All U/RTA members have professional goals and offer a comprehensive approach to graduate theatre training.  Our members do this by selecting talented and committed young theatre artists and providing a rigorous training program that includes ongoing and consistent contact with professional artists.

U/RTA member programs are characterized by:

1. A commitment to the highest professional practices in all areas of theatrical production and performance training demonstrated by the quality, size, and scope of the educational, artistic, managerial, and promotional components of the organization.
2. One or more Master of Fine Arts degree offerings.
3. A graduate student body of a significant size and scope to allow students to artistically collaborate with and intellectually stimulate one another.
4. The use of faculty with professional credentials and a commitment to encouraging and maintaining their professional creative work/research and the use of professional guest artists and practitioners.
5. Compliance with the U/RTA code of Ethics.
6. Programs and procedures for developing a knowledgeable and committed audience for professional theatre.
7. A systematic and ongoing approach to career entry activities for all MFA programs.
8. Locating and developing potential talent and ability through a fair and equitable recruitment process.

Normally an institution meeting the above criteria is organized around one of the following models:

• A professional training program within a university theatre or drama department that offers significant and regular contact with the profession and professional artists and artisans.
• A professional training program within a university theatre or drama department that is significantly associated with a professional producing theatre.
• A conservatory program within a university theatre or drama department that offers distinct professional training and contact with the profession, and with professional artists and artisans.
• A conservatory program within a professional theatre that offers systematic professional training and contact with professional artists and artisans