Moving Image Archiving and Preservation (MA)

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Program Description

The Master of Arts degree program in Moving Image Archiving and Preservation (MIAP) is a two-year, interdisciplinary course of study that trains future professionals to manage and preserve collections of film, video, new media, and digital works. MIAP provides prospective collection managers and archivists with an international, comprehensive education in the theories, methods, and practices of moving image archiving and preservation. The curriculum includes courses on moving image conservation and preservation; collection management; metadata standards and application; copyright and legal issues; moving image curation; the cultures of museums, archives, and libraries; and the histories of cinema and television. Students are taught by leading scholars and practitioners in the field.

MIAP takes full advantage of its New York City setting, giving students the opportunity to work with local archives, museums, libraries, labs, and arts organizations. Internships give students experience with multiple institutions, each having a unique organizational culture and approach to archiving and preservation. Graduates of the program have careers as preservation specialists, archivists, research scholars, and conservators in diverse organizations, including library preservation departments, regional and national archives, digital libraries, media arts organizations, museums, production entities, video distributors, and television stations.

Admissions

The required application components are listed below and should be submitted through the online application system. Please note that standardized test scores, such as those from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), are not required.

  1. The General Graduate Application to Tisch School of the Arts. 
  2. A professional résumé listing academic background, work experience, honors, affiliations with professional organizations, papers presented at conferences, published work, language ability, etc.
  3. A statement of purpose (two to three double-spaced pages) outlining your academic and professional background, goals, and what you hope to gain from the program. MIAP applicants should demonstrate an interest in the history and preservation of the moving image. In your statement of purpose, please clearly state and explain why you are interested in our program.
  4. A writing sample (15-20 double-spaced pages) that reflects your ability to carry out sustained critical, theoretical, and/or historical thinking on film, television, video, and/or new media. In the absence of a moving image-related topic, a piece of writing on a subject in the arts or humanities is acceptable.
  5. Letters of recommendation. Contact two recommenders and ask each to submit a letter on your behalf through the online application system. MIAP applicants may ask a third recommender to submit a letter, but this neither required nor expected. Submitting a MIAP application with two rather than three letters will not be viewed negatively.
  6. Transcript(s). Gather all academic transcripts, scan them, and attach them to the online application in the specified section.
  7. Along with the above requirements, international students also must follow the requirements as outlined in Tisch's International Application Requirements page.

There is a $65 application fee paid at the end of the general application. The fee can be paid by credit card or e-check. Applicants for whom the application fee poses a hardship can request a waiver by sending an email to Director of Graduate Admissions Joseph Miserendino (jm7@nyu.edu). In your email be prepared to explain the nature of the hardship and provide evidence supporting your request for a waiver.