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Master of Theatre at University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

United States of America, West Hattiesburg

The Theatre is a Master degree offered by University of Southern Mississippi on the Hattiesburg campus in United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 2 years to complete. Students study at the Hattiesburg campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 21, 2027.

About Master of Theatre

Earn your terminal degree in Theatre

The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree for actors. It represents a combination of a conservatory-style focus on the craft and artistry needed for a professional career in the arts, along with the breadth and depth of scholarship necessary to sustain an academic career at the university level.

The MFA acting program at Southern Miss is designed to assist you diagnostically, to strengthen your foundations, and to build tools and skills that lead to artistry at the terminal degree level. Rather than a "cookie-cutter" approach, the MFA experience at USM seeks to guide you toward individual growth within the craft of acting; cultivating strengths, while gleaning away the cumbersome and unnecessary.

The MFA program at USM focuses on the importance of integration between breath, body, voice, and acting. All classes "cross-pollinate" from each other – seeking to strengthen and build connections between all facets of a student's process. We extend this focus to include the two facets of the actor – the Artist and the Professional - and train you with the foundations that can and must be developed.

The specific requirements for artistic achievement are based on the standards of the National Association of Schools of Theatre and on observable professional standards. Here, you will enter with a wide range of skills and challenges!

The University of Southern Mississippi is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

We provide sound foundations and intensives in Acting, Voice, and Movement each year while leaving significant room for you to explore new methodologies, creative process, and their own artistic vision.

Disciplines

School of Performing and Visual Arts

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Theatre at University of Southern Mississippi

Entry Requirements

Graduate application materials for international applicants are collected by the International Admissions office. Admission to a graduate program must first be approved by the chair of the department in which the student plans to study. After approval by the department, admission decisions are approved by the college dean and The Graduate School.

Prospective international students must provide proof of English proficiency through a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or iTEP exam. Some departments may require GRE, GMAT, or MAT. You should check your particular department to find out which exam is required for admission to your proposed program.

Applications will be forwarded to the academic department for review when all required application materials have been submitted. These items should be received before the deadline date of the semester for which the student is applying.

Admission is competitive and based on a holistic review of the applicant’s credentials by departments. The University sets minimum requirements for regular admission into graduate school, including:

Online Application
$60 non-refundable application fee
Minimum GPA of 2.75/4.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
Good standing at last university attended
Official transcripts and degree certificates or diplomas from all previous colleges or universities attended
Official TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English, PTE, or iTEP scores (The ETS code used for test reporting to The University of Southern Mississippi is 1479)
Official copy of GRE, GMAT, or MAT score from testing service (not required for all programs, Graduate School also maintains a list under the Test Requirements dropdown. It is best to check with your academic department for the most up to date information.)
Three letters of recommendation (upload to application file)
Statement of Purpose or writing sample (according to departmental requirements)
Immunization records (required prior to enrolling in classes if admitted)

Individual graduate programs may have additional or more stringent requirements. Departmental websites should be consulted for more details about program-specific expectations for admission.

Please mail official transcripts to:

If using a courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL (FedEx and UPS are preferred):

Elizabeth Shoemake
The University of Southern Mississippi
International Admissions #5135
2609 West 4th Street
Hattiesburg MS 39401-5876

If mailing form within the United States:

The University of Southern Mississippi 
Office of International Admissions
118 College Drive # 5135
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001  USA

English Requirements

PTEMin 54
IELTSMin 6
TOEFLMin 71

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Theatre at University of Southern Mississippi

Application Fee 60

How to Apply for Master of Theatre at University of Southern Mississippi

Create your application account or sign-in using your previously created account information. Once you have verified your account, begin your application. Please be aware that you are completing an application for admission to a specific program for a specific entry term. If you wish to apply to more than one program, you will need to complete multiple applications.

As you complete your application, make note of the required application materials and prompts. You may upload required materials before submitting your application or after paying your application fee.

After submitting your application, log back into your application portal to upload your resume, statement of purpose and other program-specific required documents and to track the progress of your application and other outstanding application materials. Please be aware that application materials will not be returned to the applicant nor forwarded to other institutions.

Your application must be submitted and the $60 application fee must be paid before the application deadline. Application waivers are available for active members, reservists, and veterans of the U.S. armed forces, current or former participants in the McNair Scholars program, recipients of a Fulbright Student Scholar award, and full-time permanent employees of The University of Southern Mississippi.

Master of Theatre at University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

United States of America, West Hattiesburg