Theatre (MFA) (Master's) at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The MFA in Acting is a fully funded three-year programme that prepares students for careers as professional actors and educators. Training covers acting, voice and movement plus mentored university teaching experience.

Faculty: College of Arts and Letters | Department: Theatre (MFA in Acting) | Duration: Three years (60 credits), consecutive residency | Intake: One class admitted at a time; next class fall 2028, auditions January 2028 | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

What you will study

The 60 credits include THR 801 Practicum: Acting (18), THR 804 Voice (6), THR 805 Movement (6), theatre history, comparative drama and criticism, directing, professional aspects, special projects, electives and a final-year capstone project.

Career pathways

Graduates work as professional performers, university and college theatre faculty, and in film and television, including as agents and casting directors, plus fight and intimacy directors, directors, producers, voice studio owners and arts administrators.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Audition and interview required (URTA or direct); bachelor's degree or international equivalent completed by enrolment, with most candidates holding at least 24 theatre credits. No minimum GPA, though successful applicants typically have at least 3.0. GRE not required; professional experience not required. English proficiency required for international teaching assistants. Applicants should not apply to the Graduate School until instructed (expected fall 2027).

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants can start in fall (late August), spring (January) or summer (May) in the MPH programme; intake terms for other graduate programmes are set by each department or program.

The graduate application fee is $75 for domestic and international applicants, with one fee per application; applicants may submit up to two applications to different graduate majors per semester. Applications are reviewed by the department or program, which sets its own deadlines.

MPH application deadlines (SOPHAS completion): fall May 18, spring October 18, summer February 15; MSU supplemental application: fall June 1, spring November 1, summer March 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students

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