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Department of Theatre and Dance

  • Students studying and performing on stage

M.A.

The Master of Arts program provides students with a solid background in theatre history, literature and critical theory, while assisting the development of research skills that promote advanced scholarship of the art form.

The program is designed for those seeking preparation for the Ph.D. or M.F.A. degree as well as for experienced and certified secondary-school teachers who wish intensive academic course work in theatre.

Program Structure

Candidates for the M.A. degree must take a minimum of 31 semester hours in addition to 3 to 6 hours of thesis work, distributed as follows: 

9 to 12 hours in history and criticism
1 hour in research methods
6 to 9 hours of critical studies
3 hours of dramaturgy or historiography
3 hours of seminars in production
6 hours of electives

Students are encouraged to pursue the study of theatre from an interdisciplinary perspective, utilizing sources from across the full spectrum of arts and science fields. In addition, students are given opportunities to apply their research and analytical skills to department productions, as well as in the presentation of their work at domestic and international conferences. A scholarly thesis is required.

Your Future

Our M.A. alumni have gone on to pursue Ph.D. programs and others have accepted faculty positions at major universities across the country. Some graduate students become secondary school educators or join theatres as dramaturgs, public relations specialists, actors and more.

 

Find out more about the M.A. in Theatre in the Graduate Bulletin.


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