Graduate Scene Design
Graduate Scene Design
The heart and soul of a stage falls into the hands of the scene designer. The right scene design can transport you to a new world, elicit certain moods, depict themes that no other theatrical element can, and entertain the audience by its beauty, detail or mystery. At the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, you can be a part of one of the only Graduate Scene Design degree programs in the country for theater, opera, dance and film, launching you into the exciting career of professional stage design. The Master of Fine Arts concentration offers unique, hands-on opportunities and an advanced, comprehensive curriculum that can only be found at UNCSA.
Master of Fine Arts
First Year
The first year of the graduate scene design concentration will be focused on the foundations
of scene design. Classes will include scenic rendering, model building and scene painting.
Graduate-level courses will cover the principles of scene design, emphasizing the
various stage spaces, research techniques, visual presentation, and integration with
costumes and lighting. You will also be given practical production experience working
on scene design teams for at least 14 of the school’s productions.
Second Year
Your second year will consist of added expectations for your practical production
experience, as well as more advanced classes on drafting, architectural sketch techniques,
and projects in translucent, transparent and opaque media. This year’s graduate scene
design course will focus on the process and development of skills from conceptualization
of a design to its execution.
Third Year
Much of your third year will be centered on your thesis, for which you will be expected
to present a professional gallery showcasing the body of your work throughout the
years. You will continue your hands-on laboratory work for the school’s productions,
as well as courses in wet media, advanced model building, and a course emphasizing
advanced scene design concepts for theater, opera, ballet and musicals.
Careers
Graduates of the Scene Design concentration go on to start careers in their chosen profession. They have become scenic designers for productions across the country ranging from Broadway, regional theatre, dance, opera, film, television and themed entertainment.
