The MFA program in Costume Design accepts and trains students pursuing careers in the professional theater. The program combines rigorous professional standards with a nurturing educational atmosphere that encourages students to discover their creative potential while meeting exacting standards of craftsmanship and technical discipline. The program views theater as a collaborative art and tries to impart to its students the joy and excitement of working creatively through the collaborative process. Instruction emphasizes conceptualization, spontaneity, originality, and text analysis with a strong focus on verbal and visual communication of ideas. The resident faculty believes that a wide sphere of influence is necessary in the evolution of a designer and seeks to expose the students to American and international design through a program of national and international travel. A vital aspect of the program is the involvement of students as designers in the production programs of the Clarence Brown, Carousel and Lab Theatre seasons.