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marymoon
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XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
My advisor has been recommending for awhile now that I go for an MFA in theatre. He said it's good because it's the terminal degree in the field and I'll be able to teach at the college level with it. I found a program I LOVE. It just seems to suit me to a tee. I'm just scared. Is it totally impractical to go for another degree in theatre? And what is the deal with the MFA ? Is it lower than an MA (because I saw that somePhd programs don't want MFAs)?
Any advice would be great. Tis the season for grad school apps!
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Posted 8/10/05 12:04 AM 
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MonkeyLuv
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
An MFA is a terminal degree, it's akin to a Ph.D. insofar as it's the highest degree you can get in a specific field. In reality it's equivalent to a Masters because it stands for Master of Fine Arts.
In academia today it's very difficult to teach with less than a Ph.D. unless you have stellar credentials or a great deal of exeprience in the field. So, while in theory you could teach with and MFA, it will most likely be difficult to find a teaching job right after graduation.
ETA: I need to amend that statement actually, the MFA is a terminal degree depending on which program you enter. Some schools offer Ph.D.s in dramaturgy or theatre criticism.
Message edited 8/10/2005 8:56:45 AM.
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Posted 8/10/05 8:51 AM
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marymoon
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
An MFA is a terminal degree in that there's no "doctor of fine arts" If you were going for dramaturgy, it's usually (but not always) an MA program, not an MFA. I'd love to go for an MFA, I'm just concerned about job prospects should directing not work out. If anything I could definitely teach at the high school level, it's still a master's degree. I'm just concerned that some doctoral programs won't accept people straight from an MFA. They say "MA or MS only." I don't know if I'll ever get that far, but I'm just not sure why this is I guess because you haven't spent them same amount of time in research, writing, academics
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Posted 8/10/05 3:46 PM
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MonkeyLuv
It's An Obsession
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
An MFA is a terminal degree in that there's no "doctor of fine arts" If you were going for dramaturgy, it's usually (but not always) an MA program, not an MFA. I'd love to go for an MFA, I'm just concerned about job prospects should directing not work out. If anything I could definitely teach at the high school level, it's still a master's degree. I'm just concerned that some doctoral programs won't accept people straight from an MFA. They say "MA or MS only." I don't know if I'll ever get that far, but I'm just not sure why this is I guess because you haven't spent them same amount of time in research, writing, academics
There are many schools that offer Ph.Ds in Theatre and Drama, so there is now a doctorate in the fine arts.
Depending upon which program or field of study, an MFA may not always be a terminal degree. Even the school you attend determines whether it's an MA or MFA... some just don't prescribe to the MFA but the course work is identical.
An MFA is still a Masters at heart, so there's no reason why a doctoral program wouldn't accept it.
And perhaps the Ph.D. program wants only masters students because they aren't fast tracked. My brother has his Ph.D. in Philosophy but not his MA because he was in a special intensive program. My other brother has his MA and Ph.D. in English because his program required that each degree was earned individually. It depends a great deal on the program.
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Posted 8/10/05 3:58 PM
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marymoon
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
What I mean is, as far as I know, there's no 'doctor of fine arts" in the way that there's the MFA. You cna get a PhD ina fine arts field, but there's no "DFA." There's no hands on experiences based PhD program, they're more academically minded, like dramaturgy or methods and criticism. Most people who want to do dramaturgy go for the MA, not the MFA, because that approach is more up their alley. I'll have to call around about the MFA/PhD thing. It's probably best to just call the school and ask them why and what I'd need to do to qualify to get into a PhD program coming from an MFA.
But a master's degree is a master's degree, right? I was just concerned that it was somehow considered a lesser degree because it involves less of the writing and research commonly associated with a grad program
Message edited 8/10/2005 4:08:23 PM.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:07 PM
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palebride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Why not just go for the MA if the MFA can cause problems?
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Posted 8/10/05 4:07 PM
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nov04LIbride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by palebride
Why not just go for the MA if the MFA can cause problems?
I agree. I think you would have a hard time getting a job teaching in a college with an MFA and not a doctorate unless you had a significant amount of impressive work experience. They publish the number of faculty members holding doctorates, so even though an MFA may be a terminal degree for some specific areas, it is still not at the doctoral level.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:11 PM
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MonkeyLuv
It's An Obsession
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
I think you're getting yourself confused because you haven't researched any of this yet.
A Masters is a Masters... the Ph.D. programs requiring only MA or MS almost always include the MFA under the MA umbrella. What they are really requiring is a Masters Degree, not a Bachelors.
Also, teaching at the high school level with a Masters is possible but you'll still probably need to take education courses as well.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:12 PM
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marymoon
Someday Bride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
I'm not sure it will cause problems that's why I'm asking. The MFA is a lot more up my alley. It involves actually doing work in the theatre, working on plays 24/7, as opposed to spending time buried in books. There's merit to both, but when you go out into the world, they don't ask you what courses you took or how much stanislavski you know, or how familiar you are with the origins of theatre of the absurd, the want to know how much experience you have. The MFa will give me the practical experience and then help in improving my craft, and sharpening my vision, not time spent studying that of others (which is also valuable, don't get me wrong).I just don't want to put myself in a hole where should I choose to go on to a doctorate in some other topic, or in dramaturgy (heaven help me), that I won't have to go for ANOTHER master's degree first. I was looking at Columbia's grad school and they have a good MFA program but then the PhD program says it doesn't accept people right off of the MFA, so I'm going to find out why and how to fill in any gaps. As long as it's still a master's, I shoud still be good as gold to teach at the high school level. My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:18 PM
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nov04LIbride
Asshatery: Nature or nurture?
Member since 3/04 8138 total posts
Wedding Date:
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Hard-boiled eggs also have hearts of gold.
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by MonkeyLuv
A Masters is a Masters... the Ph.D. programs requiring only MA or MS almost always include the MFA under the MA umbrella. What they are really requiring is a Masters Degree, not a Bachelors.
This is true...I know some jobs I am researching require a PhD...But usually they just mean any doctorate..Mine will not be a PhD. Give the specific schools you are considering for a doctorate a call to check.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:18 PM
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marymoon
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by MonkeyLuv
I think you're getting yourself confused because you haven't researched any of this yet.
A Masters is a Masters... the Ph.D. programs requiring only MA or MS almost always include the MFA under the MA umbrella. What they are really requiring is a Masters Degree, not a Bachelors.
Also, teaching at the high school level with a Masters is possible but you'll still probably need to take education courses as well.
No, it said specifically "MA or MS Only, we do not accept applicatons from MFAs" or something like that. Otherwise I would ahve assumed MFA falls under the category of MA.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:19 PM
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palebride
Intercourse knows no season...
Member since 6/03 12375 total posts
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Maybe I'm being ignorant here....but I was under the understanding that you need a Masters in Education to teach in a high school - not a Masters of a particular area....unless you have a BA in Education.....
When i was going for my Masters in Education, the classes had almost nothing to do with English - but in educational philosophies.....
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Posted 8/10/05 4:23 PM
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nov04LIbride
Asshatery: Nature or nurture?
Member since 3/04 8138 total posts
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Hard-boiled eggs also have hearts of gold.
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
After reading Columbia's requirements for the PhD in Theatre, it looks like you must complete their MPhil. to get into the program (and on the way to that the MA degree).
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Posted 8/10/05 4:23 PM
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MonkeyLuv
It's An Obsession
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
No, it said specifically "MA or MS Only, we do not accept applicatons from MFAs" or something like that. Otherwise I would ahve assumed MFA falls under the category of MA.
That seems very odd. What program was it?
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Posted 8/10/05 4:25 PM
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nov04LIbride
Asshatery: Nature or nurture?
Member since 3/04 8138 total posts
Wedding Date:
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Hard-boiled eggs also have hearts of gold.
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.
The department head and chair of drama and dance is listed as Professor Kolb, who holds a PhD from NYU. And Professor Coppenger in your department holds a DFA from Yale, so that's a possibility too.
Message edited 8/10/2005 4:30:34 PM.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:29 PM
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marymoon
Someday Bride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by MonkeyLuv
Posted by marymoon
No, it said specifically "MA or MS Only, we do not accept applicatons from MFAs" or something like that. Otherwise I would ahve assumed MFA falls under the category of MA.
That seems very odd. What program was it?
I know. That was the entire reason for this post, because I always thought an MFA was the equivaent of an MA in every way. I thought it was Columbia, but now I can't find where I saw that. It was 1am, maybe I was seeing things?
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Posted 8/10/05 4:29 PM
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marymoon
Someday Bride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by marymoon
My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.
The department head and chair of drama and dance is listed as Professor Kolb, who holds a PhD from NYU.
I'm the theatre dept at New College
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Posted 8/10/05 4:29 PM
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marymoon
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
it was Tisch:
"A previously earned master’s degree is required for applicants wishing to enter directly into the doctoral program. The M.A. or M.S. is preferred. The M.F.A. is not applicable. Consult the department if you have earned another type of master’s degree to qualify as a doctoral applicant."
So when I saw that i thought "what's wrong with an MFA"
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Posted 8/10/05 4:34 PM
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nov04LIbride
Asshatery: Nature or nurture?
Member since 3/04 8138 total posts
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Hard-boiled eggs also have hearts of gold.
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by marymoon
My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.
The department head and chair of drama and dance is listed as Professor Kolb, who holds a PhD from NYU.
I'm the theatre dept at New College
It looks like the Advisor there is Romano, who is only an adjunct, not a professor. The entire theatre department of full time faculty hold at least MFAs.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:34 PM
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marymoon
Someday Bride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by marymoon
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by marymoon
My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.
The department head and chair of drama and dance is listed as Professor Kolb, who holds a PhD from NYU.
I'm the theatre dept at New College
It looks like the Advisor there is Romano, who is only an adjunct, not a professor. The entire theatre department of full time faculty hold at least MFAs.
Yes, but he heads the department. he's only an adjunct I believe because he only has a bachelor's. But Im just saying it's him, not the the PhD who runs the dept, so level of degree isn't always the deciding factor. It's amazing that he's done so much, especialy as someone who had an acting career and when back to school for his BA as an adult so he could teach. There are many paths.
ETA: Why so much fact-checking anyway? And where did you get it? I'm having a hard enough time figuring out if the registrar is still there or if there's a new one!
Message edited 8/10/2005 4:38:58 PM.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:37 PM
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nov04LIbride
Asshatery: Nature or nurture?
Member since 3/04 8138 total posts
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
Yes, but he heads the department. he's only an adjunct I believe because he only has a bachelor's. But Im just saying it's him, not the the PhD who runs the dept, so level of degree isn't always the deciding factor. It's amazing that he's done so much, especialy as someone who had an acting career and when back to school for his BA as an adult so he could teach. There are many paths.
No one wants to be an adjunct though. It's not tenure track and half the time you don't even get benefits. It's really to bad he didn't go further if he has to stop at adjunct because he is that limited by his degree. They also pay adjuncts a LOT less than any other faculty.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:39 PM
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MonkeyLuv
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
In regards to Tisch, they seem to say they'll accept the MFA after you consult them. The MFA and the MA at Tisch require different coursework, that's the difference.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:39 PM
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nov04LIbride
Asshatery: Nature or nurture?
Member since 3/04 8138 total posts
Wedding Date:
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Hard-boiled eggs also have hearts of gold.
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
ETA: Why so much fact-checking anyway? And where did you get it? I'm having a hard enough time figuring out if the registrar is still there or if there's a new one!
LOL I was just really surprised any department chair would not have a higher degree, and my office is filled with every college catalog in NY State, and each catalog lists the degrees of every faculty and staff member. Really for my own curiousity. I know my dad is a college president and would never have someone with a bachelor's heading a department, but finding he is an adjunct makes more sense to me.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:40 PM
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tourist
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by marymoon
My advisor, who is the head of the department only has a B.A actually, but an increidble amount of experience. There are PhDs in the department, but he's the head of the department with only a BA. So you never know.
Well, that depends on the school. I know that wasn't allowed at my school, but it was the type of school that only had adjuncts in certain subjects & only let grad students teach the occasional freshman class.
You could probably work as an adjunct with just a MFa. DH's uncle works as an adjunct with just an MBA & a few failed busineses, but it won't ever be more than that.
Also, since your advisor only has a BA, someone else in the department may be able to help you with these questions, b/c they have more experience with the academic side of the field.
Message edited 8/10/2005 4:45:39 PM.
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Posted 8/10/05 4:41 PM
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marymoon
Someday Bride
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Re: XPOST LIF - Is anyone an MFA or an MFA candidate?
Posted by MonkeyLuv
In regards to Tisch, they seem to say they'll accept the MFA after you consult them. The MFA and the MA at Tisch require different coursework, that's the difference.
Isn't the MFA always different coursework? I think I'll call them to see what they say. They may not be the only school that does that. So I want to see what I'd have to do to apply to their doctorate program with an MFA. Not that I'd ever get into to Tisch, but a girl can dream 
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Posted 8/10/05 4:41 PM
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