Courses in Directing MFA

The Master of Fine Arts in Directing is a three year program that encourages and develops directors who want to do unconventional and provocative work in theater. The program is taught by directors with wide-ranging experience in the professional theater. Admission to the program is highly selective and the curriculum is tailored to help each student realize his or her individual artistic vision in the theater. The first year includes the study of acting and design, scene directing, directing a published one act play, and working with acting and design students on the creation of original theater pieces in preparation for advanced collaborative work in the second year. The second year includes collaborating with graduate playwriting students, directing a staged reading of an original full-length play in the New Works Project, and directing a full-length play by a major playwright in an experimental configuration of the black box theater. In the third year, students direct their thesis production of their choice, which may also be done in television. Directing students also complete professional internships at such theaters as the Geffen Playhouse, the Mark Taper Forum, the Old Globe, the Hartford Stage Company, and the Guthrie Theater.

Degree requirements

Students will be required to enroll in a minimum of twelve units per quarter. Required courses will be scheduled to permit completion of the program within a three year period. In addition to the successful completion of a minimum of 106 units or 26.5 courses, candidates for the degree must pass a comprehensive examination, including critical evaluation of the production projects which culminate in a manner to show professional competence in the field.

Under special circumstances, by petition, the 106 units or 26.5 course requirement may be fulfilled with approved alternate courses. However, a minimum of 94 units or 23.5 courses must be at the graduate level, a maximum of 10 undergraduate units, and a maximum of 12 units of 596 courses may be applied toward the degree.

Students admitted to the program are expected to have mastered skills and have a general knowledge of the materials and processes relevant to their field of study. Students may be required to complete additional courses upon recommendation of the advisor.

The Master of Fine Arts degree is awarded on the basis of successful completion of the required courses and critical evaluation of student work. The Department expects consistent progress as well as attainment of professional skills. These and other factors will also influence the Department’s allocation of production resources including the number, scale, and scheduling of projects and productions.

205ABC

Background of Theatrical Art

265

Modern Theories of Production

232

Manuscript Evaluation

247

Collaboration Project in Design and Production

266

Theatrical Conceptualization

429

Performance Workshop

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History of Art and Architecture

260

Directing I

261

Directing II

433B

Script Development Workshop

264

Directing Classic and Historical Drama

405

Television Production Workshop

460A

Seminar in Direction

263

Production Project in Direction for the Stage

433C

Script Development Workshop

596C

Directed Individual Study (Thesis Preparation)

463

Project in Direction for the Stage (Thesis Production)

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Background courses for Thesis Project

466AB

Advanced Television Directing

498

Professional Internship in Theater, Film and Television

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