Performance & Interactive Media Arts, M.F.A.

Matriculation Requirements

Applicants must offer a graduate or undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university completed with a grade point average of 3.00 or higher. Applicants must also offer a portfolio of creative work (which may consist of work in any medium including computer software), letters of recommendation, and TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test or 79 on the internet-based test, if required. An interview with a member of the selection committee is strongly recommended.

Applicants must obtain and file an application form with the program director in addition to the regular college admission application; both are available online.

Selection of applicants will be based on a faculty committee review of the following: the applicant’s creative portfolio, evidence of the applicant’s interest in collaborative creative production, letters of reference indicating significant artistic promise, artistic background and experience, and the applicant’s interview (if conducted).

A committee chaired by the program director will review all applications and make admission decisions based on the criteria stated above.

Students should note additional requirements found in the sections “Graduate Admission” and “Academic Regulations and Procedures.”

Program Requirements (36 Credits)

Students pursuing the M.F.A. will complete a total of 46 credits and a significant thesis production, which is a collaboration with at least one other matriculated student.

The following courses are required:

PIMA 7010G, 7020G, 7030G, 7210G, 7220G, 7230G, 7240G, 7321G, 7322G, 7741G, 7742G.

Three additional credits of independent projects are required, taken under course numbers: PIMA 7110G, 7120G,  7130G.

Nine additional credits shall be chosen from selected PIMA elective courses offered by: the PIMA program; the departments of Art, Computer and Information Science, the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, Television, Radio & Emerging Media, Theater; and the Conservatory of Music. Permission of the PIMA director is required

To receive the Master of Fine Arts in performance and interactive media arts, students will be required to complete the program with a grade point average of 3.00 or better.

Student Learning Outcomes

Mission Statement

The programs in performance and interactive media arts provide students with training, theoretical and technical background, and practical experience in the conceptualization and production of collaborative, multi-disciplinary artworks. Working groups emerge from a cohesive community of artists made up of the students and faculty of the programs. Works are presented in a performance setting. Students learn to use technology as a means of extending their personal artistic practice and facilitating cross-disciplinary artistic collaborations. Students with diverse academic, artistic, professional, and cultural backgrounds enter the program, form a close-knit community, and work in collaborative groups throughout the course of study, with close mentoring by faculty members. In the second year, a major collaborative thesis production is created and presented in a professional venue.

Program Meta-goals

• Form a functional, cohesive, supportive, and self-managing community of artists that supports the collaborative groups and projects emerging from it.
• Collectively agree to, during the course of study, place the work of the community (and the collaborative groups that form from it) before individual artistic work.
• Collectively agree to place a high priority on mutual respect and constructive behavior in the interactions of the community’s (and collaborative groups’) members.
• Collectively understand that the PIMA studio is your fellow students, and that to spend time “in the studio” means to spend time with your collaborators, regardless of the physical location of the meeting. Collectively agree that students will spend, on average, 20+ hours per week in face-to-face collaborative situations.

Program Goals

Our goals are to provide:

• Background in current collaborative performing arts practices, and a historical framework for understanding these practices.
• Background and training in collaborative co-creation techniques and strategies.
• Background and training in techniques and strategies for creating and presenting live performances.
• Experience of live-performance training, preparation, exercises, and practice as part of the course of study.
• Background and training in live-performance production technology.
• Background and training in interactive media programming with an emphasis on use in live performance.
• Background and practical experience in researching, establishing, and co-producing performances in cooperation with a community or community group.
• Background and training in university-level teaching and course design.
• Experience of a broad range of practical collaboration experiences.
• Experience of performing arts production in professional venues.
• Experience of event publicity, documentation, archiving, and electronic distribution.

Program Objectives

Students will:

• Be able to research, analyze, and write scholarly papers on current collaborative performing arts practices (Goal 1)
• Demonstrate knowledge of a historical framework for understanding current collaborative performing arts practices (Goal 1)
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and proficiency in, collaborative co-creation strategies (Goal 2)
• Demonstrate practical and theoretical knowledge of techniques and strategies for creating and presenting live performances (Goal 3)
• Participate in live-performance training, preparation, exercises, and practice as part of the course of study (Goal 4)
• Demonstrate practical and theoretical knowledge of live-performance production technology (Goal 5)
• Demonstrate practical and theoretical knowledge of interactive media programming with an emphasis on use in live performance (Goal 6)
• Successfully research and establish a relationship with a community or community group (Goal 7)
• Collaboratively co-produce a performance in cooperation with a community or community group (Goal 8)
• Design university-level courses, including syllabi, schedules, objectives, assignments, and practical sample classes (Goal 9)
• Engage fully in collaborative co-creation of all major projects in required classes throughout the course of study (Goal 10)
• Demonstrate practical performing arts production in professional venues (Goal 11)
• Demonstrate ability in event publicity (Goal 12)
• Demonstrate ability in event documentation (Goal 12)
• Demonstrate ability in archiving and electronic distribution of event documentation (Goal 12)

Admissions Requirements

• Fall Application Deadline: July 15, rolling admission
• Spring Application Deadline: Although priority is given to fall admission, spring admission is granted in some cases. E-mail the director for more information.

Supporting Documents for Matriculation

Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree outside the United States need to submit a course-by-course international transcript evaluation. See Graduate Admissions for more information.
• Two letters of recommendation
• Supplemental program application form
• Résumé
• Portfolio (to program adviser, 304 Whitehead Hall)

The same requirements apply to non-degree applicants.

Required Tests

• F-1 or J-1 international students must submit English Proficiency Exam. TOEFL—79, IELTS—6.5, PTE—58–63, Duolingo—105–160.

Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.

Contact

Jennifer McCoy, Co-Director

5307 Boylan Hall
E: jmccoy@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5183

John Jannone, Co-Director

505s Whitehead Hall
E: jannone@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 1188

Learn More About the PIMA Program

Or contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.4536

Office Hours

Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:

BC Admissions Appointment Tool