Scenic Design - School of Theatre

MFA Scenic Design Program

The Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Design major at Florida State University provides students with the training and experience necessary to enter the professional design field. The major is designed to give students in-depth experience and artisanal skills needed to continue their growth as scenic designers in the entertainment industry.

Graduate Application Graduate Handbook

Advisor Contact Info

Advisor

Jesse Dreikosen

Program Director,
Professor of Scenic Design

Contact

jdreikosen@fsu.edu

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Program Overview

Students will develop an in-depth knowledge of the interdisciplinary work needed to bring a scenic design from the script to the stage.

Each MFA Scenic Design student will design at least two productions while at FSU. A portfolio of professionally documented and creatively executed design work is required for graduation. In addition to applying to the major, students must also apply to Florida State University.

Admissions Requirements
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from an accredited college or university. Students who do not hold a Theatre degree must show evidence of substantial coursework and/or experience in theatre to indicate probability of achieving success in advanced theatre studies.
- A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) during the last two years of study for a bachelor’s degree, or 3.0 on a master’s degree from an accredited institution; OR have acceptable scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination taken within the last 5 years.
- All applicants must participate in an interview and a portfolio review session, which may be at USITT Connect, URTA or USITT. An on-campus interview is required for all domestic applicants and strongly encouraged for international applicants.
- Applicants must submit a completed School of Theatre application, three current letters of recommendation, current resume, and a statement of purpose.
- Specific approval of the program director within the School of Theatre.
Scenic Design Opportunities

School of Theatre Design Opportunities: First-year Scenic Design MFA students may serve as assistant designers on season productions while second-year students design one of the School’s season subscription shows. Third-year students will continue this trajectory with an MFA Creative Final Project, a culminating project where they will design a season subscription show that will showcase the student’s knowledge, skills, and abilities.

School of Theatre Production Season: Five subscription shows are fully produced each season, including classical and contemporary plays, a children’s show, and two musicals. Previous shows include 9 to 5, Imogen Says Nothing, In the Heights, The Importance of Being Earnest, Last Stop on Market Street, Bulrusher, Men on Boats, and Eurydice.

Mentorship: Florida State University’s MFA Scenic Design Program is committed to hands-on mentorship. Faculty and staff work closely with graduate students in classes, during assistantship hours, and in production to ensure students receive constant feedback and learning opportunities. All faculty and staff mentors are active professionals in their respective fields, bringing industry best practices back to production and classroom experiences. MFA students may participate in conferences and industry trips and work professionally alongside their mentors as opportunity permits.

Assistantship (20 hours per week): Assistantship includes a tuition waiver for 60 hours over three years plus a yearly stipend of $18,000. Students must acquire in-state resident status after their first year. Production work is assigned with student success and career goals in mind. Third-year students can have the opportunity to teach undergraduate design courses.
Courses

Scenic Design Sequence: Design classes engage with various production styles and discuss best practices in design including collaborative interaction, script analysis, research techniques, oral and visual communication skills, and critical thinking.

Integrated Design: Integrated design immerses students in a world of diverse design disciplines and production environments where innovation thrives through collaboration. Upending traditional design roles gives students a well-rounded perspective to find creative solutions for the next generation of productions, events, and attractions. With electives ranging from opera to interior design, film to dance, students tailor their educational experience to achieve their unique career goals.