Advisor: R. Wattenberg
The School of Theater + Film offers the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Science. The Master of Arts degree prepares students who want to focus their graduate study on playwriting, research and scholarship in the history, literature, and criticism of the theater and who may also plan to continue their graduate work in a doctoral program in theater. The Master of Science degree prepares for students who wish to focus more intensively on performance and production areas in preparation for a career in the professional theater and/or further degree work in a Master of Fine Arts theater or film program. The program of each graduate student is planned in consultation with the School advisor.
Degree requirements
See University master’s degree requirements. Specific School requirements are listed below.
Master of Arts or Master of Science
Prospective graduate students who plan to earn an M.A. or M.S. degree should present a minimum of 24 credits in theater arts, including 4 credits in script analysis, 4 credits in acting, 4 credits in directing, 8 credits in technical theater, and 4 credits in costume, scenic and/or lighting design or equivalent competencies as determined by the School. Individual students may be required to complete additional graduate and undergraduate courses to make up for deficiencies.
All master’s degree students must successfully complete a minimum of 45 graduate credits with at least 33 credits of adviser- approved courses in theater arts. Twelve credits may be taken in approved areas outside the School of Theater + Film. In addition, the student must successfully complete one of the following projects, for which no fewer than 6 graduate credits in theater arts will be given: (1) a research thesis on an approved topic from the fields of theater history, theory, practice, or dramatic literature and criticism; (2) two papers of appropriate length on subjects chosen from the fields of theater history, theory, practice, or dramatic literature and criticism; (3) a project in directing, scenic design, lighting design, costume design, or acting; or (4) the composition of two one-act plays or one full-length play. An oral examination is required.
The Master of Arts student must demonstrate competence in the use of a foreign language and will typically complete the degree program with a thesis, playwriting, or two paper project. The Master of Science student must demonstrate expertise in skills pertaining to either advanced theater/film performance or design and will typically complete the degree program with a project in directing, acting, scene design, costume design or lighting design, a project in dramatic writing, or a two-paper project.