

This research-based PhD is designed for individuals who intend to pursue positions as academics, researchers, scholars, curriculum developers, and educational consultants. You may choose to pursue doctoral study in four areas: Drama in Education, Applied Theatre, Theatre for Young Audiences and Play Production, or Drama Therapy.
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Our PhD provides comprehensive research and artistic training that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to have significant impact on scholarship in educational theatre. You will gain a foundation in education, cognate study, research electives, and course work in a specialized research methodology, as well as develop your expertise in one of four areas of specialization:
Working closely with faculty who are leaders in the field, you’ll conduct cutting-edge and innovative practice-based research that addresses the most pressing questions in the cultural and educational arenas. You’ll also receive personal mentoring and advisement from program faculty, as well as those from the larger Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions; the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; and other NYU schools that have resonance with interdisciplinary, practitioner-led, and arts-based research modalities.
You will have the opportunity to participate fully in all Educational Theatre programming, including:
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.
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.
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.
The application form requires:
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.
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.
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.
NYU Steinhardt offers a competitive funding package for PhD students who study full time. Learn more about our funding opportunities.
If you have any additional questions about our degree, please feel free to contact Jonathan Jones at jonathan.jones@nyu.edu.
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