Graduation Certification

MFA students have a maximum of four academic years to complete their degree requirements.  MFA students can graduate in May, October and February; all graduates within an academic year will be invited to the May University Commencement and School of the Arts Graduation ceremonies.  Once a student has a targeted graduation date, they should fill out an Application for Degree and submit it to signal their intention to graduate.  The application can be updated if you need to stay an additional semester (within the allowed 4 years).  Students then work with their advisor to schedule a thesis review in time for graduation certification.  Each concentration has its own process for thesis reviews.

Creative Producing Graduation Requirements

  • Successful completion of 60 academic credits and Creative Producing curriculum
  • Second Year Film (D4) as solely credited, on-set producer 
  • Producing Thesis Advisement class – attendance required
  • Thesis Film as solely credited, on-set producer
  • Thesis-level Film as Post Supervisor
  • Thesis Binder per graduation requirements
  • At least 35 hours of approved internship 

Thesis presentations can be scheduled for all three possible graduation dates:

End of September (for October graduation)
End of January (for February graduation)
Mid-April (for May graduation)

Directing Graduation Requirements

  • Successful completion of 60 academic credits and Directing Curriculum
  • Directing Thesis Advisement
  • Short thesis film

Thesis presentations can be scheduled for all three possible graduation dates:

September (for October graduation)
January (for February graduation)
April (for May graduation)

Screen/TV Writing Graduation Requirements

For Students Planning a May Graduation:

A complete first draft of your thesis screenplay or TV package must be delivered to your advisor by NO LATER THAN APRIL 15. The advisor will then meet with the advisee to provide feedback and discuss last revisions to the material.
 
The student must arrange for a 2nd reader by April 15 and provide the advisor with the name at that time. Students are advised to arrange a 2nd reader as early as possible once the graduation date is known. The 2nd reader can be any full-time or adjunct faculty member in Screen/TV Writing and will read only the primary thesis material.
 
The thesis review meeting will be scheduled by the advisor, with consideration for the second reader’s availability, before the certification date set by the Film Office.

For Students Planning an October Graduation:

A complete first draft of your thesis screenplay or TV package must be delivered to your advisor by NO LATER THAN APRIL 15th. The advisor will then meet with the advisee to provide feedback and discuss needed revisions to the material.
 
The student must arrange for a 2nd reader by the APRIL 15th deadline, and provide both the advisor and the Film Office with the name of the 2nd reader at that time.
 
Students are strongly advised to arrange a 2nd reader as early as possible once the graduation date is known. The 2nd reader can be any full-time or adjunct faculty member in Screen/TV Writing and will read only the primary thesis material.
 
The revised thesis screenplay or TV package must be delivered to the thesis advisor and the 2nd reader by the FIRST DAY OF CLASSES in the following fall semester.
 
The advisor will then schedule a thesis review meeting with the student and the 2nd reader, to be conducted NO LATER THAN September 30th. If the meeting is not completed by this date, the student may not graduate in October, and must be registered for the Fall term to maintain matriculation until requirements are completed.
 
There will be no advisement for students seeking this graduation option between the meeting on the April 15th draft and the thesis review to be conducted the following September. Faculty are not available to provide feedback or any other form of guidance between the last day of classes of the spring semester and the first day of classes of the following fall semester and should not be asked to supply input during that time.

For Students Planning a February Graduation:

(1 & 2) Same as above, except the delivery date and deadline to arrange a second reader is NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1st.
 
Same as above, except deadline is FIRST DAY OF CLASSES in spring semester.
 
Same as above, except the deadline to conduct the review is JANUARY 30th.
 
No advisement should be expected to be available between the last day of classes in December and the first day of classes in January.