MFA Theatre (Dramatic Writing) at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The concentration in dramatic writing under the Master of Fine Arts program in theatre includes coursework in playwriting, screenwriting, historical studies in theatre, and dramatic theory. You direct new work, study dramaturgy and literary management, and pursue related topics such as writing for solo performance, storytelling, devising and collaborative writing in a variety of genres such as comedy, horror, science fiction and fantasy.

What you will study

60 credit hours including the required applied project course (THP 693) Required Core (6 credit hours) THE 504 Studies in Dramatic Theory and Criticism (3) THE 520 Theatre History and Literature (3) Concentration (21 credit hours) THE 562 Dramaturgy Workshop (3) THP 560 Dramatic Writer's Workshop (15) THP 561 Scripts in Progress (3) Other Requirements (6 credit hours) THE 500 Research Methods (3) THP 598 Special Topics (3) Electives (21 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) THP 693 Applied Project (6) Additional Curriculum Information As part of the electives coursework, students have the option to complete an internship (THP 684) for three credit hours.

Career pathways

Professionals with an MFA degree in dramatic writing regularly have their work produced at festivals, staged readings and theatres across the country. They have obtained highly competitive artist residencies and awards for their work. Career examples: publishing plays, working at an established arts organization in a variety of roles, working as a teaching artist.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in theatre or in creative writing from a regionally accredited institution. An applicant may have an undergraduate degree outside of theatre and may be admitted on the basis of excellent creative writing and academic work. Deficiencies in undergraduate preparation may be removed while pursuing the MFA degree. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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