Theatre MFA, Themed Experience

The Master of Fine Arts in Theatre offers a Themed Experience Track designed to teach the unique creative skills, processes and concepts utilized to design and produce themed environments such as theme parks, zoos, aquariums, themed retail, dining, museums, virtual worlds and exhibitions. This program will build upon the strength and diversity of UCF's Theatre, Art, Design and Hospitality programs as well as the ideal location in Orlando, the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.

The Master of Fine Arts in Themed Experience track program offers a rigorous course of study of 61 credit hours minimum, culminating in a collaborative creative project and thesis as well as an industry or academic internship. Of the 61 credit hours required for the degree, 44-47 credit hours are required and core courses of which up to 12-15 credit hours are electives. There is a 6 credit hour thesis project and 8-11 hours of industry internship credits.

Total Credit Hours Required: 61 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Track Prerequisites

General Entrance and Area Specific Prerequisites -Students applying for entrance into the MFA Programs must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree program from an accredited institution which UCF recognizes. Concentration or experience in the visual, written, or performing arts is preferred.

Degree Requirements

Core

• Complete the following:
  • THE5910 - Research Methods in Theatre (3)
  • TPA6437 - Careers in Themed Experience (3)

Themed Experience Concentration

• Complete the following:
  • THE5288 - Period Costumes, Architecture and Decor I (3)
  • THE5289 - Period Costumes, Architecture and Decor II (3)
  • THE5945L - Theatre Practicum I (1)
  • TPA6187 - Themed Experience Seminar (3)
  • TPA5085C - Design Seminar for Theatre (2)
  • TPA6158 - Small Project Studio (3)
  • TPA6186 - Immersive Experience Studio (3)
  • TPA6188 - Visualizing Themed Environments (3)
  • TPA6921 - Collaborative Project Studio (3)
  • TPP5248C - Storytelling as a Theatrical Art Form (2)

Elective Courses

• Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: Choose 2 College of Arts and Humanities electives and 2 Rosen College of Hospitality electives: HMG Themed Entertainment Graduate courses (6 credit hours total) CAH Graduate level courses (6 credit hours total) Any other graduate-level courses may be permitted with school approval.

Internship

• Complete 1 of the following
  Preferred Minimum
  • Earn at least 11 credits from the following:
    • THE6948 - Professional Internship (4)
  Internship/Elective Combo (with permission of the program coordinator)
  • Complete all of the following
    • Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
      • THE6948 - Professional Internship (4)
    • Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Students may take as few as 8 credit hours of internship with permission of the program coordinator, the remaining credits required for the degree may be taken as additional CAH or HMG electives.

Thesis

• Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • THE6971 - Thesis (1 - 99)

Critique and Evaluation

• A final critique and evaluation of creative work is administered to all MFA majors at the end of their course work. The department allows two attempts at the final critique and evaluation.

Transfer and Residency

• Students who do not hold a master's degree can usually transfer up to nine semester hours into this program. Ordinarily, students holding completed MS or MA degrees will not be admitted into the MFA program. Each case will be evaluated on an individual basis. Final acceptance and number of credits to be transferred will be determined by a graduate faculty committee. A minimum of 51 credits must be taken at the University of Central Florida. A student without an earned master's degree must complete a residency requirement of at least five semesters with at least four of them being full-time, consecutive semesters. Summer session may be counted toward the four consecutive semesters.

Independent Learning

• The Independent Learning Requirement is met by successful completion of a master's thesis.

Grand Total Credits: 61

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• A Bachelor's degree (BFA, BA, BS).
• A 3.0 GPA.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• A 500-750 word statement of interest.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Portfolio comprised of visual art and design or creative written work. Work may be submitted in the video, digital images of artwork or writing samples. Consult the admissions committee if there are questions regarding format and appropriate submissions.
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

For more details about these requirements, contact the School of Performing Arts at https://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu

General Entrance and Area Specific Prerequisites -Students applying for entrance into the MFA Programs must have successfully completed a regionally accredited bachelor's degree program. Concentration or experience in the visual, written, or performing arts is preferred.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.