University of San Diego

What you'll study

The University of San Diego does not run a PhD programme in Visual and Performing Arts. However, students interested in doctoral-level study in the visual and performing arts typically pursue advanced coursework and research across several core areas: theory and criticism; history of art, performance and media; advanced studio practice or performance; interdisciplinary methods; and pedagogy for higher education. A research doctorate normally combines seminars in theory, a robust programme of supervised research, language or methodological training, and a major written dissertation or a practice-led portfolio accompanied by an exegesis.

If you plan to prepare for a PhD while studying at USD, relevant graduate-level opportunities typically focus on studio practice, performance, arts management and scholarship. These pathways allow students to develop a portfolio or research record, work closely with faculty mentors, and engage with the San Diego arts ecosystem—important foundations for later doctoral applications.

Entry requirements

Because USD does not offer a PhD in this field, entry requirements below describe the common expectations for doctoral programmes in visual and performing arts and the typical preparation USD graduate offerings provide for those programmes.

• Academic background: A recognised master’s degree in a relevant discipline (fine arts, performance, art history, drama, music, or a closely related field) is commonly required. Exceptional applicants with a strong terminal master’s-equivalent practice record may be considered at some institutions.
• Portfolio or audition: Practice-based doctorates expect a substantial portfolio of creative work or a recorded/live audition demonstrating artistic maturity and a coherent research-through-practice trajectory.
• Research proposal: A clear, feasible doctoral research proposal or project outline that situates your work within current scholarship and practice, and indicates intended methodology.
• References: Strong academic and/or professional references who can speak to your research potential and creative achievement.
• English language proficiency: For international applicants, proof of English language ability is typically required by the awarding institution.
• Additional requirements: Some programmes request evidence of teaching experience, publications/exhibitions, or interviews with faculty.

Career prospects

A PhD or equivalent doctoral-level training in visual and performing arts opens a range of careers. Graduates commonly move into:

• Academic roles: tenure-track and adjunct faculty positions in universities and conservatoires, teaching studio, performance, history or theory.
• Research and scholarship: curatorship, research fellowships, critical writing and publication in arts journals.
• Arts leadership: directors and managers of museums, theatres, festivals and arts organisations, where strategic research skills and sector knowledge are valued.
• Creative practice at an advanced level: independent artists and performers who secure residencies, commissions and major exhibitions or productions.
• Public-facing roles: arts policy, community arts programming, and cultural consultancy that draw on both practice and research expertise.

Why study at University of San Diego

While USD does not offer a PhD in Visual and Performing Arts, the university provides a compact, interdisciplinary liberal-arts environment that can be a strong preparatory setting for doctoral study. Benefits include close mentorship from faculty, opportunities to engage with studio and performance curricula, and access to campus galleries and performance venues. The university’s location in the San Diego region places students within a lively cultural ecosystem of museums, theatres, galleries and festivals—useful for building professional networks, launching exhibitions and performances, and developing community-engaged research projects.

Students preparing for doctoral work can also take advantage of USD’s graduate advising resources to shape a research profile, pursue teaching experience, and assemble a competitive portfolio or CV for PhD applications to institutions that offer research- or practice-based doctorates in the visual and performing arts.