Curriculum

MA, Theatre for Social and Civic Engagement

Application Extended: Still Accepting Applications

The MA in Theatre for Social and Civic Engagement trains interdisciplinary artist-educators who are socially conscious, politically aware, and equipped for critical engagement in various arts-based and community-centered contexts. The curriculum includes courses in arts-based inquiry, reflective studio practice, and justice-centered praxis, culminating in a capstone project tailored to each student's interests and goals. Graduates emerge as engaged facilitators who can utilize their artistic skills and values to collaborate with community members and arts organizations to pursue social change.

Core Course Sequence

You’ll take foundational courses in applied theatre, ethnodrama and verbatim performance, and playwriting or directing, complemented by additional elective courses in reflective studio practice to develop artistic skills and justice-centered praxis to expand facilitation techniques. You also have the opportunity to participate in a summer study away experience in London or Dublin. The program culminates in a capstone project that builds on your studies in arts-based inquiry and experiences working in community contexts.

Curricular Requirements

Program Requirements

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
Arts Based Inquiry		9
MPAET-GE.2114	Creating Ethnodrama & Documentary Theatre	3
MPAET-GE 2115	The Ethnoactor & Verbatim Performance	3
MPAET-GE 2077	Methods and Materials of Research in Educational Theatre	3
Reflective Studio Practice Students choose from the courses below by advisement		12
MPAET-GE 2109	Studies in Directing	3
or MPAET-GE 2105	Beginning Playwriting	3
MPAET-GE 2098	Advanced Directing	3
or MPAET-GE 2106	Advanced Playwriting	3
MPAET-GE 2110	Devised Theatre: Theory and Technique	3
or MPAET-GE 2965	Introduction to Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed	3
Students choose 1 elective by advisement		3
Justice Centered Praxis		12
MPAET-GE 2101	Applied Theatre I	3
MPAET-GE 2978	Applied Theatre Praxis	3
Students choose 2 electives by advisement, which may include participation in an internship.		6
Culminating Experience ¹		3
MPAET-GE 2400	Seminar in Applied Theatre Research	3
Total Credits		36

¹: For their culminating experience, each student individually implements, analyzes, and reflects on a praxis-centered, arts-based research project focused on social and/or civic engagement. In addition, each student curates and presents a series of complementary artifacts that illuminates their artistic philosophy, demonstrates professional readiness, and illustrates the ways in which they have met program learning outcomes.

Additionally, you'll have opportunities to engage in production work (on the mainstage, with the NYU Steinhardt Youth Theatre Ensemble, and in schools, with Shakespeare to Go), and explore the wide range of projects coming out of the Verbatim Performance Lab, Prison Theatre Initiative, ArtsPraxis, and more.

Take the Next Step

Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.

Apply Now

Search NYU Steinhardt

Browse Programs

Study Abroad

Undergraduate

Graduate

Paying for Your Education

Master's