Ashland Center for Theatre Studies
Master of Theatre Studies
in Production and Design
Master Degree Requirements
The Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design offers you the opportunity to learn from theatre professionals in a creative environment while you earn your 47 credit degree over three years.
You earn 12 quarter credits each year through the summer residency plus the applied projects in your own school. Each summer will require two weeks in residence on the SOU campus. The curriculum also includes required projects before and after each two-week residency period. This work includes play reading, analysis papers, and theoretical designs, as well as research, curriculum, design, and production projects executed in your own school.
Completion of the Master of Theatre Studies degree requires 9 additional theatre elective credits for a total of 45 graduate quarter credits. Nine of the additional graduate level credits are taken at SOU (week-long 'elective' courses in the summer or online courses during the school year). You may petition to have 6 credits accepted from a previously completed graduate degree in an appropriate discipline.
The final two credits of the Master's Program are fulfilled through a thesis project (TA 503) in which students submit a portfolio reflecting best work samples, a detailed self evaluation paper, and an oral defense of these documents.
For curriculum details, please click the Course Work Details link in the box on the upper right of this page.
2012 Winter Online Course
Workshop/Dramatic Literature/Absurdism - January 9 - March 23, 2012
2012 Summer Elective Courses
July 22-27
Week-long (3 credit) intensive courses focusing on specialized areas in theatre production and design
The SOU Master’s program candidates must complete 9 credits of elective coursework to fulfill their degree requirements. Should space allow, the courses are open to non-program students for professional development on a stand-alone basis.
Choreography for Musicals: Develop skills in both dance technique and choreographic composition with the goal of becoming more capable of choreographing a musical or of supervising a student or guest choreographer.
Puppetry; Design, Construction and Performance will lead students in a week long, extensive, workshop in the art of puppet design, construction, performance, manipulation techniques and scene work.
Scene Painting Intensive: Students will engage in an intensive workshop learning scene painting for theater from the brush up.
Application Information
Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree or permission of the instructor. ACTS Master of Theatre Studies students get first priority. This course may serve as one of the required additional 3-credit courses toward the Master of Theatre Studies degree.
Please see the webpage for the individual courses for fees and registration information.
Questions? Check out our FAQ page.