Graduate Program in Theatre 

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degrees

Through rigorous, individualized plans of study, one-on-one mentorship, and extensive production, teaching, and professional development opportunities, the MFA programs in the Department of Theatre at Purdue prepare students for careers in professional or educational theatre and the entertainment industry. The MFA in Theatre has seven majors/concentrations: Theatre/Acting, Theatre/Audio Technology, Theatre/Costume Design, Theatre/Lighting Design, Theatre/Scenic Design, Theatre/Sound Design, and Theatre/Technical Direction.

The MFA program in acting offers intensive training in voice, movement, and acting, complemented by coursework in script analysis, theory and criticism, and directing, with multiple opportunities for applied work in production. The MFA programs in design and technology offer extensive coursework in design, crafts, and technology specific to each concentration area. The curricula in design foster the development of aesthetic responses to scripts and other source material through courses in script analysis and theory, as well as skills to collaborate as part of a production team, with applied work in production. Programs require a minimum of 60 credit hours.

The Department of Theatre is one of four units (with Art and Design, Music, and Dance) in the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the campus is close to vibrant professional theatre in Chicago (2 hours) and Indianapolis (1.5 hours), with exceptional facilities and equipment, including two innovatively designed theatres and multiple labs and studios. Faculty and staff are professionally active artists, technicians, and scholars committed to providing excellent teaching and mentoring, while maintaining best practices and industry standards in courses and production.  

The department is committed to maintaining a culture of equity and diversity in all programming, courses, and production-related activities, and encourages applicants who are committed to these values. MFA applicants should have achieved a 3.0 grade point index or higher for a baccalaureate degree or have other academic indices indicating superior performance.

For more information on the seven individual majors/concentrations in Theatre, please see the individual program descriptions and brochures on the program websites linked from this page.

Click here for application information or to apply online. (Select "Theatre" as the area of study.)