M.F.A. Design

Performer stands at the front of a staged platform in a colorful costume while three performers behind pose under bright overhead stage lighting

Performer in a bright green costume sits at a lighted dressing room mirror while two others assist with adjusting a netted headpiece

Person styles a spiked black-and-red wig on a mannequin head beside other colorful wigs in a costume workshop

Five performers stand in a line on stage under bright pink and blue lighting with a raised platform and staircase behind

Two people work at a large table in a scenic design workshop, hammering and assembling wooden props surrounded by tools and materials

Introduction

The M.F.A. in Design at UC Irvine offers a challenging and creative environment for curious and resourceful artists. The program is grounded in the belief that a strong foundation in theatrical design, paired with opportunities to explore digital tools and emerging technologies, fosters thoughtful and adaptable collaborators. Graduates are exceptionally well prepared for professional careers in theatre and related entertainment arts, equipped with both artistic vision and practical expertise.

Areas of Study

Costume Design
Lighting Design
Scenic and Projection Design
Sound Design

Curriculum

Students enter the program specializing in one design discipline: sound design, lighting design, costume design, or scenic design. Intensive study within the chosen area forms the core of each student’s education, while coursework in complementary disciplines builds a broad working knowledge that supports effective collaboration across production teams.

The curriculum also includes the study of theatre history, art history, and dramatic literature, grounding design practice within historical, cultural, and critical contexts. Instruction is centered on the development of each student’s individual artistic voice. Students work in shared studio spaces that foster constructive critique, collaboration, and peer support. Additional learning opportunities include weekly roundtables, design tutorials, masterclasses, and post-performance critiques.

Training Methodology

The Design program provides professional training that honors theatrical tradition while actively engaging contemporary practices. Emphasis is placed on the integration of new technologies and their impact on modern design processes. Students receive training on industry-standard software, high-end computers, and professional equipment across all design disciplines, preparing them for a seamless transition into the professional field.

Production Opportunities

Production work is a central component of the M.F.A. Design experience. To ensure meaningful and sustained design opportunities, the number of graduate students admitted each year is intentionally limited. Over the course of the program, students typically design between four and seven fully supported projects across multiple venues.

The interdisciplinary structure of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts creates additional opportunities to design for opera, dance, video, and performance art. Faculty mentors guide students through each project, offering feedback throughout the design process and upon completion. Professional guest designers are invited to critique the work of third-year students, providing valuable external perspective.

As a professional training program, attention is given to both the artistic and practical realities of theatrical production. Schedules, budgets, and workflows reflect standard practices within American regional theatre. Highly trained staff support all productions, creating a professional environment in which students can fully realize their designs.

Details for the Prospective Student

The Design program typically admits eight students per year, with two students in each discipline. The design area is supported by a core faculty of eight members, all of whom remain active professionals while prioritizing their teaching and mentorship at UC Irvine.

Full-tuition fellowships and assistantships are awarded to most qualified design students for three years of study. Assistantships generally involve production-related work aligned with a student’s area of specialization and may include teaching opportunities. Students are provided shared studio space equipped with computers, printers, and essential design tools.

Subsidized on-campus housing is available to all graduate students. Applicants are also encouraged to explore additional financial assistance through need-based aid.

Faculty

Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz
B.A. & M.F.A. University of California, Irvine.
Lighting Design

Efren Delgadillo Jr.
B.F.A. University of California, Irvine, M.F.A. CalArts.
Head of Scene Design, Associate Head of Design

Holly Poe Durbin
B.A. Vanderbilt University, M.F.A. University of California, Los Angeles.
Head of Costume Design, Head of Design

Marcia (Marcy) Froehlich
B.A. Principia College, M.F.A. University of Michigan.
Costume Design

Mike Hooker
B.F.A. University of Arizona, M.F.A. CalArts.
Head of Sound Design, Composition

Yee Eun Nam
B.F.A. Seoul National University, M.F.A. University of California, Los Angeles.
Scene Design, Projection Design

Vincent Olivieri
B.A. University of Richmond, M.F.A. Yale University.
Head of Design, Sound Design, Composition

Jaymi Lee Smith
B.F.A. DePaul University.
Head of Lighting Design

To apply to the M.F.A. program in Design, a completed application and application fee ($135 for U.S. Citizens and lawful U.S. Permanent Residents, and $155 for all other applicants) is required. The application fee must be submitted online (checks will not be accepted). All graduate applications are submitted electronically and must be supported by appropriate academic transcripts from each college/university attended and two letters of recommendation. Unofficial transcripts must be submitted online with the graduate application. Official transcripts must be provided only after a candidate has been accepted by the program and formally admitted to the university. All letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Design portfolios should be uploaded to the electronic application; if the portfolio is available online, a link to the specific website should be uploaded.

Submission of the Statement of Purpose is mandatory. Submission of the Personal History Statement is optional. The Department of Drama has no word/character minimum or maximum length requirements for these statements.

Please be sure to specify on the online application your "Specific Area of Interest" as either Scene, Costume, Lighting, or Sound Design.

The application deadline for those wishing to interview at the Irvine campus is March 1, but in order to be eligible for scholarships and other financial offers, we encourage you to apply by February 1.

For Design applicants, the GRE exam is not required. After we have received and processed your M.F.A. application, application fee, and portfolio, our design faculty will contact you, if you meet their initial criteria, regarding your interview time and location. If you move after you submit your application, it is important that you notify our office with your new address and phone number. The deadline for submission of letters of recommendations is March 10th. Only persons who have submitted applications, application fees, and portfolios can be assigned an interview.

UCI participates in the U/RTA review process. Applicants to UCI do not have to participate in U/RTA, but if they do, faculty representatives will be interviewing U/RTA applicants.

Design portfolio reviews and interviews for U/RTA applicants may be scheduled via the web at http://www.urta.com, by email at Info@urta.com, or by phone at 212-221-1130.

For those international applicants that are required to successfully complete an English langauge proficiency exam (TOEFL or IELTS) to be considered for admission, please know that:

The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Please select institution code 4859 to have your official score sent to UCI. No department code is needed.
We only accept scores submitted electronically by ETS.
Test results that are two years old or older are not acceptable.
We do not accept MyBest scores; you must submit all individual test scores.
Results of institutional (non-ETS) administrations of the TOEFL are not acceptable.
We will accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test. The same minimum score applies.
We do NOT accept the TOEFL ITP Plus test for China or the TOEFL Essentials test.
For more information, please visit their website at www.ets.org/toefl.

TOEFL Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:
An overall minimum score of 80.

As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

We only accept scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center. No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted.
Test results that are two years old or older are not acceptable.
We will accept the IELTS Indicator test. The same minimum score applies.
An institutional code is NOT required. Please contact the test center directly where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution.
For more information, please visit their website at www.ielts.org.

IELTS Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:
An overall minimum score of 7 for admission, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module.

Find out more:

          :: Apply Electronically
          :: Graduate Division website
          :: Graduate Housing
          :: Financial Aid
          :: Information for International Applicants
          :: Application Fee Waivers

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