The Master of Arts and the Master of Science in Theater Arts consist of forty-five graduate credit hours planned after admission in consultation with the departmentalgraduate advisor, Dr. Richard Wattenberg. Twelve of the forty-five graduate credits may be in courses taken outside the department, if specifically related to a student's course of study and approved in advance by the departmental graduate adviser.
Master of Arts in Theater Arts
The Master of Arts degree is recommended for students who want to focus their graduate study on research and scholarship in the history, literature, and criticism of the theater and who may also plan to continue their graduate work in a doctoral program in theater. The Master of Arts student must demonstrate competence in the use of a second foreign language and will typically complete the degree program with a thesis, playwriting, or two-paper project.
Hedda Gabler (Winter 2007)
Master of Science in Theater Arts
The Master of Science degree is suggested for students who wish to focus more intensively on performance and production areas in preparation for a career in the professional theater and/or further degree work in a Master of Fine Arts theater program. The Master of Science student must demonstrate expertise in the skills pertaining to either advanced theater performance or design and will typically complete the degree program with a project in directing, acting, scene design, costume design, or lighting design, a project in playwriting, or a two-paper project.
The Theater Arts Graduate Handbook contains information on degree requirements, procedures and instructions for the various thesis/project options.
Download the Graduate Advising Handbook for MA/MS in Theater Arts
MA/MS Interdisciplinary Studies
The Interdisciplinary Studies program is a 45-graduate credit program designed to provide highly motivated students the opportunity to develop, with an advising committee, an individualized, interdisciplinary program for graduate study, in which fully approved courses in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and the professional schools are combined to create a cohesive program not otherwise available on campus. Such a program will involve a minimum of two and a maximum of three academic disciplines.
The MS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Film Studies focus may be earned through the Department of Theater Arts with secondary course work from the Departments of English and/or Communications. The Pathway for the MS-IS with a focus in Film Studies contains information on courses that may be applied to the focus.
Download the Pathway for MS-IS (focus in Film Studies)
How to Apply for Graduate Studies
Graduate application procedures and materials for the Theater Arts MA/MS are available via PSU's Admissions website: www.pdx.edu/admissions/graduate-admission.
In addition to the university application, the Department of Theater Arts requires
- a personal statement of goals in the discipline: What is your educational goal? How will this degree further your education?;
- transcripts from all schools attended;
- two recommendations (three for Standard Secondary Endorsement applicants);
- a resume;
- TOEFL combined test score, if English is your second language; and
- completion of the departmental application.
Please print, complete, and send the Theater Arts application with required materials to:
Department of Theater Arts
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, however the department observes the university’s application priority dates. Although students can be admitted to the program throughout the year, it is strongly recommended that students enter the program during fall term.
Application Priority Dates
Fall Term: April 1
Winter Term: September 1
Spring Term: November 1
Summer Session: February 1
If you have any questions please email theaterarts@pdx.edu.
For complete information on MS-IS degree requirements, contact Courtney Hanson in the Office of Graduate Studies at hanson@pdx.edu.