MFA Performance: Requirements
While a minimum of 60 credits is required for the M.F.A. degree, depending upon the studentâs undergraduate background, additional course work may be required for acting specialists. No more than 12 active students may be registered in the M.F.A. program in acting at any one time. Students are admitted to the program every third year, and completion of the degree requires a three year residency period.
The following course of study is the minimum required for the specialization in acting:
Performance Core:
- DRAM 7590 - Acting Process (3 hours)
- DRAM 7540 - Characterization (3 hours)
- DRAM 7331 - Shakespeare (3 hours)
- DRAM 7550 - Genre and Style (3 hours)
- DRAM 7570 - Acting for the Camera (3 hours)
- DRAM 7592 - The Business of Acting (1 hour).
- DRAM 7595 - Non-Traditional Performance Methods (3 hours)
- DRAM 7571 - Acting for Digital Media (3 hours)
- DRAM 7521 - Voice 1 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7522 - Voice 2 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7523 - Voice 3 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7524 - Voice 4, Voice for Digital Media (3 hours)
- DRAM 7511 - Movement 1 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7512 - Movement 2 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7513 - Movement 3 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7514 - Movement 4 (3 hours)
- DRAM 7050 - Singing (1 hour)
- DRAM 7770 - Internship (3-9 hours)
Academic Core:
- DRAM 6510 - Introduction to Graduate Studies (1 hour).
- DRAM 4200 - Theatre History 1 (3 hours).
- DRAM 4210 - Theatre History 2 (3 hours).
- DRAM 7610 or 7640 - Directing Lab or Directing for Cinema (3 hours).
- DRAM 7210 - Thesis Project (3 hours)
In addition the student must take at least 3 hours of a 8000 level graduate seminar in theory, history or criticism and 6 hours of graduate level electives.
The first year includes a Qualifying Project, which consists of a major role in the University Theatre season, followed by an evaluation by the Performance Faculty. An additional second year creative project is assigned with subsequent faculty evaluation. All M.F.A. performance students are expected to audition for and perform as cast in the subscription season plays of the University Theatre.
In addition to satisfactorily completing coursework, MFA acting students are expected to demonstrate talent, professional potential and to respond to the training over and above the minimum qualifications. Satisfactory academic progress in the curriculum does not guarantee continuance in the program, nor does continuance in the program guarantee the automatic granting of the MFA degree.
At the end of the first year, a proficiency examination is administered in the form of a performance. The student's overall contribution for the entire year is evaluated at this point and determination is made by the performance faculty whether to continue the student in the MFA program. Factors that figure into the evaluation of the MFA student at this point are, but not restricted to: academic progress, evidence of growth and potential for continued growth in the program, professionalism, attitude towards the training, ability to work collaboratively within the graduate ensemble, personal responsibility and initiative toward the craft, achievements in production and assistantship duties. MFA acting students will be reviewed after the first semester and each subsequent semester, using the above criteria and will receive feedback from the appropriate faculty.
Students can be dismissed from the MFA program at the end of any semester of their tenure for any of the following reasons: failure to meet minimum academic standards; inability to complete assistantship responsibilities; lack of professional conduct in production, classroom or rehearsal; failure to respond to the training; sexual harassment; lack of collegiality with peers, ensemble or faculty; negative attitude towards the program's goals; carelessness or recklessness involving university personnel or equipment.
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