Production and Design, Master of Theatre Studies

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Theatre Teacher Training Program

The Ashland Center for Theatre Studies Theatre Teacher Training Program offers a unique master’s program that focuses on theatre production, design, and technology for high school and community college theatre teachers. The structure of this master’s degree program follows the guidelines set by the Theatre Arts program. Candidates must be admitted to graduate studies.

For general information about the graduate program, please consult the Graduate Programs section. Master of Theatre Studies in production and design students earn 12 credits each year for three years, spending two weeks in residence on the SOU campus each summer and completing applied design and technology, research, and curriculum projects during each school year. Completion of the master’s degree requires 9 additional credits in related approved theatre courses for a total of 45 graduate credits.

Major Program (Theatre Arts)

(Required) 36 credits in graduate-level theatre arts core curriculum courses:

TA 521 - Principles of Production Analysis 3 credits
TA 522 - Principles of Production Analysis 3 credits
TA 523 - Principles of Production Analysis 3 credits
TA 526 - Design Elements 3 credits
TA 527 - Design Elements 3 credits
TA 528 - Design Elements 3 credits
TA 531 - Production Implementation 3 credits
TA 532 - Production Implementation 3 credits
TA 533 - Production Implementation 3 credits
TA 541 - Practicum: Applied Technology 3 credits
TA 542 - Practicum: Applied Technology 3 credits
TA 543 - Practicum: Applied Technology 3 credits
Related graduate-level theatre coursework 9 credits

Total: 45 credits

Admission

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to a graduate degree program, students must submit a resumé, three letters of reference that address teaching and production experience, and a statement of educational philosophy.

Classes

All TA 521 through TA 543 courses offered under the ACTS Master of Theatre Studies are required over three summers. The curriculum includes required coursework before and after the two-week summer residency period and throughout the academic school year. This work includes play reading, analysis papers, research, curriculum, and applied design and technology projects executed at the students’ own school. The residency portion of the program includes active discussion of production elements, including script analysis, design, and stage management, as well as in-depth exploration of all technical areas, hands-on development of production concepts, and practical application of technical processes. Evenings are spent preparing class assignments, working on design and technical projects, and viewing plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Master’s Thesis

The curriculum culminates in a master’s thesis project. The thesis project requires a complete directorial analysis that is applied to the design elements and will be realized in working drawings, renderings, recordings, and prospectuses.

ACTS Master of Theatre Studies Coursework

Coursework is broken down into four integrated 9-credit sequences that focus on presentational, representational, and musical theatre. Assignments and individual blocks of time within the summer residency portion may fulfill requirements for more than one course.