»Designed for those who seek management or executive-level positions at production companies, talent agencies, studios or television networks.

Offered in conjunction with Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the Argyros School of Business and Economics, the three-year MBA/MFA in Film and Television Producing is designed for people who seek management or executive level positions at production companies, talent agencies, studios or television networks.

This three-year program provides a broad education of business in general and how it all works. As part of the MBA component, you’ll study business concepts such as economics, accounting, marketing and financial management. These concepts will then be applied to student productions when you begin the MFA program in your second year.

As part of the MFA degree, you’ll study the fundamentals of producing. You’ll also come away with a deep understanding of film and television financing, marketing, distribution and exhibition, as well an awareness of the global business environment. You’ll put these skills to good use as you develop your MFA thesis project—an original short film or media production you’ve personally produced.

Upon graduation, you’ll have a project portfolio along with a thesis book for a proposed film or media production that includes detailed plans for rights acquisition, story development, pitching, budgeting, packaging, marketing, distribution and exhibition.

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MFA in Film and Television Producing:

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, develop and market creative material appropriate for film, television and the internet.
Through critical essay and writing assignments, students demonstrate an understanding of the development of film language, including aesthetic perspectives.
Through closely-mentored projects, students demonstrate the knowledge and collaborative skills necessary to produce a film or media project from start to finish.
Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the business elements of producing, including production management, intellectual property, rights and issues, financing, marketing and distribution.

MBA

Each student will effectively apply paradigms and theories in accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing and operations to solve business problems.
Each student will possess the quantitative and technical skills to analyze data, interpret results and propose defensible solutions for improving business performance.
Each student will be able to evaluate the economic potential of business opportunities, devise actionable strategies, and communicate recommendations persuasively.

In conjunction with the Argyros School of Business and Economics, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers a joint program leading to both an MBA degree and an MFA in Film and Television Producing degree. Offered to full-time students, the program requires three years of study and acceptance to both the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the Argyros School of Business and Economics. The MBA/MFA in Film and Television Producing gives students the opportunity to obtain two highly marketable professional degrees designed for individuals seeking a management or executive-level position at a production company, talent agency, studio or television network.

Dodge College offers an MFA in Film and Television Producing that consists of 48 credits and is completed by full-time students in four semesters, while the Argyros School of Business and Economics offers an MBA program that consists of 50 credits and is typically completed by full-time students in four semesters. The two programs, combined into the joint degree, require the completion of only 86 credits, a savings of 12 credits, resulting from the cross-application of completed coursework in the two schools.

Students must satisfy the minimum requirements for each degree program including course requirements, GPA, residency and other requirements listed in the graduate catalog.

Requirements for the degree:

First Year (33 credits)

Fall requirements (13 credits)

FTV 502	Narrative Strategies I	3
BUS 600	Strategies for Competitive Advantage	1
BUS 601	Economic Analysis for Business	3
BUS 602	Accounting and Financial Analysis	3
BUS 603	Statistics for Business Decisions	3

Interterm requirement (2 credits)

BUS 613

Accounting for Management and Control

Spring requirements (15 credits)

FTP 567	Independent Feature Filmmaking	3
BUS 604	Organization and Management	3
BUS 605	Marketing Management	3
BUS 607	Financial Management	3
BUS 609	Business Analytics	3

Summer requirement (3 credits)

BUS 606

Operations and Technology Management

Second Year (32 credits)

Fall requirements (13 credits)

SW 527	Screenwriting Intensive	3
FP 531	Production Workshop I	3
FTP 534A	Production and Set Management for Film Production (Producers)	3
FTP 560	Overview of Producing	3
BUS 610	Understanding the Global Business Environment	4

Spring requirements (13 credits)

FTP 566	Story Development for Producers	3
BUS 612	Strategic Management	4
FTP 631A	Production Workshop IV for Producers	3
FTP 674	Entertainment Law	3

Summer requirement (3 credits)

FTV 690

Independent Internship

Third Year (21 credits)

Fall requirements (12 credits)

FTP 661	Marketing, Distribution and Exhibition	3
FTP 694	Producing Portfolio	3
FTP 697	Thesis in Producing I	6
	*Business Elective	3

Spring requirements (9 credits)

FTP 562	The Development Process of Film and Television	3
FTP 564	Film and Television Financing	3
FTP 698	Thesis in Producing II	3

Total Credits

*The required three-credit business elective can be taken any time after the spring semester of the student's first year in the program.

MFA in Film and Television Producing:

Russell Schwartz

Madeline Warren

MBA:

Dr. Gokcen Coskuner-Balli

Dr. Marc Fawaz

Dr. Darcy Fudge-Kamal

Students enrolled in the program have interned at companies such as Lionsgate, Sony, NBC Universal, Atlas Entertainment, United Entertainment Partners, and ICM Partners, among others. Typically, students take between 2–4 internships while enrolled and most have found full-time jobs within 90 days of graduation.

In order to apply to the Film and Television Producing/MBA graduate program, you must submit the required application materials, as well as a Creative Supplement. The application goes live each July, and more instructions on the application process are updated in time on our website.

Application:

Statement of Intent
Resume
2 letters of recommendation
Creative Supplement

Other Required Materials:

Official copy of your undergraduate transcript from your degree granting institution
GRE or GMAT

No additional information should be sent to Dodge College or the Office of Admissions outside of what is required on the application. Any outside work sent to either office will not be reviewed as part of the admission process.

View additional application details

»Designed for those who seek management or executive-level positions at production companies, talent agencies, studios or television networks.

Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements

First Year (33 credits)

Second Year (32 credits)

Third Year (21 credits)

Core Faculty

Career & Internship Opportunities

Application Requirements

Contact Dodge Admissions

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