Master in Theatre Arts Mfa

At University of Idaho, tuition is 29,784 USD per year.

Step into a professional theatre environment that bridges the gap between academic study and industry practice. Whether you are an emerging artist looking to hone your craft on the Moscow, Idaho campus or a seasoned educator balancing a career with advanced study via the distance-based program, the University of Idaho M.F.A. in Theatre Arts is designed to produce industry-ready professionals. As the only degree of its kind in the state, this 60-credit programme offers a highly tailored experience that values both hands-on technical work and academic inquiry.

Distinctive Professional Pathways

The programme distinguishes itself through its dual-residency structure and deep industry integration. On-campus students gain critical experience through teaching assistantships and assignments in the costume and scene shops, working directly on mainstage productions under faculty mentorship. Distance-based students, conversely, leverage their existing professional networks, earning academic credit for theatre projects conducted within their own communities. Students frequently engage with elite professional entities, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival through the Rex Rabold Fellowship, the B Street Theatre’s New Comedies Festival, and various research and technical conferences like the USITT annual conference. With optional summer study opportunities in Mexico City and a curriculum that spans directing, dramatic writing, design, technology, management, and pedagogy, the programme provides the flexibility and rigor required to excel in competitive artistic fields.

In Moscow, students study on an ivy-covered campus within a supportive and welcoming community. Campus life includes clubs, sports, housing, dining, lectures, performances and showcases. The university also offers online classes through Campus 360 and in-person study locations in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls, giving students options beyond the Moscow campus.

The University of Idaho is Idaho’s first and only Carnegie R1 research university. Its academic offerings cover more than 200 areas of study, including agriculture, anatomy, fine arts and business administration. Learning is connected to hands-on experience, internships and career pathways, with research activity that includes using artificial intelligence to track wildfire spread and work related to nuclear energy law.

International students are among the applicant groups served through the university’s admissions process, alongside first-year, transfer and graduate students. Financial support includes scholarships, financial aid and low tuition, while housing and dining options are available on campus. Students can build connections with fellow Vandals through campus activities, explore opportunities across Idaho and take part in the university’s statewide footprint.