The purpose of the Master of Fine Arts program is to prepare practitioners in the field of audio recording and production for advanced work in an integrated electronic media environment. Preparation for advanced professional practice requires that students achieve a strong grounding in audio production and related technologies and develop a common understanding of the theoretical concepts behind other disciplines such as video production, digital animation, music, and computer science. The program offers a strong technical component utilizing the latest advancements in software and hardware. The degree plan also offers preparation for graduates to teach at the post secondary level in the field of audio recording and production.

Admission is a two-step process. You must be admitted to the MTSU College of Graduate Studies that has a June 1st deadline for fall admission. However, there is a separate process for admission to the MFA. Review of applications by the MFA Admissions Committee will begin in March and the twelve most qualified students will be accepted. Admissions are competitive and your materials are being compared with all other applicants. This process may take several months, however, places could also be filled in a shorter time. Although you may still be able to be accepted for admission to the College of Graduate Studies until June 1st, all the places in the MFA may already have been filled. It is to your advantage to apply as early as you have your materials ready.

All admissions materials are to be sent directly to the College of Graduate Studies. When all of your materials have been received they will be sent to the MFA Admissions Committee for consideration. Once you begin submitting materials the MFA secretary will help guide you through the application process.

The following links will take you to the MFA Admissions Requirements web page and College of Graduate Studies

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Who is the MFA for?
2. What would be an example of a creative area?
3. Do I need an undergraduate degree in audio engineering?
4. How soon can I start?
5. When should I apply?
6. How many students will you accept each year?
7. Is financial aid available?
8. What is the admissions process like?
9. What should be included in a creative portfolio?
10. What classes are offered?
11. Where can I get more information?

 

 

Who is the MFA for?
The MFA is an unusual degree, in that one of the primary qualities sought in new students is creativity. This creative background may be in audio engineering or in a field closely related to what might be described as "entertainment technology." Though creativity is fostered and developed throughout the program, a strong creative area is expected of all incoming students. An interest in audio production is not enough. This creativity is demonstrated through the portfolio required as part of the admissions process. The MFA is not an appropriate degree for someone who does not have substantial creative output in some related field or a previous degree in audio engineering/music technology. If a student strength is audio recording/technology, then the question that should be asked is “What is it about my recordings that sets them apart from  those of everyone else who has a similar background?”

 

What would be an example of a creative area?
This will be different for each student and might consist of songs that you have written, audio recordings you have engineered, videos you have shot and edited, computer games you have authored, music scores of pieces you have composed, websites you have created, etc. Of course, the portfolio will be very different for each applicant depending on their background. 

 

Do I need an undergraduate degree in audio engineering?
Though some MFA students have previous degrees in audio engineering/music technology, the MFA does accept students who may not have a previous degree in audio engineering. Some students with little or no audio background may be asked to complete foundation audio courses during the summer before starting class in the fall.

 

How soon can I start?
The MFA accepts new students only in the fall term.

 

When should I apply?
The admissions committee will begin looking at new applications in late March and will continue to review applicants until all places are filled.

 

How many students will you accept each year?
The MFA accepts a limited number of students. In past years, 12-14 students have been accepted.

 

Is financial aid available?
"The MFA normally has two or three assistantships to award each fall. These may be awarded to incoming students and are sometimes awarded to students currently in the program who have shown the aptitude for teaching an undergraduate course in our department. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. It is recommended that applications for assistantships be submitted early in the application process since the admissions committee may begin awarding assistantships as soon as late March. Consideration for an assistantship requires that the applicant has submitted all the materials required for admission, as those material comprise the primary means of evaluating the candidate’s suitability for an assistantship, and an applicant must have been admitted unconditionally in order to receive an assistantship . Though an assistantship could possibly be available as late as early July, in past years most assistantships have been awarded by the end of the spring."

 

Information about other sources of financial aid can be found on the following webpage:

 

http://w1.mtsu.edu/graduate/student/gtas.php

(This information can also be accessed by going to the MTSU homepage and under “Future Students”, selecting “Graduates”, then selecting the link, “Financing Your Education”.)

 

Another significant source of financial assistance is the “Academic Common Market.” This is a group of states that have agreements permitting graduate students who are permanent residents of those states to enroll at MTSU at the in-state tuition rate. This provides a savings of approximately $30,000. Additional information can be found at the following webpage:

http://www.mtsu.edu/graduate/student/acm.php

(This information may also be accessed by going to the MTSU homepage and clicking on “Graduate Admissions”, then clicking on “Academic Common Market” from the list of topics just below “Welcome Prospective Students”.)

 

What is the admissions process like?
Admissions are competitive and an applicant’s materials are compared with those of all other applicants. The primary factors considered in determining a student’s suitability for admission include the creative portfolio, undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and the letter of intent. More detailed information about admissions is available at the MFA website: http://audiomfa.com/

 

Important Information about the Application Process

Admission is a two-step process. You must be admitted to the MTSU College of Graduate Studies which has a June 1st deadline for fall admission. However, there is a separate process for admission to the MFA. Review of applications by the MFA Admissions Committee will begin in March and a limited number of students will be accepted. Admissions are competitive and your materials are being compared with all other applicants. This process may take several months, however, places could also be filled in a shorter time. Although you may still be able to be accepted for admission to the College of Graduate Studies until June 1st, all the places in the MFA may already have been filled. It is to your advantage to apply as early as you have your materials ready.

 

All admissions materials are to be sent directly to the College of Graduate Studies. When all of your materials have been received they will be sent to the MFA Admissions Committee for consideration.  Once you begin submitting materials the MFA secretary will help guide you through the application process.

The following link will take you to the MFA Admissions Requirements web page:

 

http://w1.mtsu.edu/graduate/programs/req/reqreat.php

 

Here is the link to the College of Graduate Studies web page where you will find information about their admissions requirements:

http://w1.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php

 

What should be included in a creative portfolio?
A portfolio of works should be representative of the candidate’s creative achievements in the areas of audio recording, composition, songwriting, video, film, multimedia, web design, or areas that could generally be described as “entertainment technology”. Most applicants’ portfolio works will come from just one or two of the areas described above, however, some will have done creative work in more than one of these fields. It is extremely important to document your contribution for each item you submit. For example, if you submit an audio recording, state if you were the composer, performer, engineer, producer, or did several of these tasks. The admissions committee will be evaluating what your specific contributions were to each project. The portfolio has no specific guidelines because applicants come from a wide variety of creative backgrounds and each student’s portfolio will reflect their particular expertise, however a professional presentation of materials is expected.

 

Submit what you think is you best work. This may only be three or four examples but may include as much as you wish. If you have extended examples (a 20 minute video documentary or a dance mix, for example) you may wish to edit them. In addition to your submissions, include a list of ANY other projects on which you have participated and list your job on each project. In your portfolio documentation list the hardware and software with which you are familiar. List related technologies with which you are familiar and describe your competency. This might include: Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, etc.

 

Audio examples should be submitted on an audio CD that is playable on either a Macintosh or PC computer or on a commercial CD or DVD player . MP3s are not acceptable. Video and/or film examples should be submitted on a DVD that is playable on either a Macintosh or PC computer or on a commercial DVD player.

QuickTime Video Requested

Though it is not required applicants are asked to submit a brief QuickTime video of themselves describing their background and reason for seeking the degree. This is a way for the admissions committee to get to know you beyond your written documentation. A QuickTime data file is adequate or this may also be submitted as a playable DVD if you prefer.

The M.F.A. degree is a 60-hour, six-semester program as outlined below including 30 hours of required courses, 18 hours of guided electives, plus 9 hours of work on a final project. It is expected that students attend full time taking 9 to 12 hours per semester. Guided electives will be selected from Recording Arts and Technologies courses and approved courses from other departments. Up to 6 hours of guided electives may be from other departments upon permission of the student’s advisor. A maximum of 12 hours of 5000-level courses may be counted toward the degree.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

5810 Topics in Recording Industry. Three credits. Prerequisites: Permission of department. Examination and critical evaluation of current issues related to operation and function of various aspects of the recording industry. Subject matter varies. Course may be repeated one time for additional credit.

6010 Recording in Cultural Context. Three credits. Designed to acquaint learners with the evolution of the complexities of technologies and to provide tools for cultural analysis and critique of recorded artifacts. An interdisciplinary mosaic of scholarly approaches to the examination of contemporary recorded culture will be engaged.

6030 MIDI and Music Synthesis Seminar. Three credits. Technical skills and conceptual foundation necessary to undertake advanced creative projects. Emphasis on mastery of hardware and software platforms currently used in MIDI-based production.

6040 Digital Audio Studio Seminar. Three credits. Technical skills and conceptual foundation necessary to undertake advanced creative projects. Emphasis on the mastery of hardware and software platforms currently used for DAW hard disk-based digital audio systems.

6050 Multi-track Recording Seminar. Three credits. Systematic examination of the technology used in the modern recording studio. Techniques for using this technology in the creative recording and mixing process examined.

6070 Visual Aesthetics and Technology I. Three credits. Designed to help the beginning graduate student develop skills to effectively communicate an idea visually.

6090 Visual Aesthetics and Technology II. Three credits. Prerequisite: MRAT 6070. Continuation of MRAT 6070 with introduction to visual elements and technology used in the entertainment industry. Introduction to creative conceptualization, elements of composition, and how the production process works. Demonstration of basic and advanced visual technology as a foundation for more advanced courses in the graduate program.

6110 Production Seminar I. Three credits. Prerequisites: MRAT 6030, 6050, and 6070. Applications course in which students use skills and theory obtained in previous courses and work in a cooperative environment toward the completion of an audio or multimedia production.

6120 Disk-Based Audio Post Production. Prerequisites: MRAT 6030 and 6050. Advanced practitioner-oriented approach to the principles of tapeless digital audio recording on a variety of digital workstation platforms. In-depth discussion of the principles of digital audio, synchronization, and audio for video.

6130 Production Seminar II. Three credits. Prerequisite: MRAT 6110. Continuation of MRAT 6110. 6140 Graduate Seminar in Audio Recording. Three credits. Prerequisites: MRAT 6030 and 6050. Advanced application of techniques in a digital multi-track setting.

6150 Legal Rights of the Creative Individual. Three credits. Examines legal rights and duties of creative persons. Students apply concepts from copyright, trademark, trade secrets, privacy, publicity, defamation, and other branches of the law to media productions.

6160 Composition for Contemporary Media. Three credits. Prerequisites: Fundamental skills in reading music notation, a basic understanding of harmonic analysis, and the ability to play either guitar or keyboard and sing. Students will apply concepts drawn from analysis of contemporary popular music for elements of melody, harmonic language, form, and lyric craft to their own compositions.

6180 Introduction to Film Scoring. Three credits. Prerequisites: Four semesters of theory/sight singing/ear training; MRAT 6030 and 6050. Overview of the film scoring process. Discussion of the aesthetic relationship between music and film. Thematic analyses of representative film scores. Composition exercises demonstrating traditional film scoring techniques. Application of compositional techniques through laboratory assignments using computers, synthesizers, and digital samplers. SMPTE time code, MIDI time code, and film time formats and their application to tape synchronization.

6210 Production Seminar III. Three credits. Prerequisite: MRAT 6130. Continuation of MRAT 6110 and 6130.

6320 Directed Research. Three credits. Prerequisite: Permission of department. Research in recording techniques and related topics. 6340 Directed Production. Three credits. Prerequisite: Permission of department. Independent advanced audio production.

6360 Graduate Internship. Three to six credits. Prerequisite: Permission of department. Practical experience for advanced students in a professional recording industry setting. Pass/Fail.

6650 Final Project. One to nine credits. Prerequisite: Permission of department. A directed production project of substantial size and scope proposed, developed, and realized under the guidance of the major faculty advisor in consultation with the final project faculty committee. The culminating experience in the M.F.A. program. S/U grading used.

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