Program Overview

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, Design

The Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, Design is an intensive three-year program dedicated to the education of artists for the professional theatre. The program serves students of imagination who are committed to the theatre and who aspire to be artistic visionaries of the future who are adept in techniques and methods for creating new works. The program aims to develop artists who will work as professional designers for the performing arts.

Degree Requirements

• MFA Design candidates complete 70 hours of course work and at least six design assignments.
• Primary area (3 courses): Scenic design, Costume design, and/or Lighting design
• Secondary area (2 courses): Scenic design, Costume design, Lighting design, Projection/Media design, Mask/Puppetry, Hair/Makeup, and Sound design
• Design Core: Period Styles, Scenic Art, Dramatic Literature, Graduate Design Seminar
• Projects in Theatre: Immersive design learning with one-on-one expert faculty mentorship
• Graduate College requirements: Orientation to Graduate Studies, Comprehensive Examination, and Graduate MFA Thesis

Production Requirements

MFA design candidates will be assigned an assistant or design position each semester to fulfill the graduation requirement. Students register for one to three semester hours under THTR:6691 Projects in Theatre and the section number of their area advisor.

Plan of Study Overview

A typical plan of study in the graduate design program follows. Program faculty must approve substitutions for any course in a student's plan of study.

Design Alumni

Our MFA and BA designers have moved from their training in Iowa City to major cities across the country. As freelance designers, art directors, faculty, production managers, and artistic directors, our alumni are working professionals.

What Sets Iowa Apart?

The University of Iowa allowed students to pursue both of their passions. The program encourages all majors with interests in theatre design to consider study abroad opportunities and to apply for the Erik Ulfers/Margaret Hall scholarship.

Continuation in the Program

1. Entering the program: When students begin their studies, they will develop a plan of study in conjunction with their faculty advisor.
2. End of semester review: In order to pass from one semester to the next, students are required to present their work to the faculty for review in a semi-formal design presentation.
3. Comprehensive examination: University of Iowa requires that MFA candidates pass a comprehensive examination (comps) of the subject matter and skills in their area of study.
4. Thesis: In the design program, the thesis is considered to be the body of work a student has completed in their residence at the university.

Ulfers/Hall Study Abroad Scholarship

The design program encourages all majors with interests in theatre design to consider study abroad opportunities and to apply for the Erik Ulfers/Margaret Hall scholarship.

Design Faculty

The design faculty are theatre design professionals, USA 829 and USITT members, who have worked across the country, with active relationships with companies in New York, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Maine, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and California.

Design Faculty Members

• James Albert, MFA
• Mark Bruckner, MFA, BM, BA
• Daniel Fine, MFA
• Cathy Parrott, MFA
• Jason Simms, MFA
• Bryon Winn, MFA, BA

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offers the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, Design program. The program is located at 107 Theatre Building, 200 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA.