Ph.D. Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. in Theatre and Film is an academic degree, but students must demonstrate competence in at least one production area. To be admitted, a student will ordinarily be expected to have a Graduate Record Examination score of at least 600 (verbal), 500 (quantitative), and 4.5 (analytical writing). Students who took the GRE before the implementation of the analytical writing section (i.e. before October 2002) will be expected to have an analytical score of 600 or above. Applicants must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.2 for undergraduate and at least 3.5 for graduate work; and a master’s degree acceptable to the graduate faculty. Deficiencies in a student’s background may require make-up work.

Ph.D. Degree in Theatre

Applicants must hold the M.A. in theatre studies or a related field acceptable to the department.
Depending on background, students may
have to make up some work from the M.A. including courses in the methodology sequence noted under the MA requirements. Normally, such make-up work does not count toward the Ph.D.

Core Requirements (12 hours). In consultation with an adviser, students choose from among departmental courses in theatre history, dramatic literature, theory, and criticism.

Elective Requirements (9 hours). Elective courses focus on the academic study of theatre/performance history, theory, and related methodologies. Courses are selected with a graduate adviser to reflect the student’s special interest. Some courses may be taken outside the theatre area, for example in Film, English, American Studies, African-American Studies, History, etc.

Secondary Field Requirements (9 hours). Students choose 9 hours at the graduate level from outside the department to assist them in writing the dissertation. Courses are related to the student’s proposed specialization. (See examples above under Elective Requirements.)

Production Courses (6 hours). In order to become competent artists as well as developing research scholars, students choose a sequence of graduate courses in either scenography or directing.

Foreign Language or Other Research Skills Requirement. The student must demonstrate (1) proficiency in one foreign language or (2) competence in two foreign languages. For one of the languages under the second option, the student may substitute a specific skill pertinent to the specialty (e.g., computer language, American Sign Language).

Comprehensive Examination (6 hours). The examination includes onsite written responses to questions in history, theory, production, literature/criticism, and the student’s specialization, followed by an oral examination. While preparing for the examination, students enroll twice in TH&F 998 Investigation and Conference (for Doctoral Students).

Dissertation (18 hours). The finished dissertation must constitute a palpable contribution to knowledge in the candidate’s chosen field. Following its completion, an oral defense must be held no less than four weeks before the deadline for graduation. The committee consists of one chair, three departmental members, and an outside member.

Normally, the Ph.D. will require 60 hours after the M.A., not including language proficiency and research tool requirement.

All courses must be chosen in consultation with an advisor.