NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma has announced a new Master of Fine Arts in Drama, with a concentration in Directing, launching in Fall 2026. Applications are now open for the inaugural cohort, whose members are expected to complete the degree by Spring 2029.
Offered through the Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, the MFA program is designed to cultivate visionary theater directors with a strong foundation in storytelling, leadership and collaboration.
Seth Gordon, a professor in directing and theater management, will oversee the new program. Students will benefit from a blend of practical directing experience and rigorous academic coursework and which prepares them for careers in both professional and academic theater, he says.
“The MFA in Directing represents an exciting new chapter for the OU School of Drama,” Gordon said. “It not only enhances our academic offerings but also positions us to help the next generation of American theater directors ignite their careers.”
Graduate students will have access to production and play development resources, as well as access to targeted professional residencies.
While the primary focus is on theatrical directing, the program will also allow students to take courses in film directing and theater pedagogy.
Learn more or apply at https://www.ou.edu/finearts/drama.
The Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma produces more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, musicals, operas and dance performances annually. Learn more at ou.edu/finearts.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
For 50 years, the Murray Case Sells Swim Complex, operated by OU Fitness and Recreation, has been more than just a pool; it has been a place where students and community members have learned life skills, found belonging and created memories that last well beyond graduation. In 2025, the university will celebrate 50 years since the swim complex expanded to serve both the campus and community with its full aquatics program.
Two early career researchers were recently awarded grants from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities organization of $10,000 each. Elizabeth Zumpe, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, will study outcomes in educational research, and Shuozhi Xu, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Gallogly College of Engineering, will study high-performance structural materials capable of withstanding extreme environments. Zumpe and Xu were selected from 164 applications representing 91 member institutions.
An anonymous gift made it possible for seven University of Oklahoma students to spend a semester conducting immersive research across the U.S. and Iceland – diving into topics rarely covered in standard textbooks.
