Program Overview

Theatre Design and Production, MFA

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Design and Production at Tulane University offers an in-depth study of theatrical design and technical practice areas with an emphasis on preparing the student for a career in the professional theatre or as a teacher of a specialized field at the university level. Applicants to the program must have completed an undergraduate degree in theatre or have had equivalent training and experience.

Overview

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Design and Production places concentration and emphasis on collaborative process with equal emphasis on technical and creative skills as learned both through classwork and practical production.

Areas of Specialization

The Tulane University Theatre Program offers Scene Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Technical Direction, and Stage Management as areas of specialization within the framework of the Master of Fine Arts Degree.

• Scene Design
• Costume Design
• Lighting Design
• Technical Direction
• Stage Management

An MFA student is required to take all courses stipulated as core courses for the degree. In addition, a sequence in the area of specialization (listed below) is also required, along with elective courses to bring the total credits to the minimum number required.

Core Courses

• THEA 7010: Design Contexts (3 credits)
• THEA 7020: Graduate Text Analysis (3 credits)
• THEA 7031: Collaboration (3 credits)
• THEA 7070: Portfolio Techniques (3 credits)
• THEA 7921: Practical Applications (Repeated) (9 credits)
• THEA 7990: Thesis Production (3 credits) Total Credit Hours: 24

Tracks

Scene Design

• THEA 6411: Scene Design 1 (3 credits)
• THEA 6712: Theatrical Drafting and Model-Making (3 credits)
• THEA 6415: Rendering For Designers (3 credits)
• THEA 7420: Scene Design 2 (3 credits)
• THEA 6721: Scene Design CAD (3 credits)
• THEA 7770: Advanced CAD (3 credits)
• THEA 7431: Scene Design 3 (3 credits)
• THEA 6421: Scene Painting (3 credits)
• THEA 7441: Scene Design 4 (3 credits)
• THEA 6480: Design for Puppetry (3 credits)
• THEA 7480: Design for Television (3 credits) Total Credit Hours: 33

Costume Design

• THEA 6511: Costume Design 1 (3 credits)
• THEA 6551: Textiles & Fabric Modification (3 credits)
• THEA 7520: Costume Design 2 (3 credits)
• THEA 6560: Beginning Patternmaking (3 credits)
• THEA 6570: Draping (3 credits)
• THEA 7561: Digital Rendering (3 credits)
• THEA 7551: Advanced Character Design (3 credits) Total Credit Hours: 21

Lighting Design

• THEA 6611: Lighting Design 1 (3 credits)
• THEA 6612: Computer Technology For Lighting (3 credits)
• THEA 7620: Lighting Design 2 (3 credits)
• THEA 7630: Lighting Design 3 (3 credits)
• DANC 6220: Dance and Performance Topics (3 credits)
• THEA 7640: Lighting Design 4 (3 credits) Total Credit Hours: 18

Technical Direction

• THEA 6711: Technical Directing 1 (3 credits)
• THEA 6712: Theatrical Drafting and Model-Making (3 credits)
• THEA 7720: Technical Directing 2 (3 credits)
• THEA 6721: Scene Design CAD (3 credits)
• THEA 7731: Advanced Technical Problems (3 credits)
• THEA 7770: Advanced CAD (3 credits)
• THEA 6421: Scene Painting (3 credits)
• THEA 6755: Welding (3 credits) Total Credit Hours: 24

Stage Management

• THEA 6811: Stage Management 1 (3 credits)
• THEA 6712: Theatrical Drafting and Model-Making (3 credits)
• THEA 6821: Software for Stage Managers (3 credits)
• THEA 7620: Lighting Design 2 (3 credits)
• THEA 7821: Stage Management 2 (3 credits)
• THEA 6831: Sound Technology for Theatre (3 credits)
• THEA 7830: Stage Management 3 (3 credits) Total Credit Hours: 21

Program Details

• Program String and Field of Study: LAMFA_GR, THED
• Concentration Codes: SCDE, COSD, LIDE, TEDE, STMG