Master of Arts

Next class starts in the Fall of 2009.

The Master of Arts Program, normally a two-year course of study, is designed to offer the student advanced work in theatre that will represent mastery of the field in general and of a specific area of theatre as well.  In addition, the research and writing skills stressed in the program are intended to prepare the student to define and pursue a terminal degree, should he/she so elect.

ADMISSION TO THE MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM

All Master of Arts applicants for graduate study should comply with the conditions for admissions as set forth in the general section of the Graduate School Catalog.  Of the three letters of recommendations required in the application for graduate study, at least two should come from former professors or others competent to evaluate research or scholarly writing skills.  The application must be accompanied by a brief statement (no more than two double-spaced pages) summarizing the student's background and career goals, and by an example of historical or critical writing (such as a course paper).  Applicants for the Master of Arts must submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination.

In general, applicants to the Master of Arts program are expected to have the equivalent of an undergraduate core curriculum in Theatre (a complete course sequence in Euro-American theatre history and drama, and basic courses in acting, directing, technical theatre, and design).  Applicants who do not possess the equivalent of this core curriculum may be required to complete specific undergraduate coursework.

Students who have been admitted to the two-year Master of Arts program should meet with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies no later than the week prior to first enrollment to discuss placement and registration for classes, and thereafter once each semester during scheduled curricular advising days.  Students need to elect a faculty member during the first year in residence who is willing to serve as advisor to the Master of Arts Thesis or the Non-Thesis M.A. Paper (as the student elects).

A maximum of eleven graduate hours may be transferred into the Master of Arts program.  Credit taken prior to admission into the program at Kent must meet the guidelines outlined in the Graduate Schools Catalog and on the "Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit" form, which will be filed in the College office by the Coordinator for Graduate Studies.  Students enrolled in the Master of Arts program who want to take coursework on a transient basis at another university and have it count toward the degree at Kent must petition the Graduate Studies Committee in Theatre for permission before such coursework is attempted.

CURRICULUM

THEA 61000  Introduction to Graduate Study in Theatre  (3) (required of students in all graduate programs in Theatre, unless they have successfully complete an equivalent course; should be taken in the first semester of graduate study)

THEA 6/71094  College Teaching in Theatre (3) (required of all students in graduate programs in Theatre who are teaching assistants; must be taken in the first semester of teaching)

THEA 61001   Theatre Research Strategies

THEA 61110   History of Theories of Acting & Space I 

THEA 61111   History of Theories of Acting & Space II

Elective Courses in Theatre History/Drama/Theory/Criticism (minimum of 2 courses; each is a 3 credit hour course unless marked `*')

THEA  51110   Theatre Criticism          

THEA  51113   Theatre in a Multicultural America 

THEA  51114   Gay and Lesbian Theatre    

THEA  51133   History of Theatre & Drama in America I

THEA  51134   History of Theatre & Drama in America II

THEA  51191   Variable Content Seminar   

THEA  *61095   Special Topics

THEA  *61096   Individual Investigation in Theatre

THEA  61098   Research

THEA  61191   Seminar: Theatre History and Theory

THEA  *61199   Thesis I

 HEA   *61299   Thesis II

THEA   62792   Production Dramaturgy

THEA *62892   Theatre Practicum

MA students may also take graduate courses in other areas of Theatre and Dance with the approval of the instructor.

 Master of Arts Culminating Project*

1.  Thesis Option.

The Thesis option is recommended to those students who seek extended work with a scholarly topic.  This degree plan requires a minimum of 32 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. In addition to the requirements indicated above (representing a minimum of 26 hours of course work), the student must register for 6 hrs. of 61199 (Thesis I).

In consultation with the advisor, the student will select a thesis committee consisting of two members of the Graduate Faculty in Theatre and Dance, in addition to the advisor.  (When appropriate, a faculty member from another department may be substituted for one of the Theatre faculty on the committee.)

In consultation with the advisor, the student will prepare a prospectus for the members of his/her committee which makes clear the nature of the project and the analytical strategy to be employed (generally, these are the pages that will form the Introduction of the thesis).  When the thesis committee agrees that the document is ready for presentation, copies of the prospectus will be distributed to the members of the Graduate Faculty and a meeting scheduled, at which the student will make an oral presentation of the project.  Under the direction of the thesis advisor, the prospectus will go forward or be modified, if necessary, in light of the discussion which ensues.  The "Notification of Approved Topic" form will be prepared by the advisor, completed by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, and forwarded, with a copy of the prospectus, to the College of Fine and Professional Arts, with a copy of both retained in the student's School file.

The student will prepare the thesis according to College requirements, as specified in the Style Guide and Instructions for Preparing Theses and Dissertations (available in the College office).  When the document is deemed by the thesis committee to be ready for presentation, an oral defense will be scheduled, to which School faculty, students, and guests will be invited.  The results of the oral examination will be conveyed to the College via the "Report of Completion of the M.A. Thesis" form.  If the defense is passed, final revisions to the document, if any, will then be made, in light of responses by the Graduate Faculty in the School at the oral.  When these revisions have been completed, the thesis and the "Thesis Preparation Approval Form" will be deposited at the College office.

If, for any reason, the student does not finish the M.A. Thesis while in residence, s/he must continue to enroll each semester, including summers, in Thesis II (61299) until it is completed.

2.  The Non-Thesis Paper Option.

Students electing this option will find it explained in detail in the Description of the Non-Thesis M.A. Paper (obtain this handout from the Coordinator of Graduate Studies).  In general, the Non-Thesis option is recommended to those students who would like to develop a research subject to a degree similar to that of an article in a scholarly publication.  This degree plan requires a minimum of 36 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. In addition to the requirements indicated above (representing a minimum of 30 hours of course work), the student must register for 6 hrs. of 61098 (Research), to complete the written project.

In consultation with the advisor, the student will prepare a brief prospectus for the paper which makes clear the nature of the project and the analytical strategy to be employed.  Copies of the prospectus will be distributed by the advisor to the members of the Graduate Faculty for discussion at a Graduate Studies meeting.  Under the direction of the advisor, the prospectus will go forward or be modified, in light of the discussion which ensues.  A "Notification of Approved Topic" form will be prepared by the advisor and submitted with the prospectus to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, for submission to the College of Fine and Professional Arts and inclusion in the student's permanent file.

When the non-thesis paper is deemed by the advisor to be ready for presentation, a public meeting will be scheduled, to which School faculty, students, and guests will be invited.  The student will make oral presentation of the completed document.  If the examination is passed, final revisions, if any, will be made in light of responses by the Graduate Faculty in the School at the oral.  The final draft of the Non-Thesis M.A. Paper should conform in general with the Style Guide and Instructions for Preparing Theses and Dissertations (available in the College office).  One copy of the approved document in final form will be deposited with the Graduate Coordinator for inclusion in the student's permanent School file, and one copy with the "Report of Completion of the Non-Thesis M.A. Paper" will be submitted to the College Office. 

If, for any reason, the student does not finish the Non-Thesis M.A. Paper while in residence, s/he must continue to enroll each semester, including summers, until it is completed.

*During the semester in which the student expects to graduate, s/he needs to obtain the appropriate forms for graduation from the College Office and complete them.  (These are sent to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies for verification and returned to the College.)

Graduate Catalog Course Descriptions, click here.

To Download the Application for Graduate Study, click here.