Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts

Admission

In addition to the standard requirements for graduate admission to the Graduate School at NIU, the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts program has additional requirements for graduate admission. 

Applicants that do not possess a baccalaureate or master’s degree in theatre arts or equivalent may still be eligible for admission but must show basic knowledge and skills in all aspects of theatre and demonstrate their ability to proceed at an advanced level. 

The M.F.A. in Theatre Arts program requires degree-seeking applicants to submit the following materials: 

Applicants for the specialization in design and technology must: 

• Submit a Portfolio. 
  • Portfolio showcasing your work as a designer and/or technician in the performing arts in PDF format and/or a link to website.  
• Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). 
  • Copy of current resume/CV in PDF format indicating your work in theatre design and technology. 
• Submit a statement of purpose. 
  • Your statement of purpose should be approximately 500 words in length. It should outline your preparation for graduate study in theatre design and technology, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond.

Applicants for the specialization in acting must: 

• Participate in a live audition (in-person or virtual). 
• Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). 
  • Copy of current resume/CV in a PDF format indicating your work in theatre. 
• Submit letters of recommendation. 
  • 2 (two) letters of recommendation from individuals speaking to your ability to be successful in the completion of a graduate-level degree program. Your recommenders should be individuals who have a professional or academic relationship with you and your work as an actor. 
• Submit a statement of purpose. 
  • Your statement of purpose should be approximately 500 words in length. It should outline your preparation for graduate study in acting, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond.

An interview for the M.F.A. in Theatre Arts is also required for graduate admission. If the outcome of the initial review of your application materials supports the decision, you will be invited to an interview to further showcase your abilities and determine if they align with the M.F.A. in Theatre Arts program at NIU. 

Limitation of Time

All requirements for the degree Master of Fine Arts must be completed within the seven consecutive years immediately preceding the date of the student’s graduation from that degree program. This time limit applies to enrollment in all graduate course work in the student’s program including work for which transfer credit is allowed.

If an NIU course taken to complete the requirements for an M.F.A. degree does not fall within the seven-year period indicated in the preceding paragraph, the School of Theatre and Dance may require the student to retake the course for credit or may allow the student to demonstrate current knowledge of the subject matter. In the latter case, currency must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department offering the course through successful completion of an appropriate examination or other assessment if available from the department. Otherwise, the outdated course work must be deleted from, and other course work must be substituted in, the program of courses. Transfer courses falling outside the limitation of time cannot be used in a graduate program.

Courses for Which Graduate Credit is Allowed

At NIU only courses which are numbered 500-799 carry credit toward the master’s degree. At least 50 percent of the minimum number of semester hours required for the M.F.A. degree must be earned in courses numbered 600 and above.

Student-at-Large and Transfer Credit

With the approval of the School of Theatre and Dance and the office of the dean of the Graduate School, a combined total of up to 12 graduate semester hours either accepted in transfer from other accredited institutions or earned at NIU as a student-at-large may be applied toward the requirements for the M.F.A. degree in theatre arts.

Requirements

Students in the M.F.A. program must earn a minimum of 69 semester hours beyond a baccalaureate degree, exclusive of work taken to remove deficiencies, with a GPA of at least 3.00 in all graduate courses required in the student’s program of courses (excluding deficiency courses taken for graduate credit) as well as in all graduate course work taken at NIU. Study may be interrupted for an approved internship, although not before the first three semesters of study in the acting specialization. The program requires the following.

Three major artistic projects in an area of study or specialization, including a final project.

An internship or an equivalent experience prior to graduation.

A final project (requiring enrollment in THEA 799), supported by a project documentation that is reviewed and approved by a committee of the faculty. The project may be done in conjunction with an internship.

Satisfactory completion of a final examination in the nature of an oral defense of the final project.

Completion of the following core program of study (11)

Completion of a minimum of 58 semester hours in consultation with the school in one of the following specializations. 

• THEA 619 - Performance and Production Credits: 1

• Students must take this course for 5 semester hours.

• THEA 676 - Script Laboratory Credits: 3
• THEA 799 - Final Project Credits: 1-6

• Students must take this course for a minimum of 3 semester hours.

Final Project

A student’s work in the Master of Fine Arts program in the School of Theatre and Dance culminates in a final project, the final examination on which serves in lieu of a final comprehensive examination. The project and a project paper must be reviewed and approved by a committee of the faculty consisting of at least three members. The majority of the committee members must be regular faculty members at Northern Illinois University; a majority must be members of the graduate faculty in the School of Theatre and Dance; and the chair must be a graduate faculty member in the School of Theatre and Dance.

In special situations, and only with the approval of the faculty director(s) and committee(s), students may collaborate on some aspects of the work contributing to their final projects. However, each project documentation submitted to the Graduate School for approval must be a unique product with the degree candidate as the sole author and with due acknowledgment of the contributions of collaborators; and the author must demonstrate to their committee satisfactory command of all aspects of the work presented.

A student intending to prepare a final project should identify a prospective project director, who must be willing to serve as director, meet Graduate School qualifications, and be approved by the school. The director and committee will judge the acceptability of the work. A faculty member may decline to serve as director of any particular final project, in which case the school will assist the student in seeking a director. If a student, with department approval, changes director, the student may need to undertake additional work, or to change projects, in accordance with the expectations and expertise of the new director.

The project may be done in conjunction with an internship. To undertake the project, the student must register for THEA 799. Registration for this purpose may be in absentia. If circumstances prohibit continuing progress on the work, the student may request a leave of absence from the dean of the Graduate School. If a student interrupts registration in course number THEA 799 without obtaining a leave of absence, then upon recommendation of the School of Theatre and Dance, the student’s admission to the degree program will be terminated. After a student’s first enrollment in THEA 799, he or she should register as an auditor in THEA 799 each term until the project receives final approval from the school. Additional instructions about the project and the written documentation are available from the School of Theatre and Dance.

Application for Graduation