51¶¯Âþ

Master of Fine Arts in Design

Advance your career building the visual experience of contemporary theater with the Master of Fine Arts in Design in 51¶¯Âþ’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. Specialize in costume, lighting and scene design, and develop your creative passion for bringing a story to life on the stage. Graduates with an MFA in Design primarily go on to work in theater, as well as the entertainment industry and higher education.

Students in this three-year, full-time graduate conservatory program have opportunities to work closely with and guest artists, participating in . Since the Theater Department is part of 51¶¯Âþ’s interdisciplinary Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts, Theater-Design MFA students complete intensive training in the full range of theatrical design practice areas, including costume crafts, drawing and rendering, projection design, and model making. Starting in your first year, and continuing on through the full duration of the program, you’ll assist in the creation of designs within professional productions. In your third year, you’ll produce a production-based thesis with a written component.

Full-time professional design faculty individually mentor each Theater-Design MFA student based on a customized and flexible curriculum. Through 51¶¯Âþ’s informal affiliations in Philadelphia, you can explore internships with organizations including The Freedom Theatre, The Lighting Practice and The Philadelphia Theatre Company. 

Classes & Curriculum

The Theater-Design MFA curriculum is built around a combination of experiential learning and classroom studies tailored to give you an in-depth understanding of American musical theater, the business aspects of theater, and techniques for directing and scene setting. Unique courses include 

• Design for TV and Film,
• History of Decor,
• History of Fashion,
• Theatrical Model Making, and
• Projection Design.

Learn more about Theater-Design MFA courses.