Coursework and Milestones
The MFA in Acting requires 4-unit course loads quarterly for a total of 24 credit units in coursework and an additional 3 units of production work per summer quarter for a degree total of 30 units.
Course sequence
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Acting I Movement I Voice I Theatre History I | Acting I.2 Movement I.2* Voice I.2 Rehearsal Techniques I | Acting I.3 Movement I.3 Voice I.3 Rehearsal Techniques II | Summer Season – Evanston |
Year 2 | Acting II Movement I.4 Speech – Dialects Theatre History II | Acting II.2 Collab New Play Studio II Dance 1.1 Singing 1 | Acting II.3 Collab New Play Studio II.2 Dance 1.2 Singing 2 | Summer Season – Evanston |
Milestones
Year 1
- Positive end-of-year review and completion of coursework with a GPA of 3.5 or above
- Acceptable participation in production activities (e.g. rehearsal work ethic; depth and quality of characterization; clarity and intentionality of communication on stage)
- Commitment to the goals for development set for the first year as determined by primary faculty and the curricular and co-curricular sequence of the program (e.g. attendance; effort and participation; completion of assignments)
- Participation in Summer Season programming—this will serve as the primary production component of the degree. First-year students will assume secondary and supporting roles; casting will be assured
- Critical self-reflection (8-10 pages) on performance and stage work at the end of the year to be presented before the end-of-year review by the Graduate Executive Committee
Year 2
- Positive end-of-year review and completion of coursework with a GPA of 3.5 or above
- Acceptable participation in production activities (e.g. rehearsal work ethic; depth and quality of characterization; clarity and intentionality of communication on stage)
- Commitment to the goals for development set for the second year as determined by primary faculty and the curricular and co-curricular sequence of the program (e.g. attendance; effort and participation; completion of assignments). These goals will be set prior to the start of the second year and communicated to the student by their advisor.
- Participation in Summer Season programing— this will serve as the primary production component of the degree. Second-year students will assume leading roles as their final performance milestone; casting will be assured.
- A final critical self-reflection (8-10 pages) and artist statement (2 pages) constitutes the final written examination and will frame the discussion for the end-of-year review by the Graduate Executive Committee. (In the second year, this review will serve as the degree completion review)