Degree Offered
- Master of Fine Arts
Nature of the Program
The M.F.A. program is an intense three-year course of study for students seeking professional preparation in Technical Direction.
- Three years of graduate courses and production work totaling a minimum of sixty-one 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 provisional graduate student 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: 3739
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 697 | Research | 3 |
| THET 697 | Research | 3 |
| THET 697 | Research | 3 |
| Stage Lighting | 2 | |
| Principles of Stage Lighting | ||
or THET 625S | Graduate Lighting Design | |
| Theatre Design and Technology | ||
| THET 524 | Production Planning | 3 |
| THET 535 | Grad Theatre Health and Safety | 3 |
| THET 622S | Graduate Scene Design | 3 |
| THET 629 | Graduate Computer Assisted Design Seminar | 3 |
| THET 631S | Graduate Drafting for the Stage | 3 |
| THET 635S | Graduate Scene Painting | 3 |
| THET 636 | Advanced Stagecraft | 3 |
| THET 712 | Entertainment Rigging | 3 |
| THET 725S | Portfolio Development | 1 |
| THET 726 | Graduate Automation | 3 |
| Practicum | ||
| Graduate Production Practicum (Repeated) | 4 | |
| Graduate Production Practicum | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 61 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THET 520S or 625S | 2 | THET 524 | 3 |
| THET 631S | 3 | THET 600 | 1 |
| THET 600 | 1 | THET 629 | 3 |
| THET 610 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 9 | 10 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THET 622S | 3 | THET 535 | 3 |
| THET 627S | 3 | THET 628S | 3 |
| THET 712 | 3 | THET 636 | 3 |
| THET 600 | 1 | THET 600 | 1 |
| 10 | 10 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THET 725S | 1 | THET 635S | 3 |
| THET 726 | 3 | THET 697 | 3 |
| THET 697 | 6 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 10 | 12 | ||
| Total credit hours: 61 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Technical Direction
This degree program may be especially appropriate for students interested in pursuing opportunities as technical directors or theatrical project managers.
- The graduate must demonstrate advanced professional competence in technical direction including, but not limited to:
- The ability to supervise the safe construction of scenery and properties within the scope of allocated/budgeted materials, labor/time, and space.
- The ability to understand various elements related to (a) theatrical design; (b) the set up and operation of lighting components and systems; (c) the use of sound reinforcement and playback systems; (d) methods of scenic art and construction; (e) rigging and motor systems; (f) fluid power systems (pneumatics and hydraulics) and motion control; and (g) mechanical, structural, and electrical engineering. The ability to work with these elements as appropriate to specific productions is essential.
- The ability to read and direct personnel based on computer-aided technical drawings.
- Personnel management, including the ability to safely supervise and, when appropriate, schedule the work of personnel within and across various theatrical shops.
- The ability to work with theatre professionals in their processes of production.
- The ability to articulate and apply federal, state, and local health and safety practices and regulations associated with production and performance including, but not limited to, appropriate Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code.
- Facilities management, including a) the ability to oversee the daily operations and maintenance of various theatrical shops; and b) the ability to maintain a working schedule of work done in, and outside requests to use, various shops and theatrical facilities.
- The graduate must demonstrate basic competence in the following areas of design and technology including, but not limited to:
- Computer-aided technical drawing
- Sewing
- Technical research
- Welding
The student must successfully serve as the technical director for at least two fully realized productions during the period of study, at least one of which must be fully mounted for the public.