USC
University of Southern California
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Degree Requirements

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts in theatre allows the choice of an area of emphasis in theatre performance studies including acting, directing, dramatic writing or theatrical design.

Forty-eight units of study at the 400- or 500-level are required for acting, directing and design emphases and 64 units for dramatic writing. Regardless of the emphasis, at least two-thirds of the units must be at the 500 level or higher. In design, instead of a conventional thesis, the M.F.A. student completes a final project in the area of design and defends it orally before the design faculty. A grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved in all graduate work taken in the School of Theatre. Graduate candidates whose undergraduate degrees are in disciplines other than theatre may be required to satisfy undergraduate prerequisites in theatre as determined by School of Theatre faculty.

Curricula for the Master of Fine Arts Degree

Acting EmphasisUnits
THTR 515abcdAdvanced Movement8
THTR 520abcdAdvanced Acting16
THTR 540abcdAdvanced Voice Diction8

Two seminars, one of which must be
THTR 528 Seminar in Dramatic Analysis (4)8
THTR 597Theatre Practicum8
48

Directing EmphasisUnits
THTR 520abAdvanced Acting8
THTR 525Seminar in Contemporary Theatre4
THTR 528Seminar in Dramatic Analysis4
THTR 555Directing Fundamentals2
THTR 556abDirecting4
THTR 558abDesign for Directors4
THTR 567aStudies in Playwriting4
THTR 591Seminar in Producing Theatre4
THTR 593M.F.A. Project4
Electives by advisement10
48

Theatrical Design EmphasisUnits
Two courses from:
THTR 550aSeminar in Scene Design3
THTR 552aSeminar in Costume Design3
THTR 553aSeminar in Lighting Design3

Two continuing courses from:
THTR 550bSeminar in Scene Design3
THTR 552bSeminar in Costume Design3
THTR 553bSeminar in Lighting Design3

One remaining course from:
THTR 550aSeminar in Scene Design3
THTR 552aSeminar in Costume Design3
THTR 553aSeminar in Lighting Design3

And all of the following:
THTR 407abDrawing and Rendering for the Theatre2-2
THTR 435Advanced Theatrical Drafting3
THTR 493abPeriods and Styles2-2
THTR 593M.F.A. Project4

Two seminars, one of which must be
THTR 528 Seminar in Dramatic Analysis (4)8
400- or 500-level electives by advisement, 5 units of which must be at the 500 level10
48

Dramatic writing emphasisUnits
CTWR 513Writing the Short Script2
CTWR 514abBasic Dramatic Screenwriting2-2
THTR 501Poetry and Prose into Drama4
THTR 513Seminar in History of the Theatre4
THTR 525Seminar in Contemporary Theatre4
THTR 528Seminar in Dramatic Analysis4
THTR 535Seminar in Aesthetics of the Theatre4
THTR 555Directing Fundamentals2
THTR 567abStudies in Playwriting4-4
THTR 575*Creative Production Projects4
THTR 593M.F.A. Project4
THTR 595abGraduate Playwrights' Workshop4-4

One of the following courses
CTCS 502History of the International Cinema After World War II2
CTCS 503Survey History of the American Sound Film2
CTWR 434Comedy Writing2
CTWR 435Writing for Film and Television Genres2
CTWR 520Advanced Scene Writing Workshop, or2
CTWR 521Seminar in Writing Drama for Television4
Electives**8-10
64

* Working in conjunction with THTR 495 Experimental Theatre Workshop I in the production of original works.

** Depending on course chosen.