Theater Arts (M.A.)
Degrees
The Theater Arts program offers a Masters of Arts degree.
Important: Transcripts and letters of recommendation are required of all applicants.
See the test score requirements for this program.
Below are specific requirements also needed for this program:
A résumé / curriculum vitae is required.
A statement of purpose is required:
- Please describe your plans for graduate study and for your future profession. Include information about your past experience and current projects that will help the selection committee evaluate your preparedness for graduate study and your promise as a practitioner. (Recommended length: 3-4 pages.) Please include your name in the footer of each page of your statement of purpose.
- Please address the following subjects in your statement:
- Our program requires a capstone thesis that can be project-based or scholarly in nature. Outline what your thesis project might be by indicating your chosen field of emphasis and what you hope to complete during your year with us. Potential thesis projects include: directing or choreography for Theater Arts productions, performance, hybrid performance, design, technical theater, stage management, dramaturgy, arts management, arts outreach, and scholarship in performance-related topics. Students who apply in relevant fields (such as directors, arts management, or arts outreach) may consider applying for Barnstorm management, and, if they receive that position, their thesis will be based on that experience.
A personal history statement is required:
- Required of all applicants. This statement will be used in conjunction with your application for graduate admission and financial support. Note that the personal history statement should not duplicate the statement of purpose. Your personal history statement should be 500-1500 words in length.
- UC Santa Cruz is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. What do you want to tell us about yourself that we should know? How have aspects of your personal background (familial, educational, social, economic, etc.) contributed to your intention to pursue a graduate degree? How has your perspective been informed by your life experiences, challenges, or opportunities? How might you contribute to social or cultural diversity at UCSC and in your work as an artist?
Professional Internship:
- After reading the information below and the details on the linked page, describe in writing to the committee the research you have begun into possibilities for an internship and what you hope to accomplish with it.
- Submit as a PDF. Recommended length: 12 pt font, up to 1 page.
- Internship information and requirements:
- The program requires that accepted applicants secure and complete a professional internship of approximately 300 hours in an area of emphasis with a professional theater company during the summer before entering the program. This work will be supervised by a representative in the internship’s host organization and will be assessed by a UCSC Theater Arts faculty member. Students will earn 10 required units for the internship work.
- See details on the department website.
A work sample is required:
- Please follow the prompts to submit work samples in the specific field you have selected:
- Choreography: Submit links to short performance videos for which you were the primary creator of the work. Show a range of your skills in a 10-minute selection. While there is no time restriction on the length of video or audio submissions, it is preferred that recordings do not exceed 10 minutes total. Including indications of sections/time codes that you would like to be viewed is not required, but is helpful.
- Design: Submit a link to your digital portfolio or website. We suggest around 20 images that show a range of style and training
- Directing: Submit links to short performance videos and images for 3-4 projects for which you were the primary creator of the work. Show a range of your skills in a 10-minute selection. While there is no time restriction on the length of video or audio submissions, it is preferred that recordings do not exceed 10 minutes total. Including indications of sections/time codes that you would like to be viewed is not required, but is helpful.
- Performing / acting: Submit links to short performance videos for which you are one of the primary performers (this can also be an audition tape). Show a range of your skills in a 10-minute selection. While there is no time restriction on the length of video or audio submissions, it is preferred that recordings do not exceed 10 minutes total. Including indications of sections / time codes that you would like to be viewed is not required, but is helpful.
- Technical Theater: Submit a link to your digital portfolio or website. We suggest around 20 images that show a range of style and training.
- Arts Management and Outreach: Submit a portfolio of arts management and outreach work, or a 2-page document that details your work in this field in more depth.
- Dramaturgy: Submit a dramaturgy casebook (separate from the writing sample listed below).
- Performance scholarship: See below.
A writing sample is required:
- The writing sample should be either a paper or published document, with a short description of what is included in the work sample. Please follow the prompts to submit work samples in the specific field you have selected.
- Performance scholarship applicants must submit an 8-12 page writing sample of scholarly work.
View all application deadlines
Contact information for UCSC Graduate Programs