The 6 Best Online Master's in Film Programs

Students who love telling stories, immersing themselves in movies, and binge-watching television series may find themselves drawn to the film industry. With a master's degree in film, these learners can turn their passions or hobbies into careers as directors, producers, editors, and writers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects each of these careers to grow at least as quickly as the average profession.

For more degree and career info, jump to:

• Choosing an Online Master’s in Film Program
• What Else Can I Expect From an Online Master’s in Film Program?
• Careers with a Master’s in Film

Best Online Master’s in Film Programs

Online Master’s in Film Degree Program Ranking Guidelines:
We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.

RANKING METHODOLOGY

Methodology for College Rankings

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The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.

To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet — TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):

1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]

• Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
• Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
• Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
• Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
• Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
• Considers range of electives within that discipline
• Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline

2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]

• Considers education background of the faculty
• Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
• Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
• Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
• Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources

3. Reputation [weight = 20%]

• Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
  • “Freshness” of academic knowledge
  • Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
  • Suitability of graduates for the workplace

4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]

• Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
• Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants

5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]

• Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
• Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business

6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]

• Considers the following of the online classes:
  • Types of online technology used to deliver content
  • Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
  • Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
  • Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
• Considers the following of instructors:
  • Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
  • Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
  • Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
  • Ratio to number of students in a class
• Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees

Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.

To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:

• Accreditation
• Public or private status
• Acceptance rate
• Retention rate
• Graduation rate
• ACT/SAT requirements
• Cost in-state / out of state
• Undergrad, grad, or both offered
• Region
• State
• City

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If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.

Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “ Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “ Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!

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1. Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, Georgia

In the online master's in motion media design at SCAD, students learn creative and technical skills necessary to work as art directors, 3D animators, and graphics coordinators. Known for attracting the attention of big-name recruiters like Apple, MTV, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, SCAD helps students gain the hands-on experience and professional connections necessary to land the industry job of their dreams. Students can earn their degree through the school's eLearning program or on its campus in Savannah.

Students take a minimum of 45 hours of courses, although some incoming students may require an additional selection of courses, bringing their total to 50-70 hours. Coursework explores motion media cinematography and editing, studio business practice, and contemporary art. All graduate students also complete a final project.

2. Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

The School of Communication and Arts at Regent University offers a fully online MFA in film-television studies and a fully online MA in film studies. Students earning their MFA online can concentrate in script and screenwriting, while those pursuing their MA online can concentrate in either script and screenwriting or producing. Graduate students can also pursue their degree on the school's campus in Virginia Beach. A Christian worldview informs all of Regent's programs, including its online film degrees.

The school's MFA, which serves as a terminal degree, requires 44 credit hours and successful completion of courses like writing the short film, story structure for stage and screen, feature film scriptwriting. The MA requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and completion of courses like lighting and cinematography, the business of film, and a film-television equipment workshop. Students in both degree tracks complete a final project; students earning their master's can also opt to complete a thesis.

3. Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee

Based in vibrant Nashville, Tennessee, Lipscomb University offers an MA and an MFA in film and creative media. Students take courses online, during weeknights, and sometimes on Saturdays.

The school's online MA in film and creative media requires 36 hours of coursework, which students typically complete over two years. Courses consider story and structure, cinematic aesthetics, and acting for directors. At the end of their second year, students submit a portfolio.

Students earning their MFA can choose from two film concentrations: writer/producer or writer/director. Both tracks require 62 hours of coursework, which students tend to complete over three years of study. Required coursework in both tracks includes transmedia storytelling, TV writing, and a final portfolio. Students in either concentration can choose to spend their final summer in Los Angeles, taking classes and completing an internship.

4. Tiffin University

Tiffin, Ohio

Located in Tiffin, Ohio, Tiffin University offers a wide selection of fully online graduate degrees, including a handful that explores different subjects within the humanities. The school's master of humanities with a concentration in film studies examines the artistic and historical aspects of film, preparing students to direct, produce, or teach.

In addition to courses that explore the creative and generative side of film, this degree also prepares students to teach about the history, significance, and impact of film. Students take courses like classic Hollywood cinema, cult and independent film, and world cinema and documentary film. All courses span a 15-week semester, with start dates in January, May, and August. Part-time students typically earn their degree in two and a half years while full-time students often graduate in only a year and a half. During their studies, students at Tiffin enjoy a variety of support tools like one-on-one peer tutoring, online writing tools, and professional skill-building workshops.

5. Western State Colorado University

Gunnison, Colorado

Tucked into the Rocky Mountains in Gunnison, Colorado, Western State Colorado University caters to students across the country who want to earn a creative degree from afar. The school's graduate creative writing program offers a low-residency MA and MFA in screenwriting for film and television.

Students in the program take online courses, participate in video-based class discussions, and consult with their professors through video consultations or by phone. Each summer, creative writing graduate students and faculty from all disciplines and genres gather on the school's campus for the last two weeks in July. Together, they participate in lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Students earn their degree over the course of four academic semesters and three summer residencies, completing a total of 60 credit hours of coursework, including 12 dedicated to the thesis. Other courses center on writing feature-length screenplays, creating narratives, and writing TV pilots. Students who wish to add an additional concentration may do so by taking 30 credits of coursework within that secondary area.

6. National University

La Jolla, California

As a nonprofit, veteran-founded institution, National University offers more than 100 flexible programs, both online and on its La Jolla campus, to help working professionals and military members advance their careers. Its MA in film studies requires 45 quarter units of coursework, all of which students can complete online.

Students earning their online master's degree in film take eight required courses that explore topics like world cinema, the history of silent film, and international directors. Toward the end of their studies, students take a capstone course in which they develop and expand upon a written assignment from one of their earlier film courses. To round out credit requirements, students also complete two elective courses.

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Choosing an Online Master’s in Film Program

Students should consider their career path and then seek out film programs that will teach them correlating skills.

For example, some film programs focus on narrative, requiring students to complete courses in film history, current trends in cinema, classic theory, and storytelling. Some universities offer creative tracks for students who want to work in specific areas of film such as directing or producing. Other programs offer concentrations in editing and cinematography, allowing students to work with industry-standard programs and equipment. Finally, some schools focus on theoretical aspects of cinema, considering, for instance, the psychology and consumption behind filmmaking (these graduates often go on to earn doctoral degrees).

Regardless of which career path students pursue, they will likely need to complete internships or thesis projects.

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What Else Can I Expect from an Online Master’s in Film Program?

The content offered within online master's in film degrees frequently depends on faculty and current events. In other words, professors may design courses that cover cultural moments and technologies in film so that students can stay up to date. That said, most programs offer some of the following common courses.

Curriculum for an Online Master's Degree in Film

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Online Master's in Film Careers

A master's degree in film studies, along with one's interests and expertise, can lead to various career paths: those who love storytelling may become scriptwriters; those who enjoy overseeing projects may become directors or producers; those who are detailed may become editors.

1. Film and Video Editor:
   These professionals work in offices with the latest film editing technology. They piece together a director's takes to create cohesive stories. Most films require large teams of editors, with each working on a specific piece of the end product. A master's degree sets candidates apart in this competitive field.
   • Median Annual Salary: $58,210
   • Projected Growth Rate: 13%
2. Producer or Director:
   Both of these careers require professionals to oversee projects from screenplay to final product. Directors and producers often work side by side, with the former managing the creative side and the latter managing the financial side. Master's degrees give graduates the insight and skills they need to oversee such large projects without losing sight of the stories.
   • Median Annual Salary: $71,620
   • Projected Growth Rate: 12%
3. Writer:
   Before any film or television show can go into production, it needs a compelling script. These professionals create characters, develop stories, and write it down in the widely recognized format for film. While writers do not need diplomas to sell their scripts, master's degrees provide learners with the tools they need to excel.
   • Median Annual Salary: $61,820
   • Projected Growth Rate: 8%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Last Updated: December 03, 2018