MFA in Digital Filmmaking Schedule & Residential Sessions

2026 Term Calendar

The schedule is set each year and usually announced in the fall. Plan ahead to take each required course when it is offered.

Term	Dates	Courses offered
Term 1	Jan 2 – Mar 4, 2026	MFA 591Documentary Film Production
Term 2	Mar 10 – May 12, 2026	MFA 600Thesis
Term 3	May 19 – Jul 21, 2026	MFA 500The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa in Global Context
Term 4	Jul 28 – Sep 28, 2026	MFA 510Film Aesthetics
Term 5NEXT	Oct 6 – Dec 7, 2026	MFA 520Intro to Digital Filmmaking

One week in person in Hollywood or Tokyo, working hands-on with professional equipment and learning from industry professionals.

Required: 1 session during the program
Length: One week, 40 hours of instruction
Where: Hollywood, California or Tokyo, Japan, usually alternating between California and Asia
What you do: Work with professional motion picture and HD video equipment, with seminars, facility tours and lectures from industry professionals
Topics: Post-production, distribution and marketing; the business of screenwriting; video game development
Session fee: $2,200
Housing & meals: About $1,500 (estimated); travel not included

Next session

Upcoming Residential Session

Dates and location to be announced.

A few rules that help you finish on time.

COURSE ORDER

Missing a course when it is offered can stop you finishing on time, and leaving your studies while a needed course runs can lead to dismissal.

GRADES

You need a 3.0 GPA throughout the MFA. Below 3.0, you have two terms on academic probation to bring it back up.

THESIS

A two-term project you begin after all other coursework. You stay enrolled each term until it is approved.

TIME LIMIT

Most students finish in about three years. Extensions beyond four years need approval and carry a fee of $2,000 per term.

Speak with an advisor or start your application today.