Graduate Degree Programs
PhD in Theatre: Theatre Performance of the Americas
A PhD in Theatre with a concentration in Theatre and Performance of the Americas trains scholars to examine the histories, theories and practices associated with cultural performance, from a hemispheric point-of-view. Through course work, seminars, and research and study opportunities, you work from diverse critical perspectives that mobilize thought across geographical and disciplinary borders. In the process, you develop skills to re-examine and interrogate the canon of theatre as text and as performance, expanding the traditional boundaries of theatre studies in two ways: a perspective that considers the shared histories and practices of theatre and performance in the Americas as central to an intervention in traditionally narrated histories and theories of theatre; and the methodologies of cultural and performance studies that accommodate other forms of embodied expression related to but distinct from formal theatrical expression.
The Herberger Institute School of Theatre and Film offers distinct opportunities for scholarly and artistic endeavor, both through the institute and through its affiliations with other campus initiatives and centers, including the Southwest Borderlands Initiative and the Office for Pan-American Initiatives. In addition, the School of Theatre and Film's affiliation with the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics at New York University provides students further opportunities for international scholarly and artistic exchange.
The PhD in Theatre and Performance of the Americas seeks to produce scholars of the highest caliber, preparing you for careers as university researchers and instructors, public intellectuals, dramaturgs and critics.
Application and Admission
You must meet all admission requirements of the Graduate College. In addition, the School of Theatre and Film requires:
- Acceptable scores on the GRE and on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or equivalent (where applicable)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Current résumé
- Scholarly writing sample
- Statement of purpose
Application Deadline
The application and test score deadline is Jan. 15. After that date, admission is subject to space availability.
Program of Study
A total of 60 semester hours after completing the master's degree is required.
The concentration in Theatre and Performance of the Americas consists of a core of 24 hours, distributed over the following courses:
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Additionally, 12 hours of electives, two of which must come from outside the school (as approved by the supervisory committee); and 24 hours of research and dissertation preparation.
In meeting these requirements, you, with the advice of the supervisory committee, may select theatre courses in areas such as theatre education, directing, acting, design, playwriting, theatre history and theatre theory/criticism, in addition to tutorial courses. You may also take courses outside the School of Theatre and Film in areas such as critical and cultural studies, area studies, languages and literatures, and aesthetic theory. You are encouraged to be involved in on- and off-campus productions, teaching and research. All activities are selected to help you meet the goals of the program and develop the capability of becoming a leader in the field.
Preliminary Reviews
Reviews of your performance in courses and development of research skills, artistic skills and teaching competencies are conducted by the supervisory committee at the end of each semester.
Comprehensive Examinations
These examinations are composed of written and oral components centering on theatre history, literature and criticism, theatre and performance of the Americas, and the research area.
Dissertation Requirements
A dissertation based on original high-quality research work, demonstrating proficiency in your special field, is required. (See doctoral dissertations.)
Financial Assistance
University scholarships, fellowships, grants and other forms of financial assistance are available. See financing graduate studies, assistantships and associateships for more information. The School of Theatre and film grants graduate assistantships. Information concerning graduate assistantships is available through the graduate secretary in the school.
Research Activity
The School of Theatre and Film's doctoral concentration in Theatre and Performance of the Americas provides unique opportunities for you to advance your knowledge in the field. The school's affiliation with the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics in the Americas supports student and faculty participation in and travel to the institute's regular international conferences, offers concurrent graduate courses developed by member universities, provides access to its extensive digital archives on cultural performances ranging from theatre and dance to ritual and religious practice and political events, and provides an important site for you to publish your research.