The M.F.A. degree is a pre-professional, terminal degree which emphasizes the development of particular production related skills. The three-year MFA degree offers superior students advanced training and opportunities in costume, lighting, or scene design. Maryland offers students not only coursework and studio time, but opportunities to realize their designs on the main stage and in the department's various new spaces in our 130 million dollar Clarice Smith Perfroming Arts Center. The program prepares the student to enter the professional theatre and entertainment fields. MFA students in design work with an award-winning faculty of professional designers and intern in many of the 52 professional theatres in the Washington/Baltimore corridor.

Admission

• A Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
• 3 hours from such courses as Introduction to Theatre (THET 110), Making Theatre: Art & Scholarship (THET 111), American THeatre (THET 290/291); 3 hours from such courses as Acting I (THET 120), THET 170(Stagecraft), Directing I (THET 330); 3 hours from courses equivalent to Introduction to Drawing(ART 110); AND 6 hours from courses equivalent to History of Theatre I & II (THET 490 & 491).These courses must have been completed with a grade of "B" or better.
• Three letters of recommendation
• A portfolio of previous design work.

Evaluation

Student designers must present and pass two design portfolio reviews, one at the conclusion of their second semester and one at the conclusion of their fourth semester in the program. Design portfolios include studio projects as well as fully realized academic and professional scenic, costume, or lighting designs. The fourth semester porfolio review will include an evaluation of a pre-thesis design project (usually a fully realized design, but may include independent study design projects). The pre-thesis design project, in preparation for the thesis, will include a written component. Successful completion of the portfolio reviews will result in the assignment of the thesis project.

Portfolios

Successful completion of the portfolio review will result in the assignment of pre-thesis (after the first year) and thesis (after the second year) projects. Upon completion of each portfolio review,the candidate will receive a formal letter indicating a grade of pass, conditional pass, or fail. In the event of a conditional pass or fail, the faculty may require the candidate to complete additional projects or coursework.

First year portfolio should include:

• a current resume
• projects from primary and secondary design emphasis courses
• craft projects from foundation component courses
• production photographs illustrating realized craft or design work for projects produced by the theatre department or by professional theatres
• supporting materials, drawings, and photographs that demonstrate effective and productive work as a design assistant (academic or professional projects)

Second year portfolio should include:

• a current resume
• projects from primary and secondary design emphasis courses
• production photographs illustrating realized craft or design work for projects produced by the theater department or professional theaters
• supporting materials, drawings, and photographs that demonstrate effective and productive work as a design assistant (academic or professional projects)
• a written design analysis and supporting research material for the pre-thesis project that should follow the form of the first chapter of the written component of the thesis project

Thesis

For their thesis, M.F.A. design students create and realize a senery, costume, or lighting design for a major production. Each student must meet all deadlines for that production and the design and execution must be acceptable to all members of her/his thesis committee. The written component of the thesis describes and evaluates the process and product including all relevant design documentation.

Opportunities for students

M.F.A students typically design three or four shows in our main season during their three years in residence.   The first year of study includes several assistant design assignments. We generally plan our shows at least one semester in advance; therefore, there is a good possibility that you will be designing your first main-stage show in the spring semester of your first year.   We produce five "Main Stage" shows and approximately five in student produced "Off-Center" season per academic year.   M.F.A. students also have the opportunity to work with our award winning faculty on projects within the Washington metropolitan theatre community.

Financial Aid

The Department of Theatre offers competitive Graduate Teaching Assistantships for M.F.A. candidates with salary, tuition remission and state employee benefits. Our Graduate Teaching Assistantships offer students opportunities to teach in our undergraduate program, work in the production shops for the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, to develop new courses, and to collaborate on faculty research projects.

Core Course Requirements:
THET 600: Introduction to Graduate Study
THET 606: Teaching Theatre (All teaching assistants must take this course)
THET 6XX: Theatre History/Theory*
THET 6XX: Theatre History/Theory*
THET 670: Period Style for the Theatre: Fashion/Decor
THET 789: Masters Practicum (internship or professional production work)
THET 788: Masters Tutorial/Portfolio
THET 788: Masters Tutorial/Asst. design
THET 799: Masters Thesis (6 hours)

* Choose one from: THET 608, 610, 630, 685, 686, 695, or 698 (Graduate Theatre History and Theory Courses)Foundations:Five Courses from the following:THET 377: Lighting Design I
THET 471: Set Design II
THET 473: Scene Painting
THET 477: Lighting Design II
THET 481: Costume Design
THET 484: The Art of Theatrical Design
THET 486: Costume Construction I
THET 487: Costume Construction II
THET 499: Set Design I
THET 499: Computer Aided Drafting for the Theatre
THET 499: Advanced Lighting Technology
THET 678: Twentieth Century Costume HistoryAdvanced Study in Secondary Design Area:One course from the following:THET 499: Advanced Costume Construction
THET 672: Theory of Visual Design: Scenery
THET 675: Theory of Visual Deign: Lighting
THET 681: Theory of Visual Design: Costume

Advanced Study in Primary area and supporting disciplines

Advanced Study in Scene DesignTHET 471: Scene Design II
THET 669: Professional Practice
THET 672: Theory of Visual Design in Scene Design
ARTH 6XX: Art History ElectiveAdvanced Study in Lighting DesignTHET 477: Lighting Design II
THET 499: Advanced Lighting Technology
THET 669: Professional Practice
THET 675: Theory of Visual Design in Lighting Advanced Study in Costume Design

THET 499: Advanced Costume Construction
THET 679: Professional Costume Design
THET 681: Theory of Visual Design in Costume
ARTH XXX: Art History Elective

Totals:

For additional infomation contact:

Director of Graduate Studies:
Dr. Franklin J. Hildy
2828 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland, College Park MD 20742-1610
Office: 301.405.3157
Fax: 301.314.9599
hildy@umd.edu