Master of Arts in Theatre

Website: https://twu.edu/theatre/graduate-programs/

Our M.A. in Theatre degree provides the practical and academic training you’ll need to achieve your professional goals. Pursue your passion through acting/directing, design/production, or literary criticism.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Think critically and creatively including the ability to design, develop, and/or create new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or projects including artistic contributions.
  2. Communicate effectively including the ability to disseminate new ideas, systems via electronic means, face-to-face methods, and public performances.
  3. Monitoring and organizing processes, materials, and surroundings including the ability to review information relevant to a goal and to develop prioritized steps to achieve these goals.

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours

36 semester credit hours (SCH), including 6 SCH for culminating creative projects.

Required Courses
THEA 5433Contemporary Theatre3
THEA 5473Dramatic Criticism and Play Analysis3
THEA 5483Theatre History I3
THEA 5493Theatre History II3
THEA 5521Theatre in Performance ((take 4 times))4
THEA 5913Independent Study (Project I)3
THEA 5973Professional Paper3
Electives
Select 14 SCH from the following after approval from advisor14
Problems in Production (Advanced Directing)
Problems in Production (Characterization)
Styles of Acting
Theatre Management
Advanced Theatrical Design (Costumes)
Advanced Theatrical Design (Lighting)
Advanced Theatrical Design (Make-Up)
Advanced Theatrical Design (Scenery)
Speech for the Stage
Playwriting
Special Topics (Sound for the Theatre)
Special Topics (Stage Management)
Special Topics (History of Costume)
Special Topics (History of Musical Theatre)
Special Topics (Introduction to Film)
Total SCHs36

Special Requirements

  1. Students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all courses applied to the graduate degree. A grade of C or below in any theatre course will not count toward the Master of Arts degree.
  2. No student may begin project work without prior approval of the student’s Graduate Committee. Students with limited experience in theatre may be asked to take some undergraduate courses as prerequisites for graduate courses.
  3. All M.A. candidates will complete a professional paper of no less than 45 pages in length. The paper will emerge from the culminating project created by the student in conjunction with his or her adviser and professional paper committee.

Final Examination

An oral final examination by the student's Graduate Committee serves as the culmination of the creative project and professional paper. The assessment results in one of the following: 1) approval, 2) disapproval, or 3) revision. If either the project or paper is not approved, the student’s Graduate Committee may advise one of the following:

  • Completion of an additional project in the same focus area.
  • A switch in focus areas and completion of a new qualifying and final project.
  • Additional course work before any further project work is attempted. A student may attempt Project I or Project II no more than two times each with special permission from the theatre faculty.