The Documentary Project

A third semester for broadcast students

The Documentary Project is available to M.S. broadcast students only. Students are required to complete the regular course of journalistic study at the school, and then must complete an additional third semester. During this third semester, students are enrolled full-time as they complete a 20 to 30-minute documentary to fulfill the master's project requirement for the M.S. program.

The Documentary Project program is designed to train students as independent video producers. In addition to training in visual storytelling (camera work and editing skills), students learn business practices, negotiation, rights and clearances, and how to develop a winning production trailer. During the third semester, instead of a course load, students work full-time to produce their video master's project. This third term, referred to as the students' research residency semester, costs $9,000 in tuition, plus student fees and health insurance. Students in the program will receive individual coaching from their faculty adviser as they complete a work of video storytelling designed to be the capstone of their studies at the Journalism School.

Those who wish to be considered for this program must apply during the first semester after matriculation. Applicants will work with their adviser to develop a story pitch which will be submitted to the broadcast faculty. Selected students will then be accepted into the Documentary Project Program, and the students' registrations will be adjusted to reflect the additional graduation requirements. These students will also be automatically admitted to the required spring Documentary Seminar.

The expectation is that the documentary work produced by students in this program will be broadcast on television, on the Internet, or at a film festival.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Office:
(212) 854-8608
admissions@jrn.columbia.edu