Master of Arts Media Producing

Designed for working professionals, the Master of Arts Media Producing is a specialized graduate degree program that focuses on producing as an art form and business profession. Graduate students learn aspects of producing in the film and TV industry, from pitch and development to completed project and distribution.

This is a 15-month program, with courses offered throughout the year in the fall, spring, and summer. The last fall semester consists of the Thesis class only.

Classes, with the exception of the Thesis, are seven weeks long. View the sequence of courses for the MA Media Producing Degree here.

Required courses:

• Producing Essentials
• Script Analysis
• Production Management
• Entertainment Business Law
• Creative Fundraising and Deal Making
• Post Production / Marketing and Distribution
• Thesis I
• Thesis II

Electives (students will select two of the following):

• Media Mavericks
• Festivals and Markets
• New Technologies
• Internship

Yes, all courses for this master's degree will be taken remotely and are fully online. Coursework is asynchronous and follows a weekly schedule, allowing students to watch the pre-recorded lessons and participate in crew-based and individual assessment activities. In each class there will be weekly 75-minute synchronous sessions, in which there is a scheduled day and time for a real-time class session or live video meeting with your instructor. All course material and communication will be delivered on the learning management system (LMS).

This program does not require any on-site courses, activities, or opportunities to study in New York. Students have the opportunity to participate in a curated experience at an industry film festival.

Yes, there is a thesis project as part of our master's program. Graduate students will choose to produce a short film, produce a prospectus of a proposed film or television pilot, or write a research paper. All students will be required to present their thesis to a panel of faculty and industry professionals.

With a master's degree in media producing, you can open doors to various exciting and rewarding opportunities in the media and entertainment industries depending on your career goals. Here are some of the roles and avenues you can pursue with this degree:

1. Executive Producer: An executive producer is the head producer who secures financing for a film or TV show, supervises other producers, and ensures projects are completed on-time, within budget, and to brand, artistic, and technical standards. They are usually involved in the finance and business aspect of the project more so than day-to-day production of the film. 
   
   
2. Television and Film Producer: As the most direct career path, you can become a producer or production manager in the film and video industry. Producers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a production, from development and budgeting to casting, production, and distribution.
   
   
3. Production Manager: Specializing in the logistics and planning of film and TV production, production managers handle the business side of producing. They manage the project's business plan which includes budgeting, scheduling, and ensure that everything runs smoothly on set.
   
   
4. Development Executive: In this role, you'll be involved in identifying and nurturing new project ideas. You'll assess a script, screenplay or initial concept, decide what's worth pursuing, and help develop it into a marketable production.
   
   
5. Casting Director: Casting directors are responsible for selecting actors for roles in a production. They work closely with producers and directors to find the right talent for each character.
   
   
6. Distribution and Marketing: With your knowledge of how the industry works, you can work in distribution and marketing, ensuring that films and television shows reach their intended audience. This includes creating a marketing plan, negotiating distribution deals, and more.
   
   
7. Entertainment Executive: You can pursue high-level positions in entertainment companies or media organizations in a professional environment, such as studio executives or network executives, where you'll make decisions about which projects to fund and bring to life.
   
   
8. Content Development: Content development professionals are primarily focused on creating new quality content ideas for film, television, or the digital marketplace. They often work closely with writers and directors in the story development process to bring these ideas from conception to reality.
   
   
9. Independent Filmmaker: Armed with your producing skills, you can venture into the world of independent filmmaking, where you have creative control over your projects be it documentary films, motion pictures, television programs independent feature films. This can involve producing and marketing your films independently.
   
   
10. Film Festival Programmer: Some graduates may find roles in movie festivals, curating and selecting films for screening, organizing events, and connecting with filmmakers and industry professionals.
    
    
11. Entrepreneurship: If you have a passion for the industry and a unique business idea, you can start your own media production company, content platform, interactive media, video programs, or related business.
    
    
12. Media Consultant: You can offer your expertise as a consultant to help others in the industry make informed decisions about their projects from budgeting to creative direction. On the marketing-front, you can provide consultation on strategic content and branded storytelling.

Students will have access to New York University career development opportunities and resources through the Tisch Office of Career Development and the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development.

No, this program does not offer a sponsored F-1 or J-1 visa as all required coursework takes place online.

No, this program does not offer Optional Practical Training (OPT).

All courses in the program will be delivered through Smashcut, an online learning platform for media-based education. The course content consists of video lecture material, group activities and discussion, one-on-one meetings with the professor, and collaborative projects.

Students will have access to NYU digital resources, the NYU VPN, and NYU facilities on campus that are open to all degree students. Students will not have access to Tisch equipment, classrooms, production or post-production laboratories, and NYU facilities abroad.

Please view the NYU Tisch Graduate Tuition and Other Charges page for information regarding tuition for our MA Media Producing program.