I'm Going For It!

The DL format is great for writing-intensive courses and programs. Think about it.

Most, if not all, programs can be done part-time if a school wants and if the relevant professional accreditation organization(s), if applicable, will approve part time programs. I don't believe it's allowed now, but my doctor told me that when she was in medical school (Michigan State) part-time enrollment was an option. Just in case you're wondering, she was a traditional full-time med student.

UCLA, USC, and Chapman are very expensive. Not everyone is willing to incur that debt and/or relocate.

 

I think you mentioned that National University is the only online MFA in screenwriting. There must be a reason for that. Obviously, I haven't done as much research as you but when I looked at some programs in CA most of them seem to require full time commitment as well.

I agree that UCLA, USC, and Chapman are expensive but they still don't seem to have a problem getting students into their programs.

Anyway, I wish you luck. Hopefully, you will find a program that enables you to accomplish what you set out to do.

 

You misunderstood my post. NU is the only school with an online MFA in film production (they call it Digital Cinema), not Screenwriting. I also mentioned that NU only has full-time programs (due to its academic calendar). That would logically include their MFA programs. As far as Screenwriting and/or Creative Writing goes, there are so many online MFA programs out there that someone needing or wanting to attend part-time won't have a problem finding one that has that option. The only questions would be about format, on-campus residency requirements, and affordability.

Why do you assume that NU has trouble getting students into its MFA programs? And, why do you assume that there has to be a reason why NU is the only school with an online MFA in film production? Your connotations are negative and make you sound like a status-obsessed snob.

NU's MFA in Digital Cinema is available online, but it's also available on location at the Los Angeles campus. I never said it was an online-only program. Again, you assumed. The reason most film production programs, whether undergraduate or graduate, are location-based is because the programs teach film production in the "film crew" format where students are grouped into crews and rotate through all the main jobs on a set such as Director, Grip, Sound, Cinematographer, Editor, etc and also because they still teach filmmaking using celluloid film. Celluloid film requires bulky specialized equipment that's probably cost prohibitive for students to buy for themselves, not to mention practically obsolete. Digital filmmaking is much more affordable; less money spent making a film means more profit to be earned.

I also mentioned that NU requires a month-long campus-based residency. That's so students get the film crew experience as well. NU's program is not lacking anything some other programs have except name recognition and the associated high price tag that comes with it - things which not everyone is willing to pay $50k a year in tuition (alone) for.

 

Wow, what a great help...thanks so much for the links. I am not sure my nephew even considers online an option. He's doing the running start program so he'll graduate high school with his AA degree. Thanks again for the information!

Cory

 

I never assumed NU has trouble getting students in their MFA programs. All I said was that UCLA, USC, and Chapman don't have problems enrolling students into their programs even though their tuition is expensive.

Well initially I glossed over your post so I thought you were talking about an MFA in screenwriting.

My connotations are negative? You seem like you are reading into something that is not there.