The Graduate Programs of the School of Theatre and Dance adhere to the UM Priorities for Action, including student success; “mission first, people always;” and partnership with place.
The School of Theatre and Dance offers the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Theatre with specializations in:
- Costume Design
- Directing
- Lighting Design
- Music Directing
- Scenic Design
This graduate program trains you to become an artist-practitioner with mastery of the integration of diverse elements of theatrical technique and expression. It is a considered the terminal degree for practitioners in our discipline. Graduates are qualified to continue working as professionals or to pursue tenure-track positions in higher education.
Directing and Music Direction
The training of the director is a process of developing a broad perspective of storytelling and dramatic action through the practice and study of production concept, collaboration with other theatre artists, examination of criticism and performative theory, with an emphasis on developing your coherent individual aesthetic.
In the program, you will experience an intense first-year cohort experience with other MFA graduate students that will focus on techniques and principles in the service of communicating story and character through dramatic action and concept. You will create a short independent project in your first year of study and then direct or music direct a fully-realized production in each of the ensuing two years of residency.
Applications are accepted every three years into the program. Please visit for details on how to initiate the application process and to see an updated application schedule when it becomes available.
Design and Technology
This three-year program combines intensive professional training and production experience. During your time in the program you will choose to specialize primarily in scenery, costuming, or lighting with a secondary area of study. During your studies you are assigned a faculty advisor who will provide close individual guidance during your training. You are expected to design or make significant technical contributions to two or three productions a year, in addition to working to support all work in your assigned production shops.
The curriculum is designed to develop your technical skills and artistic abilities to the fullest. Course sequences are offered in all design areas and supported by advanced classes and independent study in the student’s area of concentration. You are expected to complete coursework in at least two areas of theatrical production. You are also encouraged to teach and mentor undergraduate students as a part of their academic training.
Each MFA candidate must complete a two-part Final Creative Project (FCP) in the student’s area of emphasis. This includes realized and unrealized production designs depending on area of emphasis. All MFA candidates are required to write a culminating paper describing the designer’s process, script analysis, and production outcome for each of the two shows.
Each emphasis will normally accepted at least one new MFA candidate every one to two years as funding is limited. Please visit for details on how to initiate the application process and to see an updated application schedule when it becomes available.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
In the MFA programs, you will be required to utilize teaching and the development of personal pedagogy to further broaden your understanding of craft and theory. Teaching assistantships are available to qualified applicants. These are awarded annually on a competitive basis and are renewable depending on your progress and job performance and the instructional needs of your program.
All MFA applicants are considered for these awards. Students need not apply under separate cover. Teaching assistants are required to register for nine credits each semester.
Continuing graduate students in both may apply for additional merit scholarships through the School Theatre and Dance and the Graduate School.