Assistant Professor
Production Design
Stage Management and International Performance Ensemble Chair
Entertainment Design and Technology, MFA
Designed for experienced entertainment designers, technicians, and production professionals, Pace University's MFA in Entertainment Design and Technology helps you expand your creative and technical expertise. Explore new approaches to entertainment production and prepare for opportunities in creative leadership and higher education teaching at the Sands College of Performing Arts.
Location
New York City
Duration
48 Credits
2 Years, full-time
Modality
In-Person with a 50% distance-learning component
Start Date
Fall
F1 Visa
No
STEM Designated Program
No
Your Experience Built Your Career in Entertainment Design and Technology. Now Take It Further
The two-year, full-time hybrid program combines online study in the first and final semesters with in-person learning in New York City during the middle year, allowing students to build on their professional experience while pursuing an advanced degree.
Through advanced study and collaborative design laboratories, students explore new creative possibilities and refine their individual approaches to entertainment design.
Join the inaugural class in fall 2027.
#4 in the Nation
For Most Represented Colleges on Broadway (Source: Playbill)
$102K+
Median Annual Pay for Special Effects Artists and Animators (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
$114,850
Median Annual Pay for Art Directors (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Curriculum
Explore the tools, techniques, and technologies shaping contemporary entertainment production.
Areas of study include:
- Immersive and interactive design
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- 3D modeling and digital design
- Entertainment design software
- Lighting, scenery, sound, and production technology
- Storyboarding and visual storytelling
Take Courses Like
- Machine Learning and AI: Explore how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are influencing entertainment design and production.
- Immersive Design: Investigate the creative and technical possibilities of immersive environments and experiences.
- Interactive Design: Examine approaches to designing interactive experiences that connect audiences, environments, and technology.
Professional-Grade Technology. New Dimensions in Design
Push the boundaries of entertainment production at One Pace Plaza East, Sands College of Performing Arts' new performing arts complex in Lower Manhattan.
Featuring advanced lighting, projection, sound, and integrated audiovisual systems, the complex offers a sophisticated environment for technical experimentation and creative collaboration.
- Advanced Lighting Systems: Explore ETC Eos and grandMA lighting consoles, intelligent moving lights, LED fixtures, and programmable lighting systems.
- Projection and Video Technology: Discover large-scale laser projection, 4K cinema technology, professional video distribution systems, and QLab audiovisual software.
- Professional Sound Systems: Explore Yamaha digital mixing consoles, d&b audiotechnik and Meyer Sound systems, networked audio technology, and Clear-Com production communication.
- Versatile Performance Venues: Explore design across three distinct spaces: the 427-seat Schimmel Theater with its 50-lineset fly tower, a flexible Black Box Theater with technical galleries and catwalks, and an intimate indoor-outdoor Garden Theater.
Careers
Graduates of the MFA in Entertainment Design may pursue opportunities in entertainment production, emerging design technologies, creative leadership, and higher education.
Potential professional directions include:
- Teaching entertainment and design in higher education
- Entertainment and production design
- Lighting and sound design
- Projection, video, and digital media design
- Immersive and interactive experience design
- Scenic automation and production technology
- Virtual and augmented reality design
- Creative and technical leadership
The program is intended to help experienced professionals expand their capabilities and explore new directions rather than begin their careers from scratch.
Featured Faculty
Clinical Associate Professor
Production Design Program Head
Clinical Associate Professor
Admission and Financial Aid
You're ready for a new level of success—whether it's advancing in your current field or launching a new career. Pace is with you every step of the way, providing a world-class education and the skills your industry will be looking for far into the future.
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- A personal statement explaining to the Graduate Admission Committee why you would like to pursue the program of graduate study you have chosen. Additional information regarding your academic performance, as well as professional experience, may also be included in the supplement.
- A resume with at least the past five years of your employment history and any significant community, professional, or college extracurricular activities.
- Website link
- Please provide two letters of recommendation, with at least one focusing specifically on the candidate's abilities as a designer. Letters should be from academic or professional references who can knowledgeably comment on your ability to successfully complete graduate study. Please note that the Graduate Admission Committee reserves the right to require letters of recommendation on a case-by-case basis.
- All Official Transcripts: Transcripts from every accredited college or university attended (not just the degree granting institution) must be sent either to Pace University, directly from the academic institution electronically or by mail, or forwarded by the applicant in sealed envelopes from the academic institution.
- Portfolio including at least three design pieces, which can be either process or product. This includes, but is not limited to: renders, plots, models, workflows, etc.
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Per credit: $1,500 Total cost of program: $72,000
*Tuition based on current year and subject to change. -
Fall Term
April 15 Preferred Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Admission -
Make an appointment to meet with your admissions counselor.
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Every available financial aid option, assessed based on both availability and individual need. Financial resources include:
- Merit-based Scholarships: Awards of up to $XXXXX, automatically considered during the application process.
- Endowed Scholarships: Awards funded by generous donors to support student success.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: A federal loan program with favorable terms.
- Work-Study Programs: Part-time work opportunities to help fund your education.
- Military Benefits: Includes the GI Bill®, the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Pace’s Veteran Tuition Scholarship.
- Graduate Funding: Find out what changes are coming in 2026 with the end of Grad PLUS, and what financing options are still available to you.
For more information about affordability and the full range of financial aid options, visit Pace University Financial Aid.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Top 6%
Did You Know?
Pace is ranked in the top 6% nationally for return on investment (Source: The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce)
Contact Us
Admission Contact
Office of Graduate Admission
Phone: (800) 874-7223
Email: graduateadmission@pace.edu
Departmental Contact
Graham Kindred
Assistant Professor
Chair: Production and Design, Stage Management, and International Performance Ensemble
Email: gkindred@pace.edu