Film and Media Arts MFA

Explore the expanding boundaries between filmmaking approaches, driven by choices of subject and style, and learn to take creative control with the Master of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts in Temple’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. With an emphasis on independent film and video, this 54-credit master’s degree will help you develop the skills necessary to become an incisive, socially conscious filmmaker and pursue a professional career in film, video or digital media.

Through exposure to both theory and practice, you’ll develop a fuller understanding of the history of film, the rise of video and interactive media, and research and screenwriting best practices. You’ll be given the option to choose from one of three tracks, including

media arts,
narrative and documentary filmmaking, and
writing.

You’ll also be required to complete up to six credit hours of thesis material, conceptualizing, developing, writing and ultimately creating a final creative project. Thesis projects take the form of a complete sound, film or video production; a feature film script; or a completed work in an alternative media form, including computer-generated media, interactive media, installations or newly emerging technologies. Taken together with the master program’s comprehensive exams, the curriculum’s synthesis of theory and practice serves to develop film and media artists with personal, informed voices.

As a Film and Media Arts student, you’ll have access to the department’s cutting-edge production equipment, including an array of film cameras. Learn more about Film and Media Arts Department facilities.

Film students talking while on a film set.

Concentrations

You can focus on Film and Media Arts or you can take one of the following concentrations.

Cinematic Arts: Narrative and Documentary

Train to be an independent filmmaker working in documentary film, fiction film or a combination of forms. This theory-practice master of fine arts program uses faculty and peer critique, scholarly expository essays, studio instruction, and culminates with a final substantial thesis. Gain a formal education in the craft and theory of cinema while learning to articulate your creative and intellectual vision as an artist.
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Media Arts

Immerse yourself in new media, digital arts and installation-based audiovisual media and learn to work in galleries, museums, online and in community spaces. Gain a formal education in the moving-image arts while developing aesthetically and conceptually as a maker.
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Screenwriting

Study the screenplay in either conventional cinematic or serial form and learn to write screenplays for film, television or other media forms. Gain a formal education in screenplay craft and theory while developing your feature film script.
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Classes & Curriculum

The Master of Fine Arts in Film and Media curriculum exposes students to the vast array of new media forms and expression, with an emphasis on independent film and video. Core courses include

Cinematography Workshop,
Film History and Theory,
Media Arts Theory-Practice,
MFA Colloquium (two terms),
Thesis Production Workshop,
Videography and
Writing for Media I.

Learn more about Film and Media Arts MFA courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Documentary Arts and Ethnographic Research Certificate

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Fine Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,221.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,634.00 per credit

You can view the full cost of attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

Our Advisors

Advisors in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts help you chart your course through your degree program and are available to answer any questions you may have about your preferred area of study.

Sarah Drury, associate professor and director of Film and Media Arts graduate studies, is the advisor for Film and Media Arts MFA students.
Phone: 215-204-3468
Email: sarah.drury@temple.edu

Student Clubs & Organizations

Student clubs and organizations give you the opportunity to gain stage performance or production experience, express yourself without classroom restrictions, and network with other film and theater professionals. In addition, you can make friends and enhance your social life. Consider joining one or more of the following clubs.

Delta Kappa Alpha is a selective national organization whose mission is to foster lifelong character, collaborative and creative storytelling, ethical and productive business practices, philanthropic action, and fraternal bonds by and between students of the cinematic arts.
Film in Color is an organization geared toward creating a welcoming space for students of color within Temple’s Film Department, affording the opportunity to come together to create, discuss, learn from and network with one another.
The Greater Philadelphia Film Office Next connects Philadelphia-area students, recent graduates and rising content creators with industry leaders.
Mise-en-Femme is a production organization aimed at encouraging women to work together to gain knowledge and hands-on experience in the art of filmmaking. They also run Temple Women’s Fest, which is a showcase of the efforts of some of the most influential female filmmakers.
The Queer Film Collective’s mission is to empower queer filmmakers and explore queer film both in theory and practice. Both queer and straight students are welcome to join.
Temple Film Collective is a group of Temple student independent filmmakers who produce their own films and host an online film festival.
The University Media Screening Society meets once a week to screen a film from Temple's Media Library. Sometimes, screenings are substituted with special events.
Wandering Studios is a student film organization focused on helping students create short films throughout the semester.