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Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre and Drama at Indiana University requires study on an advanced level of Dramatic Literature, Theatre History, Theory and Analysis of Drama and Theatre Arts. Students whose previous training has been primarily or exclusively in one area (such as Theatre Production or Dramatic Literature) are admitted to the program with the understanding that they will make up deficiencies in those areas in which they have had inadequate prior training. The emphasis in the doctoral program is on training for research, wide acquaintance with scholarly works, and accomplishment of significant results in investigation worthy of publication. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the student either has had or will gain a proficiency in at least one area of theatre production. The course of study pursued by the student should be supplemented with work in productions and with wide reading and independent study in the library. For more than ten years (as of fall 2004) all graduate students in the I.U. Ph.D. theatre program who completed their dissertations have been successful at getting faculty academic appointments in their field right away. This is an important statistic because it points up the importance of completing the dissertation and speaks well of our Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program presupposes that the student will have had sufficient preparation to provide a basis for advanced study. This will normally be provided by a standard MA program in theatre containing the following elements:
A student who has not taken the Production, History, Literature and Theory courses listed above will be expected to take them concurrently with the doctoral program and as soon as possible. A student will be excused from this requirement of formal course work only if he/she can satisfy the faculty member in charge of the area in question that he/she has had the equivalent of the minimal course work. Satisfaction can be given through special examination or through reliable evidence (such as a combination of record of experience, letters from former colleagues, interviews, etc.). A student who has not written a formal thesis for the MA must submit some evidence of research and writing skills, such as a substantial term paper. Because virtually all positions in theatre and drama which the student will seek upon completing the Ph.D. demand some practical theatre skills, doctoral students at Indiana University are encouraged to become proficient in at least one area of theatre production. At least 30 of the required 90 semester hours must be in graduate courses numbered 500 or above. The total course work must be distributed between major and minor programs as described below. The student must have a minimum of six semesters of graduate study, at least two of which must be spent in consecutive residence at Indiana University.
To ensure that the student has an adequate overview of the field, the Department has a reading list which all Ph.D. students must complete. Before being admitted to the qualifying examinations, the student must pass an oral examination over each of the four parts into which the reading list is divided. Obviously, the list is selective, and it is quite likely that a student will have read many of the books and plays while completing prior BA and MA programs. The student must successfully complete qualifying examinations before formal admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. (Examinations in the minor field are rarely required, although any department may give such an examination if it wishes to do so.) Qualifying examinations are normally taken upon the completion of formal course work and before the beginning work on the dissertation. A student will be denied further participation in the doctoral program if he/she twice fails any of the comprehensive reading list examinations or the qualifying examinations. The candidate must demonstrate mastery of a specific topic by completing a dissertation. A final oral examination over the dissertation and appropriate related materials is also required. The dissertation must be submitted and accepted within five years following formal admission to candidacy. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the official source of information regarding Graduate School degree requirements is the University Graduate School web page |
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