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Master of Fine Arts in Design and Technical Production
 Admission
RequirementsAreas of Specialization Theatre History Requirment Departmental Reviews Professional Internships and Outside Design Opportunities The Curriculum Link to Application for Admission to Program The Master of Fine Arts degree in Design at Tulane University offers an in-depth study of theatrical design areas with an emphasis on preparing the student for a career in the professional theatre or as a teacher of a specialized field at the university level. Applicants to the program must have completed an undergraduate degree in theatre or have had equivalent training and experience. The Master of Fine Arts degree in Design places concentration and emphasis on design as a collaborative process with equal emphasis on technical and creative skills as learned both through classwork and practical production. The program is a three-year program. Two and a half years are spent in residence and one semester of the third year in an internship with a professional theatre. Students with an MA in design or production may, at the discretion of the faculty, complete their degree sooner. Normally, 48 hours of course work are required for completion of the degree. In addition, six hours are earned with the internship assignment and a thesis production. It is the philosophy of the design
faculty that the design process is best taught through the realization
of designs in actual production situations. Each year, the Department
of Theatre and Dance provides a number of opportunities for such
realized design projects. The department produces three to four
mainstage productions and one dance concert each year directed by
faculty or guest directors. Students in design and technical direction
are assigned to these projects as their skills develop. The Third Year
Thesis Project becomes the culmination of a number of realized
projects. The selection of this production is intended to provide a
showcase of each student's talents and skill. Each student's work is
reviewed by the faculty on a semester-to-semester basis.
 Admission
to the MFA Design program is highly selective and only a
small number of candidates are selected every other year. This
ensures each student considerable production experience as well as
continual one-on-one contact with Theatre Design faculty. Our next
class will enter in the Fall of 2007. Prospective applicants are
referred to the Graduate Program in the School of Liberal Arts for
application materials and a
catalog outlining further requirements and deadlines. Their website is http://www.liberalarts.tulane.edu/applying.cfm.Please note that while the university states a February 1 application deadline, the department extends its deadline past that date as we traditionally recruit at USITT in March. Admission to the program is based primarily on consideration of the candidate's academic ability as evidenced by his/her undergraduate GPA, previous theatre experience, and portfolio. Ideally, the design faculty would like the opportunity to look at the applicant's portfolio during an interview. However, if an interview is not possible, the department will request that the applicant send a portfolio of representative work for review. Please do not send your portfolio with your application; wait until it is requested by the department. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Tulane
University Theatre Department offers Scene Design, Costume
Design, Lighting Design, and Technical Direction as areas of
specialization within the framework of the Master of Fine Arts
Degree.
An MFA in Design candidate must select one of these areas of concentration and is urged to select a secondary area of specialization as well. An MFA student is required to take all courses stipulated as core courses for a major in design. In addition, a sequence in the area of specialization (listed below under electives) is required. If a secondary area of specialization is also elected, six units in that area, from the elective list, are required. Whenever possible, the design faculty utilizes class time as an opportunity to supervise closely the work of a student who is holding a design assignment in a given semester. For instance, if a student is enrolled in Costume Design and is also designing costumes for a production in the same semester, the design assignment will be substituted for one or more design projects. THEATRE HISTORY REQUIREMENTThe Design Faculty is aware of the heavy load that the inclusion of Theatre History during the first year of graduate studies places on the new graduate student. However, to be adequately prepared for the curiculum in Design or Technical Production, a solid background in the historical development of modern theatrical style is required. During registration week, the Department administers a diagnostic examination in Theatre History for those who feel they have a solid foundation in Theatre History. A satisfactory placement will waive this course requirement. It is recommended, therefore, that entering graduates review their Theatre History so that they may be excused from this requirement. REVIEWSAt the end of each semester, design students are required to attend the design gallery and an individual MFA review with the faculty. In the gallery, the student presents a record of his or her most representative work in the program and should be prepared to answer questions regarding that work. These reviews provide the all of faculty with the chance to see the work of individual students and exchange ideas and commentary on the student's progress. During their reviews, in additon to reviewing their work, students have an opportunity to voice their needs for further development within the program. The end of the semester review is intended as a positive meeting for evaluation and discussion of a student's work. If, however, a student's work (or attitude) is evaluated as undesirable or sub-standard, the student may be placed on probationary status the following semester. If the quality of the student's work has not improved by the end of the probationary semester, the student will be asked to leave the program. In some cases where either a student's work, attitude, or grades are deemed so unsatisfactory that their continuation in the program would be of no benefit to either them or the department, dismissal may be considered, in consultation with the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. The student will be notified of his or her status in written form following their review each semester. PRODUCTION ASSISTANTSHIPS/STIPENDSTulane University requires that each graduate student commit 15 hours a week of service to the department in which the student is involved. This is required of a student regardless of acceptance or non-acceptance of a stipend. Any student offered an assistantship will be granted a full tuition waiver. Currently, all of our graduate students recieve a stipend and a full tuition waiver. PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIPS The program requires that all MFA candidates in Design or Technical Production spend one semester of their third year as an intern in a professional theatre. This gives the student an opportunity to apply, in a purely production environment, the educational experiences of the first two years of graduate training. Further, it provides employment contacts which should be invaluable upon completion of the MFA. During the internship, the University continues to provide the graduate stipend. While the choice of theatre and arrangements for the position are primarily the responsibilty of the student, the student’s faculty advisor makes every effort to aid in finding a satisfactory position. DESIGN OPTIONS In addition to the departmental productions, there are a number of other opportunities for design open to graduate students that the design faculty encourages its students to explore. Operated in conjunction with the Department of Theatre and Dance at Tulane University, The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane is a professional resident theater company with a summer repertory. Students in the graduate programs of Design and Technical Production are encouraged to spend at least one summer on staff, and are given some consideration in the technical and design positions available. The Department also sponsors Patchwork Players Children’s Theatre each summer where, along with the Music Department’s Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, other opportunities for work on-campus are available. COURSE CURRICULUMCore Courses for a major in Design Theatrical Drafting and Model Making (THEA 635) 3 Design Fundamentals I (THEA 641) 3 Design Fundamentals II (THEA 642) 3 Period Styles for Designers I (THEA 653) 3 Period Styles for Designers II (THEA 654) 3 Graduate Theatre History (THEA 665) 3 Portfolio Techniques (THEA 690) 3 Directing for Designers (THEA721) 3 Design Seminar (THEA 780) 3 Internship (THEA 789) 3 Thesis Production (THEA 799) 3 Scene Design Track Rendering for Designers (THEA 644) 3 Scene Design CAD (THEA 682) 3 Advanced Technical Problems (THEA 631) 3 Scene Design I (THEA 741) 3 Scene Design II (THEA 742) 3 Scene Painting (THEA 683) 3 Designing for Other Media (THEA 684) 3 Costume Design Track Rendering for Designers (THEA 644) 3 Costume Techology (THEA 676) 3 Costume Design I (THEA 751) 3 Costume Design II (THEA 752) 3 Advanced Costume Rendering (THEA 646) 3 Designing for Other Media (THEA 684) 3 Elective 3 Lighting Design Track |