MFA in Scene Design
Our Master of Fine Arts in Scene Design program provides developing theatre professionals with the opportunity to cultivate their own individual artistic identity, and innovative and collaborative creative process, while refining and enhancing their craft.
Our program seeks to:
- Enhance artistic expression, critical thinking, communication, and design skills through hands-on, mentored experiences within a wide range of production opportunities and classroom instruction.
- Explore creative collaborations to tell important stories to today’s audiences.
- Create inclusive and accessible forms of theatrical expression for the next generation.
MFA Scene Design students are being prepared for substantive careers in the professional world of theatre and the related performing arts. Training includes a rigorous curriculum, design opportunities, and exposure to the profession. Students are regularly mentored by working professional faculty and advisors through their studio coursework; hands-on, in-process Theatre in Practice advising; and end-of-term conferences.
Financial aid is available to some students in the form of scholarships, living stipends, and teaching assistantships. Admission is highly selective, with the School of Theatre admitting one to three students each year into the Scene Design program.
Curriculum Highlights
- Robust schedule of guest artists, workshops, and intensives for special topics.
- Mentored portfolio and résumé development, with introductions to Professional Theatre Initiative affiliates for summer opportunities following the first year.
- Funded presentation at the National Design Portfolio Review or Showcase West at the successful completion of the program.
- Curated portfolio and introduction to professional theatre and live performing arts industry network contacts provided at the successful completion of the program.
Learning Outcomes
The Scene Design program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, design, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework and design assignments, Scene Design students will:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of theatre as an art form and the essential role it plays in contemporary society.
- Demonstrate spoken and written critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills in an arts-based discipline.
- Demonstrate an ability to enrich creative storytelling and take artistic risks.
- Demonstrate an awareness of and ability to engage in the diverse community of theatre artists.
- Demonstrate a high level of artistic, interpretive, and craft skills and techniques in Scene Design as a foundation for entering into a career in theatre and the live performing arts.
Program of Study
(minimum of 60 units‡)
| First Year | 1st | 2nd |
| CFA TH 701 Graduate Salon | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 607 Collaboration Forum 1 | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice | – | 2 |
| CFA TH 539 Production | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 635 & 636 Scene Design Studio 1 & 2 | 3 | 3 |
| CFA TH 707 & 708 Scenography Studio 1 & 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Approved elective(s) | 3 | 3 |
| Total units (minimum) | 15 | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| CFA TH 701 Graduate Salon | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 539 Production | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 735 & 736 Scene Design Studio 3 & 4 | 3 | 3 |
| CFA TH 807 & 808 Scenography Studio 3 & 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Approved elective(s) | 3 | 3 |
| Total units (minimum) | 15 | 15 |
Approved Electives (12 units)
Students select graduate-level courses (500+) offered by Boston University in consultation with their faculty mentor.
Suggested courses:
- CFA TH 517 History of Period Styles 1
- CFA TH 518 History of Period Styles 2
- CFA TH 519 AutoCAD 1: 2D Theatrical Drafting
- CFA TH 536 Figure Drawing
- CFA TH 563 Drawing for Designers
- CFA TH 567 Scene Painting 1
- CFA TH 583 Scene Painting 2
- CFA TH 584 Designing for Opera
- CFA TH 585 Vectorworks 1
- CFA TH 617 History of Period Styles 3
- CFA TH 618 History of Period Styles 4
- CFA TH 619 Scene Painting 3
- CFA TH 620 Scene Painting 4
- CFA TH 625 Classical Theatre through a Contemporary Lens
- CFA TH 626 Contemporary Theatre
- CFA TH 637 Costume Design Studio 1
- CFA TH 638 Costume Design Studio 2
- CFA TH 639 Lighting Design Studio 1
- CFA TH 640 Lighting Design Studio 2
‡This program requires completion of a minimum of 60 units in continuous, sequential terms, and generally takes two years to complete. All requirements for the MFA must be completed within five years of matriculation.
