Mar 28, 2024  
Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2019-2020 
    
Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Film and Television Production, M.F.A.


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Objectives


The School of Film and Television’s major in Film and Television Production is designed to enable students to express their ideas on the screen-whether that screen is in a theater, at home, or held in one’s hand. Beyond the existing television and theatrical feature landscape, new forms of media empower a single person to be both a worldwide broadcaster and a very selective receiver. Digital technologies have created new ways of working that transcend the traditional distinctions between film and television. The Film and Television Production major combines the best of both of these fields.

Students admitted to this rigorous major become quickly immersed in the art of storytelling for the screen. They encounter and study great works of world cinema, both past and present, and ponder the ramifications of the emerging media of the future. They receive expert hands-on training in writing the screenplay, directing actors, cinematography, sound recording and design, and editing. In the process, each student learns about the challenging relationship between art and technique, and how both serve each other. Students learn the practical aspects of mounting a production: budgeting, location scouting, casting, set design and construction, post production, and the importance of safety in all aspects of what they do. Complete premier state of the art equipment and technology are available 24/7–all in service of story. Through teamwork, students learn an appreciation for all of the artists who labor to serve the story, and the camaraderie that comes from working as part of a crew engaged in a large, collaborative creative enterprise.

Students also learn to find their individual voices, and express their own points of view, on projects driven by their own creative choices. Beginning with their work on a series of short and intermediate films, students forge the fundamental skills of visual storytelling. Each student’s experience culminates with a final project in which advanced students create their own thesis films.

Film and Television Production Student Learning Outcomes


Upon completing the program, students majoring in Film and Television Production will know:

  • The basic techniques of visual storytelling
  • The processes of producing, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound recording and design, and set design
  • The current technologies involved in the creation of film production
  • Strategies for future dissemination of their work

Upon completing the program, students majoring in Film and Television Production will value:

  • A wide variety of cinematic forms of expression in traditional as well as emerging technologies
  • The importance of film history and theory
  • Create technically accomplished and aesthetically engaging films
  • Collaboration and teamwork in the filmmaking process
  • Individual expression through cinematic forms

Upon completing the program, students majoring in Film and Television Production will be able to:

  • Clearly communicate story, theme, and concept in their works
  • Apply learned techniques of film and television production to creative works of their own
  • Give constructive feedback, and implement revision of their own creative work based on feedback received
  • Balance creative and organizational skills
  • Practice teamwork, while developing leadership skills
  • Create and treat content in innovative and imaginative ways

M.F.A. in Film and Television Production Requirements


First Semester Requirements 12 semester hours
Program Requirements 39 semester hours
Thesis Requirements 9 semester hours
Overall Total 60 semester hours

M.F.A. in Film and Television Production Guidelines


  • Proper sequencing of major requirements is indicated by prerequisites of individual courses and as noted in the outline below. Please consult assigned academic advisor.
  • First semester courses (PROD 500 , PROD 565 , PROD 566 , and SCWR 501 ) must be completed with a grade of B- or better. Failure to do so may lead to disqualification from the program, based on review of an exceptions committee. Students who receive a grade lower than a B- in any class may not continue with the standard sequence until they repeat the course when it is next offered. A course may be repeated only once. If a passing grade of B- is received, the student may continue with the standard course sequence in the program.
  • Prior to registration for the Thesis Project (PROD 650 ), the student must come before the Thesis Committee to advance to candidacy based upon the work completed towards this goal. Once advanced to candidacy, the student must take PROD 650  (with the instructor of record) and PROD 670  (with the instructor of record) until the project is completed and signed off by the Thesis Committee and the Dean in order to successfully complete the requirements for the M.F.A. degree. All course requirements must be taken for a letter grade. Students who receive a grade lower than the passing grade of B- in PROD 650  or PROD 670  must repeat the course. A course may be repeated only once. A grade of lower than C will subject the student to disqualification from the program, based on review of an exceptions committee. Please refer to the University Bulletin for information regarding appeal and readmission after disqualification.
  • The Thesis Committee form adopted by the School must be obtained from the SFTV Graduate Office and signed by all committee members in order for the student to be advanced to candidacy.
  • Students must screen a master copy of the Thesis Project in Mayer Theater for approval. Requests for exceptions must be reviewed and approved by the Department Chair and Graduate Director. All Thesis productions are required to have a full card at the end of the credits that reads: This production was done in partial fulfillment of degree requirements at Loyola Marymount University. Upon approval, the master copy must be submitted to the thesis committee to complete the requirements.
  • Probation/Dismissal: See Academic Standing in Academic Degree Requirements and Policies .
  • SAFETY: Since the School of Film and Television is fully committed to safety and sensible risk management, every student will be required to adhere to all safety and risk management policies. The School considers violation of the Safety and Risk Management policies infractions of the LMU Student Honor Code. In accordance with the Honor Code guidelines and process, disciplinary measures may range from warnings, to failure in the course to expulsion from the University. Additionally, any footage acquired during the commission of a violation of these policies will be disallowed from the project. Students in violation of SFTV policies also risk suspension of privileges. Privileges include access to SFTV Production and Post Production resources and equipment and participating at the end of the semester screenings. When a violation occurs, the instructor, the appropriate department chair, HOPA, and the graduate director will meet to determine whether and to what extent the student shall incur temporary loss of privileges, or they may jointly make a recommendation to the dean for permanent loss of privileges.

First Year


Fall Semester


Spring Semester


Second Year


Fall Semester


Spring Semester


Third Year


Fall Semester


Spring Semester


  • 3 semester hours
  • *must earn B- or better

  • Advanced Production Techniques: Select three semester hours from PROD 666 , PROD 669 , PROD 680 , PROD 685 , PROD 690 , RECA 568 , or SCWR 635 . Nine total semester hours are required for the degree. Other courses by permission only. 3 semester hours
  • FTVS Elective–Film, Television, and Media Studies: Select one course (or three semester hours) from FTVS 500 or 600 level. 3 semester hours

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