The Department of Drama offers an M.F.A. in Drama, with emphases in Acting, Directing, Design, Music Direction, or Stage Management.

The Acting faculty is devoted to the development of working professional actors who possess the skills, insight, intelligence, creativity, and vision to create the theatre of the future. UCI has proven itself notably successful in training working professionals with alumni who perform on stages around the country, on and off Broadway, in regional theatres, or in feature films and television series. Many graduates of the program hold faculty positions in university theatre.

The Directing program is dedicated to the idea that theatre should challenge and expand the mind, move the soul, and delight the spirit. The Directing program is a three-year course of study. The program’s first year focuses on directing realistic “character driven” work, along with script analysis and collaboration skills. In the second year, the student director focuses on “language driven” plays, the components of production, and communication in collaboration. The third year centers on original and devised work as well as self-produced projects. Each student is expected to direct every quarter – in the classroom, with student directed projects, and/or in production. In addition, each student will be engaged in full-length plays in the second year. During their course of study, each student will receive, at a minimum, one fully produced show in the main season. One of these will be the student’s thesis production in their third year.

The Design program provides a challenging and creative environment for the curious and resourceful design student. Students in this program will be exceptionally well-suited to a career in the theatre and related entertainment arts, Incoming students specialize in a specific discipline: sound design, lighting design, costume design, or scenic design. Study of that specific discipline is at the heart of the student's education. Students will also develop a solid working knowledge of the basic principles and procedures of the other disciplines in order to foster more productive collaboration. In addition, the design curriculum includes the study of theatre history, art history, and dramatic literature. Instruction is focused on the growth of each student's individual design abilities. Students will work in a shared studio space, creating an atmosphere of constructive critique and support. Beyond the regular course load, additional learning opportunities can occur during weekly round tables, design tutorials, masterclasses, and post-performance critiques. The Design program provides professional training that respects our theatrical heritage and the traditional skills of a designer. In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on new technologies and how they affect and enhance contemporary design practices. Training on high-end computers and equipment using the latest software is required in all design disciplines, preparing students for a seamless transition to the professional world.

The Music Direction program prepares artists for a professional life in the theatre as musical directors. Students work with faculty members and other professionals in the Musical Theatre field, receiving instruction and mentoring in conducting, vocal coaching for the actor, musical preparation, script and score analysis, composing and arranging music for the stage, sound design, and singing pedagogy. Students also gain valuable first-hand experience through internships. The program is designed to help students refine/ improve their knowledge base and experience in vocal coaching, conducting, musical preparation of singers, rehearsal techniques, composing, arranging, and producing.  Applicants are required to have excellent keyboard skills (including sight-reading, transposition), basic orchestra score-reading and conducting skills, and an understanding and appreciation of musical theatre as a genre. Students have the opportunity to work on musical productions each quarter while being closely mentored by the department’s Musical Theatre and associated faculty.  

Normally three years of residence is required. Each candidate must enroll for three courses each quarter for nine quarters, exclusive of summer sessions.

The normative time to degree for students in the M.F.A. program is three years. Residence is required. The maximum time to degree can be extended to four years only through petition to the Head of the Program for extenuating circumstances. Students who do not complete the degree in four years will be recommended for academic disqualification.

During the first year of residence each candidate will prepare, for credit, two graduate projects, in acting, directing, design, music direction, stage management, theatrical research, or a combination of two of these. Satisfactory completion of these projects, as determined by the faculty, is prerequisite to entering the second year of the program.

The required thesis normally consists of directing, designing, musically directing, stage managing, or playing a principal role in a major production, and collecting in essay form the evidences of research, analysis, and judgments which formed a part of the production experience.

Each graduate student is expected to participate in productions throughout residence at UCI.

Specific course requirements must be satisfied in one of the following five areas:

Acting Requirements

Design Requirements

Directing Requirements

Music Direction Requirements

Stage Management Requirements

Graduates from the Department of Drama perform, stage manage, or design on Broadway, in national tours, regional and summer theatres, in films and on television. UC Irvine's Drama alumni serve as artistic directors, business managers, designers, art directors, and performers at more than 100 theatre companies, and are faculty at more than 75 institutions of higher learning.

A degree in Drama may or may not lead to professional employment in theatre or film. While some alumni may pursue careers as professional theatre artists, many may use the skills learned from their degree and embark upon careers in law, business, arts management, advertising, and teaching. Others may pursue further study at UC Irvine or other notable institutions.