Directing and design candidates take 16 required courses, of which at least five must be at the 700-level, according to a planned sequence. Required courses may be waived, and others substituted, if a student can present evidence of equivalent previous training. All M.F.A. candidates in theatre in their first year of residence are required to participate as research production assistants within the department. Assignment of these duties is determined by the department and students work under the supervision of one or more faculty members to fulfill this requirement. In the second and third year of residence, all M.F.A. candidates specializing in theatre design and production are required to continue as research production assistants, while all M.F.A. candidates specializing in directing are required to teach within the department.
Teaching assistants have total and complete responsibility for teaching one course per semester.
The assignment of courses is determined by the department and is based upon the student's teaching skills. Gural, Podewell, Risch.