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 en-route.
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.
As of September 1, 2004, Pitt no longer accepts paper applications. Application deadline is January 15, 2008. Apply online.
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 QPA)..
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
Jami White
Graduate Admissions/Department Secretary
Department of Theatre Arts
1617 Cathedral of Learning
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-0466