Master of Fine Arts in Drama

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Master of Fine Arts in Drama is a terminal, pre-professional degree preparatory for work in the academic, regional, and commercial theatre. The Department of Drama recruits graduate candidates who seek to train in one of five program areas: Acting, Scenic Design, Costume Design and Technology, Lighting Design, and Technical Direction. Through structured coursework, one-on-one faculty mentoring, and realized production work, students are challenged to express their talent, vision, and creativity both in and out of the classroom.

Candidates for the M.F.A. program must hold a bachelors degree from an accredited institution and are selected based on an audition or portfolio interview in addition to the general application requirements of the Graduate School. Specific course, credit hour, and residency requirements are determined by each area of study and, along with the completion of a thesis, must be satisfied to earn the degree.

Assistantships/Fellowships

All graduate students in the Department of Drama serve as Graduate Teaching Assistants and receive full tuition remission, a stipend, and a UVA health insurance voucher. Graduate students serve as instructors for undergraduate courses, teaching assistants, graders, production lab instructors, and/or in various production positions.

Degree Areas

Acting

Eight actors are selected for their demonstrated acting ability, vocal and physical flexibility, and suitability for ensemble work with peers and faculty in seminars, studios, and public performance. All work is closely monitored and evaluated in order to produce serious, versatile, informed, and articulate actors. This program coordinates production work with four integrated, progressive training sequences: voice and speech, movement, acting styles, and core academic courses. Throughout, the emphasis is on discipline, inventiveness, and depth. A thesis project is required. Each actor is given opportunities to engage in professional experiences at established professional theatres.

Scenic Design, Costume Design and Technology, Lighting Design, Technical Direction

A total of eleven design and technology students are admitted into each cycle of the program. Each program consists of 60-72 credit hours of coursework in related design and technical classes, studios, seminars, labs, and individually-mentored projects.

In addition to coursework, students participate in the mainstage production seasons as designers and technicians, in collaboration with guest artists, faculty, staff, and other students. Each degree area culminates in a thesis project that includes a written, research-based project and/or the design or technical execution of a mainstage production. Students in the design and technology programs are prepared for careers in a wide range of theatrical and performance-related professions.

Production Programs

The production activities of the Drama Department include the main-stage season of plays, musicals, and dance performances; guest artist residencies and performances; and student-produced class and studio productions. The Heritage Theatre Festival, produces a season of five plays and musicals each summer. All productions are presented in the Culbreth, Helms, or Ruth Caplin Theatres, located within the Drama Building on Culbreth Road.

Facilities

All activities of the Department of Drama take place in the Drama Building located at the center of the newly developed Arts Grounds on Culbreth Road. The modern, well-equipped building houses two theatres; rehearsal and studio spaces; scenery, costume, and lighting shops; classrooms; and offices. The Culbreth Theatre is a 530-seat proscenium theatre with an electric winch fly system, hydraulic orchestra pit, and state of the art sound and lighting systems. The Helms Theatre is a 200-seat black-box theatre with flexible seating, walking catwalks, and state of the art sound and lighting systems. The Caplin Theatre is a 300 seat thrust theatre with vomitoria entrances.

Course Descriptions

DRAM 5070 - History of American Popular Entertainment: From Minstrelsy to Madonna Credits: 3
DRAM 5710 - Playwriting V Credits: 3
DRAM 7993 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 12
DRAM 7070 - Script Analysis Credits: 3
DRAM 7090 - Script Analysis: Dramatic Structure and Theatrical Production Credits: 3
DRAM 7100 - Graphics for the Theatre Credits: 3
DRAM 7130 - Production Laboratory: Lighting Credits: 2
DRAM 7160 - Lighting Design I: Elements of Design Credits: 3
DRAM 7170 - Drafting & CAD for Theatre Credits: 3
DRAM 7180 - Digital Media for Design Credits: 3
DRAM 7190 - Mentored Study: Lighting Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 7230 - Production Laboratory: Scenery Credits: 2
DRAM 7260 - Scene Design I: Design Studio-Realism Credits: 3
DRAM 7280 - Scene Painting Credits: 3
DRAM 7290 - Mentored Study: Scene Design Credits: 1 to 3
DRAM 7330 - Production Laboratory: Costume Credits: 2
DRAM 7350 - Costume Technology: Couture Methods Credits: 3
DRAM 7360 - Costume Design: Research Credits: 3
DRAM 7380 - Costume Technology: Patterning & Draping Credits: 3
DRAM 7390 - Mentored Study: Costume Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 7400 - Mentored Study: Acting Credits: 3
DRAM 7410 - Movement: Foundations for the Actor Credits: 3
DRAM 7420 - Movement: Creating Physical Character Credits: 3
DRAM 7430 - Voice: Breath, Structure, Sound Credits: 3
DRAM 7440 - Voice: Tone, Speech, Text Credits: 3
DRAM 7450 - Acting: Impulse into Action Credits: 3
DRAM 7460 - Acting: Character into Relationship Credits: 3
DRAM 7470 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 7480 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 7620 - Mentored Study in Sound Design Credits: 3
DRAM 7630 - Production Laboratory: Technical Direction Credits: 2
DRAM 7660 - Technical Direction Credits: 3
DRAM 7680 - Construction Credits: 3
DRAM 7690 - Mentored Study: Technical Direction Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 8130 - Production Laboratory: Lighting Credits: 2
DRAM 8150 - Lighting Design 2: Alternative Forms Credits: 3
DRAM 8160 - Lighting Design 3: Special Topics Credits: 3
DRAM 8230 - Production Laboratory: Scenery Credits: 2
DRAM 8250 - Scenic Design 2: Design Studio-The Classics Credits: 3
DRAM 8270 - Period Decor Credits: 3
DRAM 8310 - History of Dress and Textiles Credits: 3
DRAM 8330 - Production Laboratory: Costume Credits: 2
DRAM 8350 - Costume Design: Character Credits: 3
DRAM 8360 - Costume Design: Production Styles Credits: 3
DRAM 8380 - Costume Technology: Tailoring Credits: 3
DRAM 8410 - Movement: Stage Combat Skills Credits: 3
DRAM 8430 - Voice: Shakespeare and Verse Credits: 3
DRAM 8450 - Acting: Shakespeare Credits: 3
DRAM 8460 - Acting: Period Styles Credits: 3
DRAM 8470 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 3
DRAM 8480 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 8630 - Production Laboratory: Technical Direction Credits: 2
DRAM 8650 - SPFX Special Effects Credits: 3
DRAM 8680 - Rigging Credits: 3
DRAM 8998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 1 to 12
DRAM 8999 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 1 to 12
DRAM 9060 - Thesis Credits: 3
DRAM 9170 - Advanced Lighting Technology Credits: 3
DRAM 9230 - Production Laboratory: Scenery Credits: 2
DRAM 9250 - Scene Design 3: Design Studio-Alternative Styles Credits: 3
DRAM 9330 - Production Laboratory: Costume Credits: 2
DRAM 9350 - Costume Design: Portfolio and Design Credits: 3
DRAM 9370 - Costume Technology: Crafts Credits: 3
DRAM 9460 - Acting: Portfolio Preparation Credits: 3
DRAM 9470 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1 to 3
DRAM 9480 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 9630 - Production Laboratory: Technical Direction Credits: 2
DRAM 9998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 1 to 12
DRAM 9999 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 1 to 12