Theatre (M.A./M.F.A.)
M.A./M.F.A Theatre
Program Overview
Texas State was recently ranked among the top ten performing arts schools in the United States, garnering local, regional and national awards. The M.F.A. degree expands the skills of students, preparing them to work in regional and national theatres and to teach at the university level.
Course Work
The department offers a 60-credit-hour master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degree. The hours vary based on the area of specialization, and the culmination of the M.F.A. degree is a creative project. Students take active roles in the field with directing, writing and design projects, conference presentations and publications. Summer opportunities include professional internships, course work taken as part of the department’s Oregon Shakespeare Intensive and a Shakespeare in England study abroad program. Graduate courses are offered during the day because of graduate student involvement in theatre productions.
| Degree | Concentration | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor Option | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree M.F.A. | Concentration Design | Hours 60 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Option No Minor | Location San Marcos |
Degree M.F.A. | Concentration Directing | Hours 60 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Option No Minor | Location San Marcos |
Degree M.F.A. | Concentration Dramatic Writing (*On Hold) | Hours 60 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Option No Minor | Location San Marcos |
Degree M.A. | Concentration Dramaturgy (*On Hold) | Hours 36 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Option Minor required | Location San Marcos |
Degree M.A. | Concentration History and Criticism (*On Hold) | Hours 30 | Thesis Option Thesis | Minor Option Minor required | Location San Marcos |
*Applications for these concentrations are no longer being accepted until further notice.
Program Details
Students regularly earn honors at the regional and national levels of the American College Theatre Festival and present at national and international conferences.
Program Mission
The Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas State University offers a rigorous practice-based master of fine arts (M.F.A.) in directing and design. The M.F.A. is designed to prepare students to work as practitioners and innovators professionally, as well as teach in a university setting.
Career Options
There are a variety of career options for students completing the M.F.A. in theatre, including:
- intimacy coordinator
- artistic director
- freelance director
- producing director
- dramaturg
- university professor
- industrial/architectural lighting designer
- theatre designer
- themed entertainment designer
- live event designer
- education director
Program Faculty
The program's faculty are active in their fields, directing and designing nationally and internationally; at Disney Parks, on Broadway, at Regional theatres, Shakespeare Festivals, and the Kennedy Center. They display work at the Prague Quadrennial, United Institute for Theatre Technology, and have published scholarly monographs, textbooks, and in journals. Faculty are highly sought-after freelance artists who have won numerous awards and regularly present designs and workshops at regional and national conferences.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Ana Martinez
alm462@txstate.edu
512.245.6842
Theatre Center (THEA), Room 218
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall - Priority | U.S. Citizen December 1 | International December 1 |
Deadlines Fall - Standard | U.S. Citizen February 15 (*Flexible) | International February 15 (*Flexible through June 1) |
*A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.
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Funding Information The deadlines to apply for certain types of funding may be earlier than the deadline above. |
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Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a firm basis. |
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
OR - $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
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Transcripts & GPA
- baccalaureate degree (preferably a B.A. or B.F.A. in theatre) from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
- minimum 24 undergraduate hours in theatre
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE Scores
M.A. Applicants:
- official GRE (general test only) required with competitive scores in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections
M.F.A. Applicants:
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents & Other Requirements
All applicants should have non-academic practical theatre experience.
M.A. Applicants
- resume/CV
- statement of purpose indicating your proposed area of specialty and detailing past practical experience
- two letters of recommendation
M.F.A. Applicants
- resume/CV
- statement of purpose detailing your area of specialty, related background information, and goals in pursuing the M.F.A. in theatre
- theatre portfolio (preferably electronic) which may include rehearsal prompt books of past directing projects, design sketches and renderings, production photos, DVDs, reviews, and/or items showing process and aesthetic
- two letters of recommendation
- Dramatic Writing applicants: samples of playwriting or creative writing
- Directing applicants: An interview with program faculty may be required.
- The M.F.A. in theatre requires students to work together closely; therefore, potential candidates in the directing concentration need to bring skills, temperaments, and goals that are in cohesion with the department and the cohort of students they will join. For this reason, semi-finalists will be invited to on-campus or Skype interviews/auditions
Review important information about documents.