Theatre and Drama MFA

Admissions to the Theatre and Drama MFA have been suspended as of fall 2017. If you have any questions, please contact the department.

The department offers the MFA advanced degree. The master of fine arts degree in Theatre and Drama offers specializations in Acting, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scene design, and Theatre Technology. Currently the MFA program admission is on hiatus but we will be accepting applications for the fall 2021 semester.

The faculty in Theatre and Drama are leaders in their field. Together, they have many credits in all facets of the profession, working within their field of theatre research and practice both nationally and abroad. They are recognized for their critically acclaimed publications and production work and have won major awards and fellowships for scholarship, creative work, and teaching.

Graduate students at UWMadison come from around the country and the world. Many have been working theatre professionals returning for advanced degrees. Some graduates go on to teach in the academy; others work in the profession as actors, directors, designers, and technologists.

Coursework and specializations are organized around two areas: acting and design and technology. Students in all specializations are encouraged to complement their major area of study by taking courses from other areas in the department.

University Theatre, the producing arm of the Department of Theatre and Drama, provides students with opportunities to complement work begun in the studios and classrooms. At UWMadison, the stage is our laboratory. Coursework and discussions regularly connect theatre practice and study with larger issues of cultural and intercultural representation.

The MFA offers specialized preparation for careers in professional theatre.

The MFA specialization in scene design, costume design, lighting design, or theatre technology strives for a balance of professional training and the practical application of skills through numerous collaborative experiences, both onstage and in the classroom. Students in all four disciplines are encouraged to be creative problem solvers through both an appreciation of the history of their craft and a curiosity about the contemporary world of theatre, design and the application of new technologies. Numerous opportunities for realized work, studio collaborations and individualized mentoring affords the MFA student the opportunity to grow and develop as an articulate and collaborative theatre artist.

1. Exhibit exceptional skill and professional competence in theatre practice exemplified by a knowledge and achievement signified by a large body of work.
2. Applies advanced analytical levels of inquiry and investigation in the creation, performance, production, or communication of theatre practice.
3. Possesses a broad knowledge of theatre literature as well as visual and cultural history and applies that knowledge to the production process.
4. Demonstrates the requisite artistic and technical skills to meet professional standards.
5. Formulates ideas, concepts, designs, performances and/or techniques that advance the field.
6. Articulates complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
7. Recognizes and applies principles of ethical and professional conduct.
8. Collaborates effectively, creatively, and generously through respect for the contributions of others.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper.  Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.  Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if: