Program Contact: Blythe Frank 203-582-7624
Film, television and streaming media companies all over the world need professionals who understand and can manage the production cycle from script development through visual post-production editing and international distribution and marketing. The unique, 36-credit Cinematic Production Management (CPM) program teaches technical skills and practical industry knowledge that gives students a strong overview of industry production history and contemporary professional practice.
Collaborative and heavily project-based, the CPM curriculum was designed with input from Los Angeles–based veterans of the entertainment industry, and culminates in a capstone course wherein students develop, schedule, budget and create pitch materials for a professional-level film, show or documentary developed over the course of their studies. Additionally, the majority of CPM courses are delivered online, making it practical, cost-effective and convenient.
Graduates are fast-tracked to succeed in a range of entry-level management positions, including production coordinator, writer's assistant, showrunner's assistant and assistant location manager, to name a few. The CPM program pairs well with a variety of backgrounds, from business to theater. It also complements several undergraduate majors in the School of Communications, including film, television and media arts, media studies and public relations, making it an ideal choice for students in Quinnipiac’s accelerated dual-degree and dual-degree programs.
MA in Cinematic Production Management Program of Study
To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grades less than a C. Any graduate course with a grade of less than C has to be retaken.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| FTM 501 | Production Reconstruction | 3 |
| FTM 502 | Advanced Production Management Workflow | 3 |
| FTM 503 | Creative Development | 3 |
| FTM 505 | Entertainment Law and Deal Making Practice | 3 |
| FTM 508 | Domestic and Worldwide Distribution and Sales for Film and TV | 3 |
| FTM 510 | Principles of Post-Production Management | 3 |
| FTM 511 | Film Finance Models | 3 |
| FTM 515 | Showrunning for TV | 3 |
| FTM 601 | Production Management Thesis Production | 6 |
| Electives for CPM, select two courses from the list below | 6 | |
| World Building and Creative Collaboration | ||
| Modern Hollywood and the Future of the Industry | ||
| Special Topics in Cinematic Production Management | ||
| Production Internship/Apprenticeship | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Creative Thinking and Visual Literacy: Develop the ability to conceptualize and produce visual stories demonstrating aesthetic competence, fluency with visual grammar, and an appreciation of the historical context from which new forms and stories are created.
- Written and Oral Communication: Acquire the facility to create effective content for visual media, as well as an ability to demonstrate both written and oral proficiency within a variety of professional formats and delivery platforms.
- Critical Thinking and Reasoning: Develop the skills needed to critically analyze the work of others as a means to problem-solve and better inform students’ own original creative output. Achieve a proficiency in creating professional quality work within the parameters and practical limitations of a broad spectrum of production environments. Recognize works of art as visual arguments, and be able to use analytical skills to assess their effectiveness.
- Information Fluency: Learn to plan and produce effectively across a wide array of technical contexts, demonstrating facility and expertise with preproduction, production and postproduction phases of film, television and streaming media creation.
- Social Intelligence: Demonstrate an ability to work effectively within groups and production teams, to understand and manage collaborations and to act ethically, constructively and responsibly in the process of achieving individual and common goals.
- Diversity Awareness and Sensitivity: Acquire an understanding of and respect for the similarities and differences among human communities, including a recognition and appreciation for the unique talents and contributions of all individuals.
- Responsible Citizenship: Learn to recognize and analyze media-related issues and influence decisions and actions at the local, national and global levels, and to become engaged as responsible citizens.
Admission
The School of Communications invites applications from prospective students who wish to pursue the professional practice of cinematic production management. Recent graduates of a bachelor’s degree program outside of the communications field are welcome to apply, as are prospective students who are presently working and wish to either shift careers or enhance their professional standing.
Admission is based on the following:
- undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.00 or greater
- a resume showing experience as either a student or professional
- two academic or professional recommendations
- an original piece of writing (1,000-word maximum) on why the applicant wishes to enter this program