Degree Requirements: The M.A. program begins during the summer semester, and students graduate the following May. Students must complete 36 points of courses in the department with a grade of B or better, primarily with the permanent faculty.

There are two required courses for master’s students: Introduction to Performance Studies (H42.1000), taken in the first semester, and Projects in Performance Studies (H42.2000), taken during the final semester.

Master’s students are permitted to take only one practical workshop as part of their course work. The only practical workshop course that is counted toward an M.A. in performance studies is the department’s Performance Composition (H42.2730) or a course otherwise designated as practical. Up to 4 points of academic course work may be taken outside the department or transferred from another institution, with permission of the chair. A master’s student may appeal to the chair to register for a second Performance Composition workshop in lieu of taking 4 points outside the department.

PERMISSION TO PROCEED TO THE PH.D.

Students enrolled in the M.A. program who are interested in continuing immediately into the Ph.D. program should submit an application dossier to the department at the start of the spring semester. An internal application dossier includes the following:

1. A list of all courses taken in performance studies and grades earned.
2. A substantial paper previously written for a course.
3. A description of the projected dissertation topic and how specific course work taken will enable clarification and deepening of the topic.
4. Names of three faculty members the student proposes to serve as possible dissertation directors.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program are evaluated on the following basis:

1. Academic record to date.
2. Quality of academic writing as evidenced in submitted paper.
3. Proposed topic and compatibility with departmental plans.
4. Predilection of faculty to direct the student’s Ph.D. course work and dissertation.

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