Theatre

Head of the Department and Director of Graduate Studies: Robert Graves
4-122 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
500 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2371
theatre@uiuc.edu

Admission

Candidates should apply to one of the ten graduate concentrations offered: Master of Fine Arts in Theatre with specialization in acting, costume design, costume technology, lighting design, scenic design, sound design and technology, stage management, or scenic technology; the Master of Arts in Theatre with specialization in theatre history; or the Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre with specialization in theatre history. All applicants should present transcripts documenting undergraduate or graduate study of theatre practice, dramatic literature, and theatre history with a cumulative grade point average in these subjects of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). Applicants whose first language is not English must submit recent Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores; the current minimum score for consideration is 550 on the paper-based test (213 on the computer-based version).

Candidates for the M.F.A. degree must demonstrate talent in theatrical performance or production by audition or by the presentation of a portfolio of their work to an admissions committee of the faculty, either on campus or at one of the regional University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA) audition sites. M.F.A. candidates are admitted in the fall term only. The M.F.A. acting program accepts applications only every three years; the next academic years in which applications will be accepted are 2005-2006 for Fall 2006 admission and 2008-2009 for Fall 2009 admission.

Master’s and doctoral candidates should present records of at least a 3.0 grade point average in all subjects studied at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supply samples of their scholarly writing, and submit recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. In addition to the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores required of all foreign students, master’s and doctoral candidates whose first language is not English are encouraged to submit scores of the Test of Written English (TWE). Ph.D. candidates should hold a master’s degree in theatre or in a related field. Master’s and doctoral candidates are normally admitted in the fall term.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.

Master of Arts

A candidate for the master of arts degree must spend at least two semesters in residence; must complete at least 32 hours of coursework in theatre and related studies, including at least 20 hours in the history, literature, and theory of theatre and 4 in applied theatre; and must pass a final comprehensive examination. 12 hours must be at the 500 level. A full-time student can complete this program in one academic year.

Master of Fine Arts

The M.F.A. is a terminal degree in theatre practice. Approved areas of specialization include acting, costume design, costume technology, lighting design, scenic design, scenic technology, sound design and technology, and stage management. The candidate for the degree must be in residence six semesters and complete 72 hours. In the design, technology, and management programs, coursework must include at least 32 hours in a student's area of specialization, 12 hours in theatre history and dramatic literature, and 28 others in department-approved electives. In the acting program, coursework includes 48 hours in studio, 4 hours in theatre history, and 20 hours in department-approved electives. Only full-time students will be admitted to the program. With departmental and Graduate College approval, up to two semesters of residency and 32 hours of coursework may be waived on the basis of the student’s prior professional experience, although such cases are rare.

Doctor of Philosophy

Requirements for the degree are a minimum of 32 hours in courses in theatre and related studies beyond the master’s degree; a reading knowledge of one foreign language; a minimum of 32 hours of thesis research; a comprehensive oral and written examination; an oral or written special-field examination; and defense of the dissertation before a committee of the graduate faculty. The program can be completed in two to three years beyond the master’s degree.