MFA Qualifying Exam

Overview

The Qualifying Exam provides MFA film students with a clear, holistic measure of their progress and evaluates two distinct domains:

Students complete the Qualifying Exam at the end of each of their first three semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer) in the MFA program. A satisfactory grade is required each semester to continue in the program and, ultimately, advance to the second year of the program.

Knowledge & Skills

This domain measures the craft competencies expected of an emerging professional filmmaker. Each criterion is performance-based.

Artistry

  • Why it matters: Purposeful creative choices elevate storytelling and distinguish projects in a competitive industry.
  • Faculty will assess: Originality, coherence, and effectiveness of creative decisions; responsiveness to feedback and notes; the ability to preserve core storytelling goals while navigating real-world challenges.

Technical Proficiency

  • Why it matters: Mastery of tools, software, and workflows ensures work meets professional standards and integrates seamlessly with other departments.
  • Faculty will assess: Accuracy, efficiency, and consistency in using equipment, software, and industry-standard pipelines.

Professional Communication

  • Why it matters: The film industry relies on specialized communication modes. Knowing when to voice ideas, whom to address, and what style to use—be it a pitch, a creative note, a crew briefing, or a call sheet—are key craft skills.
  • Faculty will assess: Clarity, tone, and timeliness of written and verbal communication; relevance and effectiveness of creative notes; audience-appropriate language across varied filmmaking contexts and crew hierarchies.

Planning & Preparedness

  • Why it matters: Robust preparation bridges concept and execution. Each craft area follows pre-production playbooks and specialized protocols that filmmakers must master.
  • Faculty will assess: Quality and feasibility of schedules, budgets, breakdowns, and prep materials; anticipation of logistical needs; adaptability when circumstances shift.

Production Operations

  • Why it matters: Filmmaking requires precise, disciplined coordination across departments via clear chains of command and shared protocols.
  • Faculty will assess: Adherence to production and post-production protocols; effectiveness within crew hierarchies; real-time problem-solving; adaptability when circumstances shift.

Safety Implementation

  • Why it matters: Safeguarding cast, crew, and equipment is a legal and ethical imperative.
  • Faculty will assess: Hazard identification; documentation of compliance with school and industry guidelines; enforcement of safety procedures for equipment, vehicles, stunts, intimacy, and special effects.

Delivery

  • Why it matters: Each department has essential specs, paperwork, and deliverables—media formats, logs, cue sheets, chain-of-title, archives—that professionals must handle with care.
  • Faculty will assess: Understanding of required specs and paperwork; accuracy and timeliness of deliverables; diligence in preventing avoidable revisions.

Punctuality & Attendance

  • Why it matters: In an industry with virtually zero tolerance for lateness—where a single delay can derail the day’s schedule, rack up costs, and tarnish reputations—filmmakers must master their department’s scheduling and tracking systems so that their work never stalls production.
  • Faculty will assess: On-time arrival to classes and calls; adherence to production schedules; prompt completion of tasks; maintaining at least 85% field-hour attendance.

Professional Dispositions

This domain describes the attitudes and interpersonal behaviors that sustain a healthy, collaborative production culture.

Reliability

  • Why it matters: Dependable collaborators build trust, boost morale, and ensure smooth operations.
  • Faculty will assess: Follow-through and consistent performance under pressure.

Accountability

  • Why it matters: Owning outcomes drives growth and professionalism.
  • Faculty will assess: Responsibility for results; ethical conduct; transparency about mistakes; corrective action; reflective behavior change.

Proactivity

  • Why it matters: A strong work ethic and self-growth stems from a proactive mindset—anticipating needs, seizing opportunities, and contributing beyond assigned duties.
  • Faculty will assess: Initiative; anticipation of needs; self-directed learning.

Civility

  • Why it matters: Respectful conduct fosters trust, morale, and focus on the artistic goal.
  • Faculty will assess: Courtesy; cultural sensitivity; respect for personal and professional boundaries; tangible contributions to a positive working environment.

Collaboration

  • Why it matters: Film thrives on mutual support, shared knowledge, and commitment to collective goals.
  • Faculty will assess: Willingness to assist peers; mentorship behavior; team contributions that boost creativity, efficiency, and spirit.

Creative Resilience

  • Why it matters: Filmmaking demands persistence and positivity in the face of critique, setbacks, uncertainty, and change.
  • Faculty will assess: Composure under stress; willingness to confront problems; perseverance; the ability to adapt creatively without losing focus or momentum.

Assessment Process

Each student is evaluated by a three‑member faculty panel comprised of the program’s Assistant Dean, a faculty member from the student’s area of specialization, and one additional faculty member. The evaluation is based on the Grading Rubrics for Knowledge & Skills and Professional Dispositions.

Mid‑Semester Check‑In

  • Around the semester’s midpoint, a member of the faculty panel meets one‑on‑one with the student to review their progress so far and, if needed, to outline corrective actions to be completed before the final assessment at the end of the semester.

End‑of‑Semester Review

  • The full MFA faculty convenes to share observations on each student’s coursework, performance, and professional conduct.
  • Each student’s faculty panel then applies the Knowledge & Skills and Professional Dispositions rubrics, and assigns a final grade for the Qualifying Exam based on the grading outcomes below.
  • A representative of the faculty panel then meets with the student to communicate rubric scores and the overall grade and to discuss goals for the upcoming semester. In instances of remediation or dismissal, the Assistant Dean of the program will also attend this meeting to review the terms of the disciplinary action.

Grading Rubrics

Grading Outcomes

Satisfactory

If the student earns Satisfactory marks for all of the assessment criteria in Knowledge & Skills and Professional Dispositions, they receive a Satisfactory grade for the Qualifying Exam and advance automatically to the next semester.

  • Exemplary: If the student scores “Exemplary” in any of the rubric criteria, the faculty panel records a commendation in the student’s file. Commendations are factored in when merit scholarships are awarded.
  • Proficient: If the student scores “Proficient” in any of the rubric criteria, the student is on track and performing satisfactorily.
  • Needs Improvement: If the student scores “Needs Improvement” in any of the rubric criteria, the faculty will communicate the areas of concern to the student and develop strategies for improvement. This may include the creation of an official remediation plan to address the concerns. Failure to satisfy the expectations of the remediation plan may result in dismissal from the program.

Unsatisfactory

If the student earns an Unsatisfactory mark in one or more of the assessment criteria in Knowledge & Skills or Professional Dispositions, they receive an Unsatisfactory grade for the Qualifying Exam and do not continue on in the program.

Accommodations

Students with approved OAS accommodations will receive appropriate modifications to the assessment.

Appeals

Any appeals for the MFA Qualifying Exam follow FSU’s General Academic Appeals Process.