Located in Los Angeles, the American Film Institute is known worldwide as a leader in the motion picture industry. The graduate program at the AFI offers M.F.A. degrees in cinematography, directing, editing, producing, production design and screenwriting. The curriculum is very structured, with an emphasis on hands-on production. Classroom lectures and workshops in specialized areas, such as American approaches to film, give students the knowledge and skills they need, and students will begin producing their own work during the first year.
The School of Cinematic Arts at USC offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in film and related areas. Ph.D.s in critical studies and media arts and practices are also available. While students can focus their studies on a particular area, like directing, all are required to take classes from the full range of courses to develop a broad knowledge base. All faculty members are either currently working, or have worked in the entertainment industry, and the campus facilities have everything necessary for film production, from sound stages to mixing theaters.
To get into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, students must submit an artistic review, which is a portfolio that may consist of an essay or other creative work that relates to film or cinema. The program is highly selective, with enrolled students working toward undergraduate and graduate degrees in majors such as dramatic writing, cinema studies, and film and television. Tisch also offers numerous study abroad programs for students, as well as opportunities to work with mentors who have professional experience and can help students examine their career options.
UCLA offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in film and television, and graduate programs in animation, cinema and media studies, cinematography, screenwriting and more. Academic classes are at the core of each program, but students are also trained in the technical aspects of working in the field. The film and television internship program expands on this and is open to all students, allowing them to meet and work with Hollywood professionals to gain real world experience.
The School of Film/Video at CalArts has four programs: character animation, experimental animation, film directing and film and video. B.A. and M.F.A. degrees are available, and the diverse course offerings include general education studies, and numerous film/video courses and electives. CalArts also values the input of industry professionals, and frequently has well-known guest speakers doing lectures and workshops to give students personal insight in film and video.