MFA学位旨在为学生提供从事电影，视频和数字媒体专业职业的准备。毕业生有资格在大学任教。该计划的哲学基于独立媒体的范式，该范式重视艺术表现力，美学，社会意识和清晰的观点。学生将熟悉纪录片传统，纪录片的替代媒体和新方向。除核心制作课程外，学生还参加了一系列电影研究，纪录片电影史，艺术史和艺术实践课程，帮助他们在与世界进行重要接触的背景下定位纪录片电影实践。MFA学位旨在为学生提供从事电影，视频和数字媒体专业职业的准备。毕业生有资格在大学任教。
Situated in the Department of Art & Art History as part of Stanford's program in Film and Media Studies, the Master of Fine Arts program in documentary production provides a historical, theoretical, and critical framework within which students master the conceptual and practical skills for producing nonfiction film and video. The MFA degree is designed to prepare students for professional careers in film, video, and digital media. Graduates are qualified to teach at the university level. The philosophy of the program is predicated on a paradigm of independent media that values artistic expression, aesthetics, social awareness, and an articulated perspective. Students become conversant with the documentary tradition as well as with alternative media and new directions in documentary. The MFA degree is designed to prepare students for professional careers in film, video, and digital media. Graduates are qualified to teach at the university level.