UT Live Design and Production (M.F.A. in Theatre)

The thesis will be reviewed per the standards of the performing arts industries and the university's standards of research. The thesis will consist of three parts:

1. A demonstration of artistry and skill in costume design.

2. A significant original project demonstrating the candidate's ability to generate new work.

3. A presentation of the candidate's portfolio.
 

The thesis will consist of three parts:

1. A demonstration of artistry and technical skill in Costume Technology.

2. A significant original project using digital media demonstrating the candidate's ability to generate new work.

3. A presentation of the candidate's portfolio.
 

Design Studio (2 semesters) (incl. drawing lab)

The first year is spent in design studio with all new designers and directors.
 

Integrated Media (4 Semesters)

The Integrated Media studio focuses on the development and deepening of skills directly related to the area of human centered live visual storytelling with media components.

The student may select from choices in many areas such as costume, scenery, lighting, audio design, writing, pedagogy, production management, producing and media production.

The skill-building courses are chosen by the student with the advice and guidance of the design faculty and the primary mentor.
 

The student conceives, plans and realizes designs for productions.

He/she/they will take on a variety of roles within the production process and designs his/her/their own work during the second year (at the latest).

Theatre productions at the university cover multiple genres, including plays, dance, musical and opera.
 

Roles can include:

IM Designer / Projection Designer / Media Designer Set Designer
IM Assistant
IM Programmer
IM Engineer
Lighting designer
XR Designer
and more

In addition to courses offered at the Department for Theatre and Dance, students may also select courses from the other departments of the university, such as Fine Arts, Computer Science, Engineering, Electronic Music, Radio-Television-Film, Architecture or Advertising.

Should students wish to carry a heavier load, they may take more electives with the consent of the head of the theatrical technology program.
 

The graduate Integrated Media thesis serves as the capstone of the candidate’s graduate work at The University of Texas at Austin. It is the final opportunity for the M.F.A. candidate to demonstrate her/his/their aesthetic, artistic, intellectual and technical acumen relative to the standards of the professional model.

The thesis is subject to the requirements of the university and the Graduate School. This means that a supervisor, usually the student’s primary advisor, and an additional reader will examine the thesis in detail.

The thesis will culminate in an oral defense of the work.
 

The thesis will be reviewed per the standards of: The performing arts industries and the university’s standards of research. The thesis will consist of three parts:

1. A demonstration of artistry and skill in Integrated Media.

2. A significant original project demonstrating the candidate’s ability to generate new work, presented in a public forum and attended by a full written account of the research for the development of the project.

3. A presentation of the candidate’s portfolio.

Design Studio 1 (Year 1, 2 Semesters)

Includes Drawing Lab. The first year is spent in Studio 1 with all new designers and directors.
 

Lighting Design (4 semesters) (including Drawing Lab).

The Lighting Design studio focuses on the development of skills and artistry directly related to the work of a lighting designer.

Each semester of Lighting Design may include: the development of lighting schemes for theatre in conventional and non-conventional venues, opera, film, television, installation, architecture, large events, gaming and entertainment design.

Emphasis is placed on the communication of designs with the use of conventional and advanced technological lighting fixtures using rendering techniques which include traditional 2D and 3D digital plots, models and pre-visualization storyboards.
 

The student conceives, plans and realizes lighting designs for the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Butler School of Music and, upon arrangement, the Department of RadioTelevision-Film productions.

He/she will design the lighting for at least two main-stage productions with additional opportunities in lab, events, the spring campus-wide commencement and alternate venues including the biennial Cohen New Works Festival.
 

Theatre productions at the university cover multiple genres including plays, musicals, dance, opera, new work and experimental performance.

Opportunities in film production design exist within collaborative arrangements with the Department of Radio-Television-Film

In addition to courses offered by the Department of Theatre and Dance, students may also select courses within the College of Fine Arts and across the university, including Computer Science and Radio-Television-Film.

Should students wish to carry a heavier credit load they may take more electives, with the consent of the primary lighting design advisor.
 

The graduate Lighting Design thesis serves as the capstone of the candidate's graduate work at The University of Texas at Austin. It is the final opportunity for the M.F.A. candidate to demonstrate her/his aesthetic, artistic, intellectual and technical acumen relative to the standards of the professional model.

The thesis is subject to the requirements of the university and the Graduate School. This means that a Master’s supervisor, usually the student’s primary lighting design advisor, and an additional reader will examine the thesis in detail.

The thesis will culminate in an oral defense of the work.
 

The thesis will be reviewed per the standards of: the performing arts industries and the university’s standards of research.

The thesis will consist of three parts:

1. A demonstration of artistry and skill in lighting design.

2. A significant original project demonstrating the candidate’s ability to generate new work.

3. A presentation of the candidate’s portfolio.

Design Studio 1 (Year 1, 2 Semesters) (including Drawing Lab)

The first year is spent in Studio I with all new designers and directors
 

Scene Design (4 semesters) (including Drawing Lab)

The Scene Design studio focuses on the development of skills and artistry directly related to the work of a scenic designer

The student may select from choices in many alternate areas such as scene design skills, scene painting, costume design, lighting design, projection design, audio design, writing, pedagogy and production management.

The skill-building courses are chosen by the student with the advice and guidance of the design faculty and the primary mentor.
 

The student conceives, plans and realizes designs for departmental and/or Butler School of Music productions.

He/she will design the scenery for at least two main-stage productions with additional opportunities in lab and alternate venues, including the biennial Cohen New Works Festival.

Theatre productions at the university cover multiple genres including plays, musicals, dance and opera.
 

In addition to courses offered by the Department of Theatre and Dance, students may also select courses within the College of Fine Arts and across the university including Computer Science and the Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF).

Should students wish to carry a heavier credit load they may take more electives with the consent of the primary Scene Design advisor.
 

The graduate Scene Design thesis serves as the capstone of the candidate's graduate work at The University of Texas at Austin. It is the final opportunity for the M.F.A. candidate to demonstrate her/his aesthetic, artistic, intellectual and technical acumen relative to the standards of the professional model.

The thesis is subject to the requirements of the university and the Graduate School. This means that a supervisor, usually the student's primary advisor, and an additional reader will examine the thesis in detail.

The thesis will culminate in an oral defense of the work.

The thesis will be reviewed per the standards of the performing arts industries and the university's standards of research.

The thesis will consist of three parts:

1. A demonstration of artistry and skill in scene design.

2. A significant original project demonstrating the candidate's ability to generate new work.

3. A presentation of the candidate's portfolio.