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MA, Theatre for Social and Civic Engagement

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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.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Arts Based Inquiry
MPAET-GE 2115The Ethnoactor & Verbatim Performance3
MPAET-GE 2114Creating Ethnodrama & Documentary Theatre3
MPAET-GE 2077Meth/Mater of Research in Ed Theatre3
MPAET-GE 2077
Meth/Mater of Research in Ed Theatre
Reflective Studio Practice
MPAET-GE 2109Studies in Directing3
or MPAET-GE 2105 Beginning Playwriting
MPAET-GE 2098Advanced Directing3
or MPAET-GE 2106 Advanced Playwriting
MPAET-GE 2110Devised Theatre: Theory & Technique3
or MPAET-GE 2965 Introduction to Theatre of The Oppressed
Students choose one elective from the following courses by advisement3
MPAET-GE 2979
Creating Meaning Through Community Drama
MPAET-GE 2076
Drama & Youth: Practical Implications
MPAET-GE 2966
Facilitating Theatre of the Oppressed Communities
MPAET-GE 2023
Image of Women in Theatre
MPAET-GE 2088
American Theatre II: Contemporary Playwrights of Color
MPAET-GE 2171
Shakespeare's Theatre I
MPAET-GE 2175
Costume Design
MPAET-GE 2143
Stage Lighting
MPAET-GE 2017
Design for The Stage
MPAET-GE 2113
Physical Theatre Improvisation
Justice Centered Praxis 1
MPAET-GE 2101Applied Theatre I3
MPAET-GE 2978Applied Theatre Praxis3
Students choose two electives from the following courses by advisement6
MPAET-GE 2255
Acting:Pedagogy, Technique, and Performance
MPAET-GE 2117
Verbatim Performance Lab Internship
MPAET-GE 2301
Pract in Educ Theatre
MPAET-GE 2102
Applied Theatre II
MPAET-GE 2977
Understanding Diversity Teaching Pluralism
MPAET-GE 2953
The Teaching Artist
Thesis Project 2
MPAET-GE 2400Sem in Applied Theatre Rsch3
Total Credits36
1

Students complete a fieldwork component for this section.

2

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.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPAET-GE 2114 Creating Ethnodrama & Documentary Theatre 3
MPAET-GE 2109
or MPAET-GE 2105
 Studies in Directing
or Beginning Playwriting
 3
MPAET-GE 2101 Applied Theatre I 3
 Credits9
2nd Semester/Term
MPAET-GE 2115 The Ethnoactor & Verbatim Performance 3
MPAET-GE 2098
or MPAET-GE 2106
 Advanced Directing
or Advanced Playwriting
 3
MPAET-GE 2978 Applied Theatre Praxis 3
 Credits9
3rd Semester/Term
MPAET-GE 2077 Meth/Mater of Research in Ed Theatre 3
MPAET-GE 2110
or MPAET-GE 2965
 Devised Theatre: Theory & Technique
or Introduction to Theatre of The Oppressed
 3
Elective: Justice-Centered Praxis 3
 Credits9
4th Semester/Term
MPAET-GE 2400 Sem in Applied Theatre Rsch 3
Elective: Justice-Centered Praxis 3
Elective: Reflective Studio Praxis 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits36

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.

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