Curriculum

Program Requirements

A total of 54-60 credits beyond the master’s degree (depending on the student’s previous academic background) is required for the PhD degree. This includes 36 credits in general degree requirements and a minimum of 18 credits in educational theatre to be selected in consultation with a doctoral adviser, according to the student’s area of interest and professional goals. PhD students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in residence beyond the master’s degree. 

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Advanced specialized research courses should be taken after candidacy has been received and, preferably, as the dissertation proposal has been shaped to ensure that selections are relevant to the dissertation. For instance, a student doing qualitative inquiry, which demands extensive interviewing of participants, would register for Research Practicum in Field Settings.

Additional Program Requirements

Upon completion of coursework, students must register in a 1-credit collegium in performing arts education research each semester in order to maintain matriculation.

A candidacy examination is given approximately halfway through the academic work to determine if students have reached competency.

Both a proposal and a dissertation are required of all PhD students. PhD students must defend their dissertation during an oral examination. Three full-time faculty members are required to serve on doctoral students’ dissertation committee.