Program highlights
- Accomplished faculty. Graduate faculty in the Department of Theatre and Film at BGSU are accomplished researchers and artists. Many have achieved national and international recognition for their scholarly and creative work.
- Accredited program. Our Master of Arts in theatre program has long-standing accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Theatre. This spotlights our deep commitment to academic and artistic excellence.
- Career-relevant curriculum. Graduate faculty engages in ongoing review of M.A. coursework. They ensure it aligns with ever-changing disciplinary norms and industry demand.
- Real experience, real impact. Graduate students have ample opportunities to apply their learning in real theatre settings. BGSU is proud to offer a robust theatre production calendar that fosters our students’ artistic growth and professional readiness.
- Grow together. Our theatre community cultivates spaces where creativity, scholarship and peer support drive artistic and personal development.
- Graduate assistantships. Qualified students may be awarded assistantships within the department. Students love the variety of potential assistantship roles – including in the costume shop, scene shop, publicity and box office – creating a dynamic and well-rounded experience for students.
- Take your learning to the next level. Build on your graduate studies by pursuing our Ph.D. theatre degree. Deepen your research, refine your artistic voice and contribute new knowledge to the field, both as a performer and scholar.
M.A. theatre students are engaged in every facet of production and performance. Because there is no MFA theatre program, they have the advantage of stepping into significant creative and leadership roles typically reserved for terminal-degree candidates – gaining vital experience.
#1 public university in Ohio for career prep
The Wall Street Journal
Career opportunities
BGSU theatre alumni excel in a wide range of roles – from theatre critics and dramaturgs to teaching artists and arts administrators. This program gives you the creative tools and professional experience to succeed whether you’re shaping stories on stage, mentoring future performers or developing programs for arts organizations. Graduates have gone on to work in regional theatres, large performing arts festivals and top academic institutions.
The M.A. theatre degree shapes artists who are also leaders – skilled communicators, critical thinkers and compassionate collaborators.
Career paths
- Audience engagement/Community outreach coordinator
- Creative content developer
- Director (local, regional and educational theatre)
- Event planner
- High school drama teacher (with additional certification)
- Properties master/Set dresser
- Script consultant
- Performer
- Producer
- Public relations specialist
- Stage manager/Production manager
- Technical director
- Theatre company manager
- University college instructor (theatre arts)
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The 30-credit Master of Arts in theatre requires:
- 21 credits of core coursework covering research methods, theatre history/theory, performance practice and design/technical theatre
- 6 elective credits
- 3-credit culminating experience
Students develop skills in performance analysis, theatre theory, production collaboration and scholarly research.
Culminating experience
Students choose one of two culminating experiences.
- Plan I is a traditional thesis track. This is ideal for students planning to continue doctoral studies. Thesis research provides invaluable preparation for advanced graduate work.
- Plan II is an opportunity for directed research in portfolio development. Portfolios include either two examples of critical writing and one example of creative practical work OR the reverse. This track is well-suited for students seeking careers in professional theatre, education or related fields since it emphasizes practical application and creative growth.
Examples of past theatre program theses
- From Stereotype to Stewardship: How the Enneagram Encourages Responsible Representation of Marginalized Stories on the Academic Institution’s Stage (Sarah Hopkins, 2024)
- A Palestinian Theatre: Experiences of Resistance, Sumud, and Reaffirmation (Mahmoud Abusultan, 2021)
- Compliments to the Onscreen Chef: Cooking as Social and Artful Performance (Rebekah Sinewe, 2017)
- "An Unfriendly Spirit": Bipolar Disorder in/as Performance (Alexis Riley, 2015)
All students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, complete at least 18 credits at the 6000 level, earn 24 credits at BGSU and finish within six years.
Sample courses
- Directing Practice
- Lighting Design
- Performance Studies
- Staging Image and Text
- Theatre/Performance in Cultural Contexts I and II
- Theories of Theatre and Performance
Application requirements
- Three recommendation letters
- Resume
- Statement of purpose
- Transcript
- Writing sample
Submit documents by Jan. 15 for assistantship consideration. International students need TOEFL/IELTS scores unless exempt.
#1 university in Ohio – big or small, public or private – students would choose again
The Wall Street Journal
The Master of Arts in theatre program is part of the Department of Theatre and Film in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 09/18/2025 11:31AM