Ph.D.

PH.D. COURSEWORK

The Ph.D. requires 69 credits (on average, 23 courses) of coursework.

UW courses numbered 300 and above with a 50% graduate attribute may be counted toward graduate credit. Seminar courses are numbered 800 and above. Up to 6 courses or 18 credits of coursework performed for a student’s M.A. may be transferred toward their Ph.D. credits.

• 8 courses in dramatic literature, history, and theory and criticism, including one required course (ENGL 850 Proseminar: Introduction to Research in Theatre) taken in the fall semester of the first year.
• 3 practicum courses.
• 8 courses grouped to provide an area of specialization within the major field of study.
• 3 courses outside the fields of theatre and performance studies, grouped to complement
the area of specialization and the major. These three courses constitute a Minor, and are determined in consultation with the student’s advisor. Students may elect an external minor, distributed minor, or graduate certificate.
• 3 courses completed for the student’s coursework must be seminars (800-level or higher)

Over the course of the Ph.D. program, students must acquire comprehensive knowledge of the field by taking at least two courses at the 500-level or above in each of the following areas of theatre research: dramatic literature; theatre history; and theatre and performance theory. Students must work with their advisors to ensure that both depth and breadth are achieved through the balance of courses and the final papers written for the courses. Upper-level courses taken at another university or independent study courses do not count towards satisfying this requirement.

Up to two Independent Study courses may be taken with individual faculty members during the Ph.D. course-work. No more than one independent study may be taken with any one faculty member, either within or outside the department. A student who wishes to request an exception due to special circumstances must apply to the ITS core faculty for a waiver of this policy. The application must be in writing and must have the approval of the student’s advisor.

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION

In selecting their coursework, students develop an area of specialization, based on the focus of their scholarly work.

The area of specialization may be defined by a genre, a theoretical approach or methodology, a time period and/or a geographical or linguistic area. It should be focused, yet broad enough for students to take eight courses relevant to it. Generally, students define an area of specialization only when they are near the completion of course work, and it is possible to reorganize the checklist at that time to reflect the emerging area of specialization. Recent Ph.D. students’ areas of specialization have included:

• Black dramaturgies
• the study of children onstage
• manuscript and print history of drama
• LGBT theatre
• new play development
• Irish theatre
• Latinx and Latin American theatre and performance
• Indigenous Land relations
• Modern Indian theatre
• African theatre
• and more!

MINOR

Students must include a Doctoral Minor or Graduate Certificate from outside the major as part of their coursework.

The Doctoral Minor or Graduate Certificate will be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor, who will help them make the choice most appropriate for their research and career plans. Options include:

1. External Minor: See external minor options here. Students must have approval and advisement from the external minor department.
2. Distributed Minor: 9 credits forming a coherent topic, from 2 or more departments. The student’s ITS advisor will approve all distributed minor coursework. Course must be numbered 300 or higher and all courses must be graduate-level coursework, identified with the “G50%” attribute. A maximum of 3 credits (1 course) of independent study are allowed.
3. Graduate Certificate: Please contact the specific certificate program for requirements and approval process.

PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS

Ph.D. students are required to take three practicum courses.

Practicum courses vary from semester to semester, and may be hosted in any number of departments. Recent practicum courses have included:

• Theatre 372: Set Design I
• Art 511: Art Performance
• Theatre & Drama 619: Dramaturgy
• English 851: Performance Art, Performance Studies
• an independent study in relation to production dramaturgy
• and more!

In lieu of one of their required practicum courses, students can instead participate in three approved production activities as dramaturgs, assistant directors, performers, designers or technicians.

ANNUAL REVIEWS DURING YEARS 1 AND 2

STUDENT SUBMISSIONS

By April 30 of each of the student’s first two years in coursework, the PhD student will submit the following documents to the Program Manager, who will distribute them to the Program Committee:

1. A short report of their scholarly and creative activities during the academic year, including;
   • A list of courses taken
   • TAships, PAships, Fellowships
   • Research and creative activity
   • A one paragraph description of their goals for the coming academic year
2. A research paper from any course taken over the previous calendar year. This paper should reflect what the student considers to be their better work, or an example of the kind of research they plan to pursue for their dissertation. Students are welcome to include a paragraph-long explanation why they chose to submit this particular paper and how it relates to their wider research goals. Students may add minor edits and revisions but are not expected to rewrite the papers. They should also not include any instructor feedback on the paper.

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT PROGRESS

1. The Program Committee (PC) will read each student’s report, along with the student’s academic transcript, and will offer comments to the ITS Program Director or their designee.
2. In addition, the research papers will be evaluated by at least two PC members, who will offer comments to the Program Director or their designee.
3. The Program Director or their designee/s will write evaluations of student work which will be forwarded to the students and kept on record by the program.
4. Students whose progress is satisfactory will be informed to this effect in their letter of evaluation. If progress is not satisfactory, students may be required to submit revisions or complete additional work. Students are held to meeting both ITS and the Graduate School satisfactory progress.

PRELIMINARY EXAM & DISSERTATION PREPARATION

In their final year of coursework (usually their third academic year), students will complete the following:

1. Develop an annotated bibliography list of 100 works in consultation with their dissertation advisor, which they will submit to the ITS Program Committee by three weeks before welcome week of their third year of coursework. The annotated bibliography will be divided into three or four subsections, each with a theme to be covered by theoretical studies as well as primary materials. These subsections will also include rhetorical questions that show the PC how the student is creating their list.
2. Defend their reading list and a research paper of approximately 10,000 words on a topic related to their dissertation in an oral exam with the ITS Program Committee during welcome week of their third year. The defense of the reading list will show breadth and understanding of theatre and performance studies as well as the student’s own area of interests.
3. During the semester before the prelim exam, students will take English 890 with their advisor, where they will develop their list as well as design their prospectus.
4. By their second semester of their third year of study, students will form their dissertation committee and prepare a dissertation proposal. This work must be completed and circulated to the committee at least three weeks before welcome week of their fourth year. In exceptional circumstances, students may request an extension to the PC.
5. The student will defend their proposal with their dissertation committee by welcome week of their fourth year (the week before the beginning of Fall semester classes). This meeting will be their Preliminary Exam Defense.

Students who pass the Preliminary Exam Defense, will achieve dissertator status. Students who do not pass this defense will be required to retake the defense by the end of the Fall semester of their 4th year in the program.

DISSERTATION

The culminating project of the Ph.D. degree, the dissertation is an original and substantial contribution to knowledge that establishes the student as a scholar and professional in the field of theatre studies. The Ph.D. degree is awarded after a successful 2- hour defense of the thesis before the candidate’s thesis committee.

PH.D. TIMELINE: GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Ph.D. coursework is usually completed in five or six semesters. Most students complete their dissertations four to six semesters after finishing their coursework. The number of MA credits transferred, the time taken to complete coursework requirements, and other factors can affect this timeline.

EXAMPLE PH.D. COURSEWORK TIMELINE