Creative Arts

Admission to graduate study at Florida State University follows a two-step evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, while the academic department reviews applicants for admission into the degree program. Final admission is subject to approval by the Office of Admissions.

The minimum requirement for graduate admission is a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree from an international institution. The Jim Moran College is currently waiving the GRE requirement. We admit students to our main-campus graduate programs for the fall semester only, and admissions decisions will be sent via email to the address provided in your application. Deadline: July 1.

• Complete and submit the University Admissions Office’s Online Application.

  Materials to be submitted within the application include:

  ○ Current Resume or C.V.

  ○ Personal Statement (500 words)
  
  A brief essay describing who you are and what life experiences have motivated you to pursue a career as an entrepreneur in the creative industry. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your voice, personality, and passion while addressing the following:
  
    a.) Describe your post-degree plans. How will this degree help you achieve your goals? How do your past education and professional experiences support your career objectives?
  
    b.) Describe your most significant accomplishment to date.

  ○ Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
  
    – At least one must be an academic reference
  
    – Letters are submitted electronically through the online application

  ○ Video Statement of Purpose
  
  Using a smartphone or tablet, create a video (maximum 3 minutes) introducing yourself and explaining what you hope to gain from the MS degree. You must appear on camera and address the following:
  
    a.) Introduce yourself (name, origin, background) – max 30 seconds
  
    b.) Explain why studying entrepreneurship in the arts is important to you and your goals for the program – max 120 seconds
  
    c.) Share one artist-entrepreneur, company, non-profit, product, or service you admire and why – max 30 seconds

  ○ Portfolio of Work
  
  Submit work that demonstrates your ability and commitment in the arts or entrepreneurship. Choose one or two of the following:

    a.) Entrepreneurial/Creative Portfolio – Websites, investor decks, presentations, content creation examples, commercials, etc.
  
      • Maximum 5 projects, up to 15 pages total

    b.) Writing Samples (Creative Writing/Film) – Short play, screenplay excerpt, short story, article, or poem
  
      • Up to 15 pages

    c.) Film Reel (Film) – Film, video, animation, documentary, or experimental work
  
      • Maximum 15 minutes

    d.) Audition Reel (Music, Theatre, Dance) – Live or recorded performances
  
      • Maximum 15 minutes

    e.) Artistic Portfolio (Art/Design) – Drawings, paintings, photography, costume or set design
  
      • Maximum 10 images

  ○ Pay a non-refundable application fee of $30.
  
    – Applications will not be reviewed until the fee is paid

• Submit a completed Residency Affidavit.

  All applicants must complete this form online through the application portal.

• Arrange for official transcripts to be sent from each college or university attended.

  These must be sent directly from the institutions—student copies are not accepted for formal admission.

  ○ Unofficial copies may be used for application review, but official transcripts are required for final admission.
  
  ○ Current or recently graduated FSU students are not required to submit transcripts unless they attended another institution after graduating.

• Submit standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, or equivalent).

  Request that scores be sent directly to FSU.

  ○ GRE requirements have been waived until Fall 2026 admissions.

• International applicants:

  TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for students who did not earn an undergraduate degree from an English-speaking country.

The MSE degree, with a major in Creative Arts, requires a total of 33 credit hours:

Core Curriculum

The current core curriculum (9 credit hours) required to be taken by all MSE students includes the following:

• ENT 5417 Accounting and Finance for Entrepreneurs (3 hrs)
• ENT 5128 Strategy Formulation (3 hrs)
• ENT 5216 Foundations in Entrepreneurship and Leadership (3 hrs)

Major Curriculum

All MSE Creative Arts students are required to take the following major curriculum (24 credit hours). These courses are offered in collaboration with the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, the College of Music, the College of Fine Arts, and the College of Motion Picture Arts.

• ENT 5619 Entrepreneurship as an Art-Form (3 hrs)
• ARE 5645 History of Innovation in the Arts (3 hrs)
• FIL XXXX Storytelling and Cross-Discipline Collaboration (3 hrs)
• MUS 5939 Modern Marketing of the Arts (3 hrs)
• ENT 5303 Arts & Entertainment Law (3 hrs)
• ENT 5931 Creative Arts Colloquium (3 hrs)
• ENT 5930 Applied Venture I - Incubation (3 hrs)
• ENT EXXXX Applied Venture II - Acceleration (3 hrs)

Please be aware that some online classes may require students to use a testing center to complete their exams. This is at the professor's discretion.

While we offer completely online graduate programs, please note that courses may be delivered as either asynchronous or synchronous.

Please direct any questions you may have about the structure of the online courses to grad@jmc.fsu.edu.

Salary Information: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Representative Career Paths: Creative Entrepreneur / Founder, Creative Director, Content Creator or & Digital Storyteller, Arts Manager / Arts Administrator, Arts & Entertainment Entrepreneur, Producer or Director (Film, Music, Theater), Marketing & Brand Manager, Creative Project Manager, Consultant for Creative Businesses and Startups

Representative Employers: Independent Arts or Creative Startups, Digital Media Companies, Production Companies (Film, Music, Theater), Arts Nonprofits and Cultural Institutions, Independent Creative Ventures, Media and Entertainment Companies, Galleries, Museums, and Creative Agencies