M.F.A. degree program in theater
HEGIS code 1007
NYS SED program code 76211

The Department of Theater offers a master of fine arts degree in theater with a concentration in one of the following areas: performing arts management, acting, directing, dramaturgy, or design. The two-year, 60-credit program prepares students for leadership and professional careers in each area of concentration through a combination of practical and theoretical courses as well as through internships with major institutions in the New York metropolitan area.

Program Heads

Name	Title	Phone	Location	Email	Office Hours
Marsh, Victor	Program Head	718.951.5666	317 Whitehead Hall	kmarsh brooklyn.cuny.edu	By appointment

The Department of Theater offers a master of fine arts degree in theater with a concentration in one of the following areas: performing arts management, acting, directing, or design. The two-year, 60-credit program prepares students for leadership and professional careers in each area of concentration through a combination of practical and theoretical courses as well as through internships with major institutions in the New York metropolitan area.

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Matriculation requirements
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Acting: Applicants must offer at least 18-21 credits in acting courses. Consideration will also be given to applicants who do not meet course requirements but have equivalent experience or unusual talent in the chosen concentration. Such applicants should consult the head of concentration directly. Applicants must apply to the head of concentration for an audition/interview appointment once their application has been submitted.

Design and technical production: Applicants must offer at least 18 credits in theater courses including courses in directing, design, and theater production, or in such design-related courses as architecture, art history, and painting. Applicants must be interviewed by the Theater Department or submit a portfolio directly to the Theater Department at the time of application.

Directing: Applicants must offer at least 18 credits in theater courses including courses in acting, directing, dramatic literature, theater history, and stagecraft. A production book for an actual or proposed production must be submitted directly to the Theater Department at the time of application. If possible, applicants should arrange to be interviewed by the Theater Department.

Performing arts management: Applicants must offer at least 18-21 credits or the equivalent in courses in one of the following: dance, fine arts, music, or theater. Applicants must submit an essay on professional goals. Applicants must be interviewed by the Theater Department.

Consideration is also given to applicants who do not meet course requirements but have equivalent experience or unusual talent in the chosen concentration. Such applicants should consult the head of concentration.

A request for an audition or interview appointment may be made by letter or telephone to the head of the relevant concentration.

General matriculation and admission requirements of Graduate Studies are in the section "Admission."

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Degree requirements
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Sixty credits are required for the degree.

Students must also submit a thesis based on a thesis project and/or production acceptable to the department. Information about requirements for the thesis is in the section "Academic Regulations and Procedures."

Prior to the above, all students must undergo a pre-thesis evaluation (consisting of a work-in-progress shown to the faculty, an academic progress review by faculty, or both) by the time they complete 24 credits. If a student's progress is not deemed satisfactory by the head of the relevant concentration, the student will be denied the approval of a thesis production or project until the deficiencies noted in written form to the student have been corrected.

Students must complete requirements in one concentration as follows. No student may exceed a total of 12 credits in practicum and/or externship courses. The remaining credits required for the degree must be in courses chosen in consultation with the head of concentration.

Acting: Theater 7321X, 7322X, 7323X, 7324X, 7331X, 7332X, 7333X, 7334X, 7341X, 7342X, 7325X, 7343X, 7344X, 7351X, 7352X, 7353X, 7354X, and 7742X. Acting candidates are required to audition for all departmental productions and must accept roles as cast. Before taking Theater 7742X, students must perform in a pre-thesis role approved by the head of concentration, and may serve as a production running crew supervisor.

Design and technical production: Theater 7212X, 7213X, 7415X, 7431X, 7433X, 7435X, 7421X, 7721X, 7722X, 7723X, 7742X; and a minimum of three additional courses in design and technical production. Before taking Theater 7742X, students must complete designs for actual productions at the experimental or thesis production level and must complete a design for a major production in fulfillment of the practicum course requirements.

Directing: Theater 7311X, 7611X, 7511X, 7512X, 7513X, 7721X, 7722X or 7622X, 7723X or 7623X, 7514X, 7515X, and 7742X.

Performing arts management: Theater 7442X, 7610X, 7611X, 7612X, 7613X, 7615X, 7616X, 7617X , 7619X, 7621X, 7622X, 7623X. Students must take two of the following courses: THEA 7212X, 7213X, 7214X, 7215X, 7216X, 7223X, 7224X, 7231X, 7232X, or 7233X. With a few exceptions, students must also take Theater 7631X, which requires the satisfactory completion of a ten- to fifteen-week residency with a professional arts organization or agency approved by the chairperson and a thesis report based on the residency experience.

Courses in the Theater Department offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses.

The program of study must be approved in advance by the head of concentration.