Graduate Program
M.F.A. with REPORT (Video and Film Production)
*60 hours of course work. The 60 hours must include a minimum of 39 hours in production courses, at least 9 hours of courses from non-production, non-creative writing courses within the RTF Department, and 3 hours of Report preparation (398R). The Graduate School requires that 6 of the 60 hours must be in a minor field, outside the student's major department. Minor work may be done in the College of Communication or elsewhere in the University.
*Successful completion of first, second, and third year-end reviews while in the program. The first-year review focuses on the student's work to date and on the script and pre-production preparation for the qualifying project, approximately 5 to 10 minutes in length, which must be completed during the second year of study. The second-year review will focus on the completed, required qualifying project production, and on the script and pre-production preparation for a thesis project, not to exceed 30 minutes in length, which must be produced during the third year of study. The third-year review assesses the total body of the student's work and makes recommendations for future efforts and professional development.
*Completion of a thesis production, no more than 30 minutes in length, acceptable to the faculty.
*A written Report (RTF 398R for 3 hours credit) based on this project.
Note: There is no Joint Degree offered with the MFA in Film and Video Production.
The MFA is designed for creative individuals with a demonstrated commitment to video and filmmaking as professional, artistic or academic pursuits. The objective of the program is to provide a combination of studio and non-studio courses offering advanced training and knowledge focused on the professional, conceptual and aesthetic aspects of video and film production. Students produce work in traditional and alternative forms and develop their conceptual, aesthetic and technical abilities in a variety of media. Both creative and critical writing are integral dimensions of this process. Twelve students are admitted each year, making it possible to provide optimum guidance and production opportunities for each student. The program provides extensive studio and technique courses focused on video, film and interactive digital production production, alongside the broad range of departmental approaches to the study of communication. The curriculum is designed to provide a great deal of individualized attention and the faculty conducts first, second, and third-year reviews for each student as well as periodic semester critiques.
To complete work for the MFA students prepare a Thesis Production in film or video that represents the highest level of the student's efforts. A number of genres or formats, including animation, dramatic narrative, documentary, public information, corporate or instructional, and experimental are acceptable. The Thesis Production is considered by the Graduate School to be a "project-in-lieu-of-thesis" and degree requirements include a written Report describing and analyzing the preparation of the final project. The Report is completed in RTF 398R, a 3-credit course applied to the 60 hour total requirement for the degree.
Entering students must hold the bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution, and their undergraduate preparation should demonstrate sufficient preparation in radio-television-film and/or related fields to predict successful performance at the graduate level.
This plan represents at least 39 hours of production courses.
Electives comprise a total of 18 hours: These include at least 12 hours of course work from non-production courses within the RTF Department, 3 of which may be in a non-required screenwriting course. Electives also include the Graduate School requirement that 6 of the 60 hours must be in a minor field, outside the RTF department. Minor work may be done in the College of Communication or elsewhere in the University. Electives are assumed to carry at least 3 credits
In broad terms, the curriculum is structured as follows:
Year 1: Develop creative, conceptual and expressive skills using a range of media production exercises and experiences.
Year 2: Develop and refine technical skills and strengthen aesthetic, theoretical and conceptual abilities through the completion of the qualifying project and study in additional non-production courses.
Year 3: Produce the thesis project and acquire additional expertise in theoretical domains.
A typical program plan is as follows (note—curriculum changes are expected periodically):
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Fall/Spring Fall/Spring Fall/Spring
RTF 881 KA/RTF 881 KB RTF 488M/Elective RTF 488M/RTF 488M
RTF 390C/RTF 390E RTF 388P/RTF 488M Elective/Elective
RTF 388P/RTF 380C Elective/Elective Elective/RTF 398R
RTF production facilities include three multiple-camera color television studios, three motion picture sound stages, four audio production studios, and 24 video and film editing stations. Most production classes meet in these facilities. Support services for student projects include extensive video and film equipment for field work, and professional grade computer-controlled, post-production for television, non-linear and interactive video, and for documentary, narrative, and experimental film. We also offer digital sound mixing. These comprehensive media services are housed in a nine-level communication complex that also provides additional studios, scene shops, and related support facilities for the PBS broadcasting station KLRU-TV, the university public radio station KUT-FM, The Longhorn Radio Network, and the UT Center for Telecommunications.
One of the realities of video and film productions is their high cost. At this time the department is not able to subsidize graduate student projects. All production costs are borne solely by the student. This sometimes presents considerable hardship, and each applicant is urged to carefully consider resources and means, and plan accordingly (Fall 2005, out-of-state tuition for 10 hours is about $7,100).
From time to time sponsored projects from within or outside of the University become available. When such opportunities arise the faculty member responsible for arranging and coordinating the project will work closely with selected students to bring the project to completion. Sponsored projects are by definition already funded and typically range from small Public Service Announcements to larger instructional or educational programs. When available they offer the student a real and often challenging alternative for the thesis project.