Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities (MA)

Program Description

The MA Program in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities (EDTC) is a 36-credit curriculum that prepares students to explore theatre with diverse communities in unique settings and at the higher education/college level. Graduates of this program hold teaching and administrative positions in contexts where teacher certification is not required, such as private colleges, arts organizations, galleries and museums, educational outreach centers, health education facilities, housing programs, and youth and adult detainment centers.

This particular track is designed to empower graduates to design, implement, and evaluate theatrical work in a wide range of community contexts, and prepare students who elect to pursue college teaching for innovative research and scholarship in the field.

Students take courses in the foundation areas of applied theatre; drama education production, performance, direction and design, literary foundations; and theatre for young audiences, as well as in the applications of these content areas to a variety of community settings. The New York State Learning Standards for Theatre inform these curriculum pathways. Substitutions, such as study abroad options, can be made through one-to-one advisement. Additional courses not listed below are offered each semester. Students discuss their course selections with the appointed academic adviser each semester.

Students have the option of completing the 36-credit EDTC MA program over three summers. The curriculum and degree requirements for the three-summer option and the regular academic year program are identical. Courses are offered in New York City, London, and Dublin. Summer courses in New York City rotate each year to ensure a variety of course choices.

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

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Substitution for the Culminating Experience must be cleared with an adviser.

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Prerequisites:

Students are required to have completed the equivalent of two semesters of acting or directing and 2 semesters of theatre history or dramatic criticism prior to admission. If these prerequisite courses or their equivalent have not been completed at the undergraduate level prior to admission, students must register for them before fulfilling the Discipline Content Study requirement, even if it means that more than 36 units are required to complete this MA program. In accordance with New York State regulations, all points used toward graduation for the masters degree must be at the .2000-level.

Sample Plan of Study

Applied Theatre

Note: There is a study abroad option in Dublin for the Applied Theatre Pathway that is usually offered every other year. This is a 3 credit experience as follows:

• MPAET-GE 2979 Creating Meaning Through Community Drama

Drama in Education

Note: There is a study abroad option in London for the Drama in Education Pathway that is usually offered every other year. This is a 3 credit experience as follows:

• MPAET-GE 2075 Drama & Youth: Theoretical Perspectives 

Play Production for Artists and Educators

Three-Summer Option with Global Study

Students can start in any summer term and also spend more time in New York City if so doing better fits their needs and professional goals. Summer courses in New York City rotate each year to ensure course choice and variety.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Be able to formulate, implement, and modify new teaching and learning strategies using drama and theatre to explore content.
2. Be able to appraise and analyze the changing roles of theatre and education in multiple and complex settings.
3. Be able to identify gaps in the field, from theoretical and practical perspectives, and generate new knowledge accordingly.
4. Be able to experiment in the creation and presentation of theatre, in formal or informal settings, using a variety of forms and methods.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.