Master of Arts in Theatre

The Master of Arts Program in Theatre at Bowling Green State University is designed to provide students with fundamentals essential for the development of independent thought and expression, ingredients necessary for creative scholarship and artistry in the theater. Students are afforded a basic understanding of theatre and performance history, theory, criticism, and research methods and their application to practical work in theatre.  Students may pursue one of two courses of study: the M.A. Thesis Track (i.e., Plan I), or the M.A. Portfolio Track (i.e., Plan II). 

The Learning Outcomes for the M.A. are:

• To analyze diverse performance texts from various historical periods and cultural backgrounds.
• To demonstrate fluency in the theories, criticisms, and research methodologies in the interdisciplinary fields of theatre and performance.
• To use performance as the site and process for critical, cultural, and historical understanding.
• To develop skills in theatre design and technologies.
• To develop the ability to collaborate in theatre production as a dramaturg, actor, director, designer and/or technician.
• To communicate and present knowledge as a scholar-artist-citizen in professional formats.
• To develop teaching skills.
• To develop and carry out advanced scholarly and creative research.

The student works closely with a faculty advisor to complete the degree. During a student’s first year of study, the Graduate Coordinator serves as advisor. The student’s interests do not solely determine course registration; rather, coursework depends on program requirements, course schedules, and availability. Following the first year of study, each student will work with a permanent advisor suitable to direct the student’s course of study. Students should discuss potential members of their Graduate Review Committee with their permanent advisor.    

An M.A. committee must include at least two members from the department faculty, including the permanent advisor. Department of Theatre and Film faculty members who have been granted Level I or Level II Graduate Faculty Status are eligible to advise and serve on M.A. Committees. In certain circumstances, faculty who have been granted Ad Hoc or Adjunct Graduate Faculty status may also serve as committee members.  At the end of the first year of study, all students must file an Advisor and Committee Approval form.

Although M.A. students are not encouraged to change advisors, they may do so when change is warranted. Such a change would be considered appropriate if a student decides to change the primary area of research or focus of creative work, or if a faculty member becomes newly eligible to advise M.A. committees (i.e., has been granted Level I or II Graduate Faculty Status).  A student wishing to change advisors must submit a written request to the Graduate Coordinator.  In all cases where a change in advisors is being considered, the student must communicate directly with the current and

Duties

M.A. students on assistantships are typically awarded a contract for a nine-month period, which usually carries a 10-20 hours-per-week service obligation. Potential GA assignments include (but are not limited to) the scene shop, costume shop, box office, publicity, and house management. MA students typically do not serve as teaching assistants (TAs). When possible, students’ preferences are considered in making assistantship assignments, though departmental needs take priority. All questions regarding assistantship assignments in the Department of Theatre and Film should be addressed with the Department Chair.

GA Supervision

The Department Chair assigns the Graduate Assistantship Supervisor. The Supervisor will monitor the completion of responsibilities by graduate assistants. Students will receive a list of assistantship duties and expectations from their supervisor at the beginning of each semester. At the end of each semester, the GA will receive an evaluation of performance from their supervisor. The Graduate Assistantship Evaluation form used in these assessments can be found in Appendix D. (Click here for Graduate College information on GA supervision policies.)

Renewals of Assistantships

Renewal of an assistantship is not automatic. Students must formally reapply through the Department of Theatre and Film Chair. Application guidelines for reappointment will be provided early in the spring term. The Chair will evaluate applications based on the following criteria:

*  Satisfactory progress toward the degree in accord with expectations and timeliness articulated by the department.

*  Satisfactory performance of assistantship duties.

*  Availability of funds.

*  Departmental staffing needs.

M.A. assistantships and corresponding tuition scholarships are potentially eligible for renewal for two years of on-campus study.

Removal of Assistantship

An assistantship may be removed from a student for any one of the following reasons:

*  Failure to make satisfactory progress toward degree, including cases in which a student is placed on academic probation.

*  Inadequate performance of the duties associated with the assistantship.

o    If in a non-teaching assignment, this includes (but is not limited to) failure to complete duties and satisfy hour requirements as determined by supervising personnel.

o    If teaching a course, this includes (but is not limited to) failure to follow and execute in good faith the course syllabus, guidelines, and objectives as determined by the course coordinator; and failure to attend regularly scheduled course planning sessions (usually weekly) as determined by the course coordinator.

*  Failure to maintain minimum course registration.

*  Academic suspension for ethical or legal misconduct as specified in the student code.

Summer Assistantships

On occasion, the Department of Theatre and Film offers a limited number of assistantship positions in the summer. The exact number of positions varies from year to year and is dependent on instructional, administrative, and production program needs. Graduate students should not assume they will receive summer assistantships. If interested in a summer assistantship, please email the Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair by March 1 of the preceding semester.

Any questions concerning financial aid eligibility and maximum allowances should be directed to Student Financial Aid and Scholarship. (Click here for the office’s webpage.) It is the student’s responsibility to monitor how federal financial aid regulations will affect their continued participation in graduate education.

Coursework Overview

1. Core:

    a. THFM 6590 Research Methods in Theatre and Performance Studies

    b. Minimum two courses (6 credits) from History & Literature/Theory/Criticism

    c. Minimum two courses (6 credits) from Performance Studies/Practice

    d. Minimum two courses (6 credits) from Design & Technical Theatre

Minimum Total: 21 credits

2. Supplemental Coursework: 

    a. Minimum of two approved graduate-level courses (3 credits each, 5000+ level), offered in the Department of Theatre and Film.

    b. Upon prior approval by the Graduate Coordinator of the Department of Theatre and Film, students may take courses from other departments in    fulfillment of the supplemental coursework requirement.

Minimum Total: 6 credits.

3. Portfolio or Thesis Credits:

    a. Minimum of three credits of THFM 6910 Directed Research in Portfolio Development is required for those students in the M.A. Portfolio Track. Students may also take up to three credit hours of THEA 6980: Portfolio Reading Hours during the fall semester of their second year to prepare for the  portfolio, though this is not required.

    b. Minimum of three credits of THFM 6990 Thesis Research is required for those students in the M.A. Thesis Track.

MINIMUM TOTAL FOR DEGREE: 30 CREDITS

Course Selections

1. History & Literature/Theory/Criticism:

    THFM 5650 Period, Style, and Form

    THFM 6600 Theatre/Performance in Cultural Context I

    THFM 6610 Theatre/Performance in Cultural Context II

    THFM 6620 Theories of Theatre and Performance (May be repeated up to 12 hours if topics differ.)

    THFM 6700 Performance and Theatre in the Americas (May be repeated up to 6 hours with consent of faculty advisor.)

2. Performance Studies/Practice:

    THFM 6630 Introduction to Performance Studies

    THFM 6640 Directing Practice

    THFM 6670 Staging Image and Text (May be repeated for up to 6 hours of credit.)

    THFM 6680 Performance Studies (May be repeated for credit.)

    THFM 6690 Theatre for Young Audiences

    THFM 6710 Theatre Organization and Management

    THFM 6820 Performance Theory and Practice (May be repeated up to 12 hours if topics differ.)

 3. Design & Technical Theatre:

    THFM 5720 Scene Design

    THFM 5730 Costume Design

    THFM 5740 Lighting Design

    THFM 5750 Scene Painting

Milestone Requirements

Thesis Track (Plan I) or Portfolio Track (Plan II):

The two plans under which one may pursue the M.A. are designed to meet the individual needs of students with varying educational goals and professional careers. All students accepted into the M.A. program are initially placed in the Portfolio Track. All students must submit a completed M.A. Track Election Form (Appendix E) to the Graduate Coordinator no later than the end of year one.

Choosing a Plan of Study

M.A. students pursue one of two courses of study: Plan I: Thesis Track or Plan II: Portfolio Track. M.A. students should discuss plans with the Graduate Coordinator by the end of their first year of study. Students must submit a completed M.A. Track Election Form (Appendix E) to the Graduate Coordinator by the end of their first year.

Changing from One Plan to Another

The graduate faculty in the Department of Theatre and Film and the Graduate College strongly discourages switching from one plan to another. A request to switch from one plan to another must be recommended by the student’s advisor and approved by the Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate Dean. This is done only in rare circumstances; for example, when a thesis research project becomes physically or technically impossible to implement. If a change in Plans occurs, up to three THFM 6990 credit hours may be applied toward degree requirements with the Graduate Coordinator’s approval. A change in Plans cannot take place if the student has failed their current Plan (including re-examination). (Click here for the university policy on Master’s Degree-General Requirements.)

Specifics for Plan I: Thesis Track

1. General Requirements

    a. Minimum of 30 semester credit hours, including three hours of THFM 6990: Thesis Research.

    b. Only three hours of THFM 6840: Directed Readings in Theatre/Performance and 6860: Research Problems in Theatre/Performance may satisfy graduation requirements.

    c. During the second year of residency, students awarded assistantships and/or tuition scholarships are required to take a minimum of 8 hours each semester (16 hours total) in the Department of Theatre and Film. Included in this number of credits is a minimum of three hours of THFM 6990: Thesis Research. If more than three hours of THFM 6990 are taken, only six hours will count toward graduation.

2. Thesis Topic Approval

    a. After consulting with the advisor, the student should submit a proposal for a thesis topic to their Graduate Review Committee. Thesis projects will be approved only when the research proposal is within the Department's and the University's capabilities to support and is executable within the credit hours that may be counted toward the degree.

    b. The proposal for the thesis should both clearly outline the proposed topic of study and demonstrate the student’s ability to complete the proposed research. To satisfy this requirement, the student must demonstrate knowledge of existing scholarship in the chosen area. Students should anticipate that the advisor may ask for substantial revisions to the proposal before allowing distribution to the committee as a whole and should budget time accordingly.

    c. The thesis proposal should include the following components:

· Title.

·Relevant background information to introduce and contextualize the proposed area of research.

·Concise statement of the central research questions that the study will address.

·Discussion of objectives of the study and justification of its significance.

·Review of extant scholarship in the field. Please note, a list of titles of scholarly sources is not sufficient to satisfy this requirement. The student must demonstrate knowledge of other work in the research area and show preparedness to enter scholarly conversation with others who have made contributions in this field.

·A discussion of the research methods the student will employ in completing the study. Students should obtain IRB approval (if needed) prior to the proposal defense.

·Principle sources of data.

·Limitations of the study. Note: Limitations in this context does not refer to shortcomings of the researcher or the proposed study. Rather, it is an opportunity to delineate and justify the boundaries of the study—chronological, geographical, types of data to be considered, etc.

·Tentative organization of the study into chapters. Please note, chapter titles are not sufficient. Proposed titles should be supplemented by tentative summaries of what will be covered in each section.

    d. After securing the advisor’s approval, the student should distribute the thesis proposal to all members of the committee and schedule a defense. The student must send the proposal to the committee members at least two weeks before the defense.

    e.  At least 24 hours before the defense, the student must complete the Thesis Topic Approval form (available on the Graduate College website).

    f. Following the defense, the student may need to revise the proposal based on the committee’s feedback. Once the proposal is approved, committee members and the Graduate Coordinator sign the Thesis Topic Approval form.

    g. The Graduate College requires the student to have at least a 3.0 G.P.A. when submitting a thesis proposal.

    h. The deadline for submitting a thesis topic proposal to the Graduate College is the final day of classes in the semester before intended graduation.

2. Thesis Examination and Approval

    a. Once the advisor has approved a draft of the thesis for defense, the student should distribute the thesis to committee members and schedule a defense date. This draft should be complete, readable, and contain necessary documentation. The thesis committee must have the draft at least two weeks before the oral defense date.

    b. The use of photographs, images, and extended quoted material (i.e., entire published poems, or lengthy quoted material) requires the consent of the authors/creators. It is the student’s responsibility to secure those permissions in writing before the defense of the thesis.

    c. When scheduling the thesis defense, students must consult the “Dates to Remember” document, available on the Graduate College webpage. (Click here for Degree Candidate Deadlines webpage, which links to the “Dates to Remember” document.) Please note that students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with program and college deadlines.

    d. Before the defense, the student must complete the Thesis Defense and Manuscript Approval Form (Click here for Graduate College Forms webpage). If the thesis is successfully defended and the manuscript is acceptable in both content and form, the committee indicates its approval by signing the form. Students should be aware that approval involves two steps: Oral Defense and Manuscript Approval. Thus, even if the final oral examination has     been passed, the committee can request substantive changes or additions before approving the manuscript. The student should consider this possibility     when planning around Graduate College deadlines.

    e. The Graduate College requires electronic submission of theses via OhioLINK. Thesis and Dissertation Services (ETD) is available to help students     through this process (Click here for “Theses & Dissertations” section of the Graduate College webpage for more information).

    f. Students should be aware that faculty members are not available for consultation and/or oral defense during the summer term. Therefore, summer defenses are not an option. If a student does not complete the requirements for passing the Oral Defense and Manuscript Approval by the end of faculty contracts for a given academic year, the student will need to finish after faculty contracts begin in August for the next academic year. International students whose program of study goes beyond two years can apply for an extension of stay by completing the Extension of Program Form available on the International Programs and Partnerships webpage (Click here for “Forms & Resources” section of IPP’s webpage). Please note that students must continuously enroll in one credit hour per semester until all requirements are fulfilled. The department is unable to provide funding to cover the additional tuition costs beyond two years.

    g. If a student does not successfully pass the Oral Defense and the Manuscript Approval, they may make a second attempt no sooner than four months after the first attempt and no later than one year after the first attempt. If the student does not pass the second attempt or does not pass within one year of the first attempt, they will be dismissed from the program. 

Specifics for Plan II: Portfolio Track

1. General Requirements

    a. Minimum of 30 semester credit hours, three of which are THFM 6910: Research in Portfolio Development.

    b. Only three hours of THFM 6840: Directed Readings in Theatre/Performance and 6860: Research Problems in Theatre/Performance can be used to satisfy graduation requirements.

    c. During the second year of residency, students awarded assistantships and/or tuition scholarships are required to take a minimum of 8-9 hours each semester (16-18 hours total) in the Department of Theatre and Film. Included in this number of credits are three hours of THFM 6980: Portfolio Reading Hours and a minimum of three hours of THFM 6910: Research in Portfolio Development. If more than three hours of THFM 6980 or THFM 6910 are taken, only three hours of each course will count toward graduation.

2. Portfolio Process

    a. Students enrolled in Plan II will complete coursework and a portfolio comprised of a mixture of scholarship and creative work. All creative work in the portfolio must include documentation and analysis relating to the production of those materials.

    b. In conference with the advisor, the student will determine whether the portfolio will conform to Portfolio Option A or Portfolio Option B (both are described below). By the end of THFM 6980 during the fall semester of year two, the student must identify the components of their portfolio.

    c. Upon advisor’s approval, the student submits the portfolio to their Graduate Review Committee and schedules a defense date. Portfolio materials should be complete, readable, and contain necessary documentation.

    d. When scheduling the portfolio defense, students must consult the “Dates to Remember” document, available on the Graduate College webpage. (Click here for Degree Candidate Deadlines webpage, which links to the “Dates to Remember” document.) Please note that students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with program and college deadlines.

    e. Students must send the portfolio to their committee members at least two weeks in advance of the oral defense date.

    f. If major revisions are in order before oral defense, the student’s advisor will develop a plan of action to meet committee expectations, including postponement of the oral defense, if necessary.

    g. Portfolios will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. If a student does not successfully pass the defense, they may revise and resubmit. A second attempt must take place no sooner than four months after the first attempt and no later than one year after the first attempt. A student who fails the portfolio defense twice will be subject to termination from the program.

    h. Approval of the portfolio and the passing of the oral defense are communicated by the advisor to the Graduate Coordinator for informational purposes.

    i. Students should be aware that not all faculty members are available for consultation and/or oral defense during the summer term. Therefore, summer defenses are not an option. If a student does not complete the requirements for passing the oral defense by the end of faculty contracts for a given academic year, the student will need to finish after faculty contracts begin in August for the next academic year. Please note that students must continuously enroll in one credit hour per semester until all requirements are fulfilled. The department is unable to provide funding to cover the additional tuition costs beyond two years.

3. Contents of the MA Portfolio

    a. A resume or CV appropriate to the student’s stated professional goals and objectives and suitable for inclusion as part of a job application.

    b. A three- to four-page Final Reflection in which the student critically considers their development as a scholar and artist over the course of their time in the M.A. program, focusing specifically on the value or skills learned and their application to professional goals.

    c. In addition to the resume and Final Reflection, the contents of the portfolio may take one of two forms. 

· Portfolio Option A must include two examples of the student’s critical writing and one example of the student’s creative/practical work, all completed during the master’s degree at BGSU.

·  Portfolio Option B must include two examples of the student’s creative/practical work and one example of the student’s critical writing, all completed during the master’s degree at BGSU.

The examples of the student’s critical writing must be substantively revised and expanded versions of papers originally drafted in graduate-level courses taken at BGSU while enrolled in the M.A. program. The papers should be no less than 25 pages each in length and should cite a range of critical sources, including journal articles, books, and/or contributions to edited volumes. Students should be aware that simply correcting grammar and typos in a class term paper will not produce work that satisfies this requirement.

    d. Examples of appropriate creative projects to include in the portfolio may include (but are not limited to):

· A design concept for a specific production, supplemented with appropriate models, renderings, or other suitable forms of notation, along with a detailed analysis of the research process and the reasons behind the creative choices that were made.

· An actor’s journal or workbook describing preparation for performance of a substantive role in a theatre production, along with analysis of the actor’s process of research and preparation (which should include detailed textual analysis and use of appropriate secondary sources).

· A director’s or dramaturg’s notebook with detailed analysis and documentation of research leading to the development of a production concept.

· An original script or adaptation.

· An original translation of a short play or critical article.

· A community-based project in theatre or oral history.

    A student cannot complete two projects in the same area of theatre practice (for example, two costume design projects or two original scripts). 

    f.  For Option B, at least one of the creative projects must originate as an assignment in one of the design courses taken while in the M.A. program at BGSU. For Option A, the creative project must have originated in one of the design courses taken while in the M.A. program at BGSU.

Timeline to Degree

A graduate degree must be completed within the Graduate College limits. The time limit to complete all degree requirements for master’s, certificate, or specialist students is six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements and eight years for doctoral students. For full-time students (8-9 hours per semester), the MA program typically takes 2 years (4 semesters) to complete.

Registration is completed by the student after consultation with the Graduate Coordinator and/or advisor.

Registration for THFM 6840: Directed Readings in Theatre/Performance and 6860: Research Problems in Theatre/Performance requires completion of the Independent Study/Internship Application form (Appendix A). This form must be completed by the student and approved by the course/project supervisor, the Graduate Coordinator/student advisor, and the Chair of the Department of Theatre and Film.

Changes in registration after the semester begins may result in fees being assessed according to the Registration and Records Refund Schedule. (Click here for Schedule.) The student will bear the financial burden of those fees.

Limits on Hours of Registration

1. No student may register for more than 12 hours of credit without permission from the Graduate Dean. Please note that students receiving tuition scholarship funding are financially responsible for tuition beyond 9 credit hours per semester.

2. Students holding assistantships typically register for 9 hours of credit during both the fall and the spring semesters of the first year and 8-9 hours of credit during both the fall and spring semesters of the second year.

Counting Courses toward Ph.D. Degree Program

For MA students who apply and are accepted to the Ph.D. program in Theatre at BGSU, courses taken during the second year of residency that exceed the 30 credit-hour minimum required for the M.A. may be counted toward the Ph.D. Students accepted into the Ph.D. program should consult with the Graduate Coordinator on this process and its requirements.

Registration after Year 2

If a student does not successfully complete the thesis or portfolio within two academic years, the Graduate College mandates continuous registration for one hour each fall and spring semester until the thesis or portfolio is completed. This registration is not done automatically, and the Department does not provide funding for continuous registration.

Transfer Credit

1. The Graduate College limits the number of graduate hours that may be transferred from another institution to BGSU.

2. These must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in the Department of Theatre and Film and the Graduate Dean.

3. Approval for transfer credit can only be granted once the student has satisfactorily completed eight credit hours of graduate work at BGSU. An official transcript must be received by the Graduate College before credit can be approved for transfer. Credit may be transferred only for courses in which the student received an A or B. Credit for an S grade may be transferred only if the grading school considers it to be a B or better.

Incompletes

An INC (incomplete) is given only when, for an approved reason, a student fails to take the final examination or to fulfill a definite requirement in a course. An INC can be removed and a grade substituted if the student completes course requirements to the satisfaction of the instructor before the deadline established by the Graduate College. An individual instructor may reach an agreement with a student to set an earlier deadline for removing an incomplete grade. For courses taken S/U, any mark of INC not removed by the deadline will change to U. For courses taken for a letter grade, any mark of INC not removed by the deadline will change to F. The Graduate Dean has the authority to extend the deadline for an incomplete. The student must petition for such consideration in writing before the deadline expires. The instructor’s support is required for approval of the request.

Grades for THFM 6990: Thesis Research and THFM 6910: Research in Portfolio Development

Students are assigned a grade of S/U at the end of each term when they are enrolled in THFM 6990: Thesis Research or THFM 6910: Directed Research in Portfolio Development. A grade of S denotes satisfactory progress that semester, and a grade of U denotes unsatisfactory progress that semester. The final evaluation of the thesis or portfolio is conducted by the student’s advisor and committee at the oral defense and is independent from S or U grades earned while carrying out the study or completing the work.

Probation

1.  Grounds for Probation

Students failing to meet the following minimal standards may be dropped from the program or placed on probation at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee or the Graduate Dean:

a. Students must maintain a graduate grade point average of 3.0 or better.

b. Students must make satisfactory progress toward a degree. To maintain satisfactory progress, a student must pass all courses attempted each semester.

2. Effects of Probation

Students on probation may not seek approval for a thesis topic or defend a thesis (Plan I), or apply for portfolio review (Plan II), and may lose funding. In most cases, students remaining on probationary status for more than one semester will be dropped from the program.

Policy on Dismissing Graduate Students

The Department of Theatre and Film Graduate Studies Committee determines dismissal of a master’s student from the degree program on the recommendation of the advisor and after a conference with the student. Termination will result from the student’s failure to maintain “satisfactory progress toward the degree.” For a more thorough description of academic standards, see the Graduate Catalog. If the Department of Theatre and Film recommends that a student be dismissed from a degree program, the student is no longer considered a degree student (though the student may continue coursework). If a student is dropped from a degree program, all assistantship and tuition scholarship support is terminated. If dropped, the student must petition the department for reinstatement as a degree student. In some instances, the department may elect to discontinue assistantship and tuition scholarship funding for a student making marginal progress without dropping that person from the program, in which case the student will be eligible to seek support elsewhere in the university or to cover their own educational expenses.

Time Limits and Revalidation of Course Work

Degree requirements must be completed within six years. Credit for work older than six years will not apply toward degree requirements unless revalidated through a revalidation experience, such as retaking coursework, a special examination, etc., and determined by the Graduate Coordinator and Advisor. Click here for the Graduate College’s “Time Limits for Degree and Revalidation” policy, which includes additional details.

The application to re-validate must be submitted through the following channels:

a. Graduate Coordinator

b. Graduate Studies Committee in the Department of Theatre and Film

c. Chair, Department of Theatre and Film

d. Graduate Dean

• John Jordan, “Melodic Formations: The Phantom of the Opera and the Undeath of Genre” (2026)
• Gifty Tay, “A Study of Efua Sutherland’s Selected Dramatic Texts Through Sankofa-Foriwa (1967), Edufa (1967), and The Marriage of Anansewa (1975)” (2026)
• Sarah Nesselroade Hopson, “From Stereotype to Stewardship: How the Enneagram Encourages Responsible Representation of Marginalized Stories on the Academic Institution’s Stage” (2024)
• Mahmoud Abusultan, A Palestinian Theatre: Experiences, of Resistance, Sumud, and Reaffirmation (2021