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.

Seventy-two units of study at the 400- or 500-level are required for the acting emphasis, 64 units for the dramatic writing emphasis and 48 units for the directing and theatrical design emphases. 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 480Performance for the Camera4
THTR 515abcdefAdvanced Movement12
THTR 520abcdeAdvanced Acting20
THTR 529abTextual Studies for Performance8
THTR 540abcdefAdvanced Voice Diction12
THTR 541Diction and Dialects2
THTR 555Directing Fundamentals2
THTR 571Professional Seminar2
THTR 575*Creative Production Projects4
72

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 Emphasis Units
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

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 emphasis Units
CTWR 513Writing the Short Script2
CTWR 514abBasic Dramatic Screenwriting2-2
THTR 501 Poetry and Prose into Drama4
THTR 513Seminar in History of the Theatre4
THTR 525Seminar in Contemporary Theatre4
THTR 529aTextual Studies for Performance4
THTR 545Visiting Artists Master Seminar4
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 Global Cinema After World War II2
CTCS 503Survey History of the United States Sound Film2
CTWR 434Comedy Writing Genres2
CTWR 435Writing for Film and Television Genres2 or 4
CTWR 516Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis2
CTWR 520Advanced Scene Writing Workshop, or2
Electives**8-10
64

* Working in conjunction with THTR 495 Experimental Theatre Workshop I (4, max 8) in the production of original works.

** Depending on course chosen.