MFA Program

DMI is small and personalized by design — we enroll only 8 to 10 students in the program annually – and it’s centered on you: your passions, your ideas, your work. The curriculum provides you with a strong intellectual, conceptual, and technical framework for realizing your own thesis vision. Project work grows naturally out of your curiosity and culminates in a written thesis document. You can rely on personalized support from a large network of faculty, advisors, alumni, and peers.

The Curriculum at a Glance

First Year (or completion of 30 credits)

The first year of study is devoted to developing the intellectual foundation and creative processes for dynamic media design. Students gain expertise in interface and experience design through individual or team projects, and through research in design history and theory, structured within required design studio and seminar courses. It may take a student a minimum 2 (full-time) or maximum 4 semesters (part-time) to reach 30 credit benchmark which is, together with the approved preliminary thesis proposal, a prerequisite to proceed with MFA thesis development.

Second (or third year) / MFA thesis

All students in their second (or third year) of study in the Dynamic Media Institute MFA program are required to develop a substantive thesis that identifies, researches, and solves a communication problem using dynamic media. The majority of work toward the MFA thesis is structured within thesis project courses by individual agreement between the student and faculty advisor, who guides the program of study, and provides ongoing feedback and evaluation. A comprehensive written thesis document is developed within thesis seminar courses. The final thesis document becomes a part of the graduate design archives.

Flexible Curriculum Tracks

DMI offers three tracks for completing your MFA:

1. Full-time in four semesters. This full time track provides an immersive experience.
2. Part-time in five semesters.
3. Part-time in six semesters. Ideal for working students, the three year track

The only difference between tracks is the distribution of elective credits. For example, students on the two year track typically take electives along with their required courses, while students on the three year track take electives in their second year.

Sample Curriculums

Click here for course descriptions.

Full-time 4-Semester MFA Track Curriculum 15cr. per semester

Part-time 5-Semester Track 12cr. per semester

* Please note: students must begin their course of study in the fall semester regardless of track.