XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?

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Posted by marymoon
Yes, but he heads the department. he's only an adjunct I believe because he only has a bachelor's. But Im just saying it's him, not the the PhD who runs the dept, so level of degree isn't always the deciding factor. It's amazing that he's done so much, especialy as someone who had an acting career and when back to school for his BA as an adult so he could teach. There are many paths.

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No one wants to be an adjunct though. It's not tenure track and half the time you don't even get benefits. It's really to bad he didn't go further if he has to stop at adjunct because he is that limited by his degree. They also pay adjuncts a LOT less than any other faculty.

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Posted by marymoon
ETA: Why so much fact-checking anyway? And where did you get it? I'm having a hard enough time figuring out if the registrar is still there or if there's a new one!

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LOL I was just really surprised any department chair would not have a higher degree, and my office is filled with every college catalog in NY State, and each catalog lists the degrees of every faculty and staff member. Really for my own curiousity. I know my dad is a college president and would never have someone with a bachelor's heading a department, but finding he is an adjunct makes more sense to me.

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Posted by marymoon


My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.

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Well, that depends on the school. I know that wasn't allowed at my school, but it was the type of school that only had adjuncts in certain subjects & only let grad students teach the occasional freshman class.

You could probably work as an adjunct with just a MFa. DH's uncle works as an adjunct with just an MBA & a few failed busineses, but it won't ever be more than that.

Also, since your advisor only has a BA, someone else in the department may be able to help you with these questions, b/c they have more experience with the academic side of the field.

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Posted by MonkeyLuv

In regards to Tisch, they seem to say they'll accept the MFA after you consult them. The MFA and the MA at Tisch require different coursework, that's the difference.

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Isn't the MFA always different coursework? I think I'll call them to see what they say. They may not be the only school that does that. So I want to see what I'd have to do to apply to their doctorate program with an MFA. Not that I'd ever get into to Tisch, but a girl can dream

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Posted by tourist

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Posted by marymoon


My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.

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Well, that depends on the school. I know that wasn't allowed at my school, but it was the type of school that only had adjuncts in certain subjects & only let grad students teach the occasional freshman class.

You could probably work as an adjunct with just a MFa. DH's uncle works as an adjunct with just an MBA & a few failed busineses, but it won't ever be more than that.

Also, amy sicen your advosr only has a BA, someone else in the department may be able to help you with these questions, b/c they have more experience with the academic side of the field.

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Well I can ask my other professor (the PhD) about it. She's also suggested that I go for an MFA after this. It's a small school, very personal, so it's the kind of place where they'l just walk up to you 'Sharon and I were talking about you..no not like that...and we want to know if you've ever really considered going for your MFA in directing.' That's how I started on directing in the first place 'We were talking about you, and absed on what we've seen from you in classes, we think you really may have what it takes to be a director based on blah blah blah etc etc....' as a discussion opener. So there's always imput from both sides, and from others in the creative studies department. (My school is very different from a 'traditional' college)

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Posted by marymoon

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Posted by MonkeyLuv

In regards to Tisch, they seem to say they'll accept the MFA after you consult them. The MFA and the MA at Tisch require different coursework, that's the difference.

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Isn't the MFA always different coursework? I think I'll call them to see what they say. They may not be the only school that does that. So I want to see what I'd have to do to apply to their doctorate program with an MFA. Not that I'd ever get into to Tisch, but a girl can dream

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Yes, if a school offers both an MA and an MFA in the same field.

And you can't really put the cart before the horse... why worry about whether they'll accept you for a doctoral program with an MFA if you haven't decided to even go for your MFA yet.

You should try to find a Masters program you want first. That can usually help determine your best course of action.

I used to work at NYU so I know a little about how they view different degrees.

The MFA is a terminal degree in that it does not prepare one for graduate (i.e. PhD) work. It is a professional degree. It does not prepare one to do research.

At Tisch and elsewhere at NYU, practicing experts are hired to teach in professional fields - e.g. journalism, art, math finance. A writer with no BA/BS can teach - as an adjunct and with a co-teacher - a writer with a minimum BA/BS can have tenure. Meaning, they would not turn down Spike Lee for a tenured spot just b/c he does not have a graduate degree.

Most people though are somewhere between average person and genius professional. These people usually get MFAs, which can help them get jobs where practical skills are taught.

Think of the MFA like an MBA - MBAs usually just practice and do not do research, though they can sometimes teach too.

Grad depts at NYU usually do not accept the professional degrees as 1-2 years of a PhD program. For example, an MS in Math = the first 1.5 years of a PhD in Math. The MS in Math Finance does not b/c practical skills are taught over theory/research skills.

If you want to get an MFA b/c you think you will learn a lot that will help you with your craft then it sounds like a great idea. If you want an avenue to a college teaching career then I think the PhD is best.