Revised Requirements for the MFA Design, Technology, and Production Program

  1. Since the MFA Design & Technology program requires students to demonstrate his/her profession in each area of Design and Technology through assessment measures beyond academic evaluations, the Design, Technology & Production Faculty of the School of Theatre and Dance has the right to dismiss from the program a student who fails to demonstrate his/her profession to become a competent designer and technologist. This condition will be applied to those who meet academic requirements.
  2. MFA Design & Technology candidates must comply with the university attendance policy 3-01.2 (effective Jan. 13, 2018).
  3. MFA Design & Technology candidates are required to involve at least two significant assignments per semester approved by Design Technology & Production faculty and staff.
  4. MFA Design & Technology candidates are expected to follow the plan of study made by either the area faculty advisor.
  5. Only the third year MFA Design & Technology students are allowed to take outside of school classes. It must be proved by the area faculty advisor.
  6. If a MFA Design & Technology candidate earns a A grade of C or lower in a required MFA Design & Technology class, the candidate will automatically be placed on program probation.
  7. MFA Design & Technology candidates are expected to matriculate in the MFA program by completing program requirements.  Failure of any course requires candidates to repeat courses and may interfere with program matriculation, which may result in program probation.
  8. MFA Design & Technology candidates must successfully complete all course work as determined by the course instructors and as outlined by the course syllabi and maintain a GPA of 3.0 in their major.
  9. MFA Design & Technology candidates must demonstrate continuous skill development and growth in ALL areas of the MFA Design & Technology Program. A student may be placed on Program Probation for failure to demonstrate continuous skill development and growth in ALL including, but not limited to academic, production, and assistantship areas of the MFA Design & Technology. The members of the Design Technology & Production Faculty will provide the student with written information regarding specific areas and skills in question at the time of a student being placed on probation.
  10. MFA Design & Technology candidates must participate in the semester review.
  11. MFA Design & Technology candidates who wish to participate in job fairs at SETC, USITT, or similar conferences must share their portfolio with faculty & staff and incorporate feedback before participating in the job fair.
  12. MFA Design & Technology candidates must demonstrate professional behavior at all times.  Professional behavior is defined as behavior that supports the creative process.  Any behavior that detracts from the creative process can lead to immediate probation and/or dismissal from the MFA Design & Technology program.
  13. MFA Design & Technology candidates must demonstrate respect for their peers, instructors, and for themselves before, during and after classes, rehearsals, and performances.
  14. Should a MFA Design & Technology candidate be placed on program probation the Design & Production Faculty will provide a written list of conditions, and an explanation of what constitutes meeting said conditions, as well as a time frame for addressing conditions.  Failure to meet conditions in the time frame specified could lead to dismissal from the MFA Design & Technology Program.
  15. If a MFA Design & Technology Candidate is unable to attend class, due to illness then the candidate will be unable to attend shop work calls, rehearsal, tech, or performances.  Failure to attend work calls, rehearsals, tech or performances may lead to dismissal from a production.
  16. In order to maintain a safe and professional working environment, MFA Design & Technology candidates are expected to attend classes, shop work, rehearsals, and performances with a clear, sober and focused mind and body.  Students suspected to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs shall be reported to the Student Conduct Board as well as the Kent City Police Department.  They are also subject to immediate program probation or dismissal from the program. 
  17. Failure to meet any requirement set forth in this document will lead to program probation, and/or program dismissal.
  18. In Students are subject to dismissal from the MFA Design & Technology program without being placed on program probation. 
  19. Students are required to remain in residence for the three years to complete the program (excluding, if appropriate, the internship).
  20. The topic of each M.F.A. candidate’s culminating project may be proposed by the candidate and based on faculty feedback from yearly portfolio and academic assessments. The culminating project must be approved by the faculty advisor. The student will register for THEA 61310 for the student’s project assignment. The process is then documented in a format appropriate for the project and presented to the faculty advisor.
  21. MFA Design & Technology students have to review Kent State University Scene Shop General Safety Guidelines.

Residency Requirement

  • Students are required to remain in residence for the three years to complete the program (excluding, if appropriate, the internship).
  • At a minimum, design/technology students must complete at least one significant production assignment and work on one other production each semester.
  • Students may not undertake any work outside the School of Theatre and Dance without petitioning the appropriate area faculty and receiving written permission prior to interviewing.

Graduation Requirements

  • The Design/Technology concentrations are an intensive, three-year, professional training program requiring the completion of 60 hours of graduate credit depending on the area of concentration.
  • The culminating project requirements for the Design and Technology concentrations include: documentation, portfolio presentation and an exit interview. Documentation consists of a design analysis, process journal, relevant research and other supporting materials (photos, links to the candidate’s website, etc). The scope of work may include but not necessarily be limited to, evidence of research, drawing and drafting, rendering and associated digital image, video or audio files, which will be presented at an exit interview.
  • The topic of each M.F.A. candidate’s culminating project may be proposed by the candidate and based on faculty feedback from yearly portfolio and academic assessments. The culminating project must be approved by the faculty advisor. The student will register for THEA 61310 for the student’s project assignment. The process is then documented in a format appropriate for the project and presented to the faculty advisor.