Course General Description

During the course of three years, graduate students are expected to achieve technical expertise, to gain historical and critical perspective in their area of focus and to produce a substantial body of work. In their first year of the curriculum, graduate students are required to take a full schedule of foundation classes including technical and production workshops as well as classes in history, theory and criticism. Students are expected to meet regularly with appropriate faculty as they begin to produce work. In their third semester, graduate students must propose and gain approval for their thesis project at a Preliminary Thesis Review. This provides the next year and a half for the production and completion of their thesis film, video or installation. All MFA Film and Video students are required to complete a first-year project, complete a thesis proposal in the second year and finally pass a Thesis Review in order to complete the Program.

School General Description

California Institute of the Arts is renowned internationally as a game-changer in the education of professional artists. The transformative cultural impact of its alumni over the past half-century shows why: CalArts brings out creative talent unlike any other university, school or conservatory. Founded by Walt Disney, CalArts offers comprehensive degree programs across the full range of the visual, performing, media and literary arts through its six Schools. Admissions are decided primarily on artistic merit and creative promise.