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WVU Morgantown

Lighting Design and Technology, M.F.A.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Masters
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Master of Fine Arts

Nature of the Program

The M.F.A. design program is an intense three-year course of study for students seeking professional preparation in scenic, costume, or lighting design.

Studio design courses, together with fully realized production experience, offer expectations found in the real world.

  • Three years of graduate courses and production work totaling at least sixty-four designated credit hours
  • A production or research thesis
  • Oral defense of the thesis project
  • A successful evaluation at the end of each semester of study
  • An overall grade point average of 3.0

Admissions for 2025-2026

Prospective candidates for the degree of master of fine arts in theatre must have a B.A. or B.F.A. degree or equivalent from an accredited institution. Ordinarily, a minimum of thirty semester hours in theatre at the undergraduate level is expected to have been completed with a grade point average of no less than 2.75; although, students with an undergraduate grade point average of 2.25 to 2.75 may be admitted with probationary status.

Auditions

Applicants must audition/interview to gain admittance into the program. Applicants intending to specialize in acting must submit a complete resume of their acting experience, at least two letters of recommendation from acting coaches or directors, and must present an audition before at least one member of the acting faculty. Those intending to specialize in design must submit a complete portfolio of their work, a resume of their design experience, and at least two letters of recommendation from design instructors or directors. An interview with members of the design faculty is also required.

For further details regarding these requirements, please contact the School of Theatre & Dance, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6111, Morgantown, WV 26506-6111, visit theatre.wvu.edu, or call (304) 293-2020.

Advanced Standing

Students may be eligible for eighteen hours of graduate transfer credit for advanced-standing if they meet the regular requirements of graduate admission. Students admitted with advanced standing are required to be in residence at WVU for a minimum of two semesters and a summer session. The request for advanced standing should be made to the school director at the time of application

​Major Code:3737

Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Minimum GPA of 3.0 required.
Theatre Studies
THET 610Research Methods3
THET 627SGraduate Costume and Decoration 13
THET 628SGraduate Costume and Decoration 23
THET 697Research3
THET 697Research3
THET 697Research3
Graduate Design Studies3
THET 622S
Graduate Scene Design
or THET 624S
Graduate Costume Design 1
Theatre Performance/Design
THET 427Lighting Technology3
THET 520SPrinciples of Stage Lighting2
THET 613SStage Management3
THET 625SGraduate Lighting Design3
THET 625SGraduate Lighting Design3
THET 630SGraduate Rendering Techniques3
THET 629Graduate Computer Assisted Design Seminar3
THET 631SGraduate Drafting for the Stage3
THET 725SPortfolio Development1
Practicum
Graduate Production Practicum (taken 4 times, 1 credit each)4
THET 600
Graduate Production Practicum
Electives12
Oral Defense
Evaluation and Portfolio (semesterly)
Total Hours61

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
THET 520S2THET 4273
THET 631S3THET 625S3
THET 6001THET 6293
THET 6103THET 6001
 9 10
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
THET 622S or 624S3THET 613S3
THET 627S3THET 625S3
THET 630S3THET 628S3
THET 6001THET 6001
 Elective3
 10 13
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
THET 6973THET 6973
THET 725S1THET 6973
Elective3Elective3
Elective3 
 10 9
Total credit hours: 61

Major Learning Outcomes

Lighting Design and Technology

The M.F.A. design program is an intense three-year course of study for students seeking professional preparation in scenic, costume, or lighting design.

Studio design courses, together with fully realized production experience, offer expectations found in the real world.

  • Three years of graduate courses and production work totaling at least sixty-four designated credit hours
  • A production or research thesis
  • Oral defense of the thesis project
  • A successful evaluation at the end of each semester of study
  • An overall grade point average of 3.0
  • School of Art and Design
  • School of Media and Communications -​ Reed
  • School of Music
  • School of Theatre and Dance
    • Acting
    • Costume Design and Technology
    • Lighting Design and Technology
    • Scenic Design and Technology
    • Technical Direction

WVU Morgantown

Graduate/Professional Catalog Information

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  • Courses
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  • FERPA
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  • Programs, Courses and Credits
  • Tuition, Fees and Residency
  • Veterans

Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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