• Director of Graduate Studies: Professor Kenton Yeager 865-974-2207
• University of Tennessee Graduate School
• Graduate Handbook
• Accessibility
• Professional Organizations
• External Project Authorization Form
  To be filled out and approved by faculty prior to acceptance of any project not sponsored by the department, including projects in and outside Knoxville. This form is also to be used to request funding and travel authorization for any project, conference, assisting, and/or theatre related trip.
• MFA Design Reading List

The following is a typical 3-year study program. It can and should be adapted to suit the interests and experience of each individual student.

SEMESTER 1:

• Theatre 464 Computer Aided Drafting for Theater (3)
  • Introduction to entertainment drafting, graphical standards, drafting techniques, drawing layout, and presentation.
• Theatre 501 Intro to Graduate Studies (3)
  • Through projects in dramaturgy, students learn research tools and methods for the theatre artist.
• Theatre 503 Elements of Design for the Theatre (3)
  • Analysis of the principles of design including visual, structural and emotional relationships.
• Theatre 563 Lab Analysis of Realized Lighting Design (1).
  • Realized lighting design project analysis from concept meeting through opening night. Lab intensive presentation and response.
• Theatre 580 Design Seminar (3)
  • Analysis, research, interpretation, and design of plays in a cross-disciplinary environment.
• Theatre 593 Opening the Creative Mind (1)
  • In-depth discussion and meditation technique to understand who the individual artist is within each student.

SEMESTER 2:

• Theatre 463, Programming for Lighting Consoles (3)
  • Training and exploration of the major lighting consoles used in the entertainment industry.
• Theatre 475 Projection and Media Design (3)
  • The creation and execution of digital media for theatrical projection and multimedia/performance integration.
• Theatre 492 Off-Campus Study (1)
  • Intensive study NYC trip.
• Theatre 557 Period Styles for the Theatre (3)
  • The history of décor, architecture, clothes, and music as it relates to theatrical design.
• Theatre 580 Design Seminar (3)
  • Analysis, research, interpretation, and design of plays in a cross-disciplinary environment.

SEMESTER 3:

• Theatre 563 Lab Analysis of Realized Lighting Design (3).
  • Realized lighting design project analysis from concept meeting through opening night. Lab intensive presentation and response.
• Theatre 580 Design Seminar (3)
  • In the third semester, design students explore advanced projects in design including those outside of the traditional theatre setting. Diverse productions, large-scale projects and complex design situations are the primary focus this semester.
• Theatre 584 Photography for the Theatre (3)
  • Photographic techniques for shooting live theatrical events under challenging lighting environments and the incorporation of these into a professional portfolio.
• Theatre 587 Computer Aided Rendering for the Theatre (3)
  • Computer rendering programs and their use by theatrical designers.

SEMESTER 4:

• Theatre 462 Dance Concert Lighting (3)
  • Exploration of dance lighting styles
• Theatre 491 Foreign Study (1)
  • Intensive study abroad trip.
• Theatre 510 Theatre History (3)
  • Intensive study of selected topics in theatre history.
• Theatre 563 Lab Analysis of Realized Lighting Design (3)
  • Realized lighting design project analysis from concept meeting through opening night. Lab intensive presentation and response.
• Theatre 588 Digital Portfolio (3)
  • Creating a digital theatrical design portfolio and supporting materials and the exploration of presentation options and standards.
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SEMESTER 5:

• Theatre 563 Lab Analysis of Realized Lighting Design (3)
  • Realized lighting design project analysis from concept meeting through opening night. Lab intensive presentation and response.
• Theatre 593 Independent Study, or Elective (3)
  • Independent work with instructor on topics either of special interest to the student or on faculty identified deficiencies in the student’s overall education to date.
• Theatre 599 Project in Lieu of Thesis (3-6)
  • Execution of a major Lighting design for the Clarence Brown Theatre with in-depth post project review (3). Or, Culminating project proposed by student. Includes produced production/performance/exhibit and written thesis, or In-depth research in a topic of specific interest to the student, culminating in a paper or project (6).

SEMESTER 6:

• Theatre 473 Advanced Sound Design (3) or Elective
  • Advanced applications of theatrical sound design practice, principles, and technology.
• Theatre 557 Period Styles for the Theatre (3)
  • The history of décor, architecture, clothes, and music as it relates to theatrical design.
• Theatre 563 Lab Analysis of Realized Lighting Design (3)
  • Realized lighting design project analysis from concept meeting through opening night. Lab intensive presentation and response.
• Theatre 593 Independent Study (1-3) Optional
  • Independent work with instructor on topics either of special interest to the student or on faculty identified deficiencies in the student’s overall education to date.
• Theatre 599 Project in Lieu of Thesis (3)
  • Preparation of marketing materials, portfolio, and catalog of individual work produced while in the program, culminating in a formal presentation and oral defense.

SUGGESTED ELECTIVE COURSE MENU:

• History of Art, History of Opera, Music Theory/ Technology, Music Composition, Dramatic Literature and Criticism, Renaissance Drama, Modern Drama, Contemporary Drama, Shakespeare, Drama of the Restoration and 18th Century, Photography, Costume Design, Scenic Design, Sound Design, Media Design, Advanced Theatre Technology, Make-up, Architectural Illumination, Small Group Dynamics, Conflict Resolution

All Graduate Students in the MFA Theatre Design Program are required to have a computer, software, and other equipment, prior to their use in programmatic classes. As designers in the theatre, these items are standard and essential, and will allow for success in your chosen field.

The department of theatre has a dedicated iMac computer lab that is accessible by graduate and undergraduate students. However, most individual work will be done in provided studio workspaces, in tech, at home, and while traveling.  The dedicated graduate workspaces include peripherals such as plotters, printers (3D and 2D), scanners, engravers, lighting/projection/sound studios, spray booths, and more.

The following list of equipment and software is required by classes in the MFA Program.

These items are to be supplied by the student at the student’s expense.

Laptop, Windows or Apple

• Minimum Requirements: able to run current Adobe Suite, Vectorworks, and Autocad.
• Adobe Suite will be provided to you at no charge while in the program.
• Lighting, Scenic, Sound/Media Students must have Vectorworks, which is free for students.
• Scenic Students must have Autocad (free for students)
• Sound/Media students must have a computer capable of video production.

A Digital Camera capable of using interchanging lenses (required for Fall of the second year).

• We are partial to Nikon and Cannon but any good brand will work. Sensor of 20 Megapixel or higher
• A zoom lens or fix focus lenses ranging from 18-200mm
• 2 Memory cards 64gb or higher
• A good quality monopod

iPad and Apple Pencil (required for Fall of the first year).

• Required for Costume, and Scenic.
• Recommended for Lighting and Sound/Media
• Procreate software
• iPad must be 10” or greater (iPad minis will not be allowed for content creation).

Costume Students:  Students will be required to purchase high quality art supplies for class projects, as needed. We recommend you start with the following supplies:

• 1 roll of tracing paper/Onion Skin
• Watercolor paper (Arches large sheets of paper- I prefer Cold Press, 140lb or 300lb in natural)
• Set of tube watercolors (Windsor & Newton, Cotman, Grumbacher, Daniel Smith)
• Metal Butcher Tray Paint Palette (I would recommend buying in two sizes)
• Brushes (Round brushes size 40 or 30, and various smaller sizes)

Scenic Students: Be prepared to purchase significant amounts of various art supplies and materials for the building of models, paint elevations, prop sketches, and other work product.

Sound/Media students:

• Flat response studio quality headphones.
• Flash/external drives, no smaller than 128GB
• Sound/Media Students will be provided with a Qlab license at no charge while in the program.