Apply

Media Arts Application Workshop

At the beginning of the fall and winter semesters, the Media Arts program will hold an application workshop. This workshop will review all portions of the application and hopefully answer any questions applicants may have. Invitations will be sent to all pre-majors at their BYU student email address. If you are a minor, please reach out to the TMA front desk at tma@byu.edu for location, time, and date. Please note, this workshop will not be recorded or streamed. It is a live, in-person event only and will not be repeated during the semester.

Faculty Advisor

Once you are ready to start the application process, one of the very first steps you should take is to identify and meet with your Media Arts faculty advisor. Download the Applicant Faculty Advisor Meeting Form and follow the instructions. This form must be signed by your faculty advisor and uploaded to your Media Arts Application.

My Plan

Each Media Arts applicant must complete their my plan and meet with the CFAC advisor, Becca Weidner. Becca will review your My Plan and help you identify classes you'll need to take to graduate. Print a .pdf of your My Plan, and ask Becca to sign it. You will then upload your signed My Plan, along with other materials, to your Media Arts Application.
The CFAC Advisement Center also provides workshops to help navigate and use the My Plan feature of My Map specifically for those applying to the Media Arts program. For more information on dates, times, and locations of the My Plan workshop, come to the Media Arts application workshop (above) or contact Becca Weidner.
Below you will find videos to help you better understand BYU's My Plan and how to use it with your application:

MyMap Registration Videos

BEGIN THE ONLINE APPLICATION

To begin the online application visit byutma.slideroom.com. You will need to create a Slideroom Account to access the application. Note: The application requires a $5 processing fee. You will be prompted for payment when you submit your finished application.

Start Online Application 

The online application consists of the following elements:

• Applicant Information
• A Letter of Introduction (minimum 350 words, maximum 500 words): Use this letter to introduce yourself to the Media Arts Faculty. Please include a biographical introduction, your family and cultural background, what you have learned from life and work experiences, and how they have steered you as an artist to apply to the Media Arts Program.
• Eight Most Significant List: Please list eight films, television programs, books, websites, music, plays, video games or other media/art you have read/viewed/experienced that has influenced you as an artist (please do not include the scriptures or a film viewed in TMA 102). These significant works should reflect a range of inquiry and experience.
• Critical Analysis Essays (minimum 350 words, maximum 500 words): You are required to watch a pre-selected film and write a critical analysis essay where you will identify a theme and explain how one particular element supports that theme. Cite concrete examples from the film. Do NOT consult secondary sources (i.e. reviews, books, internet sites, TMA 102 text) when writing your essays. These are analyses that demonstrate critical skills learned in TMA 102. The title of the selected film are located within the critical analysis section of the online application. The film is on reserve at the HBLL Media Center.
• Creative Sample Video (Major Applicants Only): As part of this year’s Major application, you are required to create and submit a short non-fiction (documentary) film. This film must be no longer than 3 minutes total running time. This sample should be a new project made specifically for this application. You, and only you, must write, direct, shoot, and edit your film. The subject of your film cannot be yourself.
• Creative Sample Video Analysis (minimum 350 words, maximum 500 words): Using the critical skills developed in TMA 102, analyze (not summarize) your creative sample video by explaining its theme. What creative decisions did you make to communicate that theme? Where were you successful? Where does the film fall short of your expectations?

Scan and upload documents

After you obtain all the needed signatures, digitize your graduation plan into a PDF and attach it to your online application. (There are scanners available in the HBLL or you can have our front office digitize it and email it to you. NOTE: To avoid a rush, the TMA office will only digitize documents up to a week before the submission deadline)

Submit the Application

Finish the remaining application elements online, pay the $5 processing fee, and submit the application before the deadline.

Interview with the faculty

An important part of the Media Arts Program Application is the interview with the faculty. All those who have submitted an application on time will receive an email with a link to a form inviting them to schedule an interview.
Interviews are held the week after the application due date. Prior to the interview, applicants are required to select and watch one of the approved films from the Media Arts Application Interview Instructions and Films Page. In the interview, applicants will be asked to identify the theme of the film they viewed and explain what creative choices the filmmaker used to communicate that theme. The interview will last only 4-5 minutes, so answers will need to be brief. Referencing notes on a 3×5 notecard during your interview is acceptable as long as you do not read your response from the card. Please remember to dress appropriately, similarly to a job interview, and follow all BYU dress and grooming standards.

– Notification of Acceptance: Students are notified about the faculty’s decision about 4 weeks after applying.