Program Overview
MFA in Costume Production Program Overview
The Master of Fine Arts in Costume Production program at Boston University provides developing theatre professionals with the opportunity to cultivate their own individual artistic identity, innovative and collaborative creative process, while refining and enhancing their craft.
Program Objectives
The program seeks to:
- Enhance artistic expression, critical thinking, communication, and production skills through hands-on, mentored experiences within a wide range of production opportunities and classroom instruction.
- Explore creative collaborations to tell important stories to today’s audiences.
- Create inclusive and accessible forms of theatrical expression for the next generation.
Curriculum Highlights
- Robust schedule of guest artists, workshops, and intensives for special topics.
- Mentored portfolio and résumé development, with introductions to Professional Theatre Initiative affiliates for summer opportunities following the first year.
- Funded participation at the US Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) in the second year of the program.
- Curated portfolio and introduction to professional theatre and live performing arts industry network contacts provided at the successful completion of the program.
Learning Outcomes
The Costume Production program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework and production assignments, Costume Production students will:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of theatre as an art form and the essential role it plays in contemporary society.
- Demonstrate spoken and written critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills in an arts-based discipline.
- Demonstrate an ability to enrich creative storytelling and take artistic risks.
- Demonstrate an awareness of and ability to engage in the diverse community of theatre artists.
- Demonstrate a high level of artistic, interpretive, and craft skills and techniques in Costume Production as a foundation for entering into a career in theatre and the live performing arts.
Program of Study
The program requires a minimum of 60 units in continuous, sequential terms, and generally takes two years to complete. All requirements for the MFA must be completed within five years of matriculation.
First Year
| Course | 1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CFA TH 701 Graduate Salon | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 539 Production | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 607 Collaboration Forum 1 | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 643 & 644 Costume Production Studio 1 & 2 | 3 | 3 |
| CFA TH 533 Costume Production Studio 5: Historic Tailoring | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 534 Costume Production Studio 6: Ladies’ Tailoring | – | 3 |
| Approved elective(s) | 2 | 2 |
| Total units (minimum) | 16 | 14 |
Second Year
| Course | 1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CFA TH 701 Graduate Salon | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 539 Production | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 529 Costume Production Studio 3: Modern Tailoring 1 | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 530 Costume Production Studio 4: Modern Tailoring 2 | – | 3 |
| CFA TH 649 Costume Production Studio 7: Advanced Draping—19th Century | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 650 Costume Production Studio 8: Advanced Draping—20th Century | – | 3 |
| Approved elective(s) | 3 | 3 |
| Total units (minimum) | 15 | 15 |
Approved Electives
Students select graduate-level courses (500+) offered by Boston University in consultation with their faculty mentor. Suggested courses include:
- CFA TH 536 Figure Drawing
- CFA TH 575 Fabric Dyeing 1
- CFA TH 576 Fabric Dyeing 2
- CFA TH 577 Millinery 1
- CFA TH 578 Millinery 2
- CFA TH 586 Color Interaction
- CFA TH 608 Collaboration Forum 2
- CFA TH 637 Costume Design Studio 1
- CFA TH 638 Costume Design Studio 2
- CFA TH 657 History of Dress 1
- CFA TH 658 History of Dress 2
- CFA TH 673 Intro to Textiles 1
- CFA TH 674 Intro to Textiles 2
- CFA TH 707 Scenography Studio 1
- CFA TH 708 Scenography Studio 2
- CFA TH 737 Costume Design Studio 3
- CFA TH 738 Costume Design Studio 4
Accreditation
Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).