Program Overview
The Master of Fine Arts in Scenography at KU is a three-year program that prepares students for careers in design for theatre, dance, film, and television. The program emphasizes technical production skills in costume, lighting, and set design, with a focus on developing a portfolio across a wide variety of theatrical and performance genres. Students will have the opportunity to execute realized designs in a variety of spaces and incorporate new technologies in theatre, lighting, and costume design.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master of Fine Arts in Scenography is a three-year, practice-based program aimed at preparing students for careers in design for theatre, dance, film, and television. The program emphasizes technical production skills in areas like costume, lighting, and set design, with a focus on developing a portfolio across a wide variety of theatrical and performance genres. Students will have the opportunity to execute realized designs in a variety of spaces, including the large Crafton-Preyer proscenium stage, the William Inge Memorial theatre (black box), as well as studio and site-specific spaces. The curriculum incorporates new technologies in theatre, lighting, and costume design, including innovations in virtual reality.
Assessment:
- MFA Thesis:
- A work of original scenography with scenic, lighting, and costume design elements.
- Includes a written component articulating and justifying the scenographic vision.
- Developed under the supervision of a faculty committee.
- Concludes with an oral examination by the thesis committee.
- Committee may recommend Honors at graduation.
- Coursework:
- A grade-point average of 3.0 or higher is required across 60 graduate credit hours.
- At least 50% of coursework must be at the 700 level or above.
- Realized Productions:
- Students are required to design at least 4 realized productions within the University Theatre program.
- Design assignments are tailored to students' experience and interests.
Teaching:
- Faculty: Students work with the KU Theatre's professional staff in realizing their designs.
- Approach: The program takes an engaged, practice-based approach to theatre design.
Other:
- Successful scenography students at KU have come from various backgrounds, including theatre, art and design, illustration, and architecture.
- Students with deficiencies in theatre production, theatre and/or art history, and painting and drawing may be required to take undergraduate courses in these areas, which could result in a longer program.
- All courses should be selected in consultation with the graduate advisor.
- The student must fulfill all relevant College and University policies throughout their graduate study.
- Further details about meeting degree requirements can be found in the Department's Graduate Handbook.
