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 2026-2027
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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum GPA of 3.0 required. | ||
| Theatre Studies | ||
| THET 610 | Research Methods | 3 |
| THET 627S | Graduate Costume and Decoration 1 | 3 |
| THET 628S | Graduate Costume and Decoration 2 | 3 |
| THET 694 | Seminar | 3 |
| THET 697 | Research | 3 |
| THET 780 | Thesis Research & Writing | 3 |
| Design & Technology Studies | ||
| THET 613S | Stage Management | 3 |
| THET 630S | Graduate Rendering Techniques | 3 |
| THET 622S | Graduate Scene Design | 3 |
| or THET 624S | Graduate Costume Design 1 | |
| THET 629 | Graduate Computer Assisted Design Seminar | 3 |
| THET 712 | Entertainment Rigging | 3 |
| THET 725S | Portfolio Development | 1 |
| Lighting Design and Technology | ||
| THET 427 | Lighting Technology | 3 |
| THET 520S | Principles of Stage Lighting | 2 |
| THET 510S | Programming for Lighting | 3 |
| THET 625S | Graduate Lighting Design | 3 |
| THET 625S | Graduate Lighting Design | 3 |
| Practicum | ||
| Graduate Production Practicum (taken 5 times, 1 credit each) | 5 | |
| Graduate Production Practicum | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Evaluation and Portfolio (semesterly) | ||
| Completion of a production or research thesis | ||
| Completion of an oral defense of the thesis project | ||
| Completion of a successful evaluation at the end of each semester of study | ||
| Total Hours | 62 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THET 520S | 2 | THET 427 or 510S | 3 |
| THET 600 | 1 | THET 625S | 3 |
| THET 610 or 694 | 3 | THET 629 | 3 |
| THET 625S | 3 | THET 600 | 1 |
| 9 | 10 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THET 600 | 1 | THET 613S | 3 |
| THET 622S or 624S | 3 | THET 628S | 3 |
| THET 627S | 3 | THET 600 | 1 |
| THET 712 | 3 | THET 427 or 510S | 3 |
| THET 725S | 1 | ||
| 11 | 10 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THET 697 | 3 | THET 780 | 3 |
| THET 630S | 3 | THET 600 | 1 |
| THET 694 or 610 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 12 | 10 | ||
| Total credit hours: 62 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Lighting Design and Technology
The M.F.A. is an intense three-year course of study for students seeking professional preparation in entertainment lighting design, production, and technology.
Studio design and technology courses, together with fully realized production experience, offer expectations found in the industry. Learning outcomes will include:
- Develop communication and understanding of the principles of design
- Demonstration of realized lighting designs and related technical skills
- Recognize and demonstrate understanding of other design areas in the production process
- Assemble and compile research to support conceptualization of lighting design to realization
- Communicate effectively to develop lighting designs from concept to finished product within budget constraints
- Demonstrate effective collaboration with the production team