Master of Fine Arts in Social Documentation

SocDoc is a one-of-a-kind program designed for future documentarians committed to social change and to documenting communities, cultures, issues, and individuals who are marginalized in our current landscape of representation. SocDoc goes beyond the story. That's our motto and our practice: to go beyond story-telling into the intimacy of people's lives, the causes underlying social injustice, the issues too pressing to ignore. There's a story, too, but we think that should be the beginning, not the end, of the matter.

With training from professionals outstanding in their fields, students gain the skills and confidence to enter the increasingly sophisticated world of documentary production. Students train in production, creating projects on their own as well as in a group to learn what works and gain experience. Lighting, cameras, locations, subject and character choices, all come into play. So do editing techniques, motion graphics and animation, trailers and websites. As important as training in equipment is training in world-view, from the ethics of documentary to perspectives of narrative,and markers of evidence. SocDoc is a laboratory of discovery for students and professors alike, as we search for the best pathways to make a difference in the world through videography, photography, audio, and words.

Social Documentation Program Learning Outcomes
Students who earn an M.F.A. in Social Documentation will gain the skills, knowledge, and understanding that will enable them to:
1. Critically analyze social issues pertaining their documentary subject matter by applying social science methodologies and will implement ethically sound community negotiation and professional and interpersonal interaction in documentary fieldwork.
2. Acquire analytical writing skills, produce advanced project proposals and develop creative treatments.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of historical models of documentary practices and demonstrate by using those idea in their own practice uses those ideas.

A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited university awarded conferred prior to the quarter in which admission is sought.
A complete application for the Social Documentation Program includes the general UCSC graduate admissions requirements with the exception that we do not require the GRE In addition to the general university requirements the department requires the following supplemental information

A project description of the work that you propose to carry out while in the program It should specify the subject individual or targeted issue This is one of the most important factors in selecting students so please give it considerable care and check to ascertain that it fits the parameters of the SocDoc Program
An analytical writing sample a research paper professional report substantial essay or published work
A resume or curriculum vitae
A sample of your documentary production work a video or sound recording oral history ethnographic essay photographic essay or web page We cannot accept portfolio submissions outside of the Graduate Divisions official application The preferred format for submission of production work is along with the rest of your application materials through the official Graduate Division online application using URLs to publicatins and documentary productions You may use any widely available website eg Vimeo YouTube Flickr etc that does not require an account to access the website Please make sure your submission is not passwordprotected or be sure to include the password in your application

Required application materials include

Writing sample eg research paper professional report or substantial essay that shows your mastery of analysis andor researchThis can be a paper written for an earlier class or project an article or proposal etc Its subject need not have any relevance to your project as it is your writing ability that is being assessed here All written materials should be 12 pt font double spaced

Portfolio Please provide an online sample of your best work in documentary production in videofilm photography or audioradio format Please provide web addressesURLs for these samples in the text box below and include information citing your roles in the creation of the documentary
A Statement of Purpose is required

Please describe your plans for graduate study or research and for your future occupation or profession Include any information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and qualifications for graduate study at the University of California Santa Cruz Recommended length is a concise 2-4 pages doublespaced 12 pt font
A cumulative or overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale in the last two years of undergraduate education. This should be displayed on your official academic records.
Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the application process Upload your unofficial transcripts in the online application Official copies are not currently required for the application only for accepting an offer of admission however we reserve the right to change this requirement at any time.
Applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree must also hold a post graduate diploma Masters-Degree or a higher degree.
Internet-based TOEFL minimum acceptable scores.
89 for applicants to the Applied Mathematics Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics Computational Media Computer Science and Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering Natural Language Processing and Statistical Sciences programs.
83 for applicants to the Human Computer Interaction program
83 for all other programs.
Other TOEFL minimum acceptable scores.
Computer-based 230.
IELTS, a minimum overall score of 7 from the IELTS test is required for admission.