<p>Previous threads have pointed out that in large universities that have MFA and PhD theatre programs, BA (assuming no BFA) theatre students may be treated like second-class citizens. My question is more specific. In such programs, are many classes taught by PhD and MFA students? I remember the day that I arrived to work on my PhD in a professionally-oriented program. I was told that I had two classes; that was the extent of my training. It took me about six semesters to learn the ropes. I pity the students who had to sit through my trial-by-fire. If this is the case in Theatre programs, I would rather my son not apply to such Acting programs. We are currently reviewing the BA programs at, for example, Penn State (further complicated that it has a BFA in MT), Iowa, and Maryland.</p>
<p>Wow, interesting viewpoint, briansteffy. Essentially, you wonder if they use grad students as teaching assistants, just as they do all over the science departments, etc.</p>
<p>I don't know the answer, b/c my kids went to LAC's so only the profs could get at them. </p>
<p>I realize this is just spin and conjecture, but perhaps a theater grad student starts out with better teaching/interactive skills than another kind of grad student. That's a stretch. I wouldn't like it if a TA taught my kids. And those grad students have to rehearse like crazy so where do they get any time to T.A.? </p>
<p>You raised an important concern. I hope someone chimes in with an answer...</p>
<p>payingtuitions. A prof told me that, indeed, perhaps an MFA dergreed person, now pursuing a PhD, may be quite a good teacher. On the other hand, I teach ib B-Schools. You would think that an executive would make a great teacher, given that they are fresh out of the trenches. But we have had little luck when we have acted on this assumption. The classroom is a totally different arena, regardless of the quality of the 'war stories'. It takes time to be an excellent teacher.</p>
<p>At many schopols MFA and PhD students teach non-majors, but not majors... as some schools MFA or PhD students may teach undergraduate majors. This is a wonderful question to ask of the different schools</p>