MFA In Television, Film, and Theatre: Acting, Content Creation and Writing

The MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre (MFA in TVFT) is a three-year, terminal degree program with options in Acting, Content Creation, and Writing that offers practical and collaborative training in theatre and film/TV production as well as pedagogy, producing, and career planning.  The MFA degree, in conjunction with professional experience, qualifies graduates to work and teach in professional theatre, film, television, and academia.  Students in our program will learn current industry business practices and gain hands-on opportunities to refine their creative voice and vision as they work on stage/screen productions, individual/collaborative assignments, and culminating projects. 

Cal State LA’s MFA in TVFT curriculum offers students the structure and rigor expected from an MFA program, while still being flexible enough to respond and adapt to students’ individual pursuits and interests.  We provide a safe place for student artists to experiment, fail, and succeed as they find their own voice while developing industry-level skills.  The goal is for MFA in TVFT students to leave the program ready to launch their professional careers.

Prospective students apply to either the Acting, Content Creation, or Writing Option.  Each learning track has option-specific requirements, as well as a core curriculum shared between the three options which engages students in creative collaboration as they gain experience in adjacent fields, tracks, and positions.

Applicants should demonstrate their potential to succeed in a rigorous, hybrid, creative, and critical environment as well as an interest in exploring new directions in their creative practice.

The MFA in TVFT is eager to support students from diverse backgrounds who have a passionate voice and vision. We seek to support voices that may be underrepresented in the current industry by providing the tools needed to face the challenges of the industry and change the landscape to be more diverse and inclusive.

• Study at a diverse multicultural, multilingual, 21st-century campus at the heart of the entertainment industry
• Study with award-winning faculty, teaching artists, and scholars who are actively working in local, national, and international arenas, who then bring that current, relevant industry knowledge to our classrooms
• Proximity and access to the major theatre, television, film, and new media industries in Los Angeles 

• Entertainment industry internship opportunities and placements through the California State University Statewide Media Internship Program 

It is critical to apply to schools that offer what YOU are looking for. 

When researching graduate programs, it is important to start from a place of self-reflection.  Look back at your own training and experience, and then ask yourself: “What do I want to learn? What skills do I want to develop? What are my ‘weaknesses’ and what are my ‘strengths’?" And then, ask: "does this program offer the courses, instruction, and challenges that I am looking for?"