In conjunction with the School of Law, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers a joint program leading to both a JD degree and an MFA in film and television producing degree. Offered to full-time students, the program requires at least four years of study and acceptance to both the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the School of Law. The JD/MFA in film and television producing gives students the opportunity to obtain two highly marketable professional degrees designed for individuals seeking careers as entertainment attorneys, legal counsel at production companies, agencies, guilds or studios, as producers or as executives in the entertainment industry.

The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers an MFA in film and television producing that consists of 48 credits and is completed by full-time students in 4 semesters, while the School of Law offers a JD program that consists of 88 credits and is typically completed by full-time students in 6 semesters. The two programs, combined into the joint degree, require the completion of only 124 credits, a savings of 12 credits, resulting from the cross-application of completed coursework in the two schools.

Requirements for the Degree

Year 1

First Semester:
FTV 502 - Evolution of Narrative Film, I
FTV 531 - Production Workshop I
FTV 534 - Production and Set Management
FTV 560 - Overview of Producing

Second Semester:
FTV 527 - Fundamentals of Screenwriting
FTV 557 - Feature Analysis
FTV 562 - The Development Process of Film and Television
FTV 631 - Production Workshop IV

Summer:
FTV 690 - Independent Internship

Year 2

First Semester:
FTV 564 - Film and Television Financing
FTV 667 - Thesis in Producing I
LAW 7538 - Entertainment Law

Second Semester:
FTV 567 - Independent Feature Filmmaking
FTV 668 - Thesis in Producing II
LAW 7600 - Entertainment Contracts and Negotiations

Summer:
LAW 7581 - Mediation
LAW 7590 - Externship

Year 3

First Semester:
LAW 7103 - Torts I
LAW 7105 - Legal Research and Writing I
LAW 7107 - Contracts I
LAW 7122 - Real Property I
LAW 7130 - Civil Procedure I

Second Semester:
LAW 7110 - Criminal Law
LAW 7115 - Torts II
LAW 7119 - Contracts II
LAW 7124 - Real Property II
LAW 7132 - Civil Procedure II
LAW 7135 - Legal Research and Writing II

Summer:
LAW 7520 - Client Interview and Counseling
LAW 7590 - Externship

Year 4

First Semester:
LAW 7127 - Constitutional Law I
LAW 7133 - Federal Income Taxation
LAW 7142 - Evidence
LAW 7145 - Corporations
LAW 7334 - Wills and Trusts

Second Semester:
LAW 7129 - Constitutional Law II
LAW 7139 - Professional Responsibility
LAW 7325 - First Amendment Law
LAW 7555 - Intellectual Property
LAW 7830 - Movie Making and the Law
LAW 7850 - Directed Research

Total Credits: 124