Program Overview

Acting - M.F.A.

Overview

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting is intended for the returning professional and mentors seasoned professional performers who wish to focus on refining and articulating their acting process, while gaining sound pedagogical practice in performance. The two-year terminal degree provides candidates with a set of core classes centered around a variety of techniques and theories, within a flexible pedagogical laboratory model. Returning professional students are offered ample opportunity to hone performance and explore teaching skills as they earn a terminal M.F.A. degree in pursuit of employment.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Evidence of professional experience
• Audition
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• THEA 51010: THEATRE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
• THEA 51303: ACTING I FOUNDATIONS/STANISLAVSKI AND MICHAEL CHEKHOV
• THEA 51304: ACTING II: SCENE STUDY-MODERN AMERICAN REALISM
• THEA 51305: PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: PERFORMANCE
• THEA 51701: MOVEMENT, FORM AND SPACE I-THE ACTOR'S PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT
• THEA 51803: VOICE AND SPEECH I
• THEA 51808: ACTING STYLES I: SHAKESPEARE
• THEA 60992: PROFESSIONAL THEATRE INTERNSHIP I
• THEA 61000: INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE STUDY IN THEATRE
• THEA 61094: COLLEGE TEACHING IN THEATRE 1
• THEA 61305: ACTING STYLES II: GREEK AND COMEDY OF MANNERS
• THEA 61701: MOVEMENT, FORM AND SPACE II-NEUTRAL AND CHARACTER MASK
• THEA 61803: VOICE AND SPEECH II
• THEA 62192: PRACTICUM: PERFORMANCE
• THEA 62392: PRACTICUM: PERORMANCE PEDAGOGY
• THEA 65000: HISTORY, HISTORICISM, THEORY AND PRACTICE IN THEATRE AND DRAMA
• Major Electives (9 credits)

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 3.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000
• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Semester One:
  • THEA 51303: ACTING I FOUNDATIONS/STANISLAVSKI AND MICHAEL CHEKHOV
  • THEA 51701: MOVEMENT, FORM AND SPACE I-THE ACTOR'S PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT
  • THEA 51803: VOICE AND SPEECH I
  • THEA 61094: COLLEGE TEACHING IN THEATRE 1
  • THEA 62392: PRACTICUM: PERORMANCE PEDAGOGY
• Semester Two:
  • THEA 51010: THEATRE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
  • THEA 51304: ACTING II: SCENE STUDY-MODERN AMERICAN REALISM
  • THEA 61000: INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE STUDY IN THEATRE
  • THEA 61803: VOICE AND SPEECH II
  • THEA 62192: PRACTICUM: PERFORMANCE
• First Summer Term:
  • THEA 60992: PROFESSIONAL THEATRE INTERNSHIP I
• Semester Three:
  • THEA 51305: PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: PERFORMANCE
  • THEA 51808: ACTING STYLES I: SHAKESPEARE
  • THEA 61701: MOVEMENT, FORM AND SPACE II-NEUTRAL AND CHARACTER MASK
  • THEA 62392: PRACTICUM: PERORMANCE PEDAGOGY
  • THEA 65000: HISTORY, HISTORICISM, THEORY AND PRACTICE IN THEATRE AND DRAMA
• Semester Four:
  • THEA 60199: M.F.A. THESIS PROJECT
  • THEA 61305: ACTING STYLES II: GREEK AND COMEDY OF MANNERS
  • THEA 62392: PRACTICUM: PERORMANCE PEDAGOGY
  • THEA 62192: PRACTICUM: PERFORMANCE
  • Major Electives (6 credits)

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Employ a broad range of acting knowledge and skills in the creation and presentation of roles.
2. Perform in plays of various types and from various periods.
3. Acquire advanced capabilities in acting, voice and speech, movement, theatre history and pedagogy.
4. Apply sound pedagogical practices to aspects of theatre or performance studies.
5. Demonstrate professionalism in an acting setting.