Department Website
Program Description
Through a series of carefully orchestrated studio courses, students are allowed to develop individually as designers over the course of the three-year Master of Fine Arts program. Students are expected to focus on one or two primary areas of design—set, film, costume, or lighting–and are encouraged to take classes in the other disciplines as well.
Art courses and classes in technical aspects of theatre are important tools for the design student but the program's emphasis is clearly on the design process. In the classroom students are encouraged to explore, in depth, the text, character, music, history, and psychological elements of their work and are challenged to apply their creativity in new and imaginative ways.
Often the most exciting work is created when set designers work together in class with lighting and costume designers and directors. The designer/director relationship is nurtured by the participation of Columbia University directing students in advanced design classes. Tisch School of the Arts filmmakers and designers work together in the classroom on joint projects under the tutelage of some of today's top film production designers.
Admissions
All graduate applicants to the Tisch School of the Arts are required to submit the General Graduate Application, as well as a department-specific portfolio or creative supplement. Each of these can be submitted online.
See Graduate Admissions for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
For international applicants, see International Applicant Requirements. Applicants with international credentials should be sure to check to see if their credentials are equivalent to an American Bachelor’s degree before applying.
Program Requirements
The Department of Design for Stage and Film consists of four disciplines: scenic design, costume design, lighting design and production design. Each discipline has specific required courses for their three years in the program as described below:
Scenic Design
Course List
Course |
Title |
Credits |
DESG-GT 1054 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 2006 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1004 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1012 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1022 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2000 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1055 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1009 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 2009 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1013 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1071 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1100 | | 4-5 |
DESG-GT 1102 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1030 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1140 | | 2-4 |
DESG-GT 1120 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 1101 | | 4-5 |
DESG-GT 1103 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1121 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 1210 | Scenic Design III | 5 |
DESG-GT 1017 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1500 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2002 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1211 | | 5 |
DESG-GT 1017 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1501 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2003 | | 3 |
| 5-11 |
Total Credits | 86 |
Costume Design
Course List
Course |
Title |
Credits |
DESG-GT 1018 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1020 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1004 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1000 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1022 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2000 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1019 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1021 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1005 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1000 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2000 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1071 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1204 | | 4-5 |
DESG-GT 1206 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1140 | | 2-4 |
DESG-GT 1120 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 1052 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1205 | | 4-5 |
DESG-GT 1207 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1053 | | 3-4 |
DESG-GT 1121 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 1400 | Costume Design III | 5 |
DESG-GT 1500 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2002 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1401 | | 5 |
DESG-GT 1219 | (optional) | 3 |
DESG-GT 1501 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2003 | | 3 |
Total Credits | 86 |
Lighting Design
Course List
Course |
Title |
Credits |
DESG-GT 1150 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1056 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1012 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1004 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1034 | | 1-2 |
DESG-GT 1022 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2000 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1151 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1057 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1013 | | 1 |
DESG-GT 1035 | | 1-2 |
DESG-GT 1071 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1006 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1424 | | 4-5 |
DESG-GT 1440 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1461 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1034 | | 1-2 |
DESG-GT 1425 | | 4-5 |
DESG-GT 1441 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1462 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1014 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1015 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1035 | | 1-2 |
DESG-GT 1450 | Lighting Design III | 5 |
DESG-GT 1462 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1034 | | 1-2 |
DESG-GT 2002 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1024 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1451 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1463 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1035 | | 1-2 |
DESG-GT 2003 | | 3 |
Total Credits | 86 |
Production Design
Course List
Course |
Title |
Credits |
DESG-GT 1054 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 2006 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1004 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1012 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1022 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 2000 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1055 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1009 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 2009 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1013 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1214 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1050 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 1030 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1062 | | 1 |
DESG-GT 1222 | | 2 |
DESG-GT 1215 | | 4 |
DESG-GT 1051 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 1014 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1062 | | 1 |
DESG-GT 1216 | Production Design II | 5 |
DESG-GT 1064 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 2002 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1062 | | 1 |
DESG-GT 1217 | | 5 |
DESG-GT 1065 | | 2-3 |
DESG-GT 2003 | | 3 |
DESG-GT 1062 | | 1 |
| 10-14 |
Total Credits | 86 |
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
Design
- Have the ability to design for theatre, film and television in set, film, costume, or light.
- Be able to complete a theatrical or film production in school.
- Develop an understanding of the technical aspects of production.
- Develop the ability to communicate visually, verbally and in written form responses to the text and of each individual design.
Production
- Have the ability to work collaboratively.
- Understand the function of each design element (set, costume, and light) within the artistic team.
- Complete projects on time and on budget.
Art
- Have the ability to communicate visually
- Have the ability to manipulate images in the computer.
Craft
- Develop a work process that enables students to work in many different collaborative environments.
- Have skills in the craft techniques of chosen discipline.
- Have an understanding of the stagecraft of the artisans working on the construction of the designs.
- Learn to provide appropriate documentation to the artisans that produce the items needed for production and communicate with the shops in each area.
Dramaturgy
- Have the ability to conduct in-depth analysis and research on the elements of the work for which they are designing (text, character, space, music, history and psychology).
- Have the ability to use libraries, museums, the Internet, databases, etc. to conduct historical research.
- Understand and apply the various psychological theories underpinning storytelling.
- Understand the history of architecture and clothing and the importance of primary source research.
- Be able to communicate effectively with team members on productions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of text including character, psychological themes, and context for production.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Tisch Policies
Additional academic policies can be found on the Tisch academic policy page.