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MA/PhD Requirements

Entrance Qualifications

The Doctor of Philosophy program is open to all qualified students who have completed, or will have completed prior to registration, a Master of Arts degree or its equivalent. An MA in theatre arts is not a prerequisite for admission to the program. The department admits some highly qualified students with BAs directly into the PhD program. These students proceed to the higher degree more efficiently, receiving an MA enroute.

Admission Procedures

Students applying for the PhD program are expected to demonstrate superior writing and research abilities and to have substantial background in dramatic literature, theatre history, and criticism. They must also have a demonstrable interest in, and disposition for, the Special Option with a view toward developing a specialized professional skill.

The University of Pittsburgh requires online applications for graduate programs. Before applying, please review the following list of required materials, as well as the following paragraphs describing admissions procedures for each of our graduate programs. Note that most of these materials must be delivered via the online application site. Any materials not attached via the online application site must be sent directly to the following address:

University of Pittsburgh Theatre Arts Department
1617 Cathedral of Learning
4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
ATTN: Graduate Secretary

Required Materials for Admission

  • A personal statement indicating your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh and your academic and professional goals
  • Three academic writing samples (not required for the MFA, but strongly recommended)
  • Curriculum vitae (not required for the MFA)
  • Two copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended. These should be mailed directly to:

    Connie Markiw
    Graduate Admissions/Department Secretary
    Department of Theatre Arts
    1617 Cathedral of Learning
    University of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, PA  15260 
  • Current GRE Scores (not required for the MFA, but strongly recommended)
  • Three letters of recommendations
  • Headshots and Resume (MFA applicants only)
  • Non-US citizens: TOEFL or IELTS scores
  • Non-US citizens: International Graduate Student Supplemental Forms 
Academic Year 2011-2012. (PDF)

 

Special Option Program

Concurrent with preparation for scholarship and research in the field, the candidate prepares an additional specialization. It may be in theatre administration, practical theatre (e.g., acting, directing, design, playwriting or dramaturgy), children's theatre, specialized educational skills, or in fields related to theatre. The key to the Special Option is its practicality and relevance to the candidate's professional career goals.

The resources to be used by the candidate in pursuing the Special Option need not be confined to coursework within the department. They embrace in principle a variety of means of study and training in the forms of independent and supervised study, coursework outside the department, and in-training programs that make use of theatrical and institutional resources both in and out of the University. An essential feature of the program is its flexibility, intending to be responsive to the training objective of the individual candidate.

The structuring of each candidate's Special Option Program, the documentation of its progress and results, and the forms and procedures for its evaluation are determined in consultation between candidate and advisor, and are then submitted to the graduate faculty for approval. The nature of the Special Option and the procedures for accomplishing it should be determined no later than the second year of the candidate's residence.
The Special Option Program is an integral part of the candidate's period of residency. The Program is assigned an equitable proportion of credit hours (normally 15 credits) toward the completion of the candidate's residency requirements.

Curriculum (Beyond the Masters Degree)

Required Course Program

  • Materials and Methods of Research in Theatre Arts (can be waived)
  • Eight additional courses in dramatic literature, theatre history, criticism, performance studies or in a related field
  • At least one course in theory (See Section VIII)

Normally at least eight of the 10 required courses will be advanced graduate seminars in the department. The others may be undergraduate (1000 series) or graduate (2000 series) courses listed in any appropriate University department. Courses labeled "research," "directed study" or "independent study" cannot be used to fulfill this requirement, except by approval of the graduate faculty. The student's advisor will regularly monitor selection of courses, and approve the overall sequence chosen.

Requirements for Completion of the Degree

Residency

A minimum of three years or six terms of residency is required.

Courses

A total of 72 credit hours are required past the BA

Minimum Grade Requirement

Same as for the MA and the PhD programs—students must maintain a B average (3.0 GPA).

Language

Same as for the PhD program (see relevant section in the PhD-program description).

Qualifying Examination

Instead of the MA Comprehensive Exam, the Qualifying Examination for the PhD is required. Normally it will be taken in the second year of a student's residence.

Comprehensive Examination

Same as for the PhD program (see relevant section in the PhD-program description). Normally it will be taken in the fourth year of a student's residence.

Dissertation

Same as for the PhD program (see relevant section in the PhD-program description).

Curriculum (Beyond the Master’s degree)

Required Course Program

  • At least 10 additional courses in dramatic literature, theatre history, criticism, performance studies, or in a related field
  • At least one course in theory (see relevant section in the PhD-program description)
  • At least one course in performance or in technical theatre (may be waived)

Normally at least seven of the 10 required courses will be advanced graduate seminars in the department. The others may be undergraduate (1000 series) or graduate (2000 series) courses listed in any appropriate University department. Courses labeled "research," "directed study," or "independent study" cannot be used to fulfill this requirement, except by approval of the graduate faculty. The student's advisor will regularly monitor selection of courses, and approve the overall sequence chosen.

Special Option Program

Same as for the PhD program (see relevant section, in the PhD-program description).

Receiving the MA Degree

Students who wish to receive the MA as part of their progress towards the PhD may apply any time after they have satisfactorily completed the basic requirements outlined in the department's program for the MA in Theatre and Performance Studies. Since students in the Combined Program take a Qualifying Examination, which is less rigorous than the regular MA Comprehensive Exam, it is expected that they pass the Qualifying Exam at a high level. If a student's work on the Qualifying Exam is not at a high level, the graduate faculty may require the satisfactory completion of the PhD Comprehensive Exam prior to granting the MA degree.

Continuation in the Program

Continuation in the program towards the PhD is dependent on the student's satisfactory progress and demonstrated ability for further study, which are evaluated annually. If satisfactory progress is not maintained, or if the Qualifying Exam is not adequate, the student will not be permitted to advance further towards the PhD. In such cases, the MA degree can be awarded if requirements for that degree have been met.

More Information

Connie Markiw
Graduate Admissions/Department Secretary

Department of Theatre Arts

1617 Cathedral of Learning

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

412-624-6568