Syracuse University · Department of Film and Media Arts

Film, MFA

MFAMFA in FilmPartial fundingEditorial selection: Top Film Schools in the USA

Overview

A three-year-residency MFA in film that gives equal weight to dramatic, experimental and documentary production and to film theory, criticism and history. Candidates make three films, the third a thesis film with a project paper, and present work at annual portfolio reviews.

Official program name: Film, MFA
Awarded degree: MFA in FilmMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School: Syracuse University — Department of Film and Media Arts
Location: Syracuse, NY
Delivery: On campus
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance: Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity: Not published
Duration: Three years of residency
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required credits: Minimum of 60 credits (catalog requirements table shows 42-54)
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Start: Fall
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

Field	Classification	Evidence
Film Production	Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.	Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film Studies	Broader film degreeA broader film degree whose official curriculum substantially covers this field.	Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Why this degree is listed

Dedicated MFA in film combining production and film studies.

Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

Thesis filmThree films, the third being the thesis film, plus a project paper.

Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production projects

Candidates screen and discuss work at an annual portfolio review and graduate student showcases.
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other

Prerequisites: two semesters of film history, one of film theory and one of film production.
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Workshops

Select students take part in film production and Italian film studies in Bologna; 35mm study is possible at FAMU in Prague.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

David Tarleton — Chair
Soudabeh Moradian — Program Coordinator
Tamika Galanis
Kelly Gallagher
Kara Herold
Guinevere Turner
Adam Raymonda
Donato Rossi

As listed on the program's official page on October 12, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.

Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

Post-production: 24-hour access to postproduction facilities; digital cinema and Super 16mm supported.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Access policies: Facilities are provided, but materials and lab costs are not.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Published production and equipment costs

Published production and course fees

VPA graduate program fee: $450 per semester MandatoryPer-semester VPA program fee for Main Campus graduate students; it replaces course fees and covers shops, laboratories, equipment and technology.
Source: finance.syr.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Thesis and project spending

Film materials and lab costs: The program does not provide materials or lab costs for student films.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

Material	Status	Instructions as published
Film or reel	Required	Original complete films (not excerpts or reels), 10 minutes maximum, with the applicant's role indicated.Length: up to 10 minutesSource: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Prior degree: RequiredU.S. bachelor's degree or equivalent before starting.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Personal statement: RequiredPersonal statement of about 500 words.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters: Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Interview: OptionalApplicants may be contacted for an online meeting after faculty review.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Application fee: Required$75 — Non-refundable application fee of $75.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts: RequiredUnofficial transcript uploaded; official transcript if admitted.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test: Not requiredCatalog states no entrance exams are required.
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadline
February 1 · for Fall 2027
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.

Tuition: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Funding

Some scholarships, assistantships or awards exist for some students; full funding is not stated. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Partial funding

Separate application: Applications by February 1 are considered for merit-based awards.
Source: vpa.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other: Fellowship or assistantship applicants arrange a personal interview with the program head.
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Named scholarships, assistantships and production grants

Bryan Buckley Film Production Award production grant
Eligibility: Film students
Source: coursecatalog.syracuse.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.

coursecatalog.syracuse.edu/graduate/visual-performing-arts/film-media-arts/film-mfa/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
finance.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TuitionAndFees-26_27-ACCESSIBLE-1.pdf — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
vpa.syracuse.edu/academics/film-media-arts/programs/film-mfa/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
vpa.syracuse.edu/admissions/graduate/admission-requirements/film-media-arts/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026

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