The Master of Arts degree in Theatre Arts requires a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate and the completion of the M.A. degree requires a thesis and a final examination.

The Master of Fine Arts degree is a terminal professional degree that provides for intensive specialization in acting and directing, design, playwriting, or theatre management.

Completion of the M.F.A. degree requires a thesis. In the case of acting-directing and design candidates, the thesis is based on a performance or production project accomplished during their program. In the case of playwriting candidates, the thesis is based on a script which is produced during their program.

The department participates with the faculties in Art, Music, and Philosophy in an interdisciplinary program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Fine Arts.

Doctoral students whose major area is theatre choose two of the following fields of concentration: Acting and directing;design; history, theory, and criticism; arts administration; and playwriting. Work towards the degree is both scholarly and practical, requires a minimum of 63 semester hours at the graduate level beyond the master's degree, includes a rigorous comprehensive examination, and culminates in a dissertation requirement that allows a choice of several avenues of research.