Film Studies

The Graduate MFA degree in film studies is a filmmaking track integrated into the Art and Art History MFA program in much the same way as the tracks in painting and drawing, ceramics, sculpture, media arts, the IAP and printmaking. The filmmaking track prepares students for professional artistic careers in filmmaking from the perspective of innovative image making. The aim of the MFA film program is to aid in the advancement of the practice and understanding of art, with emphasis on the moving image and its role in this advancement. The MFA will, therefore, prepare graduates to assume creative leadership roles in filmmaking.

The interdisciplinary nature of the MFA program allows graduate students to work in various areas, in addition to their area of specialization. The MFA guidelines include a second area of the student’s choice as a requirement. The thesis project is two-fold, involving 1) the student’s creative work (e.g., a film), displayed at the MFA exhibition, and 2) a written thesis that eventually goes to the library.

Prerequisites. The following are required for admission to the graduate program:

• Bachelor’s degree from an approved college or school of art with a minimum grade point average of 2.75
• Minimum of 34 credit hours of acceptable work in art; 12 credits in fine arts history is preferred
• Submission of films and other examples representing creative work or electronic media. Students should submit a portfolio of creative work to include video and/or audio tapes, film, etc., as appropriate (especially for documentation of performance and/or installations) for screening by the electronic media committee for presentation to the full graduate faculty.

Degree Requirements.  Effective fall 2008, the MFA program is a two-and-a-half year program. The degree requires a minimum of 54 credit hours of course work, of which 36 must be taken in residence on the Boulder campus, with the following requirements: 

Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours

• Home studio (major area)—min. 12
• Electives (studio and non-studio; up to 6 credits may be taken in an allied field, at the 3000 level and above)—21 
• Art history and theory—9
• Visiting artist seminar—3
• Graduate art seminar—3
• Thesis—6 
• For the Film Track MFA students: ARTF 5030 Visiting Filmmakers Seminar is allowed as a substitute for ARTS 5118 Visiting Artist Seminar; ARTF Critical Studies courses are allowed as alternates to fulfill 3 hours of the art history requirement.

Requirements

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
2. Have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75.
3. Minimum of 34 credit hours of acceptable work in art; 12 credit hours in fine art history is preferred.
4. Submission of a portfolio of creative work on DVD, mailed to the departmental graduate program coordinator (address below).
5. Provide an Artist Statement (in addition to the personal statement of goals and objectives).
6. Provide three letters of recommendation.

Scholarships

Fellowships and teaching assistantships. There is no separate application for financial support but the applicant's interest in a part-time teaching (TA, GPTI) or non-teaching (GA) position may be expressed in their statement of goals and objectives.