Students may be admitted into the doctoral program with either a bachelor's or a master's degree. All students who enter with a bachelor's degree will be required to enroll in the MA/Ph.D program and complete the master's degree in the first two years before advancing to doctoral studies. They will then take a further year of courses before advancing to candidacy. Those students who already possess a master's degree will enter the Ph.D. program and take two years of courses before advancing to candidacy. (See below for information on the MA program and some further information about the MA/Ph.D. program.)

The goal of the MA/Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs in Dramatic Art is to train scholars of the theatre, who may also be able to make strong contributions as theatre artists. The core of doctoral students' work during the first two or three years of their residency is a series of courses in the literature, history, theory and criticism of theatre and performance. [An emphasis in Performance Studies will be available for interested students.] Courses are arranged in a flexible three-year cycle, which will allow graduate students to acquire a competent knowledge of areas of world theatre and performance. Through independent studies with members of faculty, they will acquire specialized knowledge in one chosen area. Doctoral students are also encouraged to take graduate courses outside the department of Dramatic Art. After passing the qualifying examinations, which will be taken at the start of the third year of residency for Ph.D. students and of the fourth for MA/Ph.D. students, the focus of students' work is on the dissertation. While the prime aim of the program is to train scholars, work in performance and production is encouraged. Graduate students will have the opportunity to study the history and technique of directing, and to apply to take an additional technique course in which they may direct a one-act play. This course may be repeated for credit if space is available. Qualified students may also have the opportunity to direct in the department's mainstage season or to participate as directors in the development of new work. Doctoral students are, however, expected to devote most of their time to research and writing, and many, by the time they graduate, will have had articles published in professional journals and will have participated in professional conferences. The doctoral program appeals both to those with a scholarly background and to those already trained in the performance and production aspects of theatre.

Seminars: Seven seminars are offered each academic year. By the time they advance to candidacy, students in the Ph.D. program will have taken a minimum of nine graduate seminars in the department, while students in the MA/Ph.D. will have taken a minimum of 14. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to take seminars and courses in other departments and to engage in independent study with members of faculty. The departmental seminars provide a foundation for a broad knowledge of world theatre. They also act as laboratories for investigating areas of current interest in the field and for acquainting students with contemporary and innovative methodologies of scholarship and research. Many graduate students undertake independent study with a member of the faculty, often in order to develop an area for dissertation research or to work on writing. Students who have gaps in their knowledge of the history of the theatre and dramatic literature are encouraged to take upper-division courses in those areas, usually on an audit basis. Many students take courses in the practical areas and do work in production, but this is not a requirement for the degree and is actively discouraged in cases where such work interferes with progress toward the degree or preparation for the profession.

Teaching Requirements: All doctoral students are required to teach as assistants for two years, unless this requirement is waived by special request. This teaching is considered part of the training, and TAs earn four units per quarter of teaching. All teaching assistantships are paid at the rate standard in the university. Students should regard their teaching assistantships as an essential part of their training, as the program aspires to graduate effective teachers as well as outstanding scholars. Most teaching assistantships are associated with DA 5 and DA 60. DA5 “Introduction to Acting” trains undergraduates in the basic principles of acting in the context of a general education program; TAs will teach two classes a quarter in DA 5. DA60, “Introduction to Theatre” provides undergraduates with a training in the basic principles of theatre in the context of a general education program; TAs for 60 are responsible for conducting three discussion groups a week and attending all lectures. Teaching assistantships are also available in connection with more specialized courses. Each year one TA is attached to DA1, “Introduction to Dramatic Art,” a course designed to orient beginning majors to the structure and functions of the department. One TA is also appointed to organize and coordinate productions that are not part of the regular mainstage season, one TA will provide assistance to classes in technical theatre, and one TA will provide assistance to classes and projects in costuming.
Language and Translation Requirements: This requirement comprises two components. Prior to advancing to candidacy a) all doctoral students must establish reading knowledge of at least one language other than English, and b) demonstrate proficiency at translation. A grade of Pass or better in an upper-division course taught in the chosen language or a B or better in an intermediate language training course will suffice to establish basic competency. The translation component of the requirement can be met by taking a graduate seminar in the department of Dramatic Art (or another department when the seminar is not offered in DA), in which such issues as translation, cultural transmission, and adaptation are addressed. For those writing a dissertation on a non-English subject, demonstrated oral and written proficiency in the relevant language(s) is required. Students cannot take their qualifying examination until they have completed the language and translation requirement.

Qualifying Examinations: All doctoral students must take qualifying examinations before advancing to candidacy. These are regularly held the week before the commencement of the third year of residency for students who enrolled in the Ph.D. program, and the fourth year for those who enrolled in the MA/Ph.D. program. The qualifying exam is in four parts: 1) the presentations of syllabi for three courses in dramatic literature, theatre history, dramatic theory and criticism, and world theatre; 2) two written examinations in cognate areas of specialization that will relate to the student's field of dissertation research and will be devised in consultation with the student's advisor; 3) the presentation of a dissertation prospectus; 4) an oral defence before the student's examination committee in which the student will respond to questions on the syllabi presentations and written exams and formerly present and discuss the dissertation prospectus.

Requirements: The goal of the MA program in Dramatic Art is to allow students to discover the particular field in which they wish to qualify professionally. Hence, some students proceed from the MA program to MFA programs in different fields of theatre in other universities; others continue into Ph.D programs. Some students regard the MA as a terminal degree and use it as a qualification to teach in schools and community colleges. The program requires a balance of academic and practical courses culminating in a thesis project and is usually completed in two years. The course options offer a wide latitude for choice among the different areas of theatre study. Students are encouraged to take upper division undergraduate course offerings in literature, history, and theory to cover specific gaps in knowledge. Most students take at least one graduate seminar per quarter and most become involved in productions in some way. Some theses involve practical work (directing, design, playwriting, etc.), while others involve academic research. All theses involve a written component. They are evaluated by an MA committee of three faculty members chosen by the student.

There is no foreign language requirement for the MA, but masters students who intend to continue their studies, especially if they plan to enroll in a doctoral program, are strongly urged to learn a foreign language while enrolled at UCSB. The quality of a student's program depends primarily upon the student's capacity to arrange a meaningful program for her/himself. The Graduate Advisor and other members of the faculty will be available on a regular basis to help students shape their program and to consult with them on all matters relating to their studies.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the individual and careful advising that is possible in a small graduate program such as ours. See the description of the M.A. program in the General Catalog (see UCSB website) for the specific requirements of the program.

Admission to the Ph.D. program. Many students who have done well in the department's doctoral program come from the MA program. Students who make this transition have their course work requirement for the doctoral program reduced by one year and are assured of at least two years of funding for their doctoral study. It should be stressed that completion of the MA degree does not automatically qualify the student for admission into the department's Ph.D. program. This program is for the scholar rather than the generalist or the pure practitioner. Students wishing to apply for the Ph.D. program make a formal application during the second year.

The M.A./Ph.D. program is intended for students with only a BA who show outstanding potential for doctoral-level study. During the first two years, students complete the same degree requirements as M.A. students, including the thesis, and will receive the MA degree at the end of that period. A diagnostic exam taken at the beginning of the winter quarter of the second year will be used to determine whether students should continue work toward the doctoral degree, or terminate their studies with a master's degree. The diagnostic exam will be based on courses taken by the student and will test the capacity for synthesizing ideas. Those who are admitted to this program are assured of at least four years of full funding (assuming that the diagnostic exam is passed).

Dept Home Grad Program Home Overview ProgramsFaculty Graduate Students Seminars AdmissionsFinancial Assistance Area InfoContact

Last modified: 4/12/04

 

.