Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young [MFA]


The Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young graduate program was founded at Eastern Michigan University in the early 1960s by Virginia Glasgow Koste. The program has a legacy of strong students who provide leadership and service working in communities worldwide as non-profit teaching artists, managers, professors, K-12 Educators, playwrights, and directors. 

Graduate students create individualized programs with a foundation in developmental and applied drama. Annual TYA productions, touring shows, and community engagement allow students to hone their craft and experiment with their art.  Participating in ENGAGEEMU can be another way students provide service in the community while gaining opportunities to work with diverse communities.  EMU’s Arts Administration program offers a concurrent arts administration certificate, and the Interpretative Performance studies give students the chance to work with Boal techniques and train in prisons. Many students end up directing their own productions, writing their own scripts, or creating new programming for their schools or other non-profits as part of their final projects.

Elective and cognate courses supplement required core courses to achieve a well-rounded knowledge of applied drama and theatre for the young.

Program Admission


Graduate School Application

After reviewing the admission requirements below, please select the appropriate application. The University is transitioning application platforms; pay close attention when selecting the application below.

The program you are applying to may not accept applicants every semester.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

Admission Requirements

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. In addition, a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program, is required for full admission. Applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission. See International Admissions for international applicant requirements.

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

  • Have a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Exceptions to this requirement can be made if at least 15 hours of graduate work have already been earned with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A Letter of Intent that answers the following question “What prior academic, personal  and professional experiences have led to your interest in pursuing an MFA in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young?”
  • Interview with at least one program faculty member
  • Possess an appropriate foundation in undergraduate studies with relevant extra-academic experiences taken into account for the specific graduate focus chosen
  • Send samples of previous work (optional)

School Information


Communication, Media & Theatre Arts | Dennis O’Grady, Ph.D., Director | 121 Judy Sturgis Hill, 734.487.6956, dpatrick1@emich.edu

Advisor Information


Meriah Sage, Assistant Professor, 121 Judy Sturgis Hill, 734.487.0535, msage@emich.edu

Program Requirements


Students must:

  1. Early in their graduate work, prepare an official program of study in consultation with an assigned graduate advisor and file it with the Office of Records and Registration;
  2. Meet all conditions stipulated upon entry into the program;
  3. Satisfactorily complete a mid-program review after two or three semesters in the program; and
  4. Complete a minimum of 60 hours of approved course work beyond the bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0, or a minimum of 30 hours beyond an appropriate master’s degree, as identified in the official program of study.

Degree Requirements: 60 hours


The Master of Fine Arts in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young requires the completion of 60 hours of course work to be distributed among required courses, required research courses, elective courses and internship/practicum credits as follows:

Required Research and Project Courses: 10 hours


CTAR 601  needs to be taken prior to CTAR 677  

Required Practicum/Internship: 4 hours


Elective Courses: 15 hours


Fifteen hours from within the School of Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts and/or from other departments are to be selected in consultation with the student’s graduate advisor.