center and Media Innovation Lab at AU. Equipped with advanced technology and top-tier equipment, our Film & Media Arts program provides students with hands-on experience using industry-standard tools.Ìý

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Explore Film and Media Arts at American University

Dive into a community of filmmakers where mentorship thrives and every project is a chance to grow. Whether you're behind the camera, on set, or in post-production, at AU, you're building a portfolio that speaks volumes. Join a network that nurtures your talent and prepares you for the industry.

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Accelate & Elevate Your Profession

Writing to Thrill

Step into a world where your words shape cinematic landscapes and lead the industry forward. Christina Pamies (SOC/MA '13), a distinguished alumna, transformed her foundational skills acquired at American University into a celebrated career in horror screenwriting. Celebrated works like The Girl from Mars, No Good Deed, and Baghead (2023) began as sparks of imagination in SOC’s feature class, where she learned to evolve scripts from mere ideas to blockbuster successes. On SOC's official podcast, Pamies recounts her journey of mastering collaboration, perfecting rewrites, and converting her deepest fears into compelling features. Dive into this program and emerge as a leader in screenwriting, equipped to take on the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities.

Producing to Propel

For prospective students eager to dive deep into the media world, Grace Ibrahim’s journey at SOC offers a compelling blueprint. Grace, who graduated with a Master's in 2019, not only learned the intricacies of media production but returned as a leader, taking the helm as the director of the "Media in the Mix" podcast in 2022. Her role as director is a testament to the high-caliber training provided by SOC. Grace’s expertise spans from strategic pre-production planning to sophisticated post-production techniques, showcasing her ability to manage and innovate in a dynamic media environment.ÌýStep into a program that propels its graduates from learning to leading, where you too can shape the future of media.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our MA in Film andÌýMedia Production is a 36-credit, 24-month program that will help you build a solid professional skill set in film, video, and digital media. You’ll acquire professional competencies in scriptwriting, cinematography, lighting, sound recording, and editing, while also learning the historical, conceptual, and aesthetic foundations and frameworks of the art form and the industry.

Our MFA in Film and Media Arts is a 54-credit, 36-month terminal degree that prepares you to teach at the university level. The focus is more on how meaningful stories are constructed, in an artistic sense, for public knowledge and action. You will also focus your studies in one of four concentrations: Environmental and Wildlife Filmmaking; Political, Cultural and Social Impact; Art in Entertainment; or Games and Interactivity.

The Film & Media Arts division of American University's School of Communication is a leader in visual storytelling and integrating the latest and evolving technologies into production and distribution.

Remember that we have an all-digital tapeless production workflow, which means that the central tool for managing media is your computer. Read about theÌýcomputer requirementsÌýfor this program.

Applicants with prior experience in visual media, who wish to be considered for a substitution of the requiredÌý ²¹²Ô»å/´Ç°ùÌýÌýcourses, should submit a written request illustrating relevant coursework or professional experience to gradcomm@american.edu. Those requesting a substitution of either or both of these required courses will be required to take and pass an exam. Students granted substitutions for either, or both, of these required courses take advanced coursework in order to fulfill those academic credits. It is up to the discretion of the faculty committee to allow students to proceed to fall courses even if they pass either, or both, of the requiredÌýbootcampÌýcourses.

The School of Communication offers a number of opportunities for hands-on learning that also allow you to showcase your own work.ÌýThe Visions AwardsÌýcelebrate the best in student visual work—documentary, fiction, digital and new media, screenwriting, and photography. Our partnership with theÌýFilm and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in PragueÌýhelps students develop their skills and portfolios in photography and super 16mm or 35mm film. °Õ³ó±ðÌýCenter for Environmental FilmmakingÌýinspires a new generation of filmmakers and media expertsÌýwhose commitment to environmental stewardship drives them to produce creative work that is informative, ethically sound, and entertaining. And ourÌýÌýempowers media that matterÌýas an innovation incubator and research center that creates, studies, and showcases media for social impact.

Still have questions? CheckÌýour general admission FAQ or if you want to speak to a current faculty member or student, send us an email atÌýGradComm@american.edu