Course Requirements.
Receipt of the M.F.A. degree requires successful completion of a minimum of 54 hours graduate course credit. A one-semester internship and Final Project & Report (or sanctioned alternative, including thesis option) also are required. Graduate Catalogue Course Listings.

The Studio Approach. 
Each student admitted will work with one primary advisor from Theatre Arts in a one-on-one studio environment over the three-year period. In this context, all Theatre Arts faculty members are available to contribute graduate level seminar, classroom, and tutorial instruction to meet the goals of the program and the needs of the student.

The educational value of the studio experience is based on regularly planned projects designed as experiential labs. The primary advisor mentors the artistic progress of the student through these projects and guides the development of the student's overarching goals and curricular needs. A unique Plan of Study, designed to the needs of each student, is developed to track progress toward the degree.

The graduate student may take advantage of the resources of other departments at Virginia Tech including: English, Education, Human Development, Women’s Studies, Africana Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Urban Planning, History, Political Science, Art, Architecture, and Engineering.

Internship. 
The program includes a one-semester internship in a professional setting, designed to provide the student with professional practice and strong positioning for career development on graduation.  The internship is usually conducted in the student's third year. In addition, short-term run outs may be undertaken as part of the experiential learning.

Committee Review.
Each student participates in a required review with graduate committee members at the end of each semester of enrollment to evaluate work done, assess progress, and plan future projects and experiences.

For additional Graduate School policies, review the Graduate Catalogue.