Future Graduate Students | Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts

"I was looking for a graduate program which would allow me to pursue scenic design, would give me many opportunities to design, allow me to try my hand at other areas of design, and allow me to engage in my own research."- Cade Sikora (MFA '20)

Our Doctorate of Philosophy in Theatre combines scholarly research in performance history, analysis, theory, and dramatic literature with theatrical practice. Students write a dissertation as they also develop a supporting program in one area of production: acting, directing, design, or dramaturgy. As they study, students may also make theatre. The degree requires a minimum of 45 graduate credits hours beyond the MA or MFA degree.

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Our Master of Fine Arts in Theatre-Design is a rigorous three-year program in which equal importance is placed on classroom studies and production program activity. A student may select a single area of emphasis from scenic, costume, lighting or media design or elect to combine areas of design for emphasis. A student's program of study contains classes in all the areas of theatre that inform and enrich the area or areas of design selected.

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The Master of Arts in Theatre provides a solid foundation in theatre studies. Beyond the required research methods course, students take a wide range of classes in order to develop skills in historical research, theoretical analysis, critical writing, and theatrical practice. As they study, students may also make theatre. Students write a thesis and may use their studies either to help prepare to enter a doctoral program or to help prepare for professions such as high school teaching, entertainment media, government arts programs, or private arts institutions.

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The College of Arts and Sciences works in partnership with departments, research centers, and other campus units to ensure a supportive and thriving intellectual environment for diverse populations of students as they pursue advanced degrees. Visit Diversity in Graduate Studies for information about resources and opportunities.

Pursuing a terminal degree in theatre is both an educational and a career choice. We believe that it is important to let prospective students seeking a terminal degree know as much as possible about the career outcomes of our graduates.

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The Graduate Minor in Cinema/Video production allows graduates to explore creative and expressive possibilities of single-camera electronic cinematography and provide them with an understanding of the aesthetic issues involved with cinema/video production. The minor emphasizes the practice of moving image art-making through creative projects.

The Minor in Theatre and Performance allows students in various fields in the arts and humanities to develop a supporting program in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts that will complement their doctoral study. The study of theatre and performance is vital to many disciplines in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. An academic concentration in the discipline of theatre and performance serves a broad range of students, including select students in the artistic fields of dance studies, film studies, and the history and performance of opera. In addition, this concentration serves students who are investigating the heritage of drama and theatre in any of the literature and language fields—from Greek, English, and Spanish to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Likewise, some students who work in the interdisciplinary areas of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Comparative Studies, Folklore Studies, and African and African American Studies will benefit from a concentration in theatre and performance.

The Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Film Studies is a degree enhancement available to students enrolled in post-graduate degree programs in another discipline at Ohio State. The degree enhancement allows the graduate student to develop a secondary expertise in film studies.

Please contact our External Relations Coordinator if you have any questions about our graduate program.