Degree Requirements

The requirements listed below are special to this Ph.D. program and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School. Interested students should also refer to the bulletin of the School of the Arts.

The requirements for students in the Doctoral Subcommittee on Theatre are the same as those for graduate students in the English Department, except as noted below. Any divergences from these requirements must be approved by one of the Doctoral Subcommittee Co-Chairs. For further information and a detailed explanation of requirements, see the English Department Graduate website:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/english/grad_index.htm ("Degree Programs")

For the M.A. Degree

To earn the MA degree, students must take eight (8) courses made up of the following (3 points each unless otherwise indicated):

M.A. Seminar (G5001x) or designated equivalent, fall term; taken in conjunction with the non-credit M.A. Colloquium on Theory and Method (G5005x lecture), fall term (students must sign up for both).

M.A. Thesis Tutorial (G5005y), spring term (independent study, leading to M.A. thesis)

Two (2) workshop courses (generally offered in the School of the Arts)

Four (4) courses in dramatic literature, or the history and theory of theatre and/or performance. At least two of these must be 6000-level seminars or the equivalent. (With the instructor’s permission, some 4000-level courses may be taken for 6000-level seminar credit).

For the M.Phil. Degree

To earn the M.Phil degree, students must take eight (8) courses made up of the following (3 points each unless otherwise indicated):

Teaching Tutorial (G6910, fall or spring term (R credit) (accompanies service as section leader in an undergraduate lecture)

Teaching Writing (G6913y), Spring Term (P/F)

Two (2) workshop courses (generally offered in the School of the Arts)

Four (4) courses in dramatic literature, or the history and theory of theatre and/or performance. At least three of these must be 6000-level seminars or the equivalent. (With the instructor’s permission, some 4000-level courses may be taken for 6000-level seminar credit). No more than three courses per year should be taken through the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC) (courses taken through the Consortium must be approved by one of the Co-Chairs).

Students must also pass an oral examination.

Oral Examination: In the oral examination, students must show knowledge of a substantial body of dramatic literature, as well as substantial knowledge of several fields in the history and theory of theatre and/or performance. Students are examined in one major field (two examiners, one hour) and two minor fields (one examiner each, one half hour each). Fields should be modeled on courses or traditional areas of specialization (though one of the minor fields may provide a first chance to delve into the subject and principal texts of the dissertation topic, if known). Unlike in the English Department, students are not asked to develop fields that are formally “related” to one another. Instead, they are encouraged to develop fields that show knowledge of a range of periods, geographical locations, and methodologies.

Distribution Requirements: There are no formal period or geographical distribution requirements for Theatre PhD students, but students are strongly encouraged to take courses on the drama and performance history of a range of periods and geographical locations.

Language Requirements: Theatre PhD students must complete the first language requirement by the end of the MA year, and the second language requirement before scheduling their oral examinations. Unlike students in the English Department, Theatre PhD students must attain proficiency in two different languages, and cannot fulfill the requirement by attaining advanced proficiency in only one language (though advanced proficiency is, naturally, encouraged).

Teaching requirement: Students are required to participate in the instructional activities of the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the Undergraduate Writing Program. Students who are interested in broadening their teaching apprenticeships are eligible to teach in the Core Program once they have received the M.Phil.

Successful completion of all M.Phil. requirements and approval by the interdepartmental committee are both conditions of entry into the Ph.D. program.

For the Ph.D. Degree

To earn the Ph.D. degree, students must submit a dissertation, the topic and research of which have been approved by the Doctoral Subcommittee co-chairs and a faculty sponsor. Candidates for the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees should note that six Residence Units (three years of full-time residence) are required. However, transfer Credit may be awarded to students who have completed graduate-level coursework at Columbia or elsewhere. Students who wish to use these credits towards the completion of their degree may transfer no more than 12 points (or 4 classes) and 1 Residence Unit. Classes taken to enhance undergraduate preparation are not transferable.

Financial Aid

The department provides fellowships (which includes the prevailing stipend and appropriate tuition and health fees) to all M.A./M.Phil./Ph. D. students.

Fellowships are renewed annually as long as satisfactory progress is maintained. Students complete an annual progress report which is reviewed by the Committee on Guidance and Evaluation. Teaching is considered an important part of graduate training, thus the fellowship program normally includes four years of teaching apprenticeship. A dissertation fellowship free of teaching obligations is available to qualified students in the fifth or sixth year of study. All students are, additionally, required to seek external fellowships.