Master’s Degree

Master's Degree in Film/Video and Photographic Arts

This master's degree teaches advanced skills in film, video, and photographic arts, preparing students for creative and technical roles in the media and entertainment industries.

1 to 2 years
Length
Master
Level
After bachelor's degree
Entry level
108
Schools
00
Exit level
Master
Length
1 to 2 years
Work-study
Uncommon
Selectivity
Selective
Direct careers
6 métiers
Where to study
108 établissements

About

The Master's Degree in Film/Video and Photographic Arts is a graduate program in the United States designed for students who want to deepen their knowledge and skills in visual storytelling and media production. This degree is ideal for those passionate about creating films, videos, or photographic works, and who aim to work in creative or technical roles within the arts and entertainment sectors. The program typically lasts one to two years and offers an opportunity to develop both artistic vision and technical expertise.

  • Graduate level program focusing on creative and technical aspects of film, video, and photography.
  • Designed for students with a bachelor's degree interested in media production and visual arts.
  • Prepares students for careers in filmmaking, video production, photography, and related creative industries.
  • Helps develop skills in storytelling, technical equipment use, and project management.
  • Encourages exploration of personal artistic style and professional portfolio development.

What you study

The curriculum of this master's degree combines theoretical courses with practical workshops to build advanced skills in film, video, and photographic arts. Students progress from foundational concepts to complex projects, often working on individual and group productions. The program emphasizes hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment and software.

  • Courses cover film theory, cinematography, video editing, and photographic techniques.
  • Workshops and labs provide practical training on cameras, lighting, sound, and post-production tools.
  • Students create short films, documentaries, photo essays, and multimedia projects.
  • Advanced seminars explore storytelling, visual aesthetics, and media history.
  • Project-based learning is central, with opportunities for collaboration and critique.
  • Final thesis or portfolio showcases the student's creative and technical abilities.

How to get in

Admission to this master's program in the US requires a bachelor's degree, usually in a related field such as film, media, or arts. Applicants must submit a portfolio demonstrating their creative work, along with academic transcripts and letters of recommendation. The selection process often includes an interview or statement of purpose to assess motivation and fit.

  • Bachelor's degree is required, preferably in film, media, or arts.
  • Portfolio of creative work is essential for evaluating skills and artistic vision.
  • Application includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
  • Some programs require an interview or additional tests.
  • Applicants should show motivation and potential for advanced creative work.

Day to day

The typical year in this master's program combines classes, workshops, and project work. Students spend time learning technical skills in labs and working on creative productions individually or in teams. Internships or practical experiences may be part of the curriculum, providing exposure to professional environments.

  • Weekly schedule includes lectures, practical labs, and group critiques.
  • Students work on several projects, from short films to photographic series.
  • Internships or fieldwork can offer real-world experience in studios or media companies.
  • Time management is important to balance technical practice and creative development.
  • Collaborative projects help build teamwork and communication skills.

Careers this degree leads to

Graduates with this master's degree can pursue various careers in the creative industries, especially in film, video, and photography. Employment is often found in production companies, media outlets, advertising agencies, or as independent artists. The job market can be competitive, but the degree helps build a strong portfolio and network.

  • Possible careers include filmmaker, cinematographer, video editor, and photographer.
  • Work sectors include film production, television, advertising, and digital media.
  • Graduates may work freelance or join creative teams in companies.
  • Building a portfolio and professional contacts is key for job opportunities.
  • Employment prospects depend on skills, creativity, and networking.

Continuing your studies

After completing this master's degree, some students choose to continue their studies with doctoral research in film or media studies, or pursue specialized certifications in areas like animation or digital media. Others may shift to related fields such as arts management or education.

  • Doctoral programs in film, media, or communication studies are possible.
  • Specialized diplomas in animation, digital effects, or multimedia production can be pursued.
  • Some graduates consider careers in teaching or arts administration.

Where to study this degree (108)

Chargement de la carte…
Norwich University
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Norwich University
University
📍Northfield, 🇺🇸 United States
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
University
📍Escondido, 🇺🇸 United States
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Lynn University
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Lynn University
University
📍Boca Raton, 🇺🇸 United States
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American Film Institute Conservatory
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American Film Institute Conservatory
college
📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Southern California
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University of Southern California
University
📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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New York Film Academy
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New York Film Academy
School
📍Burbank, 🇺🇸 United States
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Chapman University
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Chapman University
University
📍Orange, 🇺🇸 United States
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Columbia University
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Columbia University
University
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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Savannah College of Art and Design
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Savannah College of Art and Design
School
📍Savannah, 🇺🇸 United States
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Full Sail University
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Full Sail University
University
📍Winter Park, 🇺🇸 United States
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New York University
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New York University
University
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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School of Visual Arts
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School of Visual Arts
School
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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Loyola Marymount University
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Loyola Marymount University
University
📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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Academy of Art University
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Academy of Art University
University
📍San Francisco, 🇺🇸 United States
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Regent University
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Regent University
University
📍Virginia Beach, 🇺🇸 United States
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California Institute of the Arts
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California Institute of the Arts
School
📍Valencia, 🇺🇸 United States
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DePaul University
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DePaul University
University
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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University of California-Los Angeles
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University of California-Los Angeles
college
📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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Brooklyn College
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Brooklyn College
School
📍Brooklyn, 🇺🇸 United States
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Institution
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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University
📍Winston Salem, 🇺🇸 United States
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American University
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American University
University
📍Washington, 🇺🇸 United States
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Florida State University
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Florida State University
University
📍Tallahassee, 🇺🇸 United States
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Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rochester Institute of Technology
School
📍Rochester, 🇺🇸 United States
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Institution
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Maryland Institute College of Art
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Maryland Institute College of Art
School
📍Baltimore, 🇺🇸 United States
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Atlantic University
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Atlantic University
University
📍Guaynabo, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of North Carolina Wilmington
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University of North Carolina Wilmington
University
📍Wilmington, 🇺🇸 United States
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Johns Hopkins University
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Johns Hopkins University
University
📍Baltimore, 🇺🇸 United States
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ArtCenter College of Design
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ArtCenter College of Design
School
📍Pasadena, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University Lancaster
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Ohio University Lancaster
University
📍Athens, 🇺🇸 United States
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Yale University
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Yale University
University
📍New Haven, 🇺🇸 United States
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Northwestern University
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Northwestern University
University
📍Evanston, 🇺🇸 United States
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San Francisco State University
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San Francisco State University
University
📍San Francisco, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Mount St. Mary's University
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Mount St. Mary's University
University
📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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New School
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New School
School
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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Institution
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Montana State University
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Montana State University
University
📍Bozeman, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Sacred Heart University
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Sacred Heart University
University
📍Fairfield, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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University of Miami
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University of Miami
University
📍Coral Gables, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Students—
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California College of the Arts
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California College of the Arts
School
📍San Francisco, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeSchool
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Students—
Institution
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Vermont College of Fine Arts
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Vermont College of Fine Arts
School
📍Montpelier, 🇺🇸 United States
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Students—
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University of California-Santa Cruz
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University of California-Santa Cruz
college
📍Santa Cruz, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
college
📍Milwaukee, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Hartford
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University of Hartford
University
📍West Hartford, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Rhode Island School of Design
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Rhode Island School of Design
School
📍Providence, 🇺🇸 United States
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Students—
Institution
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City College of New York
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City College of New York
School
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeSchool
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Columbia College Chicago
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Columbia College Chicago
School
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeSchool
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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University of California-Berkeley
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University of California-Berkeley
college
📍Berkeley, 🇺🇸 United States
Typecollege
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University of Georgia
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University of Georgia
University
📍Athens, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Stony Brook University
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Stony Brook University
University
📍Stony Brook, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Wake Forest University
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Wake Forest University
University
📍Winston-Salem, 🇺🇸 United States
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Institution
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San Diego State University
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San Diego State University
University
📍San Diego, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Howard University
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Howard University
University
📍Washington, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Syracuse University
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Syracuse University
University
📍Syracuse, 🇺🇸 United States
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Students—
Institution
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Temple University
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Temple University
University
📍Philadelphia, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Seattle Film Institute
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Seattle Film Institute
School
📍Seattle, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeSchool
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Massachusetts College of Art and Design
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Massachusetts College of Art and Design
School
📍Boston, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Asbury University
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Asbury University
University
📍Wilmore, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
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Institution
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Stanford University
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Stanford University
University
📍Stanford, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
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Lipscomb University
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Lipscomb University
University
📍Nashville, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Quinnipiac University
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Quinnipiac University
University
📍Hamden, 🇺🇸 United States
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Lesley University
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Lesley University
University
📍Cambridge, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Cranbrook Academy of Art
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Cranbrook Academy of Art
college
📍Bloomfield Hills, 🇺🇸 United States
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Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
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Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
college
📍Madison, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Central Arkansas
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University of Central Arkansas
University
📍Conway, 🇺🇸 United States
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Institution
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Washington University in St Louis
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Washington University in St Louis
college
📍Saint Louis, 🇺🇸 United States
Typecollege
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Governors State University
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Governors State University
University
📍University Park, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Students—
Institution
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus
college
📍Seattle, 🇺🇸 United States
Typecollege
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University of Central Florida
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University of Central Florida
University
📍Orlando, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Harvard University
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Harvard University
University
📍Cambridge, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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Brigham Young University
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Brigham Young University
University
📍Provo, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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University of Utah
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University of Utah
University
📍Salt Lake City, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
Students—
Institution
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College of Staten Island
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College of Staten Island
School
📍Staten Island, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeSchool
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Institution
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The University of Montana
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The University of Montana
college
📍Missoula, 🇺🇸 United States
Typecollege
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Students—
Institution
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University
📍Las Vegas, 🇺🇸 United States
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Students—
Institution
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University of California-Santa Barbara
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University of California-Santa Barbara
college
📍Santa Barbara, 🇺🇸 United States
Typecollege
Founded—
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National University
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National University
University
📍San Diego, 🇺🇸 United States
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Baylor University
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Baylor University
University
📍Waco, 🇺🇸 United States
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Chatham University
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Chatham University
University
📍Pittsburgh, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
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University of South Carolina-Columbia
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University of South Carolina-Columbia
college
📍Columbia, 🇺🇸 United States
Typecollege
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Central Michigan University
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Central Michigan University
University
📍Mount Pleasant, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Central Washington University
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Central Washington University
University
📍Ellensburg, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
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University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University
📍North Dartmouth, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
college
📍Ann Arbor, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Iowa
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University of Iowa
University
📍Iowa City, 🇺🇸 United States
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Boston University
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Boston University
University
📍Boston, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
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Institution
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University of Kansas
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University of Kansas
University
📍Lawrence, 🇺🇸 United States
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Purchase College
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Purchase College
School
📍Purchase, 🇺🇸 United States
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Founded—
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University at Buffalo
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University at Buffalo
college
📍Buffalo, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
college
📍Pittsburgh, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio State University-Main Campus
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Ohio State University-Main Campus
college
📍Columbus, 🇺🇸 United States
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Wesleyan University
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Wesleyan University
University
📍Middletown, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Colorado Boulder
University
📍Boulder, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Institution
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Hollins University
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Hollins University
University
📍Roanoke, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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SUNY New Paltz
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SUNY New Paltz
School
📍New Paltz, 🇺🇸 United States
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Emory University
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Emory University
University
📍Atlanta, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
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Institution
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Binghamton University
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Binghamton University
University
📍Binghamton, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
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Institution
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University of Illinois Chicago
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University of Illinois Chicago
University
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
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Institution
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Bob Jones University
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Bob Jones University
University
📍Greenville, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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New Jersey City University
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New Jersey City University
University
📍Jersey City, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Barry University
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Barry University
University
📍Miami, 🇺🇸 United States
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New England College
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New England College
School
📍Henniker, 🇺🇸 United States
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Southern Methodist University
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Southern Methodist University
University
📍Dallas, 🇺🇸 United States
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Wichita State University
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Wichita State University
University
📍Wichita, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Maharishi International University
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Maharishi International University
University
📍Fairfield, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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University of Rochester
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University of Rochester
University
📍Rochester, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
Founded—
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University of Chicago
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University of Chicago
University
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
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Southern Adventist University
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Southern Adventist University
University
📍Collegedale, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Denver
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University of Denver
University
📍Denver, 🇺🇸 United States
TypeUniversity
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Sonoma State University
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Sonoma State University
University
📍Rohnert Park, 🇺🇸 United States
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Liste des 108 établissements

Frequently asked questions

What kind of prior education do I need to apply?

You need to have completed a bachelor's degree, ideally in film, media, or a related arts field. A strong portfolio of your creative work is also required.

Is this degree more theoretical or practical?

The program balances theory and practice, with many workshops and projects that let you develop hands-on skills alongside academic knowledge.

Can I work while studying this master's degree?

The program is intensive and usually full-time, so working alongside can be challenging, but some students manage part-time jobs or internships.

Are internships part of the program?

Many programs encourage or require internships to gain professional experience, helping you connect with industry professionals.

What careers can I pursue after graduation?

You can work as a filmmaker, cinematographer, video editor, photographer, or in other creative roles within media and entertainment sectors.

Is it possible to continue studying after this master's degree?

Yes, some graduates pursue doctoral studies or specialized certificates in areas like animation or digital media.

Do I need to submit a portfolio to apply?

Yes, submitting a portfolio showcasing your creative work is a key part of the application process to demonstrate your skills and artistic vision.

Is the program selective?

Admission is selective, as programs look for candidates with strong creative potential and relevant academic background.