MFA in Independent Film & Digital Imaging
Governors State’s Master of Fine Arts in Independent Film and Digital Imaging (IFDI) facilitates the development of your voice as a professional filmmaker or photographer, helping you to reach your academic, creative, and professional goals. The IFDI MFA program is dedicated to internationally-recognized films and photography that draw on evolving technology to celebrate diverse visions, especially those currently underrepresented in film and the photographic arts.
The MFA-IFDI is centered on authorship. We guide each of our students through all the creative processes of photography and film. Our filmmakers are engaged in individual and small crew development, production, post, and delivery - we want you to focus on conceiving your thesis from the very beginning, so that your coursework dovetails in the writing, directing, and producing of a beautiful documentary or drama. Our photographers are working on techniques and aesthetics that will lead to a celebration of their work in a gallery exhibition. Our class sizes are capped at 12 and we maintain a strong emphasis on getting to know and nurture the development of each student on an individual basis. Our students range in age from their 20s to their 70s, but the majority are mid-career and looking for the opportunity to blossom in creative ways that they have never experienced before.
The MFA-IFDI has graduated accomplished filmmakers such as Seth McClellan and Mercedes Kane, and its students have been involved in the making of films like Chicago Heights, named to Roger Ebert’s last list of Best Art Films, and Hogtown, a New York Times Critics' Pick that the Chicago Sun-Times called "the most original film made about Chicago in Chicago to date." Several of GSU’s students with academic ambitions have gone on to tenure track positions at regional and national colleges, including McClellan, Pamela Planera, and the recently tenured Aaron-Daniel Annas, who is running the film program at SUNY Buffalo State. Others, such as Keisha Dyson and Dirk Fletcher, have gone on to senior administrative careers in Marketing and Communication at Columbia College Chicago and Canon USA. The MFA-IFDI has graduated several talented secondary educators from our program, including three currently serving at our region's highly rated Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Others, such as Jason Knade and Uriah Berryhill, are working in institutional and corporate production. Another, Josh Young, is running GSU's own well regarded Chicago Southland International Film Festival.
Intakes
- Jan
- May
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Job Opportunity Potential at Governors State University (GSU)
Chicago Proximity – Located near Chicago, a major hub for business, technology, healthcare, and logistics.
STEM & Business Careers – Strong demand for graduates in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Analytics, and Business (MBA, Accounting, Finance).
Healthcare Pathways – GSU is well-known for Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Health Administration, with excellent placement in hospitals and clinics.
Internships & Co-ops – Access to internships with Fortune 500 companies and Chicago-based firms in finance, consulting, tech, and manufacturing.
OPT & STEM OPT – Eligible programs provide up to 3 years of work authorization in the U.S. after graduation.
Teaching & Counseling – Education, Social Work, and Counseling programs prepare students for careers in schools, universities, and community organizations.
Government & Non-profit Careers – Public Administration and Leadership graduates often find roles in policy, community development, and NGOs.
Entrepreneurship Support – GSU’s Small Business Development Center helps students start and grow businesses.
Networking – Strong alumni network and career fairs connect students with employers in Illinois and nationwide.
On-Campus Jobs – Opportunities to work up to 20 hours per week while studying.
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a Master’s or Doctoral program at GSU, international applicants generally must satisfy the following:
Bachelor’s degree
You need a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution. If your degree is from outside the U.S., you must have it evaluated (course-by-course) by a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services).
There may also be minimum GPA criteria depending on the college/program, e.g. the College of Business expects a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on the U.S. 4.0 scale) over the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.
The minimum acceptable score for IELTS (Academic version) for Graduate level is 6.0.
TOEFL Format = 80
For PTE, the required minimum is 53.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Masters/PG Degree
- Duration: 02 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
54516 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 50 USD