Master of Arts and Master of Science

Illinois State University offers both a Master of Arts and a Master of Science degree in theatre. Both are two-year programs geared towards either those preparing for further academic study or those looking to find a specific focus in their professional work.

Program Focus

The main focus of the M.A./M.S. degree program is to prepare students for future doctoral studies in theatre. The School of Theatre at Illinois State University has an excellent record of success, with many of our recent graduates currently enrolled in prestigious Ph.D. programs nationwide.

The program can also serve as an exploratory degree for students interested in pursuing professional careers in theatre but unsure whether their focus will be scholarly or artistic. The program provides an excellent foundation for future M.F.A. as well as Ph.D. studies.

In addition, an M.A./M.S. degree may lead to an entry level position teaching general courses at a two-year college.

Curriculum

The School of Theatre believes that M.A./M.S. students are best served by opportunities to experience a broad range of courses covering most aspects of theatre. Students complete a minimum of 32 credit hours in theatre or in related courses approved by the student’s graduate committee. The curriculum includes advanced courses in theatre history, theory, dramatic literature and criticism, as well as acting, directing, and design. M.A./M.S. students also choose from a wide variety of electives. Students are given 14 hours of elective credit, which allows them to tailor the program to their individual needs and interests.

In addition to the minimum degree requirements, M.A. students must have earned credit for a minimum of two years of a foreign language at the college level and must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a foreign language.

All M.A./M.S. candidates must complete either a thesis project or pass a comprehensive examination in order to graduate.

More detailed information on program requirements and course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Catalog (pdf).

Teaching Opportunities

With teaching as a potential career option, M.A./M.S. students at Illinois State University receive training and gain experience in teaching at the college/university level. Qualified M.A./M.S. students are given the opportunity to teach undergraduate courses, such as introductory theatre and dramatic literature classes.

Financial Aid

A limited number of Graduate Assistantships are available to M.A./M.S. candidates. Graduate Assistantships offer students a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend to aid them in defraying a portion of their educational expenses. Full graduate assistantships usually require a minimum twenty-hour work week commitment for the School, which most often includes teaching assignments. Information about additional financial aid is available through the Financial Aid Office.

Recruitment

The Master of Arts/Master of Science Program at Illinois State University accepts a very limited number of students every year. The School of Theatre looks for mature applicants with strong writing and research skills and a disciplined desire for the intellectual pursuit of knowledge. We seek students who will find success in future academic and professional venues.

Admission

Candidates must apply through the Office of Admissions. M.A./M.S. candidates seeking admission are required to submit three letters of recommendation and one example of scholarly writing.

Further information regarding admission requirements and the application process can be found in the Graduate Catalog (pdf). Specific questions may be addressed to Ann Haugo, Chair of the M.A./M.S Program.

Success for Recent Graduates

M.A./M.S. students from the Illinois State University School of Theatre have gone on to some of the most prestigious Ph.D. programs in the nation. Recent graduates have been admitted to Ph.D. programs at the City University of New York (CUNY), the University of Oregon, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee, Ohio State University, and Indiana University. Two students in recent years have won prestigious fellowships to the University of Minnesota and the University of California at Santa Barbara. Graduates who have completed Ph.D. programs hold teaching positions at institutions of higher learning that include Rhodes College, Lehman College/CUNY, Washington and Jefferson University, Western Colorado State, and Arizona State. All are publishing scholars with articles in juried journals such as The Journal of American Drama and Theatre and Theatre History Studies. They have also presented papers at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the American Society for Theatre Research, and the Mid America Theatre Conference.