Master of Arts

Educational Theatre / Social Studies Education

Grades K–12 / Grades 7–12

Core Courses and Areas of Specialization

The curriculum for this degree includes integrated course work in drama, dramatic literature, and theatre, which are tied to the four New York State Learning Standards for both theatre and social studies. You'll have the opportunity to focus your studies on a concentration, such as Applied Theatre, Drama Education, or Theatre for Young Audiences and Play Production; or you can create your own pathway under advisement. 

Fieldwork and Student Teaching Placements in New York City Schools

You will also complete fieldwork and two supervised student teaching placements in New York City elementary and secondary schools, honing your teaching techniques under the guidance of NYU faculty.

Graduates of our program are teachers of drama and theatre at preschools and elementary, middle, and secondary schools. They hold positions in education and theatre departments in museums, art galleries, colleges, and universities.

You will graduate eligible for New York State initial certification as a teacher of theatre, all grades (K–12), and a teacher of social studies, grades 7–12. Learn more about teacher certification and our degree's accreditation.

Educational Theatre Scholarships

Graduate and Doctoral students in the Program in Educational Theatre may receive scholarships through one or both of the following methods. The first is through completing the Steinhardt Financial Aid process and potentially receiving merit or need based scholarships. Information on this process is available through the Financial Aid website for graduate students.

The second method is by applying for Educational Theatre Scholarships directly through the Program.

Eligibility Criteria for Educational Theatre Scholarships

• Educational Theatre Scholarship applicants must be graduate or doctoral students in the Program in Educational Theatre who demonstrate service to the Program, academic merit, or artistic merit.
• Doctoral students can receive scholarships up to two times, but not in consecutive semesters. Master’s students can receive a scholarship only once.
• If doctoral students who have already received the award apply again, information included in the statement should only pertain to work completed after the previous award.
• Priority is given to students with financial need.

Awards

Up to a $5,000 bursary will be awarded to students and applied to their Bursar account in one of four areas: Service-based, Academic Merit, Artistic Merit, or Study Abroad.

Note that these scholarships can only be applied towards tuition and/or registration fees for NYU/Educational Theatre courses.

Application Procedure

Students can apply for these scholarships after completing one semester of study. An application form will be circulated to current students through the program’s list serve approximately two - three weeks prior to the start of registration for the upcoming term.

Application Deadlines

• Fall – April 1
• Spring – November 1
• Summer – January 24

The application form requires:

• a faculty member to support the application
• selection of one of the four award areas (Service-based, Academic Merit, Artistic Merit, or Study Abroad)
• a statement of no more than 500 words responding to a corresponding prompt

Statement Prompts:

Service-based:
Statement of Service describing the ways in which you have provided service to the Program that is deserving of acknowledgement.

Academic Merit:
Statement of Academic Merit describing the ways in which your academic work is deserving of acknowledgement.

Artistic Merit:
Statement of Artistic Merit describing the ways in which your artistic work is deserving of acknowledgement.

Study Abroad:
Statement of Service, Academic Merit, or Artistic Merit describing the ways in which your work is deserving of acknowledgement through scholarship for the study abroad program.

Scholarships

Nancy and Lowell Swortzell Permanent Fund in Educational Theatre Scholarships

This scholarship honors the legacy of Nancy and Lowell Swortzell, distinguished professors who founded the Program in Educational Theatre at NYU Steinhardt in 1966, and continued teaching in the program for 40 years. In the spirit of their work, we are pleased to support the financial needs of students as they work toward completion of their degree. Awards are available to students at the graduate and doctoral levels.

Myoung-Cheul Chung Scholarship in Educational Theatre

This scholarship for Educational Theatre students was created by one of the Program's alumni, Mr. Myoung-Cheul Chung, MA '95. The scholarship has supported graduate students in Educational Theatre since its inception in 1999. Mr. Chung was a student of Nancy and Lowell Swortzell, the founders of the Program in Educational Theatre at NYU.

Email Jonathan Jones for more information.