Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Production

This is an archived copy of the 2018-2019 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit catalog.shsu.edu.

The MFA program in Digital Media Production at Sam Houston State University is a terminal degree program that equips media practitioners and media-education professionals with sophisticated knowledge of emerging media technologies and digital media content. The degree program also empowers them to create professional digital media content across different platforms, media, and distribution methods.

The program covers a variety of issues in Digital Media Production, including mobile application development, digital streaming techniques, mobile content creation and editing software, motion graphics and effects, and the comprehensive analysis of social media. These skills are not only essential for employment in traditional media industries, but also of growing importance to educational institutions, government entities, global conglomerates, and local corporations.

To earn the MFA degree, students are required to take 54 course credits and to submit a digital media portfolio. The portfolio is evaluated during the final semester by a committee of three mass communication faculty, Digital media portfolio evaluation committees are appointed by the Graduate Advisor in consultation with the Graduate Committee and student. Students must be enrolled the semester in which they submit their portfolio for evaluation.

Students wishing to pursue an MFA in Digital Media Production must meet the following requirements and submit all documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

  1. Graduate Admissions Application (submitted online through ApplyTexas:.
  2. Application Fee
  3. An official transcript from your baccalaureate degree granting institution
  4. Official GRE scores*
  5. A 500-word personal statement outlining personal goals and objectives for the program
  6. A digital media portfolio or a link to an online digital media portfolio

* Media professionals with at least eight years of experience in digital media may request a waiver of the GRE requirement.

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Production
Required Courses
MCOM 5300Digital Media History & Theory3
MCOM 5340Social Media3
MCOM 5355Digital Media Management3
MCOM 6300Advanced Preproduction3
MCOM 6310Advanced Multimedia Production3
MCOM 6315Web and Mobile Development3
MCOM 6330Digital Editing3
MCOM 6335Motion Graphics and Effects3
MCOM 6370Remote Digital Streaming3
MCOM 6373Digital Video Production3
MCOM 6380Studio Production3
MCOM 6390Sound Design and Editing3
ISDT 7351Distance Learning3
Prescribed Elective Courses
Select 3 from the following:9
Special Topic
Critical Approaches to Media
Digital Media Ethics and Law
Advanced Digital Writing
Professional Internship
Documentary Storytelling
Digital Entrepreneurship
Narrative Scriptwriting
Capstone Courses
MCOM 6399Capstone Portfolio Project II3
MCOM 6398Capstone Portfolio Project I3
Total Hours54