Program accreditation
National Association of Schools of Theatre
Program goal
The M.F.A. in Theatre offers concentrations in stage design/technical theatre and costume design, which comprise the professional option, and in literature and performance, which make up the pedagogy option. Focus areas in pedagogy include movement, performance, and voice and speech.
Student learning outcomes
The M.F.A. degree prepares students to either enter the professional field of design or to teach at the college or university level. Students will demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge in their areas of focus, as well as in the core courses in history, literature and theory; and in teaching performance or production. They will be evaluated on their ability to teach undergraduates, a final thesis project and approval of a professional-quality design, presentation or publishable article.
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Degree candidacy requirements
A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.F.A. | Fall | Feb 15 (suggested) | |
| Spring | Nov 15 (suggested) |
Special requirements
- See arts.vcu.edu/admissions/how-to-apply for details on the application process.
- Audition required.
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (theatre preferred). Students must present a portfolio of design work (both project and realized designs) as part of their application to the program. Professional experience will be considered. The program provides preparation for early to midcareer professionals to enter the field of either professional design or teaching theatre at the college/university level.
Degree requirements
In addition to general Graduate School graduation requirements, students are required to take 60 credit hours of graduate-level course work distributed among core courses, area of concentration and electives, including special topics courses. Students will also be evaluated on performance projects, production work and teaching. The program is usually completed within two to three years.
Pedagogy/performance concentration
Requirements of the pedagogy/performance concentration include 18 credit hours in core courses (including theatre pedagogy and production), 12 to 15 credit hours in a focus area (voice and speech, performance, or movement) and six credit hours of thesis/thesis project. The remainder of the program consists of approved elective courses. Students will take practical courses and assist faculty in teaching. Their teaching effectiveness will be evaluated by area faculty.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core curriculum | ||
| THEA 509 | Theatre History and Historiography | 3 |
| THEA 510 | Theatre Historiography | 3 |
| THEA 603 | Dramatic Literature and Theory | 3 |
| THEA 604 | Modern Theatre: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 619 | Theatre Pedagogy | 3 |
| THEA 640 | Advanced Theatre Projects | 3 |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| Select 12-15 credits from the following: | 12-15 | |
| Basic Voice and Speech | ||
| Basic Voice and Speech | ||
| Graduate Acting and Graduate Acting | ||
| Physical Acting | ||
| The Pedagogy of Movement | ||
| Advanced Voice and Speech Pedagogy: Shakespeare | ||
| Advanced Topics in Voice and Speech Pedagogy | ||
| Advanced Problems in Acting | ||
| Pedagogy of Acting | ||
| Special Topics in Physical Acting | ||
| Special Topics in Choreography and Directing | ||
| Advanced Theatre Projects | ||
| Advanced Theatre Projects | ||
| Graduate Direction and Graduate Direction | ||
| Colloquium and Practical Training | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 24-30 credits from the following recommended electives: 1 | 24-30 | |
| Professional Internship | ||
| Production | ||
| Advanced Theatre Projects | ||
| Colloquium and Practical Training | ||
| Research and Special Problems in Theatre | ||
| Seminar in Special Issues in Theatre | ||
| Thesis or thesis project | ||
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| Creative Project | ||
| Creative Project Evaluation | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Total Hours | 60-69 | |
Students are encouraged to take electives in all areas of pedagogy, in addition to their focus area. Some courses may be repeated with permission of the graduate program director.
The minimum total of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 60.
Sample plan of study
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| THEA 509 | Theatre History and Historiography (core course - general) or Theatre Historiography or Dramatic Literature and Theory or Modern Theatre: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 501 | Basic Voice and Speech | 3 |
| THEA 640 | Advanced Theatre Projects | 3 |
| THEA 693 | Colloquium and Practical Training 1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| THEA 509 | Theatre History and Historiography (core course - general) or Theatre Historiography or Dramatic Literature and Theory or Modern Theatre: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 502 | Basic Voice and Speech | 3 |
| THEA 641 | Advanced Theatre Projects | 3 |
| THEA 693 | Colloquium and Practical Training 1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Select one of the following (optional) | 3-6 | |
| THEA 619 | Theatre Pedagogy | 3 |
| Core requirements | 3-6 | |
| Term Hours: | 3-6 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| THEA 509 | Theatre History and Historiography (core course - general) or Theatre Historiography or Dramatic Literature and Theory or Modern Theatre: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 601 | Advanced Voice and Speech Pedagogy: Shakespeare | 3 |
| THEA 619 | Theatre Pedagogy | 3 |
| Practicum or professional internship | 3-6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15-18 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| THEA 509 | Theatre History and Historiography (core course - general) or Theatre Historiography or Dramatic Literature and Theory or Modern Theatre: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 602 | Advanced Topics in Voice and Speech Pedagogy | 3 |
| THEA 698 | Creative Project or Creative Project Evaluation or Thesis | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 60-66 | |
Observation/assisting in undergraduate theatre history/dramatic literature course.
The minimum total of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 60.
Contact
Keith Byron Kirk, Ph.D.
Assistant professor and graduate program director
kbkirk@vcu.edu
Additional contacts
Aaron D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Associate chair, Department of Theatre
adanderson@vcu.edu
(804) 828-2697
Program website: arts.vcu.edu/theatre