Tisch School of the Arts is proud to announce the inaugural Master of Arts in Media Producing graduating class, a cohort of 23 students who completed the 32-credit program remotely. Students were officially conferred in January and will take part in the University-wide Commencement this May. As Tisch’s first online-only degree, the Media Producing program trains the next generation of storytellers to master the dynamics of producing as an art form, from fundraising to casting, scheduling, post-production, marketing, and more.
This year’s graduates come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including international business and marketing, filmmaking, photography, teaching, and journalism. They completed their studies in locations as far as South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, and as near as Pennsylvania, Texas, and California.
Marisa Droga, a member of this year’s class, spoke about the demand for effective storytelling amidst an evolving media landscape. “For me this program has been a way of learning how to bring those stories to life and share them with the world,” Droga said. “The industry changes constantly, by the hour it seems, and that’s one of my biggest take-aways from the program. But I’ve also learned that no matter how the landscape shifts, there will always be a need for good stories. They are how we make sense of the world.”
The flexibility of the 15-month online curriculum has allowed students to keep their full-time jobs while advancing their careers without having to move to New York. Graduate Matthew Zelinger said, “With my business background, I was looking for a media producing program and stumbled upon this amazing one. I have a full-time job, and being able to do this program concurrently was a major factor in being able to enroll and complete [my degree].”
The Media Producing curriculum emphasizes the modern media and entertainment industries by encouraging students to work on projects that are applicable to traditional and emerging platforms. “What makes it work is that everything feels connected,” said graduate Kelly Needleman. “What I’m learning in class feeds into the decisions I make on set, and what happens on set brings life to the discussions I have online. There’s something meaningful about pursuing this degree while still fully immersed in the work. It’s exhausting at times, but it’s also a reminder of how much I love what I do.
The application deadline for fall 2026 is February 15, 2026. Learn more and apply today!