MFA Concentration Areas

Acting
Design
Directing
Playwriting
Asian Performance
Youth Theatre

In consultation with an adviser, each MFA student develops a program appropriate for his or her interests within the specific requirements of one of the following concentrations:

Acting
For the concentration in acting, students must complete 3 credits in research; 9 credits in history and/or theory (minimum 3 credits in Asian and 3 credits in Western); 6 credits in voice; 6 credits in movement and/or dance; 12 credits in acting (minimum 3 credits in Asian and 3 credits in Western); 3 credits in additional creative/ performance courses in above areas or in directing, design/ technical theater, or playwriting; 6 credits of THEA 690 Graduate Theater Workshop (a minimum of 4 credits in acting and 1 credit in technical theater; 1 credit may be in design, directing, playwriting, etc.; a minimum of 2 credits in faculty-directed and 2 credits in student-directed shows); and 6 credits of THEA 695 Creative Project.

Design
For the concentration in design, students must complete 3 credits in research; 9 credits in history and/or theory, Asian and/or Western (minimum one 3-credit seminar); 3 credits in costume design or construction (400 level or above); 3 credits in lighting design (400 level or above); 3 credits in set design (400 level or above); 3 credits of THEA 657 Topics in Theater Design; 9 credits in additional design courses (costume, lighting, or set, 400 level or above); 6 credits in creative/performance courses (in at least two areas including acting, directing, dance, playwriting, puppetry, or theater management); 6 credits of THEA 690 Graduate Theater Workshop (minimum 4 credits in design; 2 credits may include acting, directing, playwriting, stage managing, etc.; minimum 2 credits in faculty-directed and 2 credits in student-directed shows); minimum 3 credits in Asian theater (excluding THEA 690); and 6 credits of THEA 695 Creative Project.

Directing
For the concentration in directing, students must complete 3 credits in research; 9 credits in history and/ or theory (minimum 3 credits in Asian and 3 credits in Western, 3 credits of which must be in theory); 3 credits in script analysis; 12 credits in graduate-level directing (mini- mum 3 credits in Asian and 3 credits in Western); 6 credits in design/technical theater (in two areas -- theater design, costume, lighting, or set); 6 credits in creative-performance courses (in at least two areas: acting, choreography, dance, movement, music, playwriting, puppetry, or voice); 6 credits of THEA 690 Graduate Theater Workshop (minimum 4 credits in directing including assistant directing and dramaturgy; 2 credits may include acting, design, playwriting, stage managing, etc.; minimum 2 credits in faculty-directed and 2 credits in student-directed shows); and 6 credits of THEA 695 Creative Project.

Playwriting
For the concentration in playwriting, students must complete 3 credits in research; 9 credits in history and/or theory (including 3 credits in Asian and 3 credits in Western, both at 600 level or above); 9 credits in playwriting (excluding THEA 318); 3 credits in script analysis; 3 credits in contemporary dramatic literature or theater history; 6 credits in design/technical theater (including 3 credits in lighting design); 3 credits in acting or directing (Asian or Western); 3 credits in movement, dance, or music (Asian or Western); 3 credits in puppetry or youth theater; 3 credits of THEA 690 Graduate Theater Work- shop in dramaturgy; electives may include an additional 3 credits of THEA 690 (in acting, design, directing, playwriting, stage managing, etc.); and 6 credits of THEA 695 Creative Project.

Asian Performance
For the concentration in Asian performance, students must complete 3 credits in research; 9 credits in Asian theater history/theory; 9 credits in Asian acting; 6 credits in Asian/multicultural directing; 3 credits in Asian/Pacific music and dance (minimum 1 credit in music and 1 credit in dance); 3 credits in design/technical theater or playwriting; 6 credits of additional creative/performance courses in above areas or courses at the graduate level in Western acting or directing; 6 credits of THEA 690 Graduate Theater Workshop (minimum 4 credits in Asian performance & acting,, directing, or puppetry; 2 credits may include other courses in acting, design, directing, playwriting, stage managing, etc.; minimum 2 credits in faculty-directed and 2 credits in student-directed shows); and 6 credits of THEA 695 Creative Project.

Youth Theater
For the concentration in youth theater, students must complete 3 credits in research; 9 credits in Asian and/or Western history and/or theory; 3 credits in creative drama; 3 credits in youth theater; 3 credits in puppetry; 3 credits of THEA 779 Seminar in Theater/Dance for Children; 21 credits in creative drama, creative movement, design, directing, playwriting, puppetry, and/or youth theater, including 1 to 6 credits of THEA 690 Graduate Theater Workshop in acting, design, directing, playwriting, stage managing, etc.; minimum 3 credits in Asian theater (excluding THEA 690); and 6 credits of THEA 695 Creative Project.