Screen Scoring & Music Design

Score the Stories That Move Audiences

Strayer University’s Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design prepares students to develop music for film, television, video games, interactive media, and other visual media experiences. Designed to reflect contemporary professional screen music practices, the program combines composition, orchestration, arrangement, music editing, music production technology, collaboration, and studio and scoring stage practice.

Designed for career-bound adults with undergraduate and practical music experience, the curriculum integrates traditional musicianship with emerging technologies, including hybrid and adaptive scoring techniques, music production technology, music design, and creative applications of artificial intelligence. Students complete assignments based on professional workflows and deadlines, participate in live recording sessions, directed study, and capstone work designed to integrate their creative voice, technical capabilities, and professional portfolio.

Core Concepts

• Compose and arrange music using the styles, techniques, and creative approaches common to film, television, games, and interactive media
• Apply orchestration and contemporary music production techniques
• Create adaptive and narrative driven screen music
• Explore music technology and AI within contemporary creative workflows
• Collaborate, edit, supervise, and deliver music within production environments

Practical Competencies

• Screen scoring
• Orchestration and arrangement
• Music production technology
• Adaptive music design
• Creative applications of AI
• Music editing
• Music supervision
• Recording and production
• Creative collaboration
• Professional portfolio development

Students are required to purchase and bring their own MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

The Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design is currently only approved at Strayer’s Atlanta, GA campus. Classes for the program are anticipated to begin in October 2026.

Two courses, MFA 516 and MFA 536, require travel to designated studio locations:

• In MFA 516, travel will be within the U.S.; full in-person participation in this exercise is required. All travel expenses (e.g., transportation, lodging, incidentals, and meals) are the responsibility of the student. Strayer will cover the studio reservation and recording fees.
• In MFA 536, the capstone SoundTrek occurring in the final quarter of the program, travel to a designated European studio location is required. Full participation in this exercise is required. All travel expenses (e.g., airfare/transportation, lodging, incidentals, and meals) are the responsibility of the student. Strayer will cover the studio reservation and recording fees. Students are responsible for securing their own visa, if needed.

Strayer expects that this program’s tuition will exceed federal unsubsidized loan limits established by the U.S. Department of Education for federal financial aid. Students should have a plan to pay for tuition that is not covered by federal loans, as well as living and required program expenses.