Program Overview

Master of Fine Arts in Scenography

The M.F.A. in Scenography is a three-year integrated program of study leading to a Master of Fine Arts degree, the terminal degree for professionals working in design for theatre, dance, film, and television. Scenography classes take an engaged, practice-based approach to theatre design to prepare students in areas of technical production such as costume, lighting, and set design. Our core curriculum provides students with the tools that they need to develop a portfolio in a wide variety of theatrical and performance genres. Students will execute realized designs in both the large Crafton-Preyer proscenium stage, the William Inge Memorial theatre (black box) as well as studio and site specific spaces. Students learn new technologies in theatre, lighting and costume design, including new innovations in Virtual Realities.

Admission to Graduate Studies

Admission Requirements

• All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
• Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
• English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.

Graduate Admissions

Our holistic application evaluations are based on several criteria: grades, the strength of recommendation letters, written or portfolio samples, previous experience and the fit of your interests with our program. A full list of application materials and deadlines is available. The Department of Theatre and Dance does not admit new students for the Spring or Summer terms.

M.F.A. in Scenography Degree Requirements

Scenography classes are at the core of the curriculum. While in the program, students will design at least 4 realized productions in the University Theatre program. They will do at least 1 lighting, 1 costume and 1 scenic design, and preferably a combination of 2 or all design areas for 1 production. Design assignments, made by the scenography faculty, will be based on the students' experience and interests (i.e., a student with little experience in lighting design will be given a less challenging project in the smaller theatre).

Students work with the KU Theatre's professional staff in the realization of their designs. Successful scenography students at the University of Kansas have come from a variety of backgrounds, including theatre, art and design, illustration and architecture. Students with deficiencies in theatre production, theatre and/or art history, and painting and drawing may be required to take undergraduate courses in these areas, which could result in a longer program.

To complete the M.F.A., the student must sustain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher through 60 graduate credit hours. At least 50% of the coursework required for the M.F.A. must be taken at the 700 level or above. The following guidelines govern the distribution of hours:

• Core Requirement
  • THR 703: Directed Readings in Theatre (3 hours)
• Scenography Requirements
  • THR 719: M.F.A. Production Seminar (3-credit course taken twice) (6 hours)
  • THR 720: Scenography and the Classic Script (3 hours)
  • THR 721: Scenography and the Modern and Contemporary Script (3 hours)
  • THR 801: Professional Development Seminar (3 hours)
  • THR 819: Advanced M.F.A. Production Seminar (3-credit course taken twice) (6 hours)
  • THR 820: Scenography and the Musical Theatre (3 hours)
  • THR 822: Scenography and the Experimental Production (3 hours)
  • THR 840: Scenography Masters Pre-Thesis (3 hours)
  • THR 898: Investigation and Conference (Repeated twice for a total of 6 hours) (6 hours)
  • THR 899: Master's Thesis (6 hours)
• Electives: no limit, but a minimum of 15 hours for a total of 60 hours. Courses in Theatre are recommended, specifically THR 520, THR 521, THR 525, THR 526 or THR 599 as needed.

All courses should be selected in consultation with the graduate advisor.

The MFA thesis is an essential element of the Master of Fine Arts degree. It is a work of original scenography with scenic, lighting, and costume design elements. It contains a written component that articulates and justifies the scenographic vision. The MFA thesis is developed under the supervision of a committee of faculty members. The completion of a master’s thesis concludes with an oral examination conducted by the student’s thesis committee. A master's candidate satisfies the final examination requirement with a majority vote of "Satisfactory" by the candidate's committee. The committee may also recommend the student for Honors, which is a designation conferred by the Department at graduation.

Throughout the course of graduate study, the student must fulfill all relevant College and University policies.

Further details about meeting the degree requirements can be found in the Department’s Graduate Handbook.

At the completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Engage in critical thinking and acquire understanding of principles and theories of scenographic theory and practice. This includes acquiring a familiarity with literature of the field
• Acquire a set of skills and practices comparable to those used by professional designers. Such skills include studio skills, applying new and imaginative solutions to the scenographic problems presented by a script and working within the collaborative structure of theatre art.
• Assemble a portfolio and resume suitable for successful application to position in the professional theatre/entertainment industries, or for entering the teaching profession.