The Division of Theatre offers three-year specialized professional training programs in acting and stage design leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. The graduate training programs are committed to professionalism in attitude and practice. Only students with a serious interest in the theatre as an art — committed to self-development and prepared to work responsibly and collaboratively in their discipline — should expect to enter and continue in graduate study.
The Theatre Division normally expects graduate students to be in residence for six terms during the regular academic year. Since the program of study includes both classroom and production activities, graduate students must obtain permission through the Division Chair before engaging in any other study, production work or outside employment. The M.F.A .degree requires a minimum of 66 credit hours.
At the end of each term, the faculty of the division evaluates the development of each graduate student. All aspects of the student's work come under scrutiny. The heads of the respective programs oversee and coordinate the review process, collating faculty evaluations into a review document.
The review process culminates in an assessment of the student's overall progress toward degree completion. Students who receive unsatisfactory reviews will be placed on probation. Failure to address the concerns raised in the review within the following term will result in the probationary student's dismissal from the program.
At the end of the first year, a faculty evaluation of the progress and potential of each student determines whether that student should continue into the second year.
The faculty reserves the privilege of recommending candidates for the M.F.A. degree only when it has been satisfied that students have demonstrated unquestionable professional competencies in the area of study.
MFA Acting
The Master of Fine Arts in Acting prepares actors both for the theatre that is and the theatre that might be. Visiting professional directors and playwrights regularly work with graduate students creating production opportunities that reflect the immediate aesthetic of the American theatre. Every year, professional directors and other casting agents audition SMU students for professional summer and full-time opportunities. Graduate students also enjoy the opportunity to showcase their classes in Los Angeles and New York in their final semester's residency.
MFA Design
The M.F.A. Stage Design program is committed to the philosophy of supporting the development of artists who will passionately embrace the interpretation of words into visual imagery. A Master of Fine Arts from SMU will emphasize the process of artistic collaboration, especially with directors; the pursuit of artistic skills including drawing, painting and drafting, necessary for communication; the development of critical thought and the ability to articulate ideas; and the acquisition of professional standards that prepare the student for a meaningful and productive life in the theatre.