Who: Nic Ularu, Head of MFA Design Program
School: University of South Carolina
City: Columbia, South Carolina

What should candidates look for in a training program? And what unique qualities do you think candidates would find in your program?

Before considering a training program, the MFA candidates should know about the quality, the national and international visibility of the program, the professors’ professional experience, and how many theatre professionals (who actually practice what they learned in school) graduated in the past 12 years.

Our MFA Design Program, offers a scenography approach in studying the theatre design. We have students who are able to work in two fields of design after graduation (Ex: Scene Design – Costume Design or Scene Design – Lighting Design)

We offer the unique opportunity for the MFA Design students to have an internship abroad. In the past they went to assist or work in some of the main professional theatre companies in: Sweden, Japan, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Romania, UK and France.

Our facilities include besides a proscenium stage and a black box, an arena stage of 300 seats. That provides the students with all the possibility to study in all major scene configurations.

Our program was awarded with a Diploma of Excellence by the USITT, our students and professors get selected in the USA National Exhibitions at the Prague Quadrennial of Scenography and were awarded national and international prizes.

What is your favorite class you teach and why?

Visual composition for Film and TV. It is a very challenging class that provides the students with a sophisticated understanding of visual arts, film, TV and other media.

What are your favorite things to do off-campus in your free time?
Going to the Ocean, watching football games, fishing, jogging

Describe Columbia in three words.
Peaceful, Inspiring, Welcoming

Other fun things to do in Columbia:
• Many seasonal festivals, including Historic Columbia’s Jubilee Festival of Heritage
• Soda City, weekly local farmer’s market on Main Street
• Sports!!