Applicants for the M.F.A. in Film, Video and Computer Animation must submit a supplemental application and materials. For specific instructions, contact the Cinema-Television Animation and Digital Arts Program Office, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-3986, or online at www-cntv.usc.edu.

The application deadline is February 15 for the fall semester.

Prior knowledge of fundamental computer animation concepts and techniques is recommended. Those without this background will be required to enroll in CTAN 523 Principles of Computer Animation for two of their elective units in year one.

*A minimum total of 12 elective units must be taken.

To complete the 50 units required for the M.F.A. in Film, Video and Computer Animation, students are required to take a minimum of 12 School of Cinema-Television elective units at the 400 and 500 level. Four of those units must be taken from the following Critical Studies courses:

In order to begin work on the thesis project, students must first successfully propose their project to a committee of M.F.A. Animation Program faculty. The proposal is prepared during the second year of study in CTAN 591 Animation Pre-Thesis Seminar and is submitted at the end of the second year. Throughout the three years of study, students will meet regularly with an M.F.A. Animation Program faculty advisor to develop and refine the proposal and discuss the progress of their work. The advisor will be a member of the thesis committee.

The proposal itself will include a written treatment of the project with a discussion of similar work in the field and its relationship to the proposed project. It will describe aesthetic issues to be explored and specific techniques to be employed in its realization. It will also include a storyboard, budget and schedule, in addition to supporting materials created by the student demonstrating his or her ability to pursue the project. The faculty committee will make comments and decide whether the student may go forward with his or her project. Upon acceptance, the student will begin work on the project, otherwise revising the proposal and meeting again with the committee.

In the third and final year, students concentrate on their thesis projects, completing production and post-production. All sound or music, final high-resolution rendering (for computer animation), final film or video output, and compositing, titles or subtitles, will be done during this time.

A final review will take place in the second semester of the third year. The committee will meet and the student must show and defend the work.

Criteria for successful completion include: 50 percent originality and 50 percent quality of execution.

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A= 4.0) must be maintained in all USC course work toward the master’s degree. Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree. Courses below a C must be repeated.

Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master’s degrees at all times. The time limit to complete all requirements is three years from the first course at USC applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course work more than seven years old is invalidated and will not be applied toward the degree.