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MFA in Integrated Media Arts

Photo of a group of IMA MFA students at an interactive installation project.

Program Overview

The MFA Program in Integrated Media Arts offers students the opportunity to work with faculty from film, emerging media, and journalism backgrounds. Students learn to conceptualize, create and distribute innovative, politically and socially engaged expression using contemporary media technologies.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Integrated Media Arts

Students must obtain a total of 48 credits to complete the MFA degree.

The 48-50 credit degree consists of 27 required credits (9 courses), 21 elective credits (7 courses), and several non-credit requirements. Students must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  1. Earn at least 27 credits from the following:
    • IMA 70000 - Visual Cultural Seminar
    • IMA 70200 - History and Theory of Emerging Media
    • IMA 70900 - History and Theory of the Documentary
    • IMA 75000 - Emerging Media 1
    • IMA 75100 - Documentary 1
    • IMA 75200 - Emerging Media II
    • IMA 75300 - Documentary II
    • IMA 79600 - Thesis Preproduction
    • IMA 79800 - Thesis Production
  2. Earn at least 21 elective credits (7 courses) drawn from advanced IMA course offerings with graduate adviser approval required.Note that with approval of the Primary Thesis Advisor and the Program Director, a student may elect to continue thesis for up to two additional semesters by registering for IMA 79900, the 1-credit Thesis Extension course, thereby increasing the total credits for degree to 49 or 50.
  3. Students must complete the following non-credit requirements:
    • Collaborative Residency: Students are required to complete a Collaborative Residency, which can be an in-house project or external creative residency that must be defined in conjunction with the graduate adviser and must involve collaboration among different media makers. For more information see the IMA Program Guidelines.
    • Critique Sessions: Students must pass two critique sessions in order to begin work on the Thesis Project. Students who do not pass either the First or Second Critique after three attempts must withdraw from the IMA Program. For more information see the IMA Program Guidelines.
    • Thesis Requirements: To graduate, students have a maximum of two years to complete the creative component of the Thesis Project, present this project to a panel of three advisors in a Thesis Defense, submit a Thesis Paper that is approved by the Primary Thesis Advisor and conforms to the College’s guidelines for Master’s Theses in Arts & Sciences, and exhibit the Thesis Project in the IMA Program’s Thesis Show. For more information see the IMA Program Guidelines.
Read More in the College Catalog

You must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered for admission. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the program.

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation from people able to comment on an applicant’s creative and academic talent and determination.
  • A statement of purpose of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s long-term objectives as a media maker and the social impact they hope their work will have. Statements should also explain why Hunter’s MFA Program in Integrated Media Arts is particularly relevant to the applicant’s creative goals.
  • A project summary of approximately 500 words describing a media project you could envision making in the IMA-MFA Program.
  • A portfolio of 3-10 media works, indicating talent and promise. Submitted works may include videos and films, interactive digital design, photography, sound, graphic design, journalistic writings, etc. Must include a portfolio cover sheet.
More About Admission Requirements
The Hunter Value

Providing an exceptional academic value is what we do best. See how Hunter compares against other top Integrated Media Arts graduate programs in NYC.

Tuition and Fees
$11K
Hunter College
$50K
New York University
$55K
School of Visual Arts

Career Paths

The career paths for individuals with an MFA in Integrated Media Arts can vary widely, and salaries can be influenced by factors such as experience, expertise, location, and the specific field within the arts. Here are 10 potential career paths and salary ranges for IMA MFA graduates:

Overseeing the visual aspects of media projects, ensuring they align with the creative vision and objectives.

Salary Range: $70,000 - $120,000 per year.

Managing the production of digital content, coordinating teams, and overseeing the project from conception to delivery.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $100,000 per year.

Editing and assembling recorded raw material into a finished product, ensuring the desired outcome in terms of storytelling and visual appeal.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $90,000 per year.

Design user interfaces and interactive experiences for websites, apps, or installations, integrating various media elements.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $120,000 per year.

Developing and implementing media strategies for advertising campaigns, selecting appropriate channels to reach the target audience.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $100,000 per year.

Manage the production process of multimedia content, coordinating teams, budgets, and timelines for film, television, or digital media projects.

Salary Range: $70,000 - $120,000

Creating animations and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $90,000 per year.

Managing the public image of individuals or organizations through media relations, writing press releases, and organizing events.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $80,000 per year.

Developing and implementing social media strategies, creating content, and managing online presence for organizations.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $90,000 per year

Design and produce visual effects for film, television, video games, or other media. Animate objects or characters to integrate seamlessly with live-action footage. Work closely with directors, producers, and production team.

Salary Range: $50,000 to $100,000 per year, depending on experience, portfolio, company, and specific industry.

Application Deadline

Students are accepted into the program for fall semester enrollment only. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Hunter College may consider late applications on a rolling basis if space is still available in the program.

Fall Spring
April 1* N/A

*Rolling admissions after February 15

Some programs may extend their application deadlines. Please contact Graduate Admissions for specific information. For information on how to apply, click the link below.

How to Apply

Students Educated Outside the US

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have taken all or part of their undergraduate education in a country where English is not the native language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The following minimum scores must be obtained:

  • TOEFL iBT: 80/ Paper Based Test: 550/ Computer Based Test: 213
  • IELTS: 6.5 Overall Band Score
Info for Students Educated Outside US

Ready to Apply?

Get started on your application now or visit the academic department's website to learn more about this graduate program.

APPLY
for graduate admission
VISIT
the program website

Contact the Program

Integrated Media Arts IMA MFA
Andrew Demirjian
Film & Media Studies
68th Street North 520G
(212) 772-5041
ademirji@hunter.cuny.edu

HUNTER

Hunter College
695 Park Ave NY, NY 10065
(212) 772-4000

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