MFA in Costume Production
Our Master of Fine Arts in Costume Production 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 production 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 Costume Production students are being prepared for substantive careers in the professional world of theatre and the related performing arts. Training includes a rigorous curriculum, production 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 Costume Production 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 participation at the US Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) in the second year 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 Costume Production program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework and production assignments, Costume Production 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 Costume
Production 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 549 Theatre in Practice | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 539 Production | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 607 Collaboration Forum 1 | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 643 & 644 Costume Production Studio 1 & 2 | 3 | 3 |
| CFA TH 533 Costume Production Studio 5: Historic Tailoring^ | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 534 Costume Production Studio 6: Ladies’ Tailoring^ | – | 3 |
| Approved elective(s) | 2 | 2 |
| Total units (minimum) | 16 | 14 |
| 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 529 Costume Production Studio 3: Modern Tailoring 1^ | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 530 Costume Production Studio 4: Modern Tailoring 2^ | – | 3 |
| CFA TH 649 Costume Production Studio 7: Advanced Draping—19th Century | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 650 Costume Production Studio 8: Advanced Draping—20th Century | – | 3 |
| Approved elective(s) | 3 | 3 |
| Total units (minimum) | 15 | 15 |
‡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.
^Costume Production Studio 3 & 4 (CFA TH 529, 530) is offered in rotation with Costume Production Studio 5 & 6 (CFA TH 533, 534). Costume Production Studio 3 & 4 is offered in even academic years (i.e., AY 26, 28). Costume Production Studio 5 & 6 is offered in odd academic years (i.e., AY 25, 27).
Approved Electives (10 units)
Students select graduate-level courses (500+) offered by Boston University in consultation with their faculty mentor.
Suggested courses:
- CFA TH 536 Figure Drawing
- CFA TH 575 Fabric Dyeing 1
- CFA TH 576 Fabric Dyeing 2
- CFA TH 577 Millinery 1
- CFA TH 578 Millinery 2
- CFA TH 586 Color Interaction
- CFA TH 608 Collaboration Forum 2
- CFA TH 637 Costume Design Studio 1
- CFA TH 638 Costume Design Studio 2
- CFA TH 657 History of Dress 1
- CFA TH 658 History of Dress 2
- CFA TH 673 Intro to Textiles 1
- CFA TH 674 Intro to Textiles 2
- CFA TH 707 Scenography Studio 1
- CFA TH 708 Scenography Studio 2
- CFA TH 737 Costume Design Studio 3
- CFA TH 738 Costume Design Studio 4
