Master of Theatre Studies Coursework
Main Session Dates: July 5 – July 20, 2024
Third Year Thesis Defense: July 21, 2024
The Theatre Teacher Training program for middle school, high school and community college teachers is a rigorous experience that requires three summers with two intensive weeks in residence in July and considerable individual effort before and after each summer. The program requires practical implementation and documentation of applied design and production projects executed in your own school. Each year of your program will focus on a different type of theatre: first summer – representational, second summer – musical theatre and 3rd summer – presentational. The program leads to a Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design.
*Please note: The SOU Master’s program candidates must complete 9 credits of elective coursework in addition to the main session intensive coursework to fulfill their degree requirements.
What our students say:
“There are things that I will take back to use in my classroom from the very first week and ideas that I will be able to use in my productions immediately.”
“The information learned will be invaluable to me and my program. I have more tools to create richer productions at my school.”
“The coursework was challenging and it has been exciting to learn many new skills.”
See Coursework Details
Please view the SOU Catalog for course information.
Assignments and Projects
The Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design offers you the opportunity to learn from theatre professionals in a creative environment while you earn your 45-credit degree over three years.
You earn 11 quarter credits in years one and two and 14 quarter credits in year three through the summer residency plus the applied projects in your own school. Each summer will require two plus weeks in residence on the SOU campus. The curriculum also includes required projects before and after each two-week residency period. This work includes play reading, analysis papers, and theoretical designs, as well as research, curriculum, design, and production projects executed in your own school.
Completion of the Master of Theatre Studies degree requires 9 additional theatre elective credits for a total of 45 graduate quarter credits. Nine of the additional graduate-level credits are taken at SOU (week-long ‘elective’ courses in the summer or online courses during the school year). You may petition to have 6 credits accepted from a previously completed graduate degree in an appropriate discipline.
The final four credits of the Master’s Program are fulfilled through a Thesis Project (TA 503) in which students submit a portfolio reflecting best work samples, a detailed self-evaluation paper, and an oral defense of these documents.
See Assignment and Project Details
Over the course of the three-year program you will complete the following assignments:
Before arriving for the first summer intensive
Play analysis, beat analysis, and theoretical design packet for assigned play
Read plays for curriculum (titles assigned yearly)
In your school during the school year between the first and second summer
Applied Technology project
Research project
Applied Design project Scenic/Costume
Directorial play analysis, beat analysis, and theoretical design packet for assigned play
Peer review of directorial analysis
Read plays for curriculum (titles assigned yearly)
During the second summer intensive
Presentation on Research, Applied Design, or Applied Technology project
In your school during the school year between the second and third summer
Applied Technology project
Research project
Applied Design project Lighting/Sound
Play analysis, beat analysis, and theoretical design packet for assigned play
Peer review of directorial analysis and theoretical design statements
Read the four plays we will attend during the summer
Read plays for curriculum (titles assigned yearly)
During the third summer intensive
Presentation on Research, Applied Design, or Applied Technology project
Project Descriptions
- Directorial analysis papers and theoretical designs – for all areas of design (scenic, costume, lighting, sound) of assigned plays, one before each summer session. The process will include peer review during the second and third years. Theoretical designs include design statements and research, scenic models, renderings, and ground plans; lighting plots and magic sheets; costume plots and character sketches; and sound cue sheets, incidental music, and character themes.
- Applied Design projects – choose from the plays produced at your school during the academic year; fulfill and document a design role.
- Research projects – we’re looking for documentation on best practices and pedagogy. Projects could include research into new projects and/or new technologies that directly impact the particular needs of your school. Abstracts will be combined into a resource book for participants.
- Applied Technology project – choose a play to produce at your school during the academic year; fulfill and document a tech role (costume construction, wardrobe, wigs, and makeup; set and properties construction, painting, and rigging; lighting hook-ups, plots, and rigging; or sound recording, editing, mixing, and live amplification).
- Presentations – in your second and third summer you will present either your research, Applied Design, or Applied Technology project.
- Thesis project – curriculum culmination consisting of a portfolio reflecting best work samples, a detailed self-evaluation paper, and an oral defense of these documents.
Master of Theatre Studies Elective Courses
Five-day (3 credit) intensive courses on specialized areas in theatre production and design. MoTS Alumni and students not enrolled in the MoTS program (non-admitted students) may enroll in Electives if there is space.
Elective Application Information
Prerequisite: Bachelor’s degree or permission of the instructor. Current Master of Theatre Studies students receives first priority. This course may serve as one of the required elective 3-credit courses toward the Master of Theatre Studies degree.
For non-admitted graduate elective students, enrollment is offered when spaces remain available after enrolled MoTS students have selected their courses.
Complete the SOU non-admitted graduate student registration form here.
See Past Elective Course Samples
Choreography for Musical Theatre
Costume Crafts: Patternmaking
Costume Crafts: Dyeing and Distressing
Costuming Crafts: Millinery
Directing
Intelligent Use of Automated Lighting
Mask Making and Movement
Microphone Intensive
Puppetry; Design, Construction, and Performance
Scene Painting Intensive
Shadow Puppetry: Writing, Design, Performance
Staging the Musical
The Director and the Rehearsal Process
The Wonderful World of Dramaturgy
Theatrical Combat Workshop
Vectorworks
Voice and Movement for the Actor
Workshop – Topics in Drama
Master Degree Requirements
The Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design offers you the opportunity to learn from theatre professionals in a creative environment while you earn your 47-credit degree over three years.
You earn 12 quarter credits each year through the summer residency plus the applied projects in your own school. Each summer will require two plus weeks in residence on the SOU campus. The curriculum also includes required projects before and after each two-week residency period. This work includes play reading, analysis papers, and theoretical designs, as well as research, curriculum, design, and production projects executed in your own school.
Completion of the Master of Theatre Studies degree requires 9 additional theatre elective credits for a total of 45 graduate quarter credits. Nine of the additional graduate-level credits are taken at SOU (week-long ‘elective’ courses in the summer or online courses during the school year). You may petition to have 6 credits accepted from a previously completed graduate degree in an appropriate discipline.
The final two credits of the Master’s Program are fulfilled through a Thesis Project (TA 503) in which students submit a portfolio reflecting best work samples, a detailed self-evaluation paper, and an oral defense of these documents.
Contact the Theatre Program
SOU Theatre Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6346
For MoTS information contact Helen Eckard at either mots@sou.edu or 541.552.6346
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