2007-08 Academic Year - Humboldt State University

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE
IN THEATRE ARTS WITH AN
EMPHASIS IN SCENOGRAPHY
Those with a BA in theatre arts or a closely
related discipline and with some background
in design may pursue an MFA in Theatre Arts
with an emphasis in Scenography. Students
in this program must declare a primary and
at least one secondary area of emphasis in
scenery, lighting, costume design and/or
technical direction. Course and project work
include design/technical training and applications
to theatre, film and dance.
Requirements for the MFA Degree
All courses required of the major must
be completed with a grade of B - or
better.
Complete a minimum of 78 units including:
TFD 548 Intro. to Graduate Studies
TFD 630 Intro. to Scenography
TFD 634 Rendering Techniques
TFD 638 Architectural History and
Period Styles
TFD 648 Critical Analysis of Theatre,
Film and Dance
TFD 649 Play Development Workshop
TFD 695 Supervised Teaching
And at least three of the following:
TFD 631 Graduate Seminar in Scenic
Design
TFD 633 Graduate Seminar in Lighting
Design
TFD 636 Graduate Seminar in
Costume Design
TFD 637 Graduate Seminar in
Technical Direction
MFA students also need to complete a
minimum of 6 additional units of history/
theory/literature/criticism courses, 15-20
units of primary and secondary emphasis
courses, and 21 units of project work.
• Complete 60 graduate-level units within
the total of 78. Not more than 16 of
these shall be TFD 690 and/or 699.
• The approved program includes two
assignments as assistant designer or
technical director and a minimum of
four projects, two in the primary emphasis
area, one in the secondary area,
and a culminating scenographic paper
(portfolio) project that involves creating
scenery, lighting, and costume designs
for theatre, dance or film. Students
provide an oral defense of their culminating
project. All project assignments
must be approved and evaluated by the
student’s graduate committee.
• Submit a professional portfolio (appropriate
to the primary and secondary
emphasis areas) to the department
faculty for acceptance based upon the
graduate committee’s criteria.
• Submit a project report on the total
experience in the program for acceptance
as defined by the graduate committee.
• Receive recommendation by the department
and graduate office on confirmation
of the degree.
The department can accept up to 30
semester units transferred from other
institutions.
Due to the academic and project work
demands of the MFA program, it normally
takes three years to complete all degree
requirements.
Note: The graduate office publishes a
Handbook for Master’s Students, and
the department publishes its own graduate
handbook. Both sources provide more
detailed information.
Admission to the Program
The same criteria apply for admission into
the Master of Fine Arts program as those
listed for the Master of Arts with the exception
that applicants for the MFA must submit
to the department a portfolio of their design
and other related work.
COLLEGE FACULTY PREPARATION
PROGRAM
A Graduate Certificate in
College Teaching: Theatre Arts
This discipline-specific program is designed
to better prepare the graduate student interested
in a teaching career at the community
college or university level. Participation
requires completion of, or current enrollment
in, one of the theatre arts master’s
programs.
The certificate consists of five components
(12 units), described below. After consulting
with your graduate advisor, and under the advisement
of the College Faculty Preparation
Program coordinator, develop a plan of study
tailored to meet your specific timelines and
professional goals. The CFPP coordinator
and the dean for Research and Graduate
Studies must approve each plan of study.
Notation of certificate completion will appear
on your official university transcript.
1) Discipline-Specific Teaching Methods
Introduces undergraduate teaching through
a practical presentation of the processes
and issues involved in theatre arts instruction.
Students work with instructors of
core courses in theatre arts. Three units,
taken first or second semester of the MA
program:
TFD 695 Supervised Teaching
2) Higher Education Teaching Methods
Guidance in the skills and knowledge relevant
to teaching in higher education. Three units,
taken first or second semester of the MA
program:
EDUC 583 Teaching in Higher Education
Certificate requirements #3 & #4 come
after completion of #1 (Discipline-Specific
Teaching Methods) and after or concurrent
with #2 (Higher Education Teaching
Methods).
3) Professional Development Seminar
Explore the nature and philosophy of postsecondary
institutions and their roles and
functions in higher education. One unit,
concurrent with the fourth requirement,
which follows.
SP 684 Orientation to Higher
Education
4) Mentored Teaching Internship Experience
• Community College Track:
Three units of a mentored teaching experience
at College of the Redwoods.
SP 683 College Faculty Preparation
Internship
(Note: Students successfully completing this
course may apply in later semesters for a paid CR
Faculty Internship if positions are available.)
or
• Pre-doctoral College Track:
Three units of a mentored teaching experience
at HSU. See Theatre Graduate
Coordinator for advice on what course
number to use.
5) Capstone Experience
Guidance in developing a professional
teaching portfolio and job-search support
materials. Two units, taken after all previous
components have been completed.
SP 685 Instructional Resources for
Higher Education
• • •
2007-2008 Humboldt State University Catalog Theatre Arts
181