MFA in Communication Media Arts
THE M.F.A. program
The MFA in Communication Media Arts is a revolutionary degree designed in response to the rapidly evolving communication field. This degree will prepare select individuals for the leading edge of industry. Students in this three-year program will develop new creative production skills, infused with contextual knowledge, allowing them to explore applications of those skills and knowledge in the changing landscape of communication through hands-on, collaborative projects.
This program in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University is offered through a partnership with the schools of Media Arts & Studies, Visual Communication, and Emerging Communication Technologies and in collaboration with the College of Fine Arts.
Overview
We seek to enroll individuals with a minimum of three years of professional experience in the communication field who have at least one high-level digital production skill.
While in the program, each graduate student will add to their current skill(s) by studying at least two of the following areas:
- Animation
- Audio Production/Sound Design
- Data Visualization and Info Graphics
- Digital Games and Animation
- Documentary
- Interactive Media/Web Design
- Music Production
- Non-fiction Video
- Photojournalism
- Publication Design
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
Cognate areas
Students in this program will declare a Cognate Area outside of their production skills to contextualize their studies and to inform their intended career path. Cognate areas might include art history, communication theory, educational technologies, film history, health communication, media studies, sociology, philosophy, public media or a wide variety of humanities areas.
Experiential learning
Hands-on, experiential projects are a required part of this program. Students must engage in collaborative projects such as grant-funded faculty initiatives, projects through WOUB Public Media, the Game Research and Immersive Design Lab, or practicum projects through the Scripps College of Communication or the College of Fine Arts. International experiences and professional externships are also encouraged in this area. Successful completion of at least eight hours of Experiential Learning Courses will serve as confirmation that students are prepared for their thesis projects.
Teaching
Teaching is an important part of our program, as the process of teaching helps to solidify intent, process and purpose in the creative individual. Opportunities exist to teach online, face-to-face, lecture, laboratory and seminar classes at the undergraduate level. All qualified students will have the ability to serve as teaching assistant and instructor of record during their time in the program, encouraging them to gain teaching experience and guidance so that they may pursue careers in academia.
Advising
Students in our MFA program will work closely with faculty advisors from a variety of areas. Each student will be assigned an advising team made up of faculty from the Scripps College of Communication and the College of Fine Arts. During their course of study, students can realign their team in accordance to their evolving areas of interests, such as their cognate area. In their second year, each student will establish a thesis committee representing their creative and cognate interests. This committee will guide the student through, and evaluate, the third-year thesis project.
For more details on course plan, program cost, financial support, go to: ouscrippsmfa.com