Skip navigation
A theater production: Pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Acting degree at Regent University.

MFA in Acting

Sharpen Your Competitive Edge in Acting

The Master of Fine Arts in Acting is a five-semester, two-calendar year professional training program that can prepare actors to excel in a competitive marketplace. You can learn both time-tested techniques and the latest trends in contemporary actor training within the context of a faith-based curriculum. You’ll take two semesters of study each in the Sanford Meisner Approach to acting, Scene Study (Practical Aesthetics), Screen Acting, and Combat for the Stage & Screen–including the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) Skills Proficiency Test in three forms. You can also take courses in Acting in Periods & Styles, Acting Shakespeare, Research & Aesthetics, and Text Analysis for Performance. The program also includes a four-semester integrated studio in Voice & Movement (Kristin Linklater and Michael Lugering) including a course in Stage Dialects. The second year of training culminates with Auditioning & the Business of Acting, a mainstage Creative Project/Thesis role and an industry showcase or video reel.

On Campus
60
August 19, 2024
Download PDF

Enhance Your Expertise

Receive in-depth training in the Meisner technique, stage fighting and screen acting.

Advance your Career

Explore principles of auditioning and navigating the business of acting, from headshots and resumes to interviewing.

Gain Practical Experience

Perform your major thesis role in a mainstage production during one of your final two semesters in residence.

Establish Your Reputation

Enhance your professional credentials with an MFA degree.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

On completing the MFA in Acting degree, you can:

  • Analyze texts for film, television, or theatrical production.
  • Apply the Meisner technique in your acting.
  • Apply both, aesthetic and safety principles involved in combat for stage.
  • Demonstrate a deeper understanding of acting in periods and styles, voice and movement, and screen acting.

Career Opportunities

  • Theatre actor
  • Film & TV actor
  • Talent for commercials/industrials
  • Acting instructor/coach
  • Voice over artist
  • University professor
12%
Projected growth in employment of actors (2016-26)
An in-depth examination of the philosophical and methodological strategies of graduate study within the field of the theatrical arts. Emphasis is placed on historical/critical research methods, principles of formalist analysis, Christian Aesthetics and the completion of individual research projects designed to prepare the student for the culminating experience of the Thesis/Creative Project. Cross-listed with THE 510.
Meisner’s approach trains actors to get out of their own heads and into reading the behavior generated by their scene partners. It accepts as a basic premise that actors build each other’s characters, moment by moment, together. The course will explore, in some depth, such Meisner exercises as: “The Reality of Doing,”, “Point of View,” “Pinch and Ouch,” “What’s Happening,” “Working Off,” “Coming to the Door,” “Doing Fully,” In the Extreme,” “Taking It Personally,” “In Relationship” and “Raising the Stakes.” This course will take as its focal point exercise work as opposed to intense scene study. Any scene work will be drawn from contemporary dramatic literature.
A continuing study of Sandford Meisner’s Approach to actor training. Focuses on preparing the actor to access and control release of emotion. Exercise work includes: “Setting the Stage,” “Emotional Preparation,” “Coming Home to Be Alone,” “Coming Home to Do,” “Roommates,” and “The Highest Stakes.” Acting 2 has a more demanding scene study component than Acting 1. Scene work will draw upon the dramatic works of Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov.
Designed to familiarize students with the principles, methods, and procedures involved in the analysis of written dramatic texts intended for film, television, or theatrical production. Helps students identify the different elements contained within a script and to understand how each of these relate to one another and work together in creating the overall impression as a work of art. Cross-listed with THE 613.
Aesthetic/safety principles and practical techniques utilized in the staging of unarmed combat and medieval broadsword for the stage.
A healthy environment for integrated voice and movement work utilizing a psycho-physical approach, including tension/release, proper alignment, centering and breath work, economy of movement and freedom from habitual limitations.
Expressive cycles in the physical life of the actor, including kinesthetic awareness, expressive continuums, integrated breath cycles, physical properties of expression and character energies. Prerequisite: THE 715.
A study of performance dialects for actors using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Dialects include Standard British, Cockney, Irish, and American Southern. Prerequisite: THE 715. Cross-listed with THEU 337.
Practical application of integrated voice and movement training to a range of play texts, focusing on the synthesis of kinesthetically-based techniques. Prerequisite: THE 716.
Introduces a variety of safety/aesthetic principles as well as practical techniques utilized in staging Renaissance sword fights for the stage. Principles covered include: distance/measure, partnering, cue-reaction-action, masking, reversal of energy, and the pyramid of safety. Techniques covered will be drawn from the following categories: footwork, cuts, thrusts, parries, cross parries, hand parries, reinforced parries, direct and complex attacks, prise de fer (taking of the blade) attacks, avoidances, dagger attacks, combining unarmed techniques with blade work.
Utilizes the concepts of “practical aesthetics” to further solidify the advanced actor’s application of objective-driven acting technique to scene work. Drawing heavily from the work of the Atlantic Theatre Company, this course proposes practical solutions to balancing pre-production analysis (intellect) and spontaneous, moment-to-moment discoveries in performance (intuition). Course concepts are applied to an intensive scene study, primarily in contemporary theatrical literature.
Provides the advanced actor with the various facets of approaching Shakespearean dramatic texts. An emphasis is placed on scansion, voice quality, builds, playing through lines, and finding a physical and emotional subtext for the language. Work is memorized from Sonnets, soliloquies, and dramatic scenes both serious and comic. An ensemble and individual work in vocal dexterity and sensitivity is also applied.
Students are introduced to the cultural milieu of diverse historical periods and the theatrical conventions in force at that time; and participate in a variety of exercises and scene work designed to immerse him/her in the performance styles of select historical periods.
Variety of approaches to auditioning examined: the prepared audition, cold reading, and improvisation. Students work on a series of audition pieces so as to have a polished repertoire available upon completion of their degree. Course covers the tools necessary for an actor to market themselves, including head shots, resumes, cover letters, interview technique, and finding “survival” jobs while maintaining a career as an actor.
Affords students the opportunity to accrue academic credit for acting in Mainstage and/or studio productions. Acting/Directing students may earn these credits for directing Mainstage and/or studio productions. Students may register for this course to fulfill elective requirements. Pass/No Pass.
Participation on production running crews. MFA Acting students are required to serve on a minimum of four (4) running crews during residency. The student may register for 0 to 1 credit per running crew assignment. If taken for credit, this credit may be applied to fulfilling elective requirements. Crew assignments may be drawn from a variety of opportunities in the area of technical support. If taken for zero credits, there is no charge applied for tuition or fees. Pass/No Pass.
MFA Acting students perform a major role in a Mainstage production during one of their final two semesters in residence. MFA Acting/Directing students direct a full-length production. This creative project includes a written component, or thesis, requiring research, analysis, and clear evidence of application. Pass/No Pass.

Our next MFA in Acting Cohort will begin Fall 2024.


Step 1: Schedule an Audition

An audition is required for those interested in the MFA in Acting prior to beginning the admissions process. View audition dates and requirements. Once all auditions are completed, individuals will be selected by faculty to join the program and letters of invitation will be mailed. If you receive a letter of invitation, you may continue with Step 2 below.

Step 2: Faculty Interview

All MFA in Acting applicants will be required to interview with faculty to discuss their interest in the degree and to review the program requirements.

Step 3: Application

Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 4: Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts*

We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcript from a U.S.-based school, which indicates successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program, in order to review you for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcript to regent.edu/items.

Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.

International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.

*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution, which indicate successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program. We will notify you if your previous institution will not release transcripts directly to us.

Step 5: Current Resume

Provide a theatrical resume of theatre/film/television roles and production history. Please submit to regent.edu/items.

Step 6: Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 7: Recommendation Letters (Optional)

Professional or Faculty recommendation forms may be submitted as supplemental items, but are not required.


Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9206$5,520
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9503$2,850
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9503$2,850

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9209$8,280
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9506$5,700
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9506$5,700

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9206$5,520
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9503$2,850
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9503$2,850

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9209$8,280
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9506$5,700
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9506$5,700

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800 (Fall & Spring)
$650 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Whether you are a prospective student or a current student, your questions matter. Please take a few moments to skim our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.

“I truly believe God called me to be a journalist. Perhaps one of the most important lessons that I learned from Regent is to tell stories as best as I can through the lens of God. ”

Ashley Smith, M.A. in Journalism, 2013 Daybreak Anchor and Traffic/News Reporter, 13News Now (WVEC)

“Regent has been very supportive. They do what it can to help get good work noticed and out there.”

Beecher Reuning, MFA, 2015

“I’m so excited to officially be an alumna of Regent University with my Master of Arts in Journalism.”

Nicole Gamboni, M.A. in Journalism, 2019 Financial Services Professional, MassMutual Commonwealth

“We were taught practical skills for the workplace in Regent's classroom. Now I can see how they work in a professional environment.”

Ryan Clemens, MFA, 2010 Acting

“"God provided Regent University as a place of revitalization, equipping and waiting upon the Lord. I'm very grateful to the faculty and staff who gave of themselves to make Regent such an amazing place to learn."”

Shinn-Rong Chung, MFA, 2010