Curriculum

PhD, Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities

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PhD, Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities

The 54- to 60-credit PhD in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities uniquely prepares you to be an academic and researcher, developing the analytical skills and theatre training to shape the scholarly conversation around educational theatre. Specializing in drama in education, applied theatre, theatre for young audiences and play production, or drama therapy, you’ll emerge as an analytical, qualitative or quantitative arts-based researcher capable of bringing long-term, reflective research projects to bear on pressing scholarly issues in educational theatre.

Core Course Sequence

You’ll take classes in the foundations of education and educational theatre, specialized elective coursework in research methodology and content, and cognate study in performance, pedagogy, psychology, or literature and criticism. The program culminates in a doctoral proposal, dissertation, and defense.

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. 

Course Title Credits
Foundations of Education
Complete 6 credits by advisement6
Specialized Research Methodology Electives
Complete 15 credits by advisement15
Specialization Course Electives
Complete 18-24 credits by advisement18-24
Cognate Study
Conplete 6 elective credits closely related to, and supportive of, an area of specialization. This coursework must be taken outside of the student’s program (i.e., not MPAET-GE courses)6
Departmental Content Seminar
MPAET-GE 2193Drama in Education I3
Doctoral Proposal Seminar
MPAET-GE 3005Doct Proposal Seminar3
Departmental Study
Complete 3 credits by advisement3
Total Credits54-60

Note

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

Additional Program Requirements

Additional Program Requirements

Candidacy Examination

To achieve candidacy in educational theatre, students need to complete four projects:

  • Educational Theatre Portfolio
  • Research Framework
  • Arts Dialogue
  • Performance Review

Topic Review

The purpose of the Topic Review is to identify the student’s proposed topic, the significance or need for the study, and to examine the doctoral candidate's preliminary grasp of pertinent issues articulated in the literature.  To be eligible to submit a topic review, students must have passed the doctoral candidacy examination and fulfilled any conditions (if applicable); secured approval from the Program Advisor and, if already appointed, from the Chair of the student’s dissertation committee;and have completed required research courses.

Dissertation Proposal

All students must complete a Dissertation Proposal.  Submission of doctoral proposals is governed by the school-wide policies and procedures for your dissertation proposal.  

Dissertation Defense

MPAP follows Steinhardt’s dissertation defense procedures. 

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPAET-GE 2077Meth/Mater of Research in Ed Theatre (Selected By Advisement)3
MPAET-GE 2193Drama in Education I3
RESCH-GE 2140Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry (Selected By Advisement)3
Foundations of Education (Selected by Advisement)3
 Credits12
2nd Semester/Term
Foundations of Education (Selected by Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)6
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits12
3rd Semester/Term
Cognate Study (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)6
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits12
4th Semester/Term
MPAET-GE 3005Doct Proposal Seminar3
Cognate Study (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits12
5th Semester/Term
Departmental Study3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)9
 Credits12
 Total Credits60

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPAET-GE 2077Meth/Mater of Research in Ed Theatre (Selected By Advisement)3
MPAET-GE 2193Drama in Education I3
 Credits6
2nd Semester/Term
RESCH-GE 2140Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry (Selected By Advisement)3
Foundations of Education (Selected by Advisement)3
 Credits6
3rd Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2100Introduction to Arts-Based Research (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
4th Semester/Term
Foundations of Education (Selected by Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
5th Semester/Term
Cognate Study (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
6th Semester/Term
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)6
 Credits6
7th Semester/Term
Cognate Study (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
8th Semester/Term
MPAET-GE 3005Doct Proposal Seminar3
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
9th Semester/Term
Departmental Study3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
10th Semester/Term
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
Specialization Course Electives (Selected By Advisement)3
 Credits6
 Total Credits60

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.

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