Master of Fine Arts in Theatre - Directing

As a theatre graduate student pursuing the director specialization, you'll take graduate-level classes on directing, performance, stage management, script analysis, voice dynamics and others that allow you to customize your program of study to match your career goals. In addition, you'll receive a high level of individualized instruction, opportunities to direct in the arena season of plays and, in most instances, the opportunity to direct a main-stage production as part of your culminating project. All MFA directing candidates must stage manage two approved productions and direct three approved productions.
Students of stage directing at USD are training to be interpretive artists and educators. You are expected to develop a high level of skill in text analysis, interpersonal communication and the director's tools for effective storytelling, while also attaining a broad knowledge of theatre and its companion arts. In addition to focused instruction in acting, directing and design, you are encouraged to develop an understanding of how the present and the past intersect so that they may help others discover the common threads which link human experience.
Because program admissions are limited, each student receives a high level of individualized instruction, opportunities to direct in the arena season of plays and, in most instances, the opportunity to direct a mainstage production as part of the directing candidate's culminating project. All MFA directing candidates must stage manage two approved productions and direct three approved productions. The MFA directing program requires 60 credit hours of study.

Students with Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission.

English Language Requirements:

A minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission.