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.

Location: On Campus

Total Credit Hours: 60

Next Session Start: August 25, 2025

Approved Degree Plan: 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.

Top 25 Best Master's Programs in Virginia, 2024, UniversityHQ.

Career Opportunities

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)

Featured Courses

Featured Courses
Code	Name	Credits
THE 700	Research & Aesthetics in Theatre	3	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.
THE 710	The Meisner Technique 1	3	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.
THE 711	The Meisner Technique 2	3	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.
THE 713	Text Analysis for Production	3	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.
THE 714	Combat for the Stage	3	Aesthetic/safety principles and practical techniques utilized in the staging of unarmed combat and medieval broadsword for the stage.
THE 715	Voice & Movement: Foundations	3	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.
THE 716	Voice & Movement: Cycles of Expression	3	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.
THE 717	Voice & Movement: Dialects	3	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.
THE 718	Voice & Movement: Performance Integration	3	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.
THE 721	Rapier & Dagger for the Stage	3	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.
THE 728	Scene Study	3	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.
THE 729	Advanced Scene Study	3	Intensive scene study applied to the texts of major twentieth century playwrights whose works present unique challenges for the contemporary actor. Prerequisite: THE 728.
THE 733	Screen Acting 1	3	Focus is on the application of acting and performance skills for single-camera film and video presentations. Development of theatrical characterizations, as well as “commercial” and on-camera spokesperson performances are presented and analyzed in a workshop environment. Cross-listed with CTV 541.
THE 740	Acting Shakespeare	3	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.
THE 741	Acting in Periods & Styles	3	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.
THE 743	Screen Acting 2	3	Designed to help sharpen and energize acting skills in front of the camera. Emphasis is placed on professional development. Cross-listed with CTV 641.
THE 750	Auditioning & the Business of Acting	3	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.
THE 781	MFA Practicum in Theatre Production	1-2	Students earn credit for serving on running crews and as stage managers in university productions. Credit varies by position and may be used to satisfy elective requirements. Pass/No Pass. Repeatable for a total of four (4) credit hours.
THE 799	MFA Creative/Thesis Project	1-3	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.

Admissions Requirements

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.

Tuition & Fees

2024-25 Tuition Rates

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$670	6	$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)	$670	6	$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)	$670	6	$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)	$920	6	$5,520
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)	$950	3	$2,850
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)	$950	3	$2,850

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$670	9	$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)	$670	9	$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)	$670	9	$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)	$920	9	$8,280
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)	$950	6	$5,700
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)	$950	6	$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 »

2023-24 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$670	6	$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)	$670	6	$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)	$670	6	$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)	$920	6	$5,520
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)	$950	3	$2,850
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)	$950	3	$2,850

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$670	9	$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)	$670	9	$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)	$670	9	$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)	$920	9	$8,280
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)	$950	6	$5,700
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)	$950	6	$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 »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

FAQ

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.

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