MA in Theatre Education

The Department of Performing Arts offers the Master of Arts degree in Theatre Education for students who wish to pursue careers and opportunities that lie at the intersection of the fields of theatre and education. As such, this program provides professional training in both theatre and education and in the uses of theatre and drama as vehicles of education in a multitude of settings. The program also serves as preparation for doctoral work in theatre, education, or related fields. The graduate program is designed with a central core of courses, with additional work in areas of special interest to students, in order to support a broad range of individual career goals. Along with the central core, there are three course streams that students can follow to meet their career goals.

The Theatre Teacher Education stream is for those students who plan to teach theatre and drama to children or adolescents within school settings (many of whom earn Massachusetts state teacher licensure). Theatre and Community, the second stream, is for students interested in the uses of theatre in a variety of community settings. This stream’s curriculum focuses on theatre practices, and points of view that provide for cultural exchanges and social change. Opportunities to work with diverse peoples in both classes and in communities, including professional and grassroots artists in the field, are also offered. The Theatre Education (doctorate preparation) stream prepares students who wish to continue their graduate studies, pursue a doctorate in the field, and teach at the college level.

Students in all streams complete a set of core requirements and work with their Graduate Program Director or faculty advisor to design individual plans of study to meet the remainder of the degree requirements. Late afternoon coursework and intensive summer institutes make it possible for students and practicing teachers to pursue this program part-time or to concentrate their study within a 12- to 14- month period.

Production Opportunities

The department’s major performance spaces include the newly renovated Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, and two new state-of-the-art theaters: the Semel Theatre and the Greene Theater, both located in the newly built Tufte Performance and Production Center adjacent to the Majestic. Located in the heart of Boston’s theatre district, the Cutler Majestic is a 100-year old, 1,200-seat proscenium house. The Semel Theatre is a 218-seat thrust, and the Greene Theatre is a 108-seat end-stage theater. Emerson Stage, the department’s production unit, presents many student created events annually in a variety of theatrical genres, events directed by faculty, professional guest artists, and students. Through productions at the Majestic and in the Tufte Center, students are exposed to a wide range of performance and production opportunities.

During the academic year, eight major productions are fully mounted at the Majestic and in the Tufte Center. Additional workshop projects offer student actors, dancers, directors, designers and choreographers the chance to create their own work. In April, the Emerson Playwrights Festival is mounted through the generosity of Emerson alumnus Rod Parker ’52. The festival includes workshop productions and staged readings of new work written by students and directed by faculty and guest professionals.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts degree requires the successful completion of 40 credit hours including a 20 credit hour core. In addition, students must complete either a comprehensive examination in the area of their concentration of study or a master’s thesis or master’s project. Students may fulfill the remaining credit requirement by taking electives approved by their advisors. The comprehensive examination may be taken after the student has completed 28 credit hours of graduate work. The examination is administered by a committee of two graduate faculty members who have expertise in the specialty area.

Core Requirements

All students must complete at least one course in each of the following areas of drama or theatre-related studies:

Theatre History, Dramatic Literature or Playwriting	4 credits
Acting	4 credits
Directing	4 credits
Theatre Design or Technology	4 credits
Theatre Education/Theatre for Young Audiences	4 credits