Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies (ITS) is a cross-campus coalition of faculty who research and teach in drama, theatre, and performance studies. Together, we offer a truly interdisciplinary program of study for the MA, PhD, and doctoral minor. ITS consists of more than two dozen faculty from more than a dozen departments and programs. ITS students ground their studies in theatre history, dramatic literature, and performance theory, and go on to develop innovative research that demonstrates the intellectual capaciousness that is a hallmark of theatre and performance studies as a field.
The Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies program prepares MA students to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary research in theatre studies, and to conduct inquiry through scholarly research, practice as research, and meaningful teaching experiences. The MA can serve as a preparatory degree for the PhD, or as a terminal degree for students seeking greater exposure to theatre, drama, and performance studies beyond the undergraduate degree.
The program’s core and affiliate faculty are leaders in theatre and performance studies, whose scholarship, practice, and leadership in the profession are recognized nationally and abroad. The core faculty’s strengths include global dramatic literatures, theatre history and historiography, theatre and cultural theory, the theory and practice of theatre for youth, and relational performance. Our affiliate faculty expand the coursework and advising available to students, incorporating related fields of visual cultures, anthropology, art and art history, literary and theatre studies across English and non-English-speaking traditions, music, new media and digital design, gender and women's studies, and other disciplines.
The program attracts students from across the United States as well as internationally. It creates opportunities for students to engage in teaching and practice as part of their research. It also encourages students to participate in national and international professional meetings, working groups, and colloquia; and to share their art and research through practice and publication in their field.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 5 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Applicants must include in their application a one to two-page Reasons for Graduate Study statement explaining the candidate’s reasons for pursuing graduate study. Statements of intent should include in specific detail the applicant’s area of interest, possible research questions and methodological focus, and future goals. Additionally, applicants must submit a 15-20 page writing sample. Writing samples reflecting the applicant’s skills in theatre and drama research are preferred. Applications are judged on the basis of the prospective student’s previous academic record, references, personal statement, and writing sample.
Applications must be received by the fall application deadline to guarantee consideration for financial aid.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
MA students receive two years of funding through a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and project assistantships. Most ITS students are funded through teaching assistantships in various courses, including ENGL/Theatre 120: Introduction to Theatre and Dramatic Literature. These appointments provide opportunities for students to develop their own teaching styles and skills.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. All courses must be numbered 300 or above. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Candidates may not file more than one grade of Incomplete per semester. |
| Assessments and Examinations | A thesis is required; this thesis should be the product of the candidate's independent research. A one-hour examination on the thesis presentation is required. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
Students choose courses in consultation with their advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar | ||
| Students must complete the following two courses in the fall semester of their first year of study. | ||
| ENGL 795 | One-credit Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 850 | Proseminar in Theatre Research | 2 |
| Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies | ||
| Complete 15 credits of Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies courses. See list below. | 15 | |
| Electives | ||
| Students complete graduate course electives from other departments selected in consultation with faculty advisor | 6 | |
| Thesis | ||
| Students complete and defend the MA thesis in the final semester of study by enrolling in the following course: | 1-6 | |
| Independent Reading | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies Courses
The following courses may fulfill the Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies Courses requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL/THEATRE 575 | British Drama, 1914 to Present | 3 |
| ENGL/THEATRE 576 | Survey: Theories of Drama | 3 |
| ENGL 859 | Seminar-Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies | 2-3 |
| ENGL/THEATRE 577 | Postcolonial Theatre: Drama, Theory and Performance in the Global South | 3 |
| ENGL/THEATRE 578 | Modern American Drama and Theatre | 3 |
| ENGL 651 | Special Topics in Theatre and Performance Studies Research | 3 |
| ENGL/THEATRE 731 | Advanced Theatre History 500 BC to 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL/THEATRE 732 | Advanced Theatre History 1700 to Present | 3 |
| ENGL 851 | Advanced Studies In Theatre and Performance Studies Research | 3 |
| THEATRE/GEN&WS 415 | Introduction to Contemporary Feminist Theatre and Criticism | 3 |
| THEATRE 619 | Special Topics in Theatre and Drama | 1-3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
With program approval, students may transfer no more than 14 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
With program approval, students may transfer up to 7 graduate level credits from another institution or graduate level, numbered 300 and above, from the undergraduate career completed at UW–Madison.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
With program approval, students may transfer up to 15 Special student credits numbered 700 or above.
Probation
Students are reviewed annually by the program faculty and may be placed on probation if they are not making satisfactory progress on both program requirements and Graduate School requirements. Satisfactory progress and probation details are in the program handbook.
Advisor / Committee
The thesis must be prepared under the supervision of their program advisor.
The thesis committee consists of three faculty members—their advisor, at least one additional faculty member from Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies, and one other member.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.
Time Limits
The MA program is designed to be completed in three to four semesters of full-time study. Students may request a variance in this time frame by approval of the program steering committee.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals
Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.
Academic decisions that may be appealed include:
- Dismissal from the graduate program
- Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
- Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
- Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards
Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:
- A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
- Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
- Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
- Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).
Appeal Process for Graduate Students
A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.
- The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
- If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
- If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
- To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
- The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case.
- The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
- If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Program Resources
ITS student life includes an active program of colloquia and speakers, annual short play festivals, and a yearly conference organized by ITS graduate students.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulates, critiques, or elaborates the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry or schools of practice in theatre, drama and performance.
- Identifies sources and assembles evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in the study of theatre, drama and performance.
- Demonstrates understanding of theatre, drama and performance in historical, social, and global contexts.
- Selects and/or utilizes the most appropriate methodologies and practices. Evaluates or synthesizes information pertaining to questions or challenges in the fields of drama, theatre and performance.
- Communicates clearly in projects that include collaborative theatre practice, writing seminar-level research papers, and a master's thesis.
- Recognizes and applies principles of ethical and professional conduct.