The curriculum of the MFA Program is designed with several principles in mind:
1) that the student takes four graduate playwriting workshops and three literature-based theatre seminars during the course of the program.
2) that the program will be flexible enough to allow some electives.
3) that the program emphasizes staged readings and productions of the plays.
4) that the second half of the program provides time and advisory support as students complete their final independent projects and complete at least one internship with professional theatres and playwrights.

This plan results in a 36 credit MFA, taken over two years of study, with 18 credits in writing courses and script-production workshops (15 credits) and the final play project (3 credits),  12 to 15 credits comprised of  required and elective MA courses in Theatre and cognate disciplines, and 3 to 6 credits earned through an internship. Students will be able to choose graduate courses in cognate departments to fulfill the elective requirements. The summarizing experience will be the final production of the completed full-length play, to be performed in the last semester and developed throughout the course of study.

Sample Program of Study for the Degree

MFA Playwriting
36 Credits – Four Semesters

First Semester
THC 790 Existing Play Analysis 3
THC 751 Existing Theatre History I 3
THC 793 Existing Playwriting I 3
9 credits

Second Semester
THC 752 Existing Theatre History II 3
THC 794 Existing Playwriting II 3
THC several Existing Elective 3
9 credits

Third Semester
THC 721 New Playwriting III: Adaptation 3
THC 723 New Production Workshop I 3
THC several Existing Internship or Elective 3
9 credits

Fourth Semester
THC 722 New Playwriting IV: Final script for production 3
THC 724 New Production Workshop II 3
THC several Existing Internship or Elective, if at least one internship has been completed 3
9 credits

For information please contact MFATheatre@hunter.cuny.edu.