Design for Theater and Entertainment
Design for Theater and Entertainment is a three-year program offering advanced professional training in three artistic areas: scenic design, costume design and lighting design.
The faculty include internationally recognized theater artists with many years of design experience in theater, opera and other dramatic forms. The diverse professional backgrounds, aesthetics and teaching approaches of the faculty allow for a wide-ranging, flexible program that can be customized to address the talents, needs and interests of each student. The program is highly selective and admits just a few students each year, permitting small classes and individualized attention not available in other professional training programs. While the development of specific design skills is important, the design faculty believe that a good overall design sense, heightened dramatic sensibilities and critical thinking are the essential qualities a designer must cultivate in order to be prepared for any kind of future creative challenge. The program's goal is to produce artists who know how to think creatively, how to conceptualize, and how to find new ways of designing for the theater. Students frequently work as assistants to faculty members on their professional projects. There is a strong emphasis on helping the student build a professional portfolio that reflects the designer's unique individual style and approach as an artist in the theater.
The School offers designers outstanding production facilities, which include four professionally equipped theaters; a professional design studio with superior computer-assisted design facilities; a professional model shop; a lighting laboratory; and professional shops for scenery, lighting and costumes. All major theater productions in the School are designed by students and there are classes and design opportunities in film and television as well.
The master of fine arts degree is awarded on the basis of successful completion of the required courses and critical evaluation of student work. The Department expects consistent progress as well as attainment of professional skills. These and other factors will also influence the Department’s allocation of production resources including the number, scale, and scheduling of projects and productions.
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The Design for Theater and Entertainment program offers advanced professional training in three artistic areas: costume design, lighting design and scenic design
The Theater M.F.A. DegreeThe degree is awarded on the basis of successful completion of the required courses, 104 quarter units of course work, of which 86 units must be at the graduate level; additionally a critical evaluation of design projects must culminate in a manner to show professional competence in the field. Courses are scheduled so that the required courses and projects can be completed within three years.
Design Thesis ProjectThe training program culminates in the Design Thesis Project that is a series of group design projects that serve as the comprehensive examination for the program. The Design Thesis Project is reviewed and evaluated by the Design faculty. On completion of this project or last quarter of residency, whichever is last, students must file for advancement to candidacy. If the student fails the Design Thesis Project, the student may be reexamined. The number of reviews will be determined by the committee with final approval of the Chair of the Department.
Degree RequirementsStudents will be required to enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter. Required courses will be scheduled to permit completion of the program within a three-year period. In addition to the successful completion of a minimum of 104 units or 26 courses, candidates for the degree must pass a comprehensive examination that is a critical evaluation of design projects demonstrating professional competence in the field.
By petition, the 104 unit or 26 course requirements may be fulfilled with approved alternative courses. A minimum of 94 units or 23.5 courses must be at the graduate level, a maximum of 10 undergraduate units and a maximum of 12 units of 596 courses may be applied toward the degree.
Time to DegreeThe Theater MFA Program in Design for Theater and Entertainment involves students in its specialized area of study for a continuous period until all required courses are completed, typically nine quarters. The maximum residency allowable is 12 quarters.
I. Scenic Design
Required Core Design Courses
Scenic Design
Scenic Design for Theater
Production Design for Film and Television
Production Design for Film and Television
Projection Design
Costume Design (any from the 400 series)
Lighting Design (any from 400 series)
Introduction to Design in Production (Scenography)
Design Thesis Project
Design Practice & Collaboration
Production Practice in Theater (Assistant Design Assignments)
Advanced Projects in Design and Production (Design Assignments)
Professional Internship in Theater, Film and Television
History Courses
History of Decor
Elective History of Theater, Opera, Film, Art and Architecture
History of Costume
Computer Design Skills Courses
Intro to Computer Assisted Drafting (AutoCAD)
Advanced Computer Assisted Drafting (AutoCAD 3D Max)
Computer Assisted Rendering (Maya & Rhino)
Computer Previsualization
Scenic Design Technology
Foundation in Design Skills Courses
Perspective Drawing
Multimedia Rendering
Digital Rendering (Photoshop)
Model Making
Life Drawing
Costume Rendering
Scenic Painting
Digital Concept Rendering for Film & TV
Hand Drafting for Theater Film and Television
Design Portfolio Development and Marketing
Elective Courses
History electives in Theater, Opera, Film, Art and/or Architecture
Art and the process of Entertainment Design
II. Costume Design
Required Core Design Courses
Costume Design
Costume Design for Theater and Live Entertainment
Costume Design for Film and Television
Scenic Design (any from the 400 series)
Lighting Design (any from 400 series)
Introduction to Design in Production (Scenography)
Design Thesis Project 4
Design Practice & Collaboration
Production Practice in Theater (Assistant Design Assignments)
Advanced Projects in Design and Production (Design Assignments)
Practice of Costume Design for Film Productions
Professional Internship in Theater, Film and Television
History Courses
History of Costume
Advance Costume History (Special topics in Historical costume)
History of Costume Design in Film
Advance Critical Studies in Costume Design ("Deconstructing Glamour")
Projects in Costume Design Management
Foundation in Design Skills Courses
Perspective Drawing
Multimedia Rendering
Digital Rendering (Photoshop)
Life Drawing
Costume Rendering
Digital Concept Rendering for Film & TV
Makeup Design for Stage
Design Portfolio Development and Marketing
Costume Construction
Costume Construction 3 Parts
Advanced Historical Costume Interpretation and Construction
Elective Courses
History electives in Theater, Art, Decor and/or Architecture
Art and Process of Entertainment Design
III. Lighting Design
Required Core Design Courses
Lighting Design
Scenic Projection & Media Techniques
Lighting Design for Special Events
Introduction to Cinematography
Intermediate Cinematography
Scenic Design
Costume Design
Introduction to Design in Production (Sceneography)
Design Thesis Project
Design Practice & Collaboration
Production Practice in Theater, Film, Television
Advanced Projects in Design For Theater, Film and Television
Production Practice in TFT Video and Digital Media
Art and Process of Entertainment Design
Professional Internship in Theater, Film and Television
History Courses
Elective History of Theater, Opera, Film, Art and Architecture
History of Decor
History of Costume
Computer Design Skills Courses
Intro to Computer Assisted Drafting Vectorworks
Adv. Computer Assisted Drafting Vectorworks
Lighting Design Technology
Intro to Computer Assisted Drafting AutoCAD
Advanced Computer Assisted Drafting AutoCAD
Foundation in Design Skills Courses
Drafting for Theater
Hand Drafting for Film and Television
Perspective Drawing
Multimedia Rendering
Digital Rendering (Photoshop)
Model Making
Life Drawing
Scenic Painting
Digital Concept Rendering for Film & TV
All Theater, Film and Television degree programs are full-time, daytime programs. The Theater graduate programs have daytime classes and evening production activities. The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television only accepts applicants for admittance for the Fall and the next application period is for Fall 2024. We will be publishing the Fall 2024 supplemental requirements by September 15, 2023.
The UCLA Department of Theater will be participating in the U/RTA Interviews for students applying to the Design program for Fall 2023.
Applicants must submit all required application materials to be considered for admission.
Online and Mailed Application Deadline: December 1, 2023
By the time of entrance, MFA applicants must:
- Have at least a 3.0 GPA.
- Satisfy the University of California’s Graduate Admission Requirements.
- Complete equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.
APPLICATION WORKSHEET AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY - COMING SOON
Please complete all of the following steps:
Step 1: Online
- Complete the UCLA Graduate Division Online Application.
- MUST be paid and completed online by December 1, 2023.
- Indicate MFA, Theater, Design as the program.
- NOTE: Indicate area within Design - Costume, Lighting, or Scenic.
- Upload the Statement of Purpose.
- Submit a 1-2 page document.
- Upload a Personal Statement.
- Upload the Resume/CV.
- Upload a Portfolio Breakdown.
- Upload a Portfolio.
- For more information on PORTFOLIO requirements, Click Here.
- Upload Unofficial copies of all Transcripts.
- Submit Two Letters of Recommendation
- Enter the Names and Emails of all recommenders into the UCLA Graduate Division Online Application.
Step 2: Mail
- Mail an Official copy of all Transcripts from each Undergraduate and Graduate institutions attended.
- Note: Community College transcripts are not necessary.
- Request that all Test Scores be sent directly to UCLA.
- Only test scores taken by December 31, 2023 will be accepted.
- Note: Not Required to all Applicants.
Mailing Address
Please send all applicable materials to:
Graduate Theater Admissions: Design
UCLA Department of Theater
103 East Melnitz Hall, Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622
Online and Mailed Application Deadline: December 1, 2023.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
For more information on requirements and applying to UCLA as an International Student, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/international-applicants/.
English Proficiency: Any international applicant whose first language is not English must certify proficiency in English when applying to UCLA, and, if admitted, upon arrival. Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. The UCLA Code is 4837 and the Department Code is 2409. Only test scores taken by December 31, 2023 will be accepted. For more information about this requirement, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/english-requirements/. International applicants who have received a Bachelor’s degree from an American institution are not required to take the TOEFL.
Academic Records: Although the UCLA Graduate Division Application enables applicants to upload an unofficial copy of their academic records, all applicants are required to submit official records from each academic institution attended. For more information about this requirement, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/required-academic-records/.
Undergraduate Degree Requirement: Applicants must complete equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. International students who hold three-year ordinary pass degrees, or who hold professional diplomas in accounting, business, librarianship, social work, physical education, health education and so on, or four-year degrees, diplomas or higher certificates from technical, vocational or post-secondary specialized schools are NOT eligible for graduate admission. For Academic Requirements by Country or Educational System, visit: https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/required-academic-records.
Proof of Funding for Visa: U.S. immigration law requires that international applicants, if admitted, show documented evidence that sufficient funds to cover all tuition, fees, transportation, and living expenses are available for the first year of their studies at UCLA. This must be proven before a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS2019) for a visa can be issued. For more information about this requirement, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/visa-procedures/.
FAFSA
For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents interested in receiving financial aid in the 2024-2025 year, note that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for UCLA is March 2, 2024. Applicants must complete the FAFSA by this date if they want to be eligible for all awards, work-study, and scholarships that UCLA offers. If applying after March 2, please check with the Financial Aid Office for available funding opportunities. www.financialaid.ucla.edu
DREAM ACT
For non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents who are approved to pay in-state tuition because they graduated from a high school in California; they will need to complete the California DREAM application by the March 2, 2024 deadline. The DREAM application can be accessed at https://dream.csac.ca.gov. If applying after March 2, please check with the Financial available funding opportunities. www.financialaid.ucla.edu
Please visit the FAQ page for additional information, call 310-206-8441, or email theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu.
** Please do not contact the department to check on your application, as we cannot update you on your application status or materials.
For Prospective Students:
- E-mail: theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu
- Phone: 310-206-8441
- Office: 103 East Melnitz Hall