General Information

The University of Maryland Department of Theatre offers several degrees in its Graduate Program; an MA in Theatre History and Criticism, an MFA in Design, and a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies. The Department accepts high quality graduate students who show promise for sustained success in their field. Applicants must satisfy all University of Maryland admission requirements as well as the department's specific criteria for admission. For application information please visit the University of Maryland Graduate Admission's web site at www.gradschool.umd.edu. For information about fellowships, scholarships, and financial aid, please continue on this page. For specific information about the department's individual graduate programs, please click on the links above. All application materials (save audiovisual materials and portfolios) should be sent to ESO for scanning into the Optix program. This includes wrting samples and hard copy letters of recommendation. The official application procedure is listed at graduate admissions information.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available to graduate students in three forms: fellowships, assistantships, and loans.

Fellowships: Applications that reveal academic excellence will be submitted by a faculty committee to the University for consideration for University Fellowships. Fellowships for 2006/2007 include a stipend of approximately $13,300 - $14,500 and include 12 hours of tuition remission.
Assistantships: All assistantships are competitive. Work assignments are determined by the department's needs and the applicant's program of interest and professional background. Most MFA design students assist in their specific area of interest; for example, MFA students concentrating in lighting design are assigned to help in the light lab or with hang, focus, and design of productions. Ph.D. students assist with or teach the history and criticism courses. Renumeration for 2006-2007 ranges between $13,225 - $15,400 and includes health benefits and ten hours of tuition remission..
Loans: Student financial aid in the form of subsidized and unsubsidized loans is available through the Office of Financial Aid. Please visit their web site for their criteria and deadlines.

Arrange a Visit

Visits to the Department of Theatre can be arranged with the Director for Graduate Studies (see below). The Director will meet with you and answer your questions about the program of interest. The University of Maryland can be reached by air (Washington Dulles, Baltimore Washington International, and Reagan Washington National), train (Metrorail, MARC, Amtrak), and automobile. Once in the Washington area, College Park is easily accessible by metro and Shuttle-UM will take you to the campus. For driving directions to the campus, call 301.314.MAPS. To reach the Department of Theatre, follow the directions listed on the CSPAC visitation page. Campus visits and tours can be arranged.

Contact Information

All information concerning applications and requirements for entry to and completion of the MA, MFA, and PhD program can be found on this website.  The University of Maryland no longer distributes paper applications.  Online applications can be found on the Graduate School web site.  If you have specific questions about the program or the application process not answered on this website, or if you would like to arrange a visit to campus, please contact:
Dr. Franklin J. Hildy, Director of Graduate Studies hildy@umd.edu

Contact us via email with questions, comments and feedback, or call us at 301-405-6676.
Department of Theatre, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1610