CUNY(The City University of New York)

What you'll study

The PhD programme combines intensive coursework, comprehensive examinations and a sustained original dissertation. Core areas include theatre history and historiography, performance theory, dramatic literature, directing and production studies, dramaturgy, and critical methodologies. Students typically take seminars on 19th- and 20th-century theatre, contemporary performance, performance and politics, race and gender in performance, and research methods specific to theatre and performance studies.

Programme structure normally involves a first phase of taught seminars to build disciplinary breadth and methodological tools, followed by qualifying or comprehensive examinations to establish readiness for independent research. After passing examinations, students develop and complete a doctoral dissertation under faculty supervision. Many students pursue practice-led projects that combine archival and theoretical work with creative practice; such projects are assessed according to the programme's standards for scholarly rigour.

Training also emphasises professional skills: pedagogy and teaching practicum, grant-writing and fellowship applications, digital humanities methods for performance, and experience collaborating with local theatres, archives and cultural organisations. Students can often take relevant electives across departments and participate in workshops, staged readings and interdisciplinary research clusters.

Entry requirements

• Master’s degree in theatre, drama, performance studies, or a closely related humanities discipline; exceptional applicants with significant professional experience in theatre may be considered.
• Academic transcript(s) showing strong performance at graduate level.
• Research proposal outlining intended doctoral project, demonstrating clarity of focus, scholarly context and feasibility.
• Writing sample (scholarly article or dissertation chapter) and, where relevant, a creative or practice-based portfolio.
• Curriculum vitae documenting academic and/or professional theatre experience.
• Letters of recommendation from academic referees and/or professional supervisors able to comment on research potential.
• Demonstrated competence in any language(s) required for the proposed research; specific language requirements vary by project.
• Standardised tests are not universally required; applicants should consult the programme for current testing policy.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a broad range of careers in higher education, cultural institutions and the creative industries. Common pathways include tenure-track and adjunct faculty positions in drama, performance studies and related humanities departments; research fellowships at universities and cultural research centres; and roles such as dramaturg, curator, arts administrator, critic, and policy advisor for cultural organisations.

Additional opportunities arise in theatre-making and interdisciplinary artistic projects, creating bridges between scholarly research and practice-based work. The programme’s emphasis on teaching experience and professional skills also prepares graduates for leadership in arts education, festival direction, archival curation and public scholarship.

Why study at CUNY(The City University of New York)

CUNY’s doctoral training is anchored in its Graduate Center and benefits from its location in New York City, one of the world’s most active theatre ecosystems. Students have direct access to leading performance venues, professional companies, and major archival collections such as those at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

The programme is supported by faculty who combine scholarly renown with active engagement in performance practice and public-facing projects. Interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and close links with CUNY’s colleges provide teaching opportunities and a diverse intellectual community. Students can draw on institutional resources including research centres, public seminars, performance labs and fellowship schemes to develop ambitious, outward-facing research.

For applicants seeking rigorous scholarly training alongside practical engagement with contemporary theatre and performance, CUNY offers a distinctive urban environment and professional networks that help bridge academic, artistic and public-facing careers.