WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER OHIO UNIVERSITY'S MA FILM STUDIES PROGRAM
To Prospective Students,
Thanks most kindly for your interest in Ohio University's MA Film Studies program. We feel we have much to offer you, including but by no means limited to the following:
Our Film Studies Faculty:
The International Cinema & experimental film expertise of our Film Studies faculty is a major asset of our program. There are also several fine Theory and Criticism professors (including Film Studies) in other programs throughout the university.
Teaching Opportunities:
Each quarter the School of Film offers 2 undergraduate Film Studies special topics classes taught by MA or MFA students. Students submit course proposals, and a faculty committee chooses which courses will be offered, including during the summer. These are invaluable experiences, particularly for those planning careers in academia.
Financial Aid Opportunities:
We offer all students some combination of tuition waivers and graduate assistantships all three years you attend our Film School. Compared with the cost of graduate schools elsewhere, we most definitely are a very good financial value.
Opportunities to Work for an excellent Film Festival:
Our MA students have the opportunity for hands-on practicum training by taking independent study classes or internships with the annual Athens International Film & Video Festival. Many students find that this experience is exceedingly valuable when looking for employment after graduating.
Interaction with Film Students and Filmmaking:
Unlike many MA programs, our MA students are encouraged to gain a concrete knowledge of the production process. In such a small school as ours (55-65 graduate students yearly) you will find that you interact daily with film students. We encourage you to enroll in production electives. Many MA Film Studies students work on student film projects.
An Exceptional Library:
Ohio University has a very strong library. This houses an excellent DVD collection, the Warner Brothers screenplay collection, a first rate Southeast Asian Studies Library, and generally a fine book and periodicals collection.
Why Move to Athens, Ohio?:
While Athens is a rural area, we are a day's drive from New York, Chicago and many other major cities. Students tell us that this environment has the advantage of enabling them to completely focus on their creative work, as there are not the distractions here that are found in large cities. Compared with Los Angeles or New York, living expenses are very, very low.
The Opportunity to Work with Students from Throughout the World:
Our program is regularly 35-40% international students. Take a look at our website regarding the home countries of our current students. Our American students come from literally all sectors of the USA. Film students state that working with interesting, engaged students with such diverse viewpoints is one of the greatest strengths of our program.
New Offices and Studios for All Students:
Beginning January 2007, the School of Film will expand into new space on the first floor of our building, Lindley Hall. MA and HTC students will each have a large office available to them. This will also enable all 2nd and 3rd year MFA students to have a shared studio for Production work within the same area. There is a small lounge and kitchen in this suite of rooms. This will enable MA and MFA students to more frequently interact outside the classroom.
Information about our Alumni:
Please check our website at www.finearts.ohio.edu/film/ for additional information about our program, including the professional work of our alumni after graduating from the School of Film. Many of our Film Studies graduates have gone on to very successful careers. We also have a Screening Room that enables you to view alumni and current student films on-line. The website is updated weekly.
Please visit the Graduate Studies website at www.ohiou.edu/graduate for on-line application materials and to request the OU graduate catalog. Should you wish to apply for admission to our program, we encourage you to first visit Ohio University and the School of Film to meet individually with our faculty and students. We will even provide you with a free lunch with current students! The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1, 2007, for admittance to the program beginning September of 2007.
Completed applications are reviewed during February and early March by the entire faculty for possible admission into our program. We will notify you as to whether or not you have been accepted no later than early April.
Please contact Tamra LaGraff (our Administrative Associate) at 740-593-1323 or lagraff@ohio.edu, or check our website at www.finearts.ohio.edu/film/ if you have further questions. Thanks again for considering our program.
Sincerely,
Steven Ross
Director, School of Film