»MFA in Sound Design for Film and Media

The MFA in Sound Design for Film and Media is a mentor-driven, hands-on and story-centric two-year program where creativity meets technology to shape immersive experiences across film, video games and new media. The program is designed to equip sound designers with the latest creative and practical skills needed to succeed and thrive as sound professionals in all areas of the media and entertainment industry.

The curriculum is a dynamic blend of sound theory and aesthetics, offering students the use of state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge equipment to develop their practical and creative skills in sound design for a variety of audio-visual media, including video games, immersive media, animation and movies. Additionally, students will apply their skills and experiment with the expressive dimension of sound by designing the sound of several short movies produced in collaboration with their fellow film production students.

The program features the following enhanced educational opportunities:

A strong internship placement program
Close mentoring by distinguished industry professionals who are actively engaged in
the industry.
Collaboration with film production students to create short movies with high
production values.

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First year (30 credits) - fall requirements (15 credits)

FP 530 - Story 3 credits
FP 533 - Fundamentals of Audio Design 3 credits
FP 540 - Production Audio 3 credits
FP 525 - Art and Craft of Foley and ADR 3 credits
P 559 - Pro Tools Certification I 3 credits

First year (30 credits) - spring requirements (15 credits)

FP 506 - Overview of Post Production 3 credits
SW 557 - Film Script Analysis 3 credits
FP 633 - Intermediate Audio Design3 credits
FP 517 - How Music Works in Film 3 credits
FP 686 - Pro Tools Certification II (Post Audio/Music) 3 credits

Second year (24 credits) - fall requirements (12 credits)

FP 520 - Spatial Audio Design 3 credits
FP 582 - Music Composition for Filmmakers3 credits
FP 634 - Advanced Audio Design 3 credits
FP 635 - Advanced Audio Techniques 3 Credits

Second year (24 credits) - spring requirements (12 credits)

FP 698 - Thesis in Film Production 9 Credits
FP 514 - Audio Drama Production 3 Credits

Total credits: 54

In mastering the curriculum of the MFA in Sound Design, students will gain competence in the following areas:

Learning Outcome #1 – Story

Students will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental components of visual storytelling, including story structure, analysis, and interpretation.

Learning Outcome #2 – Workflow

Students will be able to exhibit technical proficiency in every stage of the audio workflow, from recording and editing to mixing, utilizing industry-standard tools and techniques.

Learning Outcome #3 – Audio Storytelling

Students will be able to develop and implement an effective sound design that conveys the emotional and dramatic subtext of a project's narrative content, showcasing a nuanced understanding of the role of sound in storytelling.

Learning Outcome #4 – Collaboration and Project Management

Students will be able to display advanced communication and collaboration skills on creative projects, demonstrating an ability to effectively schedule and manage sound design work while maintaining high levels of creativity and professionalism.

»MFA in Sound Design for Film and Media

Degree Requirements

Learning Outcomes

Core Faculty